Stress and Hair Loss: What You Need to Know
If you have noticed more hair in your brush, more strands on your pillow, or a thinner ponytail than you remember, you are not imagining things and you are not alone. This year has brought unprecedented levels of stress into all of our lives, and for many people, that stress is showing up in their hair. At Sofia Loren Salon in Boca Raton, we have seen a significant increase in clients coming in with concerns about shedding and thinning, and we want to provide clear, honest information about what is happening and what can be done about it.
The Connection Between Stress and Hair Loss
The medical term for stress-related hair loss is telogen effluvium, and it is one of the most common forms of temporary hair loss. Here is how it works. Your hair grows in a cycle, and at any given time, the majority of your hairs are in the active growth phase while a small percentage are in the resting phase. When your body experiences significant physical or emotional stress, it can push a larger-than-normal number of hairs into the resting phase simultaneously.
The tricky part is that the shedding does not happen during the stressful event. It happens two to four months later. This is why many people are experiencing increased hair loss now, months after the peak of their stress. The hairs that were pushed into the resting phase back in March or April are now reaching the end of that phase and falling out. This delay between cause and effect is one of the most confusing aspects of telogen effluvium because people often do not connect the shedding to the stress that triggered it.
How Much Shedding Is Normal?
It is important to know that some daily shedding is completely normal. The average person loses fifty to one hundred hairs per day as part of the natural hair cycle. You might notice this as strands in your shower drain, on your brush, or on your clothes. Most of the time, you do not notice it because new hairs are growing to replace the ones that fall out.
Telogen effluvium increases that number significantly. People experiencing stress-related hair loss may lose two hundred to three hundred hairs per day, which is when the shedding becomes noticeable and alarming. You might see clumps of hair in the shower, a visibly thinner ponytail, or more scalp visible at your part line. While it can be frightening, it is important to understand that telogen effluvium is almost always temporary.
Other Factors That Make It Worse
Stress rarely works alone. This year has introduced a combination of factors that can compound hair loss. Nutritional changes from altered eating habits, reduced physical activity, disrupted sleep patterns, and increased anxiety all take a toll on your body’s ability to maintain healthy hair growth.
Significant life changes like job loss, financial strain, illness, or the loss of a loved one are all known triggers for telogen effluvium. The emotional weight of isolation and uncertainty adds another layer. When multiple stressors hit simultaneously, the impact on the hair cycle can be more pronounced and last longer.
Hormonal changes can also play a role. For women, fluctuations in estrogen, thyroid hormones, and cortisol levels all influence the hair growth cycle. If you are experiencing significant hair loss along with other symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, or mood shifts, it is worth discussing with your doctor to rule out any underlying hormonal issues.
What Actually Helps
The most important thing to know about telogen effluvium is that it typically resolves on its own once the underlying stressor is addressed or adapted to. The hair follicles are not damaged. They are simply resting, and they will return to the growth phase in their own time. For most people, this recovery takes six to nine months from the onset of shedding.
In the meantime, there are steps you can take to support your recovery and minimize further loss. Focus on nutrition first. Hair needs protein, iron, zinc, biotin, and omega-3 fatty acids to grow properly. A balanced diet rich in lean protein, leafy greens, eggs, nuts, and fish provides these nutrients naturally. If your diet has been less than ideal, a general multivitamin can help fill the gaps.
Manage your stress levels as much as possible. We know that is easier said than done, but even small steps matter. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, meditation, time outdoors, and staying connected with friends and family all help lower cortisol levels, which in turn supports healthier hair growth.
Be gentle with your hair during this period. Avoid tight hairstyles that pull on the roots. Minimize heat styling and chemical treatments. Use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush, especially on wet hair. Switch to a silk pillowcase to reduce friction. These steps will not stop the shedding, but they will prevent additional breakage that can make thinning look worse.
What Your Stylist Can Do
At Sofia Loren Salon, we can help in several practical ways. Strategic cuts can make thinning hair look fuller immediately. Layers, face-framing pieces, and the right length can create the illusion of more volume. We can also recommend professional scalp treatments that improve circulation and create a healthier environment for hair regrowth.
For clients who need a more immediate solution while waiting for their hair to recover, lightweight extensions can add volume exactly where it is needed. Tape-in extensions are particularly good for this purpose because they are gentle on natural hair and can be placed precisely to fill in thin areas.
We also carry professional products designed to support thinning hair, including volumizing products that make existing hair look fuller and scalp serums that nourish the follicles. Your stylist can recommend the right combination based on your specific situation.
When to See a Doctor
While telogen effluvium is the most common cause of stress-related hair loss and typically resolves on its own, some situations warrant medical attention. If your shedding continues for more than six months without improvement, if you notice patchy bald spots rather than general thinning, or if you are experiencing other symptoms alongside hair loss, see a dermatologist. Blood tests can identify any underlying conditions that may be contributing to the loss.
Book Your Appointment at Sofia Loren Salon
Ready for professional support through your hair loss concerns? Visit Sofia Loren Salon in Boca Raton for a compassionate consultation and personalized solutions to help you feel confident again. Call us at (561) 444-0720 or book online at sofialorensalon.com.