A recent study by Treatment Rooms London, a hair transplantation specialist, has named Oxford as the UK city most preoccupied with hairloss, with residents averaging 365 searches per 100,000 people. The research, which examined Google search data across 78 UK cities, highlights varying levels of anxiety about hairloss nationwide, with Worcester and Dundee following closely behind Oxford.
The study found that Oxford residents conducted an average of 424 monthly searches related to hairloss, equating to 365 searches per 100,000 people. This figure is more than three times higher than that of Cambridge, which recorded the lowest level of hairloss anxiety at 109 searches per 100,000 residents. Worcester ranked second with 317 searches per 100,000 people, while Dundee took third place with 296 searches per 100,000.
Top 10 UK cities with the highest hair loss-related searches
- Oxford: 365.03 searches per 100,000 people
- Worcester: 316.85 searches per 100,000 people
- Dundee: 296.03 searches per 100,000 people
- Middlesbrough: 295.18 searches per 100,000 people
- West Bromwich: 286.91 searches per 100,000 people
- Derry: 282.99 searches per 100,000 people
- Reading: 282.20 searches per 100,000 people
- Maidstone: 279.77 searches per 100,000 people
- Birmingham: 267.08 searches per 100,000 people
- Eastbourne: 262.30 searches per 100,000 people
Middlesbrough, with 295 searches per 100,000 people, secured fourth place, indicating that hairloss concerns are widespread across the UK. West Bromwich followed in fifth with 287 searches, Derry in sixth with 283, and Reading in seventh with 282 searches per 100,000 residents. Maidstone, Birmingham, and Eastbourne completed the top ten with 280, 267, and 262 searches per 100,000 people, respectively.
In contrast, Cambridge exhibited the least concern, followed by Nottingham with 110 searches and Leicester with 132 searches per 100,000 residents. London, often assumed to be a hub of high stress, ranked 35th with a moderate 223 searches per 100,000 people.
Top 10 UK cities with the lowest hair loss-related searches
- Cambridge: 109.12 searches per 100,000 people
- Nottingham: 109.52 searches per 100,000 people
- Rotherham: 128.16 searches per 100,000 people
- Leicester: 131.90 searches per 100,000 people
- Northampton: 134.83 searches per 100,000 people
- Sheffield: 148.51 searches per 100,000 people
- Southampton: 150.90 searches per 100,000 people
- Bradford: 152.97 searches per 100,000 people
- Derby: 157.58 searches per 100,000 people
- Watford: 158.64 searches per 100,000 people
A spokesperson from Treatment Rooms London commented on the findings, “These results really do a great job at showing the places in the UK most concerned with hairloss. Oxford’s position at the top of the rankings might reflect the academic pressure and stress experienced across university cities, which are known factors that can contribute to hairloss. At the same time, it’s important to remember that though it’s more commonly spoken about with men, women can experience hairloss too.
“Hairloss can have a substantial impact on self-esteem and mental well-being, regardless of where you live. Many people experiencing hair thinning or baldness often search online before seeking professional advice. One way to tell the difference between genetic hairloss, such as male pattern baldness, and stress-related hairloss is by observing how and when your hair sheds. For example, you may notice more hair on your pillow, in the shower, or when brushing. Stress-induced hairloss often hits you fast and, unlike the genetic kind, it tends to affect your entire scalp, not just a patch.”
The study’s methodology involved analysing Google Keyword Planner data, starting with a seed list of the 50 most commonly searched hairloss terms in the UK, as identified by Ahrefs. Monthly average search volumes for each term were collected for each city and compared against population sizes to calculate searches per 100,000 people, ensuring an accurate ranking across cities of varying sizes.
In response to anxiety-related concerns, some cities have implemented support systems. In Worcester, NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire partnered with BFB Labs to provide Lumi Nova, a free mobile game to help young people manage anxiety. Dundee’s university offers resources like the “3-3-3” grounding technique to support students. Middlesbrough’s Starfish Health Wellbeing service aids residents with mild to moderate anxiety or depression.
