What causes excessive hair shedding and what can you do to prevent it? Most hair shedding is normal and a natural part of our hair growth cycle. But I know from personal experience how stressful it can be to experience excessive hair shedding. So in the second part of this hair loss series, I’m going to share the internal and external causes of excessive hair shedding. Because often just knowing what’s causing the issue is enough to resolve it.
What causes excessive hair shedding?
There are plenty of reasons and causes for normal, natural hair shedding. But excessive hair shedding can be caused by one of two things. Internal factors – which include things like hormones, thyroid issues, pregnancy and (peri)menopause. Or external factors – which include things like stress, medication, seasonal shedding. And really simple mistakes you could be making in your hair care routine. These are often easy fixes that produce quick results, but other issues can take longer to resolve. If you’re experiencing excessive hair shedding, read this article for tips, advice and product recommendations (that work!). To prevent, reduce and stop excessive hair shedding and achieve new hair growth.
Seasonal Hair Shedding
According to studies, hair growth and hair loss (or excessive shedding) can be tied to the seasons. The exogen (shedding) phase occurs in Autumn/Fall, the telogen (resting) phase occurs in Winter. Before the catogen (transitional) phase begins in Spring and the anagen (hair growth) phase peaks in Summer. Which actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. So much of our own nature is cyclical, especially as women. There’s a constant cycle of death, rebirth and transformation going on in our bodies on a cellular level throughout our lives. So if you’re experiencing excessive hair shedding during the Fall, it’s totally natural and you probably don’t need to do anything about it.
Stress
Stress is one of the most common and the most frustrating causes of excessive hair shedding. Simply because it can often be due to things that are outside our control. And requires a slower-paced, holistic approach to lifestyle and overall well being to make it stop. Stress can cause excessive hair shedding by disrupting the hair growth cycle. Impacting our stress hormone (cortisol) which disrupts the hormonal balance and causes hair follicles to shed prematurely. There are three main types of hair loss linked to stress:
- Telogen Effluvium – the most common stress-related hair loss condition. More hair follicles than normal enter the telogen (resting) phase prematurely due to stress, before shedding a few months later. Which is why it can take a few months after a stressful event or period in your life to notice what seems like a very sudden or dramatic increase in hair loss. This tends to resolve itself without treatment, once stress levels decrease. But can take approximately 3-6 months to see a noticeable improvement.
- Alopecia Areata – an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack hair follicles. And stress seems to trigger or exacerbate this, causing patches of hair loss. The CurrentBody Hair Growth Helmet is particularly amazing for this. Use code CURLMAVEN for 15% off.
- Trichotillomania – this condition involves a compulsive urge to pull out your own hair. Often triggered by stress or anxiety and can lead to significant hair loss and damage to the hair follicles if left untreated.
Medications
Accutane, blood pressure medication, beta blockers, contraceptives, chemotherapy and SSRI’s, especially Sertraline (Zoloft), are all known to cause excessive hair shedding. I’ve previously taken Lexapro (an SSRI) for years and never noticed any excessive hair shedding. But I experienced a significant amount of hair loss shortly after taking Sertraline (Zoloft, which is another SSRI). I quickly decided to come off that medication and find alternative ways to treat my anxiety + depression. But it took about 6-8 weeks for the excessive hair shedding to stop. Excessive hair shedding is listed as a common side affect on a lot of medications. So speak with your pharmacist or health care provider about the specific medication your taking.
Thyroid Issues: both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, as well as Hashimoto’s autoimmune disease (which affects the thyroid), can cause excessive hair shedding. This will reduce once you get the right medication + dosage, as well as Zinc + Selenium supplements.
Hormones, Postpartum + (Peri)Menopause
Then of course there’s postpartum hair shedding and (peri)menopause which can cause changes in hair texture, density and curl pattern. And are well known to cause excessive hair shedding too. Anything that affects the hormones, affects the hair. Estrogen levels drop after childbirth and during menopause, which causes excessive hair shedding and/or hair thinning. Post-partum hair loss is temporary and usually starts around 4-6 months after childbirth. How long it lasts is different for each individual, but typically lasts for another 4-6 months. Normal hair growth resumes as hormone levels stabilize, which can take up to a year.
If you’re still experiencing excessive hair shedding after a year, speak with your health care provider as it may be due to underlying causes, such as thyroid issues or nutritional deficiencies. I’ve found from my my own experience and working with my clients, that breastfeeding can often delay post-partum hair loss. Which is backed up by studies too. It’s also worth noting that although it’s common, post-partum hair loss doesn’t happen to everyone, or after every pregnancy. The best advice I can give is to take hair growth supplements daily, for 6-12 months once the baby is born. The tips + product recommendations in this article will help to dramatically reduce excessive hair shedding that’s due to hormones, postpartum and (peri)menopause. But it may not stop it completely if you’re taking any of the medications listed above.
