Hair, Hormones & Honest Talk

Esmael Gilis

Perimenopause hair changes blindside most women — and most of the advice out there is either too clinical to act on or too commercial to trust. Hair, Hormones & Honest Talk is the in-between voice you wished you had. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years as a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. New episode every week. Honest, generous with the science, never overselling. Hair loss complements medical advice — it never replaces it. heads-hairacademy.com

  1. Oct 25

    Autumn Shedding or Hair Loss? 5 Signs That Tell the Difference

    Every October, the shower drain seems busier, and the same question comes back: is this just the season, or is something wrong? In this episode of Hair, Hormones & Honest Talk, Esmael Gilis helps you tell the difference without panic. You will hear what normal shedding looks like, why what you see in autumn is often an echo of something from two or three months earlier, and five signs that tell you when to stop waiting and start asking. No miracle promises. Just a calmer, more informed way to look at your brush. In this episodeWhat is normal: The hair growth cycle, and why shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is part of it.Shedding versus hair loss: Why one usually settles on its own, and why some people have both.The two-to-three-month echo: Common triggers such as illness, fever, surgery, giving birth, weight loss, stopping the pill, and heavy stress.Five signs worth noticing: Shedding that does not ease, a widening parting, finer regrowth, patches or brow and lash loss, and an itchy, sore or red scalp.Shed or snapped? How to spot the small bulb that tells a shed hair from a broken one, and why breakage is where a hairdresser can help.What to do this month: Gentle handling, a simple note, consistent photos, and when to see your GP or a dermatologist.Get the free Hair Loss PDFGet your free guide, The 7 Types of Hair Loss. Use this plain-language starting point to help prepare your questions, not to diagnose yourself. Request the PDF through the linked guide page. Next episodeThinner on top, more on the chin: the midlife hair change almost nobody mentions at the doctor's, what is common, what is worth checking, and how to bring it up without embarrassment. Thank you for the time and energy you spend listening. If this conversation helped, following the podcast or sharing it privately may help another woman find a place to begin. Esmael is a hairdresser, not a medical professional; this content complements medical advice and does not replace it. ABOUT HAIR, HORMONES & HONEST TALK A weekly podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the hair changes that come with them. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. FREE GUIDE The first practical step is our free guide: heads-hairacademy.com/free-guide DISCLAIMER Educational content only. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. This podcast complements medical advice — it never replaces it. Always consult your doctor or a qualified specialist about hormonal or scalp concerns. © 2026 ESMAEL BV · HEADS Hair Academy · Aarschot, Belgium

    Autumn Shedding or Hair Loss? 5 Signs That Tell the Difference

  2. Oct 25

    Minoxidil, PRP and Miracle Claims: What Should Women Ask First?

    You open your phone to answer one question about your hair. Twenty minutes later there are six tabs open, a serum in your basket and a clinic offer you are not sure how to judge. In this episode of Hair, Hormones & Honest Talk, Esmael Gilis slows that moment down. Rather than naming a winner between minoxidil, PRP and the latest growth serum, he offers five questions to take into a conversation with a qualified clinician, so you can leave with a clearer picture instead of another uncertain purchase. This is not an argument against treatment. It is a calmer, more informed next step, with realistic expectations and no miracle promises. In this episodeWhat are we treating? Why effective treatment begins with finding the cause, and how to prepare for an appointment.What evidence applies to me? How to read a claim: which product, who was studied, what was measured and for how long.What commitment am I accepting? Time, maintenance, total cost and follow-up, using topical minoxidil and PRP as examples.What risks and circumstances matter? A short safety conversation, including why supplements are not automatically a harmless extra.How will we review progress? Agreeing on a review date and a steadier way to judge change than daily mirror checks.Where a hairdresser fits: Supportive cutting and styling, without confusing a fuller-looking finish with treatment.Get the free Hair Loss PDFGet your free guide, The 7 Types of Hair Loss. Use this plain-language starting point to help prepare your questions, not to diagnose yourself. Request the PDF through the linked guide page. Next episodeA new conversation shaped by what women are asking about right now, with the same honest approach: clear explanations, realistic expectations, and no miracle promises. Thank you for the time and energy you spend listening. If this conversation helped, following the podcast or sharing it privately may help another woman find a place to begin. Esmael is a hairdresser, not a medical professional; this content complements medical advice and does not replace it. ABOUT HAIR, HORMONES & HONEST TALK A weekly podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the hair changes that come with them. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. FREE GUIDE The first practical step is our free guide: heads-hairacademy.com/free-guide DISCLAIMER Educational content only. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. This podcast complements medical advice — it never replaces it. Always consult your doctor or a qualified specialist about hormonal or scalp concerns. © 2026 ESMAEL BV · HEADS Hair Academy · Aarschot, Belgium

