How-to Address Hair Thinning on a Budget, New Thinking Behind Hair Fallout and Why Drugstore Haircare is so #DamnGood with Scientist Dr. Jeni Thomas
Breaking Beauty Podcast
Dear Media, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins
4.7 • 996 Ratings
🗓️ 25 February 2026
⏱️ 46 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Have you ever looked at your hairbrush or the shower drain and felt that instant wave of dread? You aren't alone. Today, we are diving deep into the world of hair density, scalp health, and the breakthrough science behind keeping your hair where it belongs: on your head.
This episode is brought to you in part by our friends at Pantene and we’re joined by their Global Principal Scientist Dr. Jeni Thomas. Dr. Thomas is pulling back the curtain on the “why” behind hair shedding and explaining how drugstore haircare is leading the charge in high-tech solutions that don’t require a prescription – or a bank loan.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Normal vs. problematic shedding: How many falling strands a day is actually normal? We learn how to identify your personal baseline and how to know when it’s time to seek help.
- Hair shedding myths: The real reason why you see a “hairball” in the shower drain, sulfates and silicones explained, and is the “seasonal shed” a real thing?
- Stress test: Is internal or external stress at the root of hair thinning? Dr. Jeni Thomas weighs in on the latest thinking based on the newest research.
- Root-anchoring: Why strengthening your roots at the scalp is the first and easiest step in preventing hair fall.
- Luxury vs. drugstore: The facts on why you don't need to spend $$$ on a shampoo to get next-level results.
For products or links mentioned in this episode, see our episode recaps on our website.
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Related episodes like this:
- SPF Truths vs. Myths With Olay Scientist Dr. Frauke Neuser
- Hair Growth Secrets From Trichologist Abbey Yung
- 7 Hair Truths That Only a Hairstylist Will Tell You with Kardashian Hair Pro Andrew Fitzsimons
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*Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, all products reviewed are gratis media samples submitted for editorial consideration.*
Hosts: Carlene Higgins and Jill Dunn
Theme song, used with permission: Cherry Bomb by Saya
Produced by Dear Media Studio
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The following podcast is a dear media production. |
| 0:08.1 | Welcome to Breaking Beauty, the podcast all about the breakthrough people, products, and moments in beauty. |
| 0:13.8 | We're your host, Jill Dunn and Carleen Higgins. |
| 0:27.6 | Hello and welcome back to Breaking Beauty Podcast with your weekly fellow what's damn good in the beauty world. |
| 0:30.6 | I'm Carleen and this is my co-host, Jill Dunn. |
| 0:35.0 | Hey, hey guys, we've been with you for nine years now on the microphone. |
| 0:38.6 | Of course, we're two longtime beauty editors turned beauty podcasters sharing the breakthrough people, products, and moments in beauty every single week. And Carleen, |
| 0:44.0 | today we have a very exciting episode for everyone. Yeah, we do. We're partnering up with our |
| 0:49.4 | friends at P&G once again. And we've been doing this for like 20 years since our, since our magazine days, |
| 0:55.7 | really. Yeah. P&G introduced me to a lab coat for sure. So whether it's like OLA, rotting around |
| 1:02.3 | in your car, talking about SPF, everyday sunscreen with my with my sunroof open. We've also talked to |
| 1:09.6 | plenty of P&G hair scientists, hair stylists over the years. And, |
| 1:13.7 | you know, I'm a drugstore girly at heart. We all know that. So today's episode is very exciting. |
| 1:18.3 | Yes. We're thrilled to bring you an education-packed episode brought to you in part by our friends at |
| 1:24.3 | Pantene. And Carleen, you and I were talking because we were fortunate enough last night to go to the Panteen event. And there was a hairbrush there. And there was a hairbrush that had like no hair shedding in it. And then there was a hairbrush that was full. And you were like, relatable. Yes. That was me on the left. That was you on the right. And it's not fair, but it's the reality. So if you've ever felt |
| 1:46.3 | like, is this normal when you look in the drain and see a pile of hair, this episode is definitely |
| 1:51.3 | for you. So this is on the heels of Pantene's latest launch. It's a three-piece collection called |
| 1:56.6 | Abundantan and Strong. And we are welcoming the absolutely brilliant Dr. Jenny Thomas Global Principal |
| 2:03.4 | Scientist at Pantene. Welcome, Dr. Jenny. Thank you so much for having me. It's such a pleasure |
| 2:08.6 | to be with you both. Thank you so much. Well, I need to blow you up a little bit because you have so |
| 2:13.6 | much incredible expertise that you're going to share with us today. And Dr. Thomas, she's |
| 2:17.6 | been deep in the lab bringing us affordable science-back solutions to the most common hair |
... |
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