How Stress Causes Hair Loss and What You Can Do to Stop It

In life, there aren’t only people who cast the evil eye on you personally, there’s also a silent saboteur you might not even be aware of, quietly working against you. This silent saboteur is your stress. It’s behind the hair shedding you experience during stressful periods and the reason you find yourself scrolling for hair growth products surfing through the net, until you find the one. 

You might think stress isn’t a big deal, but it is, because chronic stress disrupts your natural hair growth cycle, pushing hair follicles prematurely into a resting phase and triggering more shedding than usual.

Even though this type of shedding isn’t permanent, no one wants to lose more hair when it already sheds around 50–100 strands a day, right? In this article, we’ll explore the causes of stress-induced hair loss, its symptoms, and the best ways to treat and prevent this type of shedding.

How Stress Affects the Hair Growth Cycle

Our body produces different hormones, and one major effect of stress is hair loss. When we are stressed, our body releases hormones such as cortisol, which disrupt the hair growth cycle. These hormones interfere with normal hair follicle activity and push more hairs prematurely into the telogen (resting) phase, a condition known as telogen effluvium (TEL-o-jun uh-FLOO-vee-um).

When the body is under stress, the hair follicles enter the resting phase because the body redirects its energy and nutrients toward essential functions for survival. As a result, hair growth slows down, and shedding increases.

Your hair grows in a continuous cycle made up of three main phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting). Under normal conditions, about 85-90% of your hair is in the anagen phase, actively growing, while a smaller percentage rests or sheds naturally.

Additionally, because of stress it also limits blood flow and nutrient delivery to your scalp, making it harder for new hair strands to grow strong and healthy. Over time, this can weaken hair quality and slow regrowth. 

What Happens Inside Your Body When You’re Stressed

When you experience stress, your body instantly activates its “fight-or-flight” response, a survival mechanism designed to protect you in threatening situations. During this process, your brain signals the adrenal glands to release stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.

These hormones prepare your body to react which is why your heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and your body redirects oxygen and nutrients away from non-essential functions, like digestion and hair growth, toward vital organs such as your heart and muscles.

However, when stress becomes chronic, that’s when cortisol levels stay elevated for too long, especially high cortisol disrupts the body’s normal balance, leading to inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and reduced nutrient absorption—all of which affect your hair’s health.

According to researchers from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, chronic stress releases high levels of stress hormones that signal nearby cells in the scalp to stop producing a key molecule called Gas6, which normally activates hair follicle stem cells. Without Gas6, hair follicles stay in a prolonged resting phase, meaning they stop growing new strands.

The study found that even normal, everyday stress can influence how long your hair follicles remain inactive which explains why long periods of tension, lack of sleep, or emotional strain can cause visible hair thinning over time.

In simple terms, when you’re constantly under pressure, your body diverts energy and nutrients to survival functions, not to hair growth. As a result, hair regeneration slows down, and shedding becomes more noticeable.

Signs You’re Experiencing Stress-Related Hair Loss

Here is a checklist that you should check whenever you’re stress and being cautious to your hair:

Typically, these symptoms appear 2–3 months after a stressful event. To support regrowth with targeted nutrition, check out EZZ DNA’s Hair Growth Solutions.

How to Manage Stress to Prevent Hair Loss

Stress-related hair loss is often temporary. If you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair, talk to your doctor. With the right care and consistency, you can help your hair recover and return to its natural growth rhythm:

Prioritise Nutrition That Nourishes the Follicles

Support your hair from the inside out by eating foods rich in iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet of whole foods is essential not only for your overall health but most importantly for the vitality of your hair.