    Minoxidil, PRP and Miracle Claims: What Should Women Ask First?

  3. Sep 28

    Postpartum Hair Shedding: The Timeline Nobody Puts on the Baby Card

    The baby cards say plenty about the baby. They say less about standing in the bathroom, looking at your hairbrush and wondering what is happening to you. In this episode of Hair, Hormones & Honest Talk, Esmael Gilis makes room for the questions and feelings that can accompany postpartum hair shedding. We explore the usual timeline without turning it into a recovery deadline, the practical support a hairdresser can offer, and how to prepare a useful conversation with your doctor. You can be grateful for your baby and unsettled by changes in your hair. Both feelings deserve space, without another shopping list or pressure to “bounce back.” In this episodeUnderstanding the timing: Why the gap between giving birth and noticing shedding can feel confusing.Making room for your feelings: How to ask for support without apologizing for caring about your hair.Practical hair support: A manageable routine and styling conversation, without confusing appearance with treatment.Seeking medical advice: Questions to bring to an appointment and why a general timeline is not an instruction to wait.One useful next step: A short note about what you have noticed, plus one request for practical help.Get the free Hair Loss PDFGet your free guide, The 7 Types of Hair Loss. Use this plain-language starting point to help prepare your questions, not to diagnose yourself. Request the PDF through the linked guide page. Next episodeWe turn to the hair-growth aisle and the promises competing for your attention. From minoxidil and PRP to products that sound almost too good to be true, we explore the questions to ask before making a decision. Not another shopping list, but a calmer conversation about your options with a qualified professional. Thank you for the time and energy you spend listening. If this conversation helped, following the podcast or sharing it privately may help another woman find a place to begin. Esmael Gilis is a hairdresser, not a medical professional. This episode and the guide provide education that complements medical advice and never replaces individual assessment, diagnosis, or treatment.   ABOUT HAIR, HORMONES & HONEST TALK A weekly podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the hair changes that come with them. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. FREE GUIDE The first practical step is our free guide: heads-hairacademy.com/free-guide DISCLAIMER Educational content only. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. This podcast complements medical advice — it never replaces it. Always consult your doctor or a qualified specialist about hormonal or scalp concerns. © 2026 ESMAEL BV · HEADS Hair Academy · Aarschot, Belgium

    Postpartum Hair Shedding: The Timeline Nobody Puts on the Baby Card

  4. Sep 25

    Menopause Hair Loss: It’s Not Always “Just Hormones”