Note: If you’ve had back to back pregnancies or a prolonged period of time being pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Then postpartum shedding may be delayed and result in what feels like more significant hair loss, for a longer period of time. Which can last up to 12-18 months. Taking daily hair growth supplements for at least 6-12 months is the best thing you can do to replenish your body with all the nutrients it needs, that were previously going to the baby.
Vitamin + Mineral Deficiencies
Vitamin + mineral deficiencies can disrupt the hair growth cycle and cause excessive hair shedding. I’ll go more in depth in another article but cover the basics here. Vitamin D (which is actually a hormone) is essential for creating the cells that develop into hair follicles and triggers the anagen (hair growth) phase. Vitamin D also helps Zinc absorption. Zinc (which is a mineral) strengthens hair follicles and increases thickness. Zinc also helps to regulate and balance hormones, which we know affect the hair. Iron (which is a mineral) and Biotin (which is a B vitamin) are fundamental to hair growth. Numerous studies suggest a link between iron deficiency and hair loss, particularly telogen effluvium. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron from our food. Magnesium (which is a mineral) helps lower cortisol levels (the body’s primary stress hormone). Reducing stress-related hair shedding and stimulating new hair growth.
Scalp issues such as dandruff, psoriasis or scalp infections (which are all treatable) can inflame hair follicles, causing hair to shed at an accelerated rate.
Hair Products + Routine
One of the most common causes of excessive hair shedding I see in my Curl Clinic consultations, isn’t actually due to anything other than using the wrong products and the wrong techniques for your hair type. Using products that are too heavy, rich and moisturising or using too much of those products. Going to bed with wet hair at night, leaving a treatment or hair mask in your hair for longer than an hour and/or plopping wet hair for too long. These can all cause over-moisturised hair or hygral fatigue, which is severely over-moisturised hair caused by repeated swelling and un-swelling of the hair cuticle and both cause excessive hair shedding. And also, just to be aware that there have been a few class action lawsuits brought against brands such as Olaplex and Devacurl for excessive hair shedding + hair loss. I’ll let you do your own research, but you can read my thoughts, opinion and advice on the Devacurl scandal here.
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find out how to how achieve + maintain balance with recommended products + suggested routines. Symptoms include:
My Personal Experience with Excessive Hair Shedding
I’ve been noticing changes in my curl pattern and how much hair I lose on washday for a couple of years now. It’s not due to product, technique or routine. I’ve been dealing with a significant amount of stress over the last few years, due to an ongoing issue that I’m unable to talk about due to legal reasons. But I’m really hoping this will be resolved and come to an end soon. The biggest causes of the changes in my curl pattern and density have been stress, hormones and thyroid issues. In 2022, I had pre-cancerous cells removed from my cervix. In 2023, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism + Hashimoto’s auto immune disease, which are both well known to cause excessive hair shedding.
Then In 2024, I was diagnosed with PMDD and put on the Evra contraceptive patch to regulate and balance my hormones to relieve the symptoms of PMDD. Although my hormone levels were low, they weren’t low enough to be diagnosed as perimenopausal. During the Summer of 2024, which should have been my peak hair growth phase, I was losing a significant amount of hair, much more than normal! From various appointments, blood tests and speaking to my team of healthcare providers, we don’t believe it was due to telogen effluvium or thyroid issues. It could be due to some hormone imbalances, but most likely due to low levels of vitamins + minerals – especially Zinc.
Some final advice
As someone who’s experienced a lot of health issues over the past few years, which have contributed to my excessive hair shedding. I highly recommend getting a full panel of blood tests done. But make sure the lab also provides their ranges, as this can vary in each lab. Do your own research + question everything! Make all the healthy diet + lifestyle changes you can! And I say this only because it makes it so much easier to get your doctor, consultant or healthcare provider to listen to you and pay attention to your symptoms if you’re already doing all the basics. Eating well, exercising often, getting enough sleep etc to live a healthy life.
Make sure you read part one, how to stop excessive hair shedding, regardless of what the cause is. Because despite stress levels, seasonal changes, hormones and thyroid issues, I was still able to stop excessive hair shedding and achieve new hair growth, using products that really work! Leave any questions in the comments below, or if you’d prefer to email me privately, fill out the contact form here. Either way, I’ll do my best to answer what I can and share what I’ve learned on my own journey.
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