Hair Loss Treatments
About Hair Loss Treatments
Hair loss treatments cover a wide range of care, from soothing salon scalp treatments to medical procedures carried out in a clinic. Everyone sheds some hair every day, and the NHS describes losing around 50 to 100 hairs a day as normal. When thinning, shedding or bald patches go beyond that, the first step is understanding the cause, which is why your GP is the best place to start. Inherited pattern hair loss is permanent, while loss linked to illness, stress, weight loss or iron deficiency is often temporary. Once you know what is happening, there are several paths. In a salon, scalp treatments cleanse, exfoliate and condition the scalp and help hair look and feel its best. Trichologists specialise in assessing hair and scalp conditions. In clinics, options include platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections, which use your own blood, and low level laser caps used at home. Scalp micropigmentation is a specialist tattoo that creates the look of short hair or density as a camouflage. Hair transplants are cosmetic surgery, performed by doctors in regulated clinics. Medicines such as minoxidil and finasteride are prescribed or recommended by a doctor or pharmacist. Appointment times range from under an hour to a full day, and costs vary widely.
On the day, and after
During the treatment
What happens depends on the treatment you choose. A salon scalp treatment usually begins with a look at your scalp, followed by cleansing, gentle exfoliation, massage and a conditioning mask. At a trichology consultation, which can last around an hour, your history is taken in detail and your hair and scalp are examined. For PRP, a medical professional draws a small amount of blood from your arm, spins it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets, then injects them into the thinning areas of your scalp, with the whole visit taking about an hour. For scalp micropigmentation, your practitioner builds up thousands of tiny pigment dots that look like hair follicles, using a fine device fitted with a single use needle, over sessions of two to four hours. Transplant surgery generally takes most of a day, with your scalp numbed and a sedative to keep you calm while you remain awake.
How it feels
A salon scalp treatment is usually deeply relaxing, with warm water, massage and a fresh, clean feel afterwards. A trichology consultation is a calm conversation with a close look at your scalp. PRP involves a quick blood draw, then a series of small injections into the scalp, which most people describe as mildly uncomfortable, with some tenderness or a headache afterwards. Laser caps feel like wearing a light helmet and are generally painless. Scalp micropigmentation is done without anaesthetic; most people find it more of a scratchy annoyance than true pain, although the long sessions can wear you out. With the scalp numbed and a sedative to relax you, the surgery itself should not hurt, although for several days afterwards the area can feel sore, puffy and taut.
Results and maintenance
Results depend on the cause of your hair loss and the treatment chosen. When an illness or deficiency is behind the shedding, hair frequently recovers once that underlying problem is put right. Minoxidil and finasteride help only while you keep using them. PRP is not a cure; clinics usually suggest an initial course of three sessions a few weeks apart, then maintenance every few months, and research is promising but still developing. A 2026 study of a home laser device used three times a week for 48 weeks reported improved hair density and thickness, though it was an open study without a comparison group. Scalp micropigmentation usually needs colour boosts every few years. After a transplant, the new hairs often shed within weeks, regrowth starts around four months, and full results show at 10 to 18 months, although your original hair can go on thinning.
Before and after your appointment
Before your appointment
See your GP first if you notice new or unexplained hair loss, and especially if it is sudden or appears as patches, as this can point to a condition that needs medical care. The NHS advises understanding the cause before you consider a commercial hair clinic. Often a GP can work out what is going on simply by examining your scalp and hair, and a dermatology referral is available when more specialist input is needed. Before any salon or clinic appointment, gather your medical history, current medicines and supplements, and any recent illness, stress, pregnancy or change in diet, as these can all affect hair. Take photographs in consistent light so you can track changes. For PRP, ask your clinic whether to pause anti-inflammatory painkillers or certain supplements beforehand, but never stop a prescribed medicine without speaking to your prescriber. Arrive with clean hair and no styling products unless your practitioner advises otherwise.
Aftercare
Aftercare follows the treatment you have had. After a salon scalp treatment, simply follow your therapist's advice on products and how often to return. After PRP, you can usually resume normal activities straight away, though some clinics ask you to avoid topical scalp products for around 48 hours. After scalp micropigmentation, keep the area dry for four days, avoid shampoo and hair products for seven days, and stay out of strong sun, swimming pools, saunas and dusty places for at least a week. Protecting the area from UV long term helps the colour last. After a hair transplant, the grafts need careful handling for the first two weeks. Bandages usually come off within a few days, gentle hand washing is often possible from around day six, and your clinic may suggest keeping workouts light for around four weeks. Contact your clinic promptly about severe pain or unexpected symptoms.
Recovery varies a great deal. Salon scalp treatments and laser caps involve no downtime. After PRP, most people return to normal activities the same day, with some pinpoint bleeding, swelling or tenderness that settles quickly. After scalp micropigmentation, redness usually settles within 24 to 48 hours, and you will need to keep the area dry and protected for about a week. A hair transplant needs the most recovery. Many people take a week or two away from work, small scabs are usual early on, and any stitches that do not dissolve tend to come out at around a fortnight. Plan your treatment around work, holidays and social events so the aftercare fits comfortably into your life.
