Shedding: Part 1
What the Frigg Is Going On with My Hair?
If you’ve been staring at your brush, your pillow, or rounding up stray hairs in the shower thinking, “What’s happening to my hair?” Hunny, you’re not alone 😩🧠
Hair loss and thinning are scary, confusing, and full of WTF moments ESPECIALLY when hormones, stress, meds, and life changes all decide to crash the party at once 🎉
Let’s break it down…real talk, no fluff.
1️⃣ Hair Loss Is Not Just “Getting Older”
Yes, age plays a role 👵🏽, but the real culprits are usually hormones, genetics, stress, nutrition, and lifestyle.
One of the most common types is Androgenetic Alopecia (aka male or female pattern baldness) a combo of genes + hormones (especially DHT, aka dihydrotestosterone) that slowly shrinks hair follicles.
The truth: It’s not about how much hormone you have it’s about how your follicles react. Some are chill 😎, some are drama 🥴.
For women, estrogen is the real MVP. When estrogen dips (hello menopause, postpartum, stress, or illness), hair growth slows and shedding increases. 👎🏼
2️⃣ Hormonal Hotspots: What Triggers the Fallout?
👩🏽🍼 Postpartum & Pregnancy 🤰🏻
After giving birth, estrogen and progesterone levels take a gnarly nosedive. During pregnancy, your hair was thriving! Thick, shiny, full. Afterward? All those “frozen in growth” hairs suddenly shed at once 😭 That’s why around 3–6 months postpartum, it can look like half your hair jumped ship. Totally normal. Totally temporary.
💡 Fact: Most postpartum hair loss happens around the hairline and temples. (those delicate baby hairs that frame your face.)
💀 Maturing & Menopause 🧟♀️
In the opposite corner of life… perimenopause means your hormones start acting like fools and start trippin, and menopause means they officially go on strike ✋ but like the kind where the factory closes and everyone leaves…
Less estrogen + more androgen activity = thinning, wider part lines, and the dreaded “I can see my scalp” moments 😩
👉 Androgens 101 👈
Androgens are a group of hormones (yes, even women have them!) that control:
💪 muscle growth
🔥 sex drive
💦 oil production in the skin & scalp
💇♀️ and you guessed it… 🥁….hair growth (the good and bad kinds).
The heavy hitters: Testosterone and DHT.
In balance, they’re fine. Out of balance (or if your follicles are extra sensitive), they can cause oiliness, acne, and hair thinning.
💀 Personal silly fact: I call menopause the Corpse Flower Bloom; it spends its whole life growing something beautiful, gives a short burst of glory, then wilts dramatically and offends everyone around it. (Google it… tell me I’m wrong 😅🌸)
🧔 Men & Hormones
Gents, it’s not just “you’re balding because you’re a dude.” 🙄 It’s how DHT interacts with your follicles. When DHT binds to receptors, it causes follicle miniaturization — basically shrinking the hair follicle until it produces thinner and shorter hair over time.
👉 DHT breakdown 👈
DHT is made when your body converts testosterone using an enzyme. Both men and women make DHT, but some people’s follicles are way more sensitive to it.
🚨 Once you notice thinning, act fast to protect the remaining follicles. Prevention > panic.
😫 Stress & Medication
Stress isn’t just “in your head.” Chronic stress raises cortisol (the stress hormone) which throws your hair cycle into chaos. When cortisol spikes, your body says, “Cool, we’re surviving now🐒 hair growth can wait.” Follicles go into a resting phase 🛌 and a few months later… surprise! Shedding everywhere 😬
💊 Some meds (antidepressants, blood pressure pills, hormone therapy) and medical events (surgery, illness) can also trigger shedding. If your meds are non-negotiable, talk to your doctor about alternatives or find ways to work with your new normal. (Or, you know, explore extensions 😉💁♀️ no shame.)
🌙 Thyroid, Nutrition & Sleep
Your thyroid is like your body’s internal thermostat, too high or too low and your hair will notice. Low iron, vitamin D, or protein can also cause shedding. And if you’re skipping sleep? Your body’s not going to waste resources growing hair, it’s busy keeping you alive.🧍♀️
🩷 Stay on top of your labs!!! Find a doctor or NP who actually listens and keeps an eye on your thyroid, ferritin, vitamin D, and hormones. Because if you don’t take care of you… who will? 🫶
3️⃣ What’s Going On Inside the Hair
(Science Simplified 🔬)
Your hair grows in repeating cycles:
🌱 Anagen (Growth) → 🍂 Catagen (Transition) → 🍁 Telogen (Rest/Shedding) → and Repeat 🔁
Hormones decide how long each phase lasts 🤯
imbalance 🟰 chaos
Follicle miniaturization 🤏 happens when DHT binds to hair receptors and shrinks the follicle.
Smaller follicle 🟰 thinner hair.
Stress, hormones, buildup, and poor nutrition all mess with your scalp environment 🤹♂️
💡Random fact:
There are 2 Types of hair loss:
Telogen Effluvium: Sudden shedding after stress, illness, or hormonal crash. Usually temporary.
Androgenetic Alopecia: Gradual thinning in crown, hairline, or part widening. Long-term, but treatable with consistency.
4️⃣ Give Your Follicles Some Love 💆♀️
Think of your scalp like soil 🪴Feed it, water it, and your plant (hair) will flourish 🌻
And remember: Scalp health IS hair health. (Not the other way around)
☝️Try this:
Use castor oil (OG growth booster).
Add rosemary or tea tree oil for stimulation and scalp health.
Massage scalp gently 3–5 minutes daily.
Leave on for at least 1 hour or overnight for bonus points.
✨ Fun fact: I make custom scalp oils! Need help choosing ingredients? I can blend one just for you 😘
5️⃣ What You Can Do Now
🕐Get a Baseline - See a dermatologist or trichologist. Rule out thyroid, hormone, or nutrition issues.
🕑Fix the Scalp First - Gentle shampoo, hydration, regular scalp massage. Start at the root.
🕒Nutrition + Sleep = Non-Negotiable - Protein, iron, zinc, vitamin D, hydration, and rest.
🕓Targeted Treatments:
🧜🏻♂️Men: DHT blockers (Propecia), minoxidil (Rogaine)
🧜🏻♀️Women: Minoxidil, hormone balancing
🕔Reduce Stress - Yoga 🤸🏻 breathwork 🧘♂️ meditation🧎♀️walks 🚶♀️➡️therapy ❤️🩹 Whatever chills your cortisol.
🕕Protect What You’ve Got - Avoid harsh chemicals & heat. Treat your scalp like skincare cuz it’s actually SKIN!
🕖Set Realistic Expectations - Hair changes with age, and that’s okay. The goal is health + confidence.
💬 Final Word
Hair loss can feel like betrayal 😔 but it’s not vanity, it’s biology. Your hair is sending a signal that something deeper needs attention. So listen 👂 and Be proactive 🫵Treat the root cause (literally), and give your scalp the same love you give your skin.
You can’t stop every hormone shift, but you can work with your body, not against it.
And if all else fails, you’ve got me 💇♀️💕and a fresh set of extensions to keep your confidence strong during this super weird, hormonal phase of life 😏.
I got you, boo😘
This was a lot to take in! Any questions or comments? Drop ’em below. Let’s talk it out. 💬✨