What Is PRP and How Can It Help Hair Loss?
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Heard of PRP for hair loss but not quite sure what it actually is or whether it works? You’re not alone.
If you’ve been dealing with hair shedding, visible scalp patches, or gradual thinning, whether it’s male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss, postpartum hair loss, stress-related telogen effluvium, or even alopecia areata, you’ve probably stumbled across the term PRP at some point.
But what does it actually involve? And more importantly, is it right for you?
There’s a lot of hype around PRP (short for Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy), but much of the information out there is packed with jargon or vague promises. This blog is here to give you clear, down-to-earth answers, so you can make sense of it all.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know:
What PRP is and how it actually works (without the fluff)
What types of hair loss it can help and where it doesn’t work so well
Whether it could be the right step for you, or if something else might be better
Why it’s a waste of money to jump in without a proper diagnosis
How PRP fits into the bigger picture alongside supplements, scalp care, or even transplants
If you’re frustrated by mixed messages online and just want to understand your options, this post will give you a solid, honest starting point.
What is PRP?
PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma and while the name sounds technical, the concept is actually quite simple.
It’s a treatment that uses your own blood to stimulate healthier, stronger hair growth. Here’s how it works:
A small amount of blood is taken from your arm, just like a routine blood test
That blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells from the plasma
The plasma is then concentrated so it’s rich in platelets, which contain powerful growth factors, the natural substances your body uses for healing
This platelet-rich plasma is then injected directly into areas of your scalp that are thinning
These growth factors can help wake up dormant follicles, improve blood supply, and create a healthier environment for your hair to grow.
You might have seen it described as “fertiliser for the scalp”—and in the right conditions, that’s exactly what it can be.
Who’s Talking About it, and Why?
PRP has gained traction thanks to celebrity endorsements, Instagram clips, and clinics promising it as a miracle cure. But while PRP has great potential, it’s important to know it’s not suitable for every type of hair loss, and results vary from person to person.
This is why jumping into PRP without understanding what’s really causing your hair loss can often lead to frustration—or worse, wasting money on a treatment that was never the right fit.
Does PRP Actually Regrow Hair?
Short answer: it can, but only in the right circumstances.
If you’re hoping PRP will magically bring back thick, full hair overnight, you’ll likely be disappointed. But if your follicles are still active and you’re in the early to moderate stages of hair loss, PRP can be a powerful, natural way to support regrowth and reduce shedding.
Here’s what PRP can do:
Improve blood flow to the scalp, which is vital for healthy follicle function
Reactivate dormant follicles, encouraging them back into the growth phase (anagen)
Thicken the diameter of existing hairs, making your hair look fuller overall
Slow down active shedding, particularly in genetic or stress-related hair loss
It’s not instant, and results vary, but when PRP is the right fit, you’ll typically start to notice subtle improvements after 3 or 4 sessions, with fuller results around 3 to 6 months in. Ongoing top-ups every 4–6 months are often recommended to maintain results.
How Does It Actually Work?
When PRP is injected into thinning areas of the scalp, it delivers a concentrated blend of your body’s own growth factors directly to the hair follicles. These growth factors are what help regenerate tissue, reduce inflammation, and encourage hair growth.
The key growth factors in PRP include:
VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) – Promotes new blood vessel formation to increase oxygen and nutrient supply to the follicle
IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) – Encourages hair matrix cell survival, supports longer growth cycles, and enhances follicle regeneration
PDGF (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor) – Stimulates cellular growth and blood vessel repair, supporting scalp healing and tissue regeneration
EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) – Supports cell turnover in the scalp and assists follicular repair
FGF-2 and FGF-7 (Fibroblast Growth Factors) – Aid in stem cell activation and structural support of the hair follicle environment
TGF-β (Transforming Growth Factor-beta) – Helps regulate inflammation and follicle cycling when balanced appropriately
Together, these molecules act like messengers, signalling your scalp to repair, revascularise, and return follicles to an active growing state.
What PRP won’t do:
It won’t revive follicles that are already dead or scarred. If your hair follicles have closed completely (as can happen in late-stage pattern baldness or scarring alopecias), PRP can’t bring them back.
It won’t fix internal imbalances. If your hair loss is caused by low iron, B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, or crash dieting, PRP might help the symptoms temporarily, but it won’t resolve the root cause.
It’s not right for every type of hair loss. That’s why correct diagnosis always comes first, without it, PRP can become an expensive guessing game.
If you’re not sure what’s triggering your hair loss, it’s worth getting a consultation with a qualified trichologist before committing to any treatment plan.
What Type of Hair Loss Does PRP Help?
PRP is often described as a treatment that works “for all kinds of hair loss”, but that’s not entirely accurate. While it can be incredibly effective in the right situations, there are specific conditions where PRP performs well, and others where it’s either not suitable or needs to be combined with other therapies for the best outcome.
If you’re unsure what type of hair loss you have, it’s always best to get a proper diagnosis before investing in any treatment, including PRP.
Androgenetic Alopecia (Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss)
This is the most common type of hair loss in both men and women. It’s genetically driven and usually develops gradually over time, often with thinning at the temples, crown, or parting.
PRP is one of the most effective non-surgical options for androgenetic alopecia, especially in its early to moderate stages. It can help:
Strengthen miniaturising follicles
Improve scalp circulation
Increase the thickness of existing hair shafts
Slow down the rate of shedding
This is where PRP tends to give the most visible results, particularly when started before the follicles become dormant.
Telogen Effluvium (Stress-Related Hair Loss)
Telogen effluvium is often triggered by a shock to the body, such as illness, high stress, COVID, surgery, or a major life change, and causes diffuse shedding across the scalp.
