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How to Regain Hair Loss From Stress

Do you want to know how to regain hair loss from stress? If your hair has suddenly started falling out in clumps, don’t worry. There are steps you can take to encourage your hair to regrow. This post contains the best products and advice for women with thinning hair.

How to Regain Hair Loss From Stress

The most common cause of hair thinning is genetics but most people find their hair starts to get thinner anyway as they get older.

If your hair has suddenly started falling out I recommend firstly that you see your doctor, as it may be due to an underlying medical condition.

I found that my hair suddenly become thin following a stressful event, however in my case I believe my hair loss may also be due to a thyroid disorder.

In this post I have gone through all the steps I took to encourage my hair to regrow. I hope it helps you find some solutions to your own hair loss.

This post is all about how to regain hair loss from stress

How to Regain Hair Loss From Stress

What Causes Hair Loss in Women?

Before we get into the treatment options for hair loss, let’s look at some of the reasons why your hair may be falling out in the first place!

About 3-4 years ago I noticed my hair was coming out in chunks. I was completely horrified at the amount of hair collecting in my shower drain. At that time in my life I was going through severe stress, but I began looking at other reasons for my hair loss.

I discovered that hair loss can happen at any age, and there are seven main factors that could be causing it:

  1. Poor nutrition (deficiencies in B Vitamins or Vitamin A, D, C, iron, zinc and/ or proteins can all cause hair fall)
  2. Hormonal changes (such as in pregnancy or menopause)
  3. Medical conditions such as alopecia and thyroid problems
  4. Certain medications may lead to hair loss
  5. High stress or a emotional shock could cause your hair to fall out
  6. Excessive hair styling / overuse of hair treatments or hair dye
  7. Sudden weight loss

Types of Hair Loss

It’s also important to know that there are different types of hair loss. In my case I didn’t have hair loss all over my head, but only on the crown.

In this post there are two types of hair loss I will address: female pattern hair loss (gradual thinning), and telogen effluvium (sudden thinning).

Gradual Thinning (All Over)

This is the most common type of hair loss. It is known as female pattern hair loss. This type of hair loss is genetic and usually the hair falls out with age.

It is also known as female pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia. It is linked to age and hormones, and is more common after menopause when estrogen levels decline. With this type of hair loss, the hair follicles shrink over time leading to hair becoming finer, and thinner.

With female pattern baldness, thinning normally starts at your parting, and sometimes spreads all over the head. With this type of hair loss, hair also recedes at the temples.

Read more about female pattern hair loss

Sudden Thinning (All Over But Especially the Crown & Temples)

This is the second most common type of hair loss. It is known as telogen effluvium. In this case the hair loss is triggered by an event, or medical condition such as a thyroid disorder, childbirth, stress, or a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

With telogen effluvium, thinning can occur all over, but usually only happens on certain areas of the head. Most often this type of hair loss occurs on the crown, and it rarely causes the hairline to recede.

Read more about Telogen effluvium

There are many other types of hair loss which can be caused by things such as Alopecia Areata (an autoimmune disease that causes your hair to come out in clumps), hair shaft abnormalities or genetic conditions. You can read about all the types in more detail here.

How to Regain Hair Loss from Stress

If your hair has started falling out then don’t worry. There are some things you can do to slow hair fall and to encourage regrowth. The results will of course depend on the reason why your hair is falling out in the first place.

I assumed I had stress-related hair loss since I noticed that my hair started falling out after a stressful event. It’s possible however that in my case it was also linked to a thyroid disorder, since I have now being diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism.

In this post I will go through all the steps that I took when my hair started to become thin. I found that although it didn’t entirely fix the problem it did all make a noticeable difference.

You can follow my hair growth journey on my YouTube channel where I’m regularly posting videos on products, and natural ingredients that encourage hair regrowth.

Nutrition for Hair Loss

Before anything else I think the most important thing is to make sure you are eating a healthy diet, and start taking supplements for healthy hair growth.

Eating a Balanced Diet

If you have been stressed recently, it’s possible you may not have been eating well. It’s really important therefore to make sure you are eating the right food to keep you healthy, and taking a good vitamin supplement!

There are a number of nutritional deficiencies which are linked to hair loss including iron, biotin, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin E, folic acid, and selenium. You may find the following articles helpful in ensuring your diet includes all the essential vitamins you need.

Liquid Biotin for Hair Growth

Liquid Biotin for Hair Growth

I started taking liquid biotin for several months to see if it made a difference. For me, I don’t think a biotin deficiency was linked to my hair loss, however I documented my experience of taking liquid biotin in a blog post and YouTube video which you can find here.

There is evidence that women who had biotin deficiencies saw increased hair growth after they started taking a biotin supplement. Taking a biotin supplement may only work for you however if you have a biotin deficiency in the first place, and biotin deficiencies are rare.

Topical Solutions for Hair Loss

One of the first steps I took when I started noticing my hair was falling out, was try various scalp serums. So far I have tested out Minoxidil, and the Grow Gorgeous Hair Density Serum. I’m also planning to try the Fable & Mane Strengthening Hair Oil and The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density.