    “It’s just hormones” sounds like an explanation. For many women in perimenopause or menopause, it is where the useful conversation stops. In Episode 11, Esmael Gilis explains why menopause can be part of the hair-loss story without being a complete diagnosis. He separates sudden shedding from gradual thinning, shares the questions he asks at the salon chair, and gives you four calm actions for this week: write down the timeline, take a consistent baseline, prepare one clear sentence for your medical appointment, and support the hair you have while the cause is investigated. No miracle claims. No self-diagnosis. Just better questions and a calmer next step. In this episodeWhy “it’s just hormones” is not a complete answerThe difference between shedding and thinningWhy a life stage is not the same thing as a diagnosisWhen a clinician may consider blood testsWhy you should not take iron without a demonstrated needHow to take useful baseline photographs without checking every dayWhat a hairdresser can do while medical questions are being answeredFree companion guideGet The 7 Types of Hair Loss, Esmael’s free 14-page, plain-language guide, through the Hair Recovery guide page. Use the “Send me the 7 Types guide” button on that page to request your copy. Coming nextEpisode 12: Postpartum Hair Shedding: The Timeline Nobody Puts on the Baby Card We will talk about the postpartum timeline, the feelings around it, and when to seek medical advice. It will be an honest episode for new mothers and for anyone who wants to support them without dismissing what they are going through. Watch and followYouTube: Hair, Hormones & Honest TalkSpotifyApple PodcastsThis episode is educational and complements medical advice; it does not replace it. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. Speak to your doctor or dermatologist about diagnosis, tests, supplements, or treatment. Clinical context and further readingFemale-pattern hair loss is more common after menopause, but other causes can look similar and need a diagnosis (American Academy of Dermatology).Hormones alone do not explain all menopausal hair loss, and rapid loss, pain, itching or abnormal scalp skin warrant professional advice (Women’s Health Concern).Blood count, ferritin, and thyroid function can form part of an assessment of diffuse hair loss; the appropriate work-up should be undertaken with a clinician (NHS Scotland alopecia pathway).Unnecessary supplements can be harmful, including excess iron (American Academy of Dermatology). ABOUT HAIR, HORMONES & HONEST TALK A weekly podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the hair changes that come with them. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. FREE GUIDE The first practical step is our free guide: heads-hairacademy.com/free-guide DISCLAIMER Educational content only. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. This podcast complements medical advice — it never replaces it. Always consult your doctor or a qualified specialist about hormonal or scalp concerns. © 2026 ESMAEL BV · HEADS Hair Academy · Aarschot, Belgium

    Menopause Hair Loss: It’s Not Always “Just Hormones”

  5. Sep 15

    Camouflage vs Cure: When the Concealer Starts to Hide More Than the Hair Loss

    Camouflage buys you a Saturday. Cure buys you a decade. There is a whole beauty industry now built around one word — invisible. Invisible fibers. Invisible root touch-up. Invisible scalp make-up. And it is genuinely useful — on the wedding day, before the interview, before the anniversary. But if concealer is the whole plan, we are quietly choosing the Saturday over the decade. In this episode, Esmael Gilis — founder of HEADS (Belgium, 1998), 28 years behind the chair, two-time nominee at the Belgian Hairdressing Awards — draws the two-column conversation he has with women in the chair. On the left: camouflage. On the right: cure. Not either/or — both. In their proper order. In this episode: What concealer actually does (and what it never has, and never will)The edges as your earliest hair-loss alarm — and why silencing the alarm is not safetyWhat "when concealer starts to hide more than the hair loss" really meansThe two-column paper conversation Esmael has with clients: camouflage on the left, cure on the rightThree small actions for the week: honor the concealer, book the blood panel, take the baseline photoFree companion guide — The 7 Types of Hair Loss:👉 https://heads-hairacademy.com/hair-recovery A 14-page plain-language guide with the exact blood panel to ask your GP for, self-check at home, and how to take a baseline photo. No cost, no card, no spam. If you haven't yet, listen in order: Ep 7 — Scalp Is the New Skincare (the scalp foundation)Ep 8 — Menopause Hair: The 5 Red Flags (the checklist)Ep 9 — Nobody Sends a Casserole (the permission slip)Ep 10 — this episode (camouflage vs cure)Ep 11 (14 Sep) — coming next: what most women mistake for dandruff is not dandruffWatch on YouTube:📺 https://www.youtube.com/@HairHormonesHonestTalk This episode complements your doctor's advice and does not replace it. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. Any decisions about HRT, minoxidil, or blood work should be made with a menopause-informed doctor or dermatologist. ABOUT HAIR, HORMONES & HONEST TALK A weekly podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the hair changes that come with them. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. FREE GUIDE The first practical step is our free guide: heads-hairacademy.com/free-guide DISCLAIMER Educational content only. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. This podcast complements medical advice — it never replaces it. Always consult your doctor or a qualified specialist about hormonal or scalp concerns. © 2026 ESMAEL BV · HEADS Hair Academy · Aarschot, Belgium