Here are some key nutrients and vitamins you should include in your diet to rebuild hair structure, restore shine, and promote healthy regrowth:

1. Vitamin A: Helps skin glands produce an oily substance called sebum that moisturizes the scalp and keeps hair healthy. These can be found in spinach, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
2. Vitamin B (including Biotin): This complex of many vitamins promotes a healthy metabolism, as well as healthy skin and hair. Eat foods including eggs, nuts, whole grains, and poultry.
3. Vitamin C: Crucial for collagen production, which provides structure to hair. It also protects hair follicles from damage caused by free radicals. Citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers are rich in vitamin C.
4. Vitamin D: Vitamin D plays an important role in creating new hair follicles. Deficiency is linked to hair loss, so regular intake via fatty fish, fortified foods, or supplements is recommended.
5. Vitamin E: Acts as an antioxidant to protect hair follicles and improve scalp circulation as this vitamin contains potent antioxidants. Foods rich in vitamin E include nuts, seeds, olive oil, broccoli, shrimp, and spinach.

Complementing these vitamins, minerals like iron and zinc are vital-iron enhances oxygen transport to hair follicles, while zinc aids tissue repair and supports healthy oil glands on the scalp.Together, these nutrients form a powerful foundation to help your hair recover from stress-related damage and strengthen the hair growth cycle naturally.

Ah oh, don’t forget to stay hydrated—always. Remember, every cell in your body relies on water to function properly. You can also support your hair’s recovery with EZZ DNA’s Hair Protector Supplement, which works at a cellular level to encourage healthier growth and resilience.

Stress Management through Lifestyle Habits

Lowering cortisol is key to maintaining a healthy hair cycle and here are some ways you could manage your stress through this lifestyle:

1. Sleep: It allows your body to regulate cortisol levels, repair tissue, and restore hormonal balance for better hair growth. It also helps reduce the effects of stress. Sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night helps restore the body's hormonal balance and promotes hair health.
2. Exercise: Physical activity releases endorphins that help counteract stress hormones. Walking or running is the best way to exercise, especially if you have a busy life. This keeps you active and grounded, helping you manage stress effectively.
3. Hobbies: Occupying yourself with something you enjoy can be a great way to combat stress. Consider doing activities that make you feel at peace, like photography, writing, art, planting, or reading—anything that helps you release stress.
4. Practice Relaxation: Meditation and breathing exercises are great ways to focus on the present moment. Engage in meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or mindfulness to calm your nervous system.
5. Unplug: This is one of the most important habits. Excessive screen time can cause stress and overstimulation, which is why you need to disconnect. Reduce screen time, especially before bed, and take regular breaks from electronic devices to promote relaxation.

Use Gentle Hair-Care Practices and Products

Treat your scalp and hair with care while it’s in the healing phase. Avoid tight hairstyles, excessive heat, or harsh chemical treatments, all of which can cause further breakage and weaken fragile hair.

You can also enhance recovery with EZZ DNA’s hair growth products ranging from hair growth spray, hair growth massage brush, and hair scalp scrub, which help cleanse the scalp, improve circulation, and strengthen hair from the roots for healthier regrowth.

Support Long-Term Recovery With Consistency

All good things come to those who wait—and that also applies to your hair because healthy hair takes time. The regrowth process typically takes three to six months, depending on the level of stress and overall health.

But consistency is the key, be consistent with your nutrition, stress-management habits, and hair-care routine. Over time, you’ll notice stronger, fuller strands as your follicles normalize and resume healthy growth. To deepen your understanding of how nutrition and hormones work together to promote hair regrowth, learn more about understanding hair growth.

Don’t forget patience and dedication to your healthy routine will support sustainable hair recovery, helping you reclaim your hair’s natural vitality.

The bottom line

Stress is a silent but significant factor that disrupts your natural hair growth cycle by increasing cortisol, pushing hair follicles prematurely into a resting phase, and triggering more shedding than usual. What’s good to know is that if your hair loss is stress-related, your hair follicles haven’t been permanently damaged, and you can still make them grow, as long as you recognize the signs that your hair loss is caused by stress.

If your stress management measures aren’t working or you aren’t seeing results, it’s best to see your doctor. They can help diagnose the reason for your hair loss and advise you on the next steps. If regrowth is possible, they can determine the best treatment plan for your symptoms.

Calm your mind, nourish your body, and let your hair thrive again with the help of EZZ DNA hair growth products.