A couple years ago, I was standing in front of the mirror, trying to part my hair differently so no one would notice how thin it was getting. I used to have a full head of hair—thick, wavy, almost too much at times. So you can imagine how panicked I was when clumps started showing up in the shower drain.
Turns out, hair loss isn't just about bad genes or getting older. It can sneak up on you for a bunch of different reasons—some you'd never guess.
Did you know that around 50% of women experience noticeable hair loss by age 50? That stat slapped me in the face when I first read it. But here’s the thing: you can’t fix what you don’t understand.
So let me walk you through the real causes of hair loss—and what actually helped me stop it (and even reverse it a bit).
Hormonal Imbalances: When Your Body Is Out of Sync
Hormones are tricky little beasts. One minute they’re helping you glow, and the next, your hair is bailing on you.
When I hit my early 30s, I started noticing more shedding around my period. Later, I found out it was due to estrogen dips. If you have PCOS, thyroid issues, or are going through perimenopause, your hormones could be wrecking your follicles.
For me, the real game-changer was getting thyroid labs done—turns out I had low T3! My doctor adjusted my meds, and within two months, I saw a difference.
👉 What helped:
- Getting a full hormone panel (TSH, T3, T4, estrogen, testosterone)
- Using spearmint tea for mild androgen issues (bonus: it tastes good!)
- Switching to a low-DHT shampoo
If you feel “off” and your hair is suffering, dig deeper. Hormones are like the control panel for your body—and your hair’s paying attention.
Stress and Emotional Health: The Invisible Culprit
Let me just say—stress sucks. Not just for your sanity, but for your scalp too. I went through a crazy job loss + breakup combo a couple years ago, and about 2-3 months later... boom. Hairfall explosion.
This kind of stress-triggered shedding is called telogen effluvium. Basically, your body flips into survival mode, puts hair growth on pause, and focuses on not dying.
My therapist told me it’s like your body saying, “We’ll grow hair again once we’re not about to crash and burn.”
👉 What helped:
- Daily journaling (even if it was just word vomit)
- Box breathing and guided meditations (shoutout to Insight Timer)
- Giving myself a damn break—mentally and physically
Also: I started taking ashwagandha, and I swear it mellowed me out just enough to stop the cycle.
Nutritional Deficiencies: You Are What You Eat
I’ll never forget the look on my doctor’s face when my ferritin levels came back at 9. (Anything under 30 can tank your hair growth.) I was living on coffee, toast, and vibes. Turns out, not great for hair.
Hair needs iron, vitamin D, zinc, and protein to thrive. If you’re skipping meals, cutting carbs, or living on smoothies with no substance—you might be starving your scalp.
👉 What helped:
- Eating iron-rich foods like lentils, spinach, and red meat
- Taking a high-absorption iron supplement with vitamin C
- Adding collagen powder to my morning tea (no taste, easy win)
- Checking B12 and vitamin D—low D was also an issue for me
Once I fixed the basics, I noticed fewer strands in the drain. Crazy what real food can do.
Scalp Health and Skin Conditions: The Foundation Matters
Here’s the tea: If your scalp is a mess, your hair doesn’t stand a chance.
I used to over-wash and pile on products until my scalp was dry, itchy, and flaking. I didn’t know I had seborrheic dermatitis—a fancy name for angry, inflamed scalp skin.
Turns out, all those clarifying shampoos were just making things worse.
👉 What helped:
- Switching to a gentle pH-balanced shampoo
- Using tea tree oil diluted in jojoba oil 1x a week
- Ditching dry shampoo (yep, even though I loved it)
- Weekly scalp massages to boost blood flow and chill out
Think of your scalp like soil. If the ground sucks, the plants won’t grow.
Hair Habits and Products: What You Might Be Doing Wrong
I used to rock tight ponytails every day. Add in daily straightening, dry shampoo, and sleeping with wet hair—yikes. No wonder my strands started snapping.
Even the “clean” shampoos were sneaky. So many had alcohols or sulfates that stripped my already fragile hair.
👉 What helped:
- Letting my hair breathe: loose buns, silk scrunchies
- Switching to a satin pillowcase (a small luxury that paid off)
- Using heat protectant religiously
- Doing a “product detox” and rebuilding my routine from scratch
Less truly became more. I simplified my hair life, and my scalp thanked me.
Genetics and Aging: What You Can and Can’t Control
Okay, this one’s tough. If female pattern hair loss runs in your family, you might be genetically wired to shed more as you age.
That said—it’s not hopeless.
I learned that you can slow the progression and even regrow some hair with the right approach. It’s about consistency and realistic expectations.
👉 What helped:
- Using Minoxidil foam (yes, even with the shedding phase)
- Trying microneedling once a week with a derma roller
- Accepting that some thinning is normal—and not a personal failure
You can’t change your DNA, but you can change how you respond to it.
Medications and Medical Conditions: The Hidden Triggers
I was shocked to learn my birth control might’ve been causing my hair loss. Later, when I switched anxiety meds, it got even worse. A lot of meds list “hair thinning” as a side effect—but most doctors won’t mention it unless you ask.
Plus, things like autoimmune disorders (like lupus or alopecia areata) can sneak up and affect your follicles.
👉 What helped:
- Reading all the side effects of my meds (carefully!)
- Asking my doctor about alternatives with fewer hair impacts
- Getting ANA tests to rule out autoimmune triggers
- Tracking symptoms in a hair loss journal
If your gut says something’s off—it probably is.
✅ Conclusion: Don’t Just Treat the Symptoms—Find the Cause
Losing hair is scary, frustrating, and straight-up emotional. I’ve cried in the shower. I’ve hidden bald spots. But the turning point for me wasn’t finding the perfect serum—it was figuring out why it was happening in the first place.
Once you know the root cause, you can actually do something about it. Maybe it’s your hormones. Or your scalp. Or stress (been there). Don’t guess—get curious.
📌 Start journaling your symptoms.
📌 Get blood tests.
📌 Listen to your body.
And hey—don’t be afraid to share your story. You never know who needs to hear it.
👇 Drop your experience or hair tips in the comments—let’s support each other through it!
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