    Camouflage vs Cure: When the Concealer Starts to Hide More Than the Hair Loss

  6. Sep 7

    Nobody Sends a Casserole When Your Hair Thins

    When your mother is diagnosed with something, the phone rings. When someone you love dies, the flowers arrive. When your hair thins in your forties — silence. Nobody asks how you are doing. Nobody notices you have stopped wearing it up. Nobody sees you standing in the shower after a wash, holding a handful of it in your hand. Last week's episode was the checklist — the five red flags of menopause hair loss. This week is the permission slip. In this episode, Esmael Gilis — founder of HEADS (Belgium, 1998), 28 years behind the chair, a two-time nominee at the Belgian Hairdressing Awards — sits with the emotional side of perimenopausal hair loss. What no one else will say. Why women grieve it in silence. The three sentences he hears most often in the chair. And the three permissions he gives every client in her forties this week — permissions, not treatments. In this episode: Why "nobody sends a casserole" — and why the silence itself is making it worseThe chronic stress → cortisol → hair loss loop (real, measurable, not soft science)The three sentences women whisper in the chair when they finally trust youWhat Sally Lindsay said publicly this weekend — and why it mattersPermission 1: Tell one personPermission 2: Take a baseline photo (and why it isn't cruel)Permission 3: Book the appointment you've been putting off since MarchFree companion guide — The 7 Types of Hair Loss:👉 https://heads-hairacademy.com/hair-recovery A 14-page plain-language guide with photos, self-check, the exact blood panel to ask for, and how to take a baseline photo that doesn't lie to you. No cost, no card, no spam. Listen to Ep 8 first (if you haven't):The Five Red Flags of Menopause Hair. This week's episode is the emotional companion. Watch on YouTube:📺 https://www.youtube.com/@HairHormonesHonestTalk This episode complements your doctor's advice and does not replace it. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. If perimenopause hair loss is affecting your mental health, please speak to your GP. ABOUT HAIR, HORMONES & HONEST TALK A weekly podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the hair changes that come with them. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. FREE GUIDE The first practical step is our free guide: heads-hairacademy.com/free-guide DISCLAIMER Educational content only. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. This podcast complements medical advice — it never replaces it. Always consult your doctor or a qualified specialist about hormonal or scalp concerns. © 2026 ESMAEL BV · HEADS Hair Academy · Aarschot, Belgium

    Nobody Sends a Casserole When Your Hair Thins

  7. Aug 31

    Menopause Hair: 5 Red Flags You're Not Just Getting Older

    She sat in the chair on Thursday afternoon. Fifty-three years old. Eleven-year client. And she said, "Esmael, please be honest. Am I imagining this — or is my hair actually different?" She was not imagining it. Her part was wider. Her temples had receded. Her ponytail was thinner. Her hair was growing back finer. Her doctor had told her, "It's just menopause; it happens to everyone." Her previous hairdresser had told her, "your hair just gets finer with age." Neither of them was right. In this episode, Esmael Gilis — founder of HEADS – The Art Of Hairdressing (Belgium, 1998), with 28 years behind the chair, two nominations at the Belgian Hairdressing Awards, and thousands of clients — walks through the five red flags that separate menopause hair loss from normal aging. If two or more are true for you, this is a hormonal pattern; it is worth taking seriously, and time matters. In this episode: Why menopause hair loss is fundamentally different from age-related thinning Red flag 1: Your part line has widened Red flag 2: Your temples have receded Red flag 3: Your ponytail is thinner Red flag 4: Your hair grows more slowly Red flag 5: New hair growing back is finer than the old The exact blood panel to ask your GP for — ferritin, vitamin D, thyroid, full sex hormone panel What HRT actually does for hair (and what your GP might get wrong) Why "it's just menopause, everyone gets it" is a shrug in a white coat, not a diagnosis Free companion guide — The 7 Types of Hair Loss: 👉 https://heads-hairacademy.com/hair-recovery A 14-page plain-language guide with photos, self-check, the exact blood panel worth asking for, what to stop doing immediately, and how to take a baseline photo that doesn't lie to you. No cost, no card, no spam. Watch on YouTube: 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@HairHormonesHonestTalk This episode complements your doctor's advice and does not replace it. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. If you suspect menopause-related hair loss, ask your GP for the blood panel described in this episode, and consult a menopause-informed doctor or gynaecologist about HRT. ABOUT HAIR, HORMONES & HONEST TALK A weekly podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the hair changes that come with them. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. FREE GUIDE The first practical step is our free guide: heads-hairacademy.com/free-guide DISCLAIMER Educational content only. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. This podcast complements medical advice — it never replaces it. Always consult your doctor or a qualified specialist about hormonal or scalp concerns. © 2026 ESMAEL BV · HEADS Hair Academy · Aarschot, Belgium

