It’s all about the hair for young New Zealanders, with the National Hair Report finding 83 per cent would prefer to put on 2kg than lose their precious hair.
The survey of 510 NZ men and women aged between 25 and 39 found this love for their hair led to 91 per cent revealing they feel more confident when they know their hair looks good.
The respondents were also seen to judge others by the state of their hair, with 91 per cent agreeing that hair issues are major first date turn offs. The main hair crime likely to turn off both men and women is having greasy hair, with 52 per cent of men and 82 per cent of women voting it number one. This was followed by thinning hair and receding hair.
While it didn’t come in first in the first date disaster category, 89 per cent of young New Zealanders admitted thinning hair would be a concern for them, with the main issues being perceived as looking older (60 per cent) or ill (45 per cent).
Despite one in two people worldwide being affected by thinning hair, participants were unaware of the causes, with 49 per cent believing genetics are to blame and 24 per cent pointing the finger at old age. Only 11 per cent recognised the link between stress, and four per cent the affect of hormonal imbalances to hair thinness. Participants were also under the misguidance that thinning problems are more likely to affect men than women.
While the topic of male hair thinning is very openly talked about, the condition in women remains a taboo topic of conversation, despite the significant number of females – young and mature alike - suffering from it,” says trichologist and hair specialist Geurt Renzenbrink.
I see women experiencing hair loss for many different reasons - stress, depression and even grief – and commonly, falling hormone levels during menopause or after pregnancy. It’s an upsetting and often traumatic time for these women, made more so by the lack of dialogue around the issue amongst friends, family and even their GP.”
