Have you noticed increased shedding in your hairbrush, shower drain, or pillow in the morning? Maybe you’re even seeing noticeable changes in your hairline or ponytail thickness? There’s no doubt that this can feel really stressful and concerning!

Losing around 50-100 strands of hair a day is usually considered normal, however experiencing additional hair shedding and thinning is always an important signal that your body is calling out for extra support.

Don’t worry! In this article, we’re here to break down the potential reasons behind your hair loss, and how to start turning things around.

 

4 Reasons Your Hair Is Shedding

 

1. Stress

When you’re under stress, your adrenal glands release cortisol into your bloodstream to help prepare your body for a potential threat. While the effects of cortisol might be beneficial in an acute setting (like when you need to run away from a wild animal!), chronically high levels of cortisol can wreak havoc on all areas of your health - including your hair.

Periods of extended or extreme stress can cause inflammation within the hair follicles and can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle. When this happens, more hair follicles than normal enter into a “resting” phase known as telogen, as opposed to the active growing phase known as anogen. (1)

Hair within the telogen phase then sheds very easily and is known as Telogen effluvium.

2. Low thyroid function

Your thyroid is an incredible butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck. It may be small in size, but its impact is huge!

It produces thyroid hormones, most importantly T3 and T4, which play a crucial role in regulating metabolism, growth, and development.

When thyroid function is low (known as hypothyroidism), you can experience a range of symptoms and health issues, such as fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, and hair loss. (2)

People with low thyroid function often report experiencing brittle, thinning hair that usually develops slowly over time.

If you’ve noticed thinning hair alongside some of the other symptoms above, it’s time to have a chat with your healthcare provider about investigating your thyroid function.

3. Nutrient deficiencies

Deficiencies in essential micronutrients and protein are associated with increased hair loss and thinning. (3) (4)

Your hair follicles are highly active and sensitive structures, with the cells of your hair follicles being among the most rapidly dividing cells in your body that rely heavily on certain nutrients. This means that nutrient deficiencies can impact not only the rate of hair growth but hair structure as well.

The most common micronutrient deficiencies associated with hair loss/thinning include:

• Iron
• Zinc
• Folate
• Biotin
• Selenium
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B12

Protein is also an essential macronutrient required for hair growth since it makes up the building blocks of your hair, skin, and nails.

4. Hormonal imbalances

Hormonal imbalances are a common culprit behind hair loss and thinning. Since hormones play a critical role in the hair growth cycle, even slight disruptions in their delicate balance can have profound effects on the health of your hair.

In particular, women may experience thinning in response to fluctuations in hormones like estrogen and progesterone especially during stages of life like pregnancy or menopause. Having polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS for short) is also associated with increased hair shedding.

Estrogen dominance is also a common hormonal concern in women, which basically means the ratio of estrogen to progesterone is higher than it should be. It’s thought that imbalanced estrogen can negatively affect hair health by pushing more hair follicles into the resting phase of the cycle and inhibiting hair shaft elongation of the hair follicles. (5)

 

Solutions to reverse hair loss & get luscious locks

 

Nutrient-dense diet

Your hair is yearning to get all the nutrients and building blocks it needs to grow long and strong! The most holistic and effective way to ensure your hair is getting exactly what it needs to thrive is by combining a balanced, nutrient-dense diet with supplementation.

Ensure you’re eating a variety of different whole foods in the form of vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and animal or plant-based protein.

To provide your hair with enough amino acid building blocks, it’s important to get adequate protein on a daily basis. The latest recommendations suggest around 1 gram of protein per pound of your ideal body weight.

Jennah Organics Hair Growth formula

Next up, it’s time to supplement! Jennah Organics Hair Growth is a targeted formula packed with all the key micronutrients your hair needs.

Thanks to the incredible power of bamboo, it’s incredibly rich in an essential mineral called silica, which helps to promote collagen production, which not only strengthens hair but also elevates the health of your skin and nails.

Other ingredients like MSM, biotin, zinc, vitamin C, and B vitamins all provide essential micronutrients for hair growth and strength. While L-arginine works to stimulate proper blood circulation to the scalp for truly holistic hair health support.

Manage stress with herbs & lifestyle practices

Since high-stress levels can negatively impact your hair’s natural growth cycle, managing your stress levels is pivotal.

Adaptogenic herbs like Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Tulsi, and Siberian Ginseng are great remedies to help lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and improve your nervous system’s resilience to mental and physical stressors.

Daily mindfulness practices like meditation, yoga, and breathwork exercises can help promote calm and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as “rest and repair” mode.

Incorporating exercise into your routine can also lower stress levels over time, thanks to the release of endorphins. Exercise also promotes blood flow to the scalp, which may further boost hair growth!

Holistic approaches to hormonal harmony

Jennah Organics Hormone Balance Supplement contains a harmonious blend of science-backed ingredients to support hormonal health in women of all ages, getting to the root cause of hormonal hair loss.

Together, these powerful plant extracts and nutrients work to reduce the symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances as seen in PCOS, menopause, PMS, irregular periods, chronic stress, insulin resistance, and more.

Additionally, increasing your fibre intake can help to support hormonal balance by removing the excess estrogen that’s no longer needed by the body. Minimising exposure to endocrine disruptors found in certain plastics, personal care products, and pesticides is also essential for maintaining overall hormonal health.

Rosemary hair oil & scalp massage

Rosemary is a miracle when it comes to hair growth. Believe it or not, when applied topically to the scalp, research has shown that rosemary oil may be just as effective as the hair growth drug known as minoxidil! (6)

To harness the benefits of rosemary oil for hair growth, mix a few drops of rosemary essential oil with a carrier oil, such as coconut or jojoba oil, to create a powerful scalp massage oil.

Regularly massaging this mixture into your scalp can invigorate the hair follicles, encouraging stronger and healthier hair growth. Additionally, rosemary oil's anti-inflammatory properties can soothe the scalp, reducing issues like dandruff that can hinder hair growth.

 

Final thoughts

Whether it’s stress taking its toll, missing nutrients, poor thyroid function, or hormonal imbalances, each factor plays a significant role in the health of your hair.

The amazing news is that with targeted solutions such as nourishing your body with a balanced diet, supplementing with Jennah Organics Hair Growth and Hormone Balance formulas, managing your stress levels, and nurturing your scalp, you have the power to reverse the effects of hair loss.

 

Written by Zaheera Swing

(BSc Hons Nutritional Science + NTPD)