    Menopause Hair: 5 Red Flags You're Not Just Getting Older

  8. Aug 24

    Scalp Is the New Skincare: What's Real, What's Marketing, and What Actually

    She walked into the salon last Saturday with a printed list. Three pages. Sixteen scalp products bought in four months. Seven hundred and forty euros. And she looked Esmael dead in the eye and said, "My hair is not any thicker. What am I doing wrong?" She wasn't doing anything wrong. She was doing what half of women on scalp-care Instagram are doing right now — reacting to the biggest beauty trend of 2026 with an open wallet and no map. In this episode, Esmael Gilis — founder of HEADS – The Art Of Hairdressing (Belgium, 1998), with 28 years behind the chair, two nominations at the Belgian Hairdressing Awards, and thousands of clients across his career — cuts through the "scalp is the new skincare" noise. What is actually evidence-backed. What is very expensive theatre. And the four-item, mostly-free routine that does more for your follicles than sixteen products ever will. In this episode: Why "scalp is the new skincare" is suddenly everywhere — and where the trend came from Three things about scalp care that ARE genuinely true (cleansing, massage, one ingredient) Three things that are marketing dressed as science (including "scalp detox") The 4-item, ~€80-150/year routine that actually supports the follicle Head spas — worth it or not? The one red flag that means see a dermatologist, not a beauty counter Free companion guide — The 7 Types of Hair Loss: 👉 https://heads-hairacademy.com/hair-recovery A 14-page plain-language guide that walks through the seven recognized patterns of hair loss with photos and a self-check, the single blood panel worth asking your GP for, what to stop doing immediately, and how to take a baseline photo that doesn't lie to you. No cost, no card, no spam. Watch on YouTube: 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@HairHormonesHonestTalk This episode complements your doctor's advice and does not replace it. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. If your scalp is persistently itchy, sore, or flaking in patches, see a dermatologist. ABOUT HAIR, HORMONES & HONEST TALK A weekly podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the hair changes that come with them. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. FREE GUIDE The first practical step is our free guide: heads-hairacademy.com/free-guide DISCLAIMER Educational content only. Esmael Gilis is a professional hairdresser, not a medical professional. This podcast complements medical advice — it never replaces it. Always consult your doctor or a qualified specialist about hormonal or scalp concerns. © 2026 ESMAEL BV · HEADS Hair Academy · Aarschot, Belgium

    Scalp Is the New Skincare: What's Real, What's Marketing, and What Actually
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Perimenopause hair changes blindside most women — and most of the advice out there is either too clinical to act on or too commercial to trust. Hair, Hormones & Honest Talk is the in-between voice you wished you had. Hosted by Esmael Gilis — 28 years as a hairdresser, two-time nominee at The Hairdressing Awards Belgium, founder of HEADS Hair Academy. New episode every week. Honest, generous with the science, never overselling. Hair loss complements medical advice — it never replaces it. heads-hairacademy.com

Information

  • Creator
    Esmael Gilis
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 - Hair, Hormones & Honest Talk by Esmael BV
  • Show Website
    Hair, Hormones & Honest Talk