Quick answer: See a trichologist if you've been losing more hair than usual for more than a couple of months, your parting or hairline is widening, you've found a bald patch, your hair keeps snapping, or your scalp is itchy or flaky and shampoos haven't helped. See your GP first if the hair loss is sudden and comes with pain, redness or swelling, or you feel unwell.
At Tess Hair and Scalp Clinic in Belfast we see people at every stage of this, from "it's probably nothing" to "I've been wearing a hat since March".
Let's be honest. You're reading this because you've been staring at your hairbrush like it owes you money. (I stare at hairbrushes for a living, which is somehow even less normal. We're in this together.)
9 signs it's time to see a trichologist
You've been shedding more than usual for over two months. Normal shedding is 50 to 100 hairs a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If your brush could knit a small scarf by Friday, that's more.
Your parting is getting wider. Especially if you've started choosing photos based on which side your parting looks best from.
You can see more scalp at the crown or temples. Bathroom lighting lies, but it doesn't lie three mornings in a row.
You've found a round, smooth bald patch. This is often alopecia areata. It's worth checking soon, and calmly.
Your edges or hairline are thinning. Common after years of tight braids, weaves, slick ponytails or wigs. Caught early, it can often recover.
Your hair is snapping rather than falling out. Short, broken bits around your face or crown usually mean breakage, which needs a different fix from hair loss.
Your scalp itches, flakes or burns, and three different shampoos later, it still does.
The shedding started a couple of months after something big. Illness, surgery, a stressful stretch, a crash diet or having a baby can all trigger heavy shedding later on. It's usually temporary, but it's worth ruling out anything else.
It's getting to you. If you're avoiding mirrors, photos or windy days, that's reason enough. You don't need a medical emergency to deserve an answer.
If you ticked one or more, your hairbrush has made its point. Time to stop arguing with it.
When to see your GP first
Some hair loss needs a doctor before it needs a trichologist. Book your GP first if you have:
sudden hair loss with pain, redness, swelling or pus
scaly patches with broken hairs, especially in a child, which can be scalp ringworm and needs antifungal medicine (British Association of Dermatologists leaflet)
hair loss alongside other symptoms, like extreme tiredness, weight changes or irregular periods
hair loss that started after a new medicine (don't stop any medicine without talking to your GP)
smooth, shiny patches where hair used to grow, which can be a sign of scarring
Your GP can also arrange blood tests. Bring the results to your trichologist and you've saved everyone a step. NI Direct's hair loss page explains the health service side well.
Is it worth seeing a trichologist?
For most people with ongoing shedding, thinning or scalp problems, yes, because it swaps guesswork for a plan. The typical bathroom cabinet of a worried person contains four half-used serums, a rosemary oil from TikTok and a scalp brush shaped like a nervous hedgehog. None of them know why your hair is falling out.
A trichologist's job is to find out why, then tell you what will actually help and what won't. (Spoiler: the hedgehog is fine, but it's not a treatment plan.)
And if your shedding turns out to be completely normal, we'll tell you that too. Reassurance is a perfectly good result, and it's cheaper than another serum.
Can a trichologist help with hair loss?
Yes, in most cases. A trichologist can:
work out what type of hair loss you have and what's likely causing it
treat the things that can be treated, like scalp problems, breakage and tension from styling
offer in-clinic treatments where they're suitable for you
tell you when you need a GP or dermatologist, and what to ask for
help with practical options like toppers, hair systems or wigs, while you wait for regrowth or if regrowth isn't realistic
If that sounds like what you need, our hair and scalp analysis is the place to start. Your hairbrush will be thrilled. (It's been carrying this whole situation on its own.)
Can a trichologist help with alopecia?
"Alopecia" simply means hair loss, so it covers lots of different conditions. How a trichologist helps depends on which one you have:
Alopecia areata (patchy hair loss): a trichologist works alongside your GP or dermatologist, looking after your scalp, tracking regrowth and helping with practical options if you need them.
Traction alopecia (thinning from tight styles): this is where catching it early really matters. Changing how you wear your hair can let it recover, but long-term pulling can cause permanent loss, as the British Association of Dermatologists explains.
For support from people who've been through it, Alopecia UK is a lovely charity.
Do I need a referral to see a trichologist?
No. You can book directly. No forms in triplicate, and no waiting list long enough to outlive your hairbrush.
How to get ready for your first appointment
Note when the problem started, and anything that changed in the few months before.
List any medicines and supplements you take.
Bring recent blood test results if you have them.
Take a photo of your parting or hairline now, so you can compare later.
Stop googling at 2am. (We'll do the worrying during office hours, it's literally the job.)
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my hair loss is serious?
Hair loss is worth checking if it's sudden, patchy, comes with scalp pain or redness, or has lasted more than a couple of months. Sudden loss with pain, swelling or feeling unwell should go to your GP first.
How long should I wait before seeing a trichologist?
If you've had heavier shedding than normal for more than a couple of months, book in. Don't wait at all for bald patches, a rapidly thinning hairline or a sore scalp.
Is it worth seeing a trichologist for dandruff?
Yes, if anti-dandruff shampoos haven't helped after a few weeks. Persistent flaking can be a scalp condition that needs a different approach.
Do I need a GP referral to see a trichologist?
No. You can book a trichologist directly.
Will a trichologist tell me if nothing is wrong?
A good one will. If your shedding is within the normal range, you'll be told so, along with how to keep your hair and scalp healthy.
Ready to get your hairbrush off your back?
Book a hair and scalp analysis at Tess Hair and Scalp Clinic, 77a Botanic Avenue, Belfast, or call 028 9096 4731. You can see our treatments and prices before you book.
About the author: Theresa Anthony is the trichologist at Tess Hair and Scalp Clinic, 77a Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JL, where hair loss treatment and a full hair salon sit under one roof.
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