Minoxidil for Hair Loss

Minoxidil for Hair Loss

Minoxidil is the only clinically proven treatment for hair loss. You apply it directly to the scalp in the form or a spray or foam and it has been proven to increase hair growth in both men and women.

Minoxidil is also approved by the FDA for female hair loss. It can slow or stop it in most women and may even help hair grow back. I tried it and it seemed to work but the benefits did go away when I stopped using it. The product I used was called Regaine which is sold under the name Rogaine in the United States.

Read more about the clinical studies into Minoxidil

Grow Gorgeous Hair Growth Serum

Grow Gorgeous Hair Growth Serum

The Grow Gorgeous Hair Density serum is packed full of natural ingredients that stimulate hair growth. When I tried this product I applied the serum to the bald spots on my head, rather than my entire scalp.

I used both the intense and the original serum over several months, and documented my results in a separate blog post, and over on my YouTube channel. You can see all my results with this serum here.

Overall, I experienced a few side effects from this product including disrupted sleep. (due to the caffeine content). I did notice some new hair growth and my excessive shedding slowed down when I was using this product.

Overall however the results for me weren’t spectacular – a saw a slight difference but the thin patch is still there.

Read more about my experience with the Grow Gorgeous Hair Serum

Shampoo to Regain Hair Loss from Stress

OGX Tea tree mint shampoo

Although the OGX Tea Tree Mint Shampoo is not specifically designed for hair loss, it contains peppermint oil which has been proven in clinical trials to stimulate hair growth.

I regularly used this shampoo at times of high stress levels when I noticed I was having excessive hair loss. I found this shampoo was extremely cooling and on my scalp, and it helped to reduce my stress, as well as slow down my hair shedding.

Read more about the OGX Tea Tree Mint Shampoo

Ayurvedic Treatment for Hair Loss

Ayurvedic Treatment for Hair Loss

There are many different Ayurvedic treatments for hair loss, some of which you can read about here. My favourite and the one that gave me the best results is an Ayurvedic hair oil called Himani Navratna.

When you massage the oil into your scalp it has a cooling effect on the skin. It improves blood circulation and stimulates hair growth.

I particularly loved using this product for stress related hair loss since the oil is designed to reduce tension and anxiety. The oil has aromatherapy benefits which produce a sense of calm, as well as cool the scalp.

If you are suffering from significant emotional stress, try massaging this cool oil onto your scalp to reduce cortisol levels, and improve blood flow to the hair follicles.

Read more about the Navratna oil here

Silk Pillowcase for Hair Loss

a silk pillowcase

There is no evidence to suggest that sleeping on a silk pillowcase will stop your hair falling out however the smooth surface means there’s less friction on your hair.

Since your hair glides over the material easier than with cotton it may reduce breakage. Silk also helps your hair to retain its natural moisture, reduces hair frizz and makes hair more manageable.

Silk is more gentle on the scalp than cotton it may reduce the rate at which your hair falls out even if it doesn’t stop it falling out completely.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep to Regain Hair Lost from Stress

There is an association between lack of sleep and significant emotional stress. One study showed that stress awareness was linked to short sleep duration. If chronic stress is causing your hair loss, if might be worth focusing on getting enough sleep.

If sleep is a problem for you, you may find the following articles helpful :

Natural Remedies to Promote Hair Growth

I am currently researching natural remedies to prevent further hair loss, and encourage regrowth. The following posts contain my experience and research with a variety of different home remedies that enhance hair health and growth.

Encourage Hair Growth Using Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Hair Care Guide (2)

Did you know your hair problems are linked to your Ayurvedic hair type?  

If you have thinning hair, or your hair has suddenly started falling out, it is likely you have a Pitta or Vata imbalance.  

This 34 page ebook will help you discover your Ayurvedic hair type, learn what hair oils are best for you and provide recipes so you can make your own hair products at home!

FAQs on Regaining Hair Loss from Stress

Can Dehydration Cause Hair Loss?

Dehydration affects hair growth. It is important to drink lots of water to help your hair regrow and prevent thinning.

Can Detoxing Cause Hair Loss?

If you are on a diet, detoxing or sudden weight loss can cause hair loss. These diets can cause your hair strands to prematurely go into the resting phase and fall out too early. The good news is this hair loss is reversible.

Does Dyeing Your Hair Make it Fall Out?

Hair shedding can increase with hair dying. You hair strands enter a resting phase (telogen phase) for about 3 months before they fall out. The chemicals in hair dye can cause hair that’s in the telogen phase to fall out prematurely.

How do you Stop Hormonal Hair Loss Naturally?

Ginger and Lavender are both excellent for helping to stop hormonal hair loss. Check out the following posts: Make Your Own Homemade Shampoo with Lavender Essential Oil and How to Use Ginger for Hair Growth

This post was all about How to Regain Hair Loss From Stress

Thank you for reading my post about how to regain hair loss from stress. If you have experienced hair loss, the good news is there are things you can do about it. High levels of stress can cause hair loss, but it’s usually temporary. Remember to give yourself time before looking for results, as the hair growth cycle can last between 3-5 years.