In these cases, PRP can be a useful supportive treatment, helping the scalp recover and encouraging the hair to re-enter the growth phase more quickly. However, it’s essential to address the underlying cause at the same time, otherwise, the shedding may continue.
Postpartum Hair Loss
Hormonal fluctuations after pregnancy often lead to postpartum shedding, typically noticeable around 3 to 6 months after giving birth. While this type of hair loss is usually temporary, some women find their hair never fully bounces back to its pre-pregnancy thickness.
PRP can be a great option for postpartum recovery, but not straight away.
PRP is not recommended while breastfeeding, due to limited safety data and the body’s naturally altered immune and hormonal responses during this time.
Once you’ve finished breastfeeding and your hormone levels have stabilised, PRP may be worth considering to support regrowth and scalp recovery, especially if your hair hasn’t returned to baseline and it’s affecting your confidence.
Alopecia Areata (Patchy Autoimmune Hair Loss)
This condition involves the immune system attacking the hair follicles, causing patchy bald spots. While PRP is not a guaranteed solution here, it has shown promise in some cases by:
Reducing local inflammation
Stimulating regrowth in patches
Supporting a healthier scalp environment
Success rates vary, and it’s often used alongside other treatments (such as topical steroids or immunotherapy). A full consultation is essential to assess suitability.
Hair Transplant Support (Pre and Post Procedure)
PRP is increasingly used to enhance the results of hair transplant surgery, both before and after the procedure.
Before surgery: PRP improves the quality of the donor area and prepares the recipient site by boosting circulation and supporting healthier follicles
After surgery: It speeds up healing, reduces inflammation, and can help transplanted follicles settle in and begin growing more effectively and quickly
If you’re considering a transplant or have already had one, PRP can help you get the most from your investment.
Should I Start PRP Without a Diagnosis?
If you’re noticing hair loss, it’s natural to feel a sense of urgency. PRP might seem like the obvious next step, especially when it’s promoted online as a “natural” or “non-surgical” fix. But starting PRP without a proper diagnosis can be one of the biggest and most expensive mistakes you make.
Why diagnosis always comes first
PRP works best when hair follicles are still active and the scalp is in a healthy state. If your hair loss is being driven by something deeper—like iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, an autoimmune condition, or stress, then PRP on its own may do very little. Worse still, it might delay treatment of the actual cause.
To get lasting results, you need to understand:
What’s causing your hair loss
Whether your follicles are capable of responding to PRP
If anything else needs addressing first, like low ferritin or hormonal imbalance
Whether PRP is even the most suitable treatment for your lifestyle and goals
You can’t treat a condition effectively without knowing what it is. Diagnosis is the foundation for any hair loss plan that actually works—and that doesn’t waste your time or money.
What to expect from a proper consultation
At Ruth Collis Trichology, consultations are detailed, professional, and designed to give you clarity, not confusion.
As a standalone practitioner, I spend 45 minutes to an hour investigating your case thoroughly. This includes:
A full health, lifestyle and scalp history
Magnified trichoscopic examination
Assessment of hair density and loss patterns
Referral for NHS blood testing if required
Tailored recommendations based on your specific hair loss type
You’ll also receive a written summary a 3 to 4-page document that outlines your diagnosis, contributing factors, appropriate treatment options, and practical advice around nutrition, scalp care, and long-term management. This arms you with the knowledge you need to make confident, informed decisions.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to hair loss. The goal is always to identify the right treatment, for the right condition, in the right way, and to ensure it fits with your lifestyle, values, and goals.
How Much Does PRP Cost in the UK?
One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “How much does PRP cost?” And the honest answer is, it depends.
In the UK, PRP hair restoration typically costs between £250 and £450 per session. Prices can vary depending on:
The location and reputation of the clinic
The quality of the PRP system used (some systems extract more growth factors than others)
Whether PRP is combined with additional therapies, such as microneedling, LED light, or high-frequency stimulation
The level of diagnostic support and clinical expertise that accompanies the treatment
At Ruth Collis Trichology, PRP is only offered when clinically appropriate, following a full consultation and diagnosis.
I offer both single sessions and discounted treatment packages for patients who want to commit to a full course. These packages include complimentary high-frequency and infrared or low-level laser therapy (usually £225), a combination shown to further support circulation and follicle recovery.
Most people need a course of 3–6 sessions, spaced around 4 to 6 weeks apart. Maintenance sessions are typically recommended every few months, depending on your hair loss type, progress, and goals.
What you’re paying for isn’t just the injection, it’s the expertise.
When you choose a PRP provider, you’re not just investing in the procedure itself. You’re investing in:
A correct, evidence-based diagnosis before treatment
A clinically tailored approach, not one-size-fits-all protocols
A practitioner who understands the underlying causes of hair loss, not just the surface symptoms
A calm, private, non-aesthetic-led environment focused entirely on scalp health and restoration
This is what gives PRP the best chance of working, because you’re not just treating hair loss, you’re treating your hair loss, in a way that fits your body and lifestyle.
If you’re thinking about PRP, the most important step you can take first is understanding why your hair is falling out. Without a correct diagnosis, you could end up spending money on a treatment that was never appropriate, or worse, miss something deeper like a nutrient deficiency, thyroid imbalance or a condition that requires medical attention.
Getting answers doesn’t just protect your investment, it gives you the power to make the right choice for your scalp, your body, and your future hair health. And in some cases, it might even mean PRP isn’t needed at all.
I offer one-to-one consultations from my clinic in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. We’ll look at your scalp health, lifestyle, blood markers (if needed), and hair history together to work out what’s really going on, and whether PRP is the right next step for you.
Book a consultation here or get in touch if you’d like to talk it through first.
