Hair thinning rarely announces itself dramatically. More often it arrives quietly – in the extra strands on the pillow, a parting that looks slightly wider than it used to, a ponytail that feels thinner in your hand, or a crown that doesn’t quite have the same volume. You might notice it for weeks before you say anything about it. Many people never say anything at all.
The Hair Change Nobody Talks About
Hair thinning is one of the most common – and most personal – changes the body goes through, and it affects men and women equally, across every hair type and texture, at different points in life. The experience is universal even when it feels entirely individual.
Pattern hair thinning affects around 80% of men and 50% of women over a lifetime [4,6]. In postmenopausal women aged 50–65, more than half experience noticeable thinning. Among people experiencing rapid weight loss – including those using certain weight management medicines – hair shedding is a frequently reported and commonly underaddressed side effect [4,6].
It shows up differently depending on the person. For men, it often begins at the hairline or crown. For women, it’s frequently noticed as a wider parting, reduced volume, or more hair left behind when brushing or showering. Across coily, curly, wavy, and straight hair types, the experience is the same even if the pattern varies [6].
There is nothing unusual or alarming about noticing these changes. What matters is knowing what drives them – and what can support the hair at the point where it actually grows.
Understanding the Hair Growth Cycle
Each strand of hair on your scalp is independently cycling through three distinct phases [2]:
- Anagen – the active growth phase, lasting two to eight years. During anagen, the follicle is producing a full, thick and pigmented (terminal hair). The anagen phase length decreases with age, resulting in weaker and thinner hair over time [2].
- Catagen – a brief transitional phase lasting about two weeks, during which the follicle shrinks and detaches from its blood supply [2].
- Telogen – the resting and shedding phase, lasting about two to three months, at the end of which the hair is released and a new anagen phase begins [2].
Losing 100-150 hairs a day is entirely normal – this is telogen shedding, a natural part of the cycle. The concern arises when the balance shifts: when more follicles are spending less time in anagen, producing thinner hair, or when the cycle is disrupted by hormonal, nutritional, or physiological changes [2].
This cycle is also why results from any hair supplement take time. A new anagen phase needs to begin, progress, and produce enough visible growth before the difference becomes apparent.
The DHT Connection
The most common driver of progressive hair thinning in both men and women is the effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the hair follicle [3].
DHT is produced when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone – present in both men and women – into a more potent androgenic form. In the scalp, DHT binds to receptors in the hair follicle and over time causes it to miniaturise: each successive anagen phase becomes shorter, and the hair produced becomes progressively finer and less pigmented – shifting from a thick terminal hair to a thin, wispy vellus hair [3].
In women, this process is often made more visible during and after menopause. As estrogen levels fall, the relative effect of DHT on the scalp increases – which is why many women begin to notice wider partings or increased shedding during the perimenopausal transition [5].
Understanding this mechanism is important because it directs where effective support needs to work: at the follicle, upstream of the thinning, rather than after the fact.
Why Serevelle™ – Not Any Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) has been studied for its interaction with the 5-alpha-reductase pathway. But not all saw palmetto extracts are the same – and this distinction matters more than most product labels acknowledge.
Serevelle™ is a lipid-rich saw palmetto extract standardised to 50% free fatty acids – the bioactive fraction understood to interact with the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. That standardisation figure is purposeful and means that every batch of Serevelle™ delivers a consistent, verified concentration of the compounds that drive the ingredient’s mechanism. Generic, unstandardised saw palmetto extracts don’t offer the same guarantee: the free fatty acid content can vary significantly between brands and batches, which means the dose – and the mechanism – can’t be relied on.
Serevelle™ also has something most saw palmetto ingredients don’t: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial conducted specifically to measure its effect on hair [1]. The research was designed around hair – in men and women, with objectively measured outcomes, over six months.
What the Research Found
The Serevelle™ trial enrolled 60 adults – 30 men and 30 women, aged 25 to 65 – with self-perceived thinning hair [1]. Participants were randomised to receive either Serevelle™ daily or a placebo. Hair counts were assessed at Day 90 and Day 180, measuring terminal hair (thick, mature hairs that contribute to visible fullness), vellus hair (thin, fine hairs), and total hair count.
By Day 90, the Serevelle™ group showed improvements in terminal, vellus, and total hair counts [1].
By Day 180, those improvements were sustained and larger – while over the same period, the placebo group’s hair continued to thin, widening the gap between the two groups [1].
The improvement in terminal hair count is particularly meaningful. Terminal hairs are the thick, pigmented, visible hairs that determine how full hair actually looks. An increase in their count – rather than vellus hairs alone – reflects a meaningful shift in follicle behaviour, not surface-level change.
Who Hair Renewal™ Supports
Hair Renewal™ contains 290 mg of clinically studied Serevelle™ per capsule.
Each capsule may support [1]:
- The natural hair growth cycle – working at the follicle, where hair health starts
- Thicker, fuller-looking hair – through improvements in terminal hair count
- A considered, science-led approach – one studied ingredient with a clear mechanism
Hair Renewal™ is designed for men and women aged 25 and older who are noticing thinner-looking hair or increased shedding and want an evidence-led option to support their hair health.
For men and women experiencing thinning at the hairline or crown: the trial was conducted equally in men and women, making Hair Renewal™ a relevant option for both [1].
For women in perimenopause or post-menopause: hair changes during the transition are common and often overlooked against the backdrop of more visible symptoms. Hair Renewal™ addresses the follicle-level mechanism behind hormonal hair thinning – and pairs naturally with broader menopause support, including Phytofemme™ MenoBalance™ for whole-body symptom relief through the transition.
For people experiencing hair shedding during weight loss: rapid weight loss can disrupt the hair growth cycle. Hair Renewal™ may support the hair growth cycle during this period – alongside adequate protein and broad nutritional support, which are essential during any significant weight loss journey.
Give It Time
One capsule. With food. Every day. For at least three months – ideally six.
Hair grows slowly and in cycles. The Serevelle™ research measured meaningful results at three months and larger improvements at six. Setting that expectation honestly matters: Hair Renewal™ is not a quick fix. It is a consistent, daily investment in hair health at the level where change is actually possible.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider or a qualified mental health professional if you are concerned about your relationship with food or mental health. This unregistered medicine has not been evaluated by SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare provider.
