TikTok has turned personal insecurities into viral trends with just a few swipes of a screen.

Every generation has its own worries about its body. There was a time when people were afraid of being fat. Then they were afraid of dull skin, acne and ageing. Now, young people are showing more and more concern about hair loss.
This fear goes beyond seasonal or natural hair loss. Many women, without any medical evidence, still believe that their hair is thinning. The most obvious manifestation is that women are always panicked when they see a few strands of hair fall on their pillow after waking up or after washing their hair. They immediately rush to buy hair conditioners, hair masks, hair growth essences and hair restoration treatments.
The ultimate question remains: are we really facing a &ldquo;hair loss epidemic&rdquo;, or are we just victims of <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">media and marketing campaigns?

The Impact of Social Media

Most of the “hair care routine” or “hair loss journey” content on TikTok is not based on personal experience, but rather on disguised marketing strategies. The self-proclaimed “experts” here always use “half-true, half-false” language to play on viewers’ insecurities, convincing them that they need to buy more hair care products, shampoos or hair growth serums. Even dermatologists spend a considerable amount of time and effort diagnosing a patient’s hair loss, but content creators spend just 20 to 30 seconds convincing thousands of women that they are going bald. Hashtags like #hairloss and #scalpcheck attract millions of views, stirring up a collective panic. The personal stories of hair loss that influencers share over and over again also contribute to the domino effect. In reality, most TikTok users are just experiencing normal hair loss or breakage. A few have real problems like telogen effluvium caused by stress or iron deficiency, but most are just suffering from a body dysmorphic disorder. When they hold their hair up to a bright light, they think they are losing hair, when it is just an effect of the light.

The Boom of the Hair Care Market

The global hair care industry was valued at $107.21 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $112.06 billion by 2025 ( MarketDataForecast) . The fastest growing segments include restorative shampoos, biotin supplements, hair growth serums, and minoxidil treatments. Cosmetic brands and pharmaceutical companies are certainly not missing out on this lucrative business opportunity, launching a slew of new anti-hair loss products.
It&rsquo;s no coincidence that, right after a TikTok video of a girl panicking about thinning hair, users immediately saw ads for hair growth &ldquo;miracle cures&rdquo; and miracle hair masks. Scalp scrubs, massagers, detox essences, rosemary oil and caffeine serums are now considered essential hair beauty products. The problem is that most of these products are used when they&rsquo;re not really needed, leaving users in a vicious cycle of trying to &ldquo;fix&rdquo; a problem that doesn&rsquo;t exist.

The Real Cause of Hair Loss

On average, people lose about 100 hairs a day, and this is normal. Human hair grows in three phases: growing, resting and shedding, known as the anagen, catagen and telogen phases, respectively.
During the anagen phase, hair enters a period of intense growth. The cells in the hair follicle multiply rapidly. The length of this phase varies from person to person and is influenced by genetic and hormonal factors. Under normal conditions, hair can stay in this phase for several years.
The catagen phase marks the transition between the growing and resting phases. During this phase, the hair follicle shrinks and stops supplying blood to the growing hair. This phase usually lasts only a few weeks, acting as a short break for the hair to prepare for the next cycle.
The telogen phase is the resting phase of hair. During this time, the hair is no longer growing but is still held in the follicle. Normally, about 10-15% of the hair on our scalp is in this phase. The reason why hair &ldquo;retires&rdquo; lies in the regeneration mechanism. When entering the telogen phase, old hair will naturally fall out to make way for new hair to start the anagen phase, opening a continuous cycle of growth and regeneration.

However, hair loss can come from many different causes such as genetics, the natural ageing process, lifestyle, medication stress and not all causes are a sign of concern.
Some common causes include:
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Genetics: According to Harvard Health, about one-third of women will experience hair loss in their lifetime, and that number increases to two-thirds after menopause.
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Diet and nutritional deficiencies: Low levels of iron, vitamin D, biotin, or protein can affect hair health.
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Hormonal changes: Using birth control pills, pregnancy, the postpartum period, or hormonal imbalances can all cause hair thinning.
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Stress and Anxiety: Chronic stress increases cortisol, which disrupts hair follicle function, leaving hair weak and brittle. Long-term stress can even cause telogen effluvium, a temporary hair loss that usually reverses on its own.
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Excessive heat and chemical exposure: Frequent use of straighteners, blow dryers, dyes, curling irons or tying hair too tightly weakens hair and makes it prone to breakage.
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</ul>

Why Are We Obsessed with Hair Loss?

Hair has long been associated with femininity, fertility, youth and beauty. Throughout history, long, thick hair has symbolised vitality and attractiveness.
While this concept is not new, social media has amplified the pressure many times over. Images of influencers with thick, shiny hair create unrealistic beauty standards, making many girls feel like they have a &ldquo;problem&rdquo; when in reality they are completely normal. From there, they focus all their attention on each strand of hair, each hair root and even the condition of their scalp. But what happens when, despite all their efforts, more hair falls out? Or worse, when the real cause is not the shampoo or serum, but a medical problem that we are not aware of?
The fear of hair loss is not just a cosmetic concern. It is also a psychological issue, linked to self-perception and the social value that each person feels they must have.

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