Why is my hair falling out? Lets talk about it!
If there’s one thing almost everyone struggles with at some point, it’s hair loss.
And I know, it feels personal. You notice more hair in the shower drain, more in your brush, maybe even thinning around your hairline… and suddenly you’re spiraling.
So let’s slow this down and actually talk about what’s happening.
Because hair loss isn’t random. And it isn’t usually permanent. But it also isn’t as simple as “just take a vitamin.”
First — How Hair Actually Grows
The average lifespan of a strand of hair is about 2–7 years. During that time, it cycles through three phases:
The Anagen Phase (Growth)
This is where the magic happens.
Hair is actively growing, and about 85–90% of the hair on your head is in this phase at any given time. This phase can last anywhere from 2–7 years depending on genetics, hormones, health, and lifestyle.
Longer anagen phase = longer, fuller hair potential.
The Catagen Phase (Transition)
This is the short middle phase — only about 2–3 weeks.
Hair stops growing.
The follicle shrinks.
It detaches from its blood supply.
It’s basically the “wrap it up” stage.
The Telogen Phase (Resting & Shedding)
This phase lasts around 3 months.
The hair sheds, but here’s the important part, a new hair is already forming underneath.
So when you see shedding, it doesn’t mean the follicle is dead. It means it’s cycling.
And that’s normal.
So Why Does Hair Loss Happen?
Here’s where it gets real: hair growth is not an exact science. It’s influenced by:
-Hormones
-Stress
-Illness
-Weight changes
-Nutrition
-Thyroid health
-Age
-Scalp health
Your hair follicles are like tiny, sensitive mini-organs. And when your body feels like it’s in crisis, it diverts energy away from “non-essential” processes.
Unfortunately… hair growth is considered non-essential.
The Most Common Culprit? Stress.
Yes. The thing literally all of us experience.
Stress-related shedding is called Telogen effluvium.
And here’s what makes it confusing:
It doesn’t happen right away.
You get sick in May, you don't lose hair in May.
You lose hair in July.
There’s usually a 2–3 month delay between the stressful event and the shedding.
So if you:
-Had surgery
-Got very sick
-Lost weight quickly
-Went through emotional trauma
-Experienced chronic anxiety
Your hair may respond months later.
That delay is why so many people can’t connect the dots.
What’s Actually Happening Inside the Body?
When stress levels rise, cortisol rises.
Higher cortisol levels:
-Shorten the growth phase
-Push more hairs into the resting phase
-Trigger shedding months later
It’s your body saying, “We have bigger things to deal with right now.”
The good news?
In most cases, this type of hair loss is temporary and reversible.
Okay… So What Can You Do?
Here’s the part everyone wants.
1- Sleep. Seriously.
7–9 hours.
Consistently.
Lower cortisol = healthier hair cycling.
You cannot out-supplement chronic sleep deprivation.
2-Check Your Nutrients
Hair needs building blocks.
Key ones:
Iron (especially ferritin levels)
B vitamins
Vitamin D
Zinc
Protein
Hair is made of keratin — a protein. If you’re under-eating or dieting aggressively, your hair will feel it.
Don’t just blindly supplement everything. Testing first is ideal.
3-Be Gentle With Your Hair
If it’s already stressed, don’t add more stress.
Avoid tight slick-back buns
Ease up on heat styling
Minimize bleaching and harsh chemicals
Let your natural texture breathe
4-The Hardest One: Be Patient
I know. I know.
But hair works on a timeline.
Shedding peaks around 3–4 months
It usually slows around 6 months
Visible regrowth can take 6–9 months
Your hair cannot fix itself in a day.
But it can recover.
Is This the Same as Pattern Baldness?
No.
Stress shedding is different from Androgenetic alopecia, which is genetically driven and hormone-related.
With stress shedding:
-The follicles are alive
-They’re just resting
-Once balance returns, growth resumes
That distinction matters.
If you’re currently staring at the hair in your brush wondering what’s wrong with you, just take a pause.
Hair loss is common because stress is common.
Your body is not failing you.
It’s responding to what it’s been through.
Give it support.
Give it rest.
Give it nutrients.
And most importantly — give it time.
Because when it comes to stress-related hair loss, recovery is the rule, not the exception.
Check out some of our products to help with hair loss and growth here