The Trich Prof

25/03/2026

Like millions of others, I pull my own hair out - we need to talk about trichotillomania

A TikToker has opened up about his struggles with a condition that causes him to pull his own hair out.

21/03/2026

So what's it all about then?

In short, I tried to write the book that would have helped me. When I stopped trying to stop, and started trying to understand, my urges became quieter and more manageable.

I can't wait to hear what you think!

19/03/2026

BFRB Con 2026 website is now LIVE!!

Please visit www.bfrbcon.org for all the information you need about BFRB Con 2026.

We're keen to hear from anyone who is interested in contributing to the scientific and community programme.

Registration will open in a few weeks.

We really hope lots of you will be able to join us!

18/03/2026

So looking forward to !!

13/03/2026

I'm hoping this one will provoke some debate...

My brilliant colleagues , and I have just published a comment in the Lancet Psychiatry (one of the biggest journals in the field) in which we describe the problem of stigmatising language around BFRBs.

I've summarised the main points in this post, and for those with access, here is the link to the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(26)00063-5/abstract

I'd love to know what you think!

27/02/2026

3 great new BFRB books landed in one week!

24/02/2026

I used to think of compassion as being something soft and fluffy - a kind of vague notion of pleasantness. I would even go as far as to say that I thought being compassionate about my BFRBs was a weakness that I needed to guard against.

I was very wrong.

I now think of compassion as a powerful skill, and that learning it has massively changed my life for the better. would not be here if I hadn't learned the skill of self-compassion.

So what actually is compassion? And how can we learn to use it? Like any skill, we are unlikely to be good at it at first, and we'll need to practice for a while before it comes naturally. We can't simply tell ourselves to be compassionate - we need to take time to notice harsh self-talk and gradually replace it with gentle curiosity.

If you'd like to know more, I found 'The Compassionate Mind', by Paul Gilbert an invaluable resource, and there is more info at: https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk

17/02/2026

BFRBs are no longer a thing no-one talks about at the University of Oxford - this is starting to look and feel like a proper research group!

It all started with a conversation with my wonderful colleague (& now friend!) , and before I knew it we were supervising our first BFRB masters student .fay to conduct a survey in young people with BFRBs. followed up Talia's participants, and did a powerful qualitative study of the experience of shame in young hair-pullers (see previous posts). Then came Daisy and , who are continuing the work of properly conceptualising and capturing the experience of young people with BFRBs.

We welcomed the wonderful to visit last week. Bridget brings years of research and advocacy for people with BFRBs (.uk.ireland), and enriches our psychologist/neuroscientist way of thinking with her anthropologist's perspective. Interdisciplinary research is absolutely what is needed, and is SO enjoyable.

And our brilliant Daisy just secured funding for a DPhil to build all of these insights into new therapeutic approaches for people with BFRBs. I couldn't be more delighted and proud!

GO TEAM BFRB!

13/02/2026

Flights are booked and I'm looking forward to joining the incredible at the first ever ! It's the culmination of 10 years of work, and Lauren has a great lineup taking shape. I'm so excited to hang out with some BFRB legends, and meet lots of new ones!

It will also be the first opportunity for people in the US to get their hands on a physical copy of my book! (for some reason there is a lag between the UK launch date and the US one, which is something like July).

Who's coming?

08/02/2026

For those who like longer-form content, I put a work talk that I gave a couple of weeks ago on youtube.

I don't love it (I talked too fast!), so thought I would just quietly park it there in case anyone was interested, but it's already had a few views so I thought I should let you know!

https://youtu.be/IYXne3PNN2w?si=IKdLTWfXErnkHjv5