STRESS HAS LONG BEEN LINKED TO HAIR LOSS. HERE, WE EXPLORE THE CONNECTION AND THE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO RESTORE YOUR HAIR’S HEALTH.
Stress is the body’s natural response to a challenge. In short bursts, our “fight or flight” response helps us cope, but persistent stress can affect everything from sleep and digestion to hair growth. Its impact on hair is often overlooked, with increased shedding sometimes appearing long after the difficult period has passed.
So, how does stress affect our hair?
Hair growth is sensitive to changes within the body. Significant emotional or physical stress can disrupt its natural cycle, causing more hairs than usual to leave the growing phase and enter the resting phase. These hairs eventually shed, resulting in a condition called telogen effluvium.
It can be helpful to think of this as the body shifting its priorities towards essential functions and recovery. Hair is not vital to survival, so its growth can be interrupted during periods of considerable strain. However, the process is more complex than simply redirecting nutrients away from the scalp.
Stress beyond the emotional
Stress isn’t always emotional. Illness, fever, surgery, physical trauma, rapid weight loss and inadequate nutrition can all place the body under strain and trigger increased shedding. Ongoing illness and certain nutritional deficiencies can also contribute. A difficult tooth extraction may trigger shedding if it involves significant physical stress, infection, or reduced food intake. After childbirth, hormonal changes commonly cause shedding. However, not everyone will experience hair loss following these events.
The delay can make the connection easy to miss. Shedding typically becomes noticeable 2 to 3 months after a trigger, often when you otherwise feel recovered. You may notice more hair when washing or brushing, or that your ponytail feels less full. Telogen effluvium generally causes shedding across the scalp rather than distinct bald patches.
As the body recovers and the hair cycle settles, shedding usually slows and new growth becomes more noticeable over the following months. If the underlying trigger remains unresolved, however, shedding can continue. When it lasts longer than six months, it is called chronic telogen effluvium.
While telogen effluvium usually resolves on its own, there are steps you can take to support your hair as it recovers.
Five ways to support your hair
1. Keep haircare gentle: Wash and condition your hair regularly, handle it gently when wet, and avoid tight styles or excessive heat. A blunt trim can make the ends look fuller and remove split ends before they worsen. While trimming won’t increase growth at the root, it can help limit breakage, allowing you to retain more length over time.
2. Eat consistently and well: Your hair needs sufficient energy and protein, alongside a range of vitamins and minerals. Regular, balanced meals support recovery, particularly if stress has affected your appetite. Supplements are best used to address an identified need; taking extra nutrients will not necessarily improve growth.
3. Choose treatment with guidance: Telogen effluvium often resolves naturally once its trigger is addressed. For chronic cases with no identifiable cause, a trichologist can discuss whether minoxidil may help encourage growth. Always seek guidance and read the product leaflet for precautions and potential side effects.
4. Make scalp massage a moment of calm: A gentle massage can be a relaxing addition to your routine. Use light fingertip pressure and avoid vigorous rubbing or pulling. Enjoy it for the relaxation it offers, rather than expecting it to reverse shedding.
5. Create a little fullness: Volumising mousses, root-lifting sprays and lightweight thickening products can help hair look fuller while it recovers. Apply sparingly and build gradually, choosing products that leave your scalp comfortable.
Five ways to ease everyday stress
1. Make space for recovery: You can't always remove stress, but small pauses can make demanding periods more manageable. Protect time for activities you enjoy, whether that means reading, seeing friends or simply stepping outside.
2. Recognise your pressure points: Notice when you feel stretched and what tends to precede it. Breaking a demanding task into smaller steps, asking for help or setting a boundary can make the situation feel more manageable.
3. Move in a way you enjoy: Walking, swimming, dancing or yoga can offer a welcome release from mental pressure. Choose movement that suits your energy levels, particularly if you are recovering from illness.
4. Find a moment of stillness: Mindfulness, meditation or a few minutes of slow breathing may help you settle when thoughts feel relentless. Keep the practice simple enough to return to regularly.
5. Give sleep some attention: A consistent bedtime and a quiet wind-down routine can help create space for rest. If tomorrow’s tasks keep circling, write them down before bed. Where stress or sleep difficulties persist, seek support from your GP.
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