Safety and medical considerations
Safety essentials
Each option sits under different rules, so check the right ones. In England, every clinic offering cosmetic surgery, including hair transplants, must be registered with the Care Quality Commission, and the operating doctor needs both General Medical Council registration and a current licence to practise. You can also check whether your surgeon belongs to the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery. For PRP and other injections, Professional Standards Authority guidance is to look for someone whose profession is regulated, for example a nurse, dentist or doctor. Scalp micropigmentation is a form of tattooing, so practitioners and premises must be registered or licensed with the local council, and you can ask to see that certificate along with their insurance and SMP-specific training. Trichologists are not medically qualified, so look for one on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. Salon scalp treatments should be carried out by a qualified, insured professional who refers you to your GP when needed.
Medical considerations
Sudden, patchy or rapid hair loss deserves a GP appointment before any cosmetic treatment. Alopecia areata, for example, is an autoimmune condition that causes sudden patchy loss on the scalp, beard, brows or lashes, and some forms of scarring alopecia need specialist care. Hair transplants suit permanent inherited baldness and are usually not suitable for alopecia areata. PRP is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and clinic guidance lists many conditions that rule it out, including blood or platelet disorders, anticoagulant therapy, active infection, cancer or chemotherapy, liver disease and corticosteroid therapy. Finasteride is a treatment for men only, and the benefit of either minoxidil or finasteride lasts only as long as you continue it. Before scalp micropigmentation, your practitioner should take a medical history and consent form to identify anything that rules it out. If hair loss is affecting your wellbeing, tell your GP, as they may be able to arrange counselling, and support groups can help too.
Patch testing
Whether you need a patch test depends on the treatment. Scalp micropigmentation calls for a skin test with the actual pigment ahead of your first session, so any sensitivity or allergy shows up in good time, and booking it at your consultation means you have the answer before treatment day. PRP uses your own blood, so a reaction to the solution itself is considered unlikely and a patch test is not usually part of the process, although your clinic will take a full medical history first. Laser caps and hair transplants do not involve a patch test, but a hair transplant includes a detailed medical assessment and you can ask about any allergy to anaesthetic. For salon scalp treatments, a patch test is not routinely needed, but it is sensible to ask for one if you have sensitive skin, eczema, or a history of reacting to hair or skin products, placing a small amount of the product behind the ear or on the inner elbow and checking it over the following 48 hours.
Knowing a good practitioner
Green flags
A trustworthy provider begins with a thorough consultation, asks about your health, medicines and family history, and encourages you to see your GP if your hair loss is new, sudden or patchy. They explain clearly what the treatment can and cannot achieve, how many sessions you may need and what results usually look like over time. Their registration, qualifications and insurance are easy to see, and they show photographs of their own work, including healed results. A hair transplant surgeon will tell you how many procedures they have performed and how complications are handled. A PRP clinic is led by a regulated healthcare professional. A trichologist refers you to a doctor when something sits beyond their scope. You leave with written aftercare and never feel rushed into deciding.
Red flags
Be cautious of any salon or clinic that promises guaranteed regrowth, offers a cure, or pressures you to buy a long course on your first visit. A provider who skips questions about your health, does not suggest seeing your GP for sudden or patchy loss, or diagnoses a medical condition without being medically qualified is not putting your wellbeing first. For hair transplants, avoid clinics that cannot show Care Quality Commission registration, will not tell you who the surgeon is, or rely on paid advertising alone. For PRP, take care if injections are offered by someone who is not a regulated healthcare professional. For scalp micropigmentation, ask again if the practitioner cannot show a council registration, insurance or healed results. Very low prices and limited time offers deserve a pause before you commit.
Questions to ask
Before you commit, ask who will carry out the treatment and what qualifications, registration and insurance they hold. Ask whether the treatment is suitable for the type of hair loss you have, and how many sessions or procedures are likely. It helps to ask, what results should I realistically expect, and by when? For a transplant, ask how many procedures the surgeon has done and what follow-up you will receive. For any treatment, check the full cost, the aftercare and what happens if you are unhappy.
Frequently asked questions
When should I see a GP about hair loss?
Book a GP appointment whenever hair loss concerns you, and particularly when it comes on suddenly, leaves patches, or also thins your brows, lashes or beard. Your GP can look for a cause, such as a medical condition or deficiency, and refer you to a dermatologist if needed, before you consider a commercial clinic.
Does PRP work for hair loss?
Research suggests PRP may reduce shedding and improve hair density for some people with pattern hair loss, but studies are small and methods vary, so experts say more research is needed. It is not a cure, and treatment usually needs maintenance sessions. A regulated healthcare professional should assess whether you are likely to benefit.
Is scalp micropigmentation permanent?
Scalp micropigmentation is long lasting but not completely permanent. How quickly it fades varies a lot from person to person, from noticeable softening in the first couple of years to results that hold well for much longer, and top up sessions are often needed every two to six years. Skin type, sun exposure and skincare all affect how well the pigment holds.
How long does a hair transplant take to show results?
Transplanted hair often falls out a few weeks after surgery, which is normal, and then regrows. New hair usually starts to appear around four months after the procedure, and full results can take 10 to 18 months. Your surgeon should plan the work so it continues to look natural as your existing hair changes.
What does a trichologist do?
A trichologist specialises in hair and scalp health. They assess the possible causes of thinning, breakage or scalp problems, look at lifestyle, diet and hair care, and offer treatments and advice. Trichologists are not doctors, so they refer you to a medical practitioner when a condition needs medical diagnosis or treatment.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Speak to a qualified practitioner, and to your GP if you have a medical condition, before booking.