Why Is My Hair Falling Out?

If you’ve been noticing extra strands in the shower or watching your ponytail get thinner, I want you to take a deep breath — you are not alone, and in most cases, hair shedding is fixable. As the founder of a scalp-focused haircare brand, I talk to people every week who are stressed and confused about why they’re losing hair. I’ve studied this problem for years, and I can tell you with confidence: hair fall always has a root cause — and once you address it, your hair can recover.

Let’s walk through the most common reasons your hair may be shedding and how to support stronger, healthier growth moving forward.

The Hair Growth Cycle (and Why It Matters)

To understand shedding, we first need to understand the natural hair cycle. It has three phases:

• Anagen (growth) – where strands grow for 2–7 years

• Catagen (transition) – a short 2–3 week resting transition

• Telogen (shedding) – where old strands fall out over 2–4 months

Losing 50–100 hairs a day is normal. Hair loss becomes noticeable when something disrupts this cycle and pushes hair into the shed phase faster than it can regrow.

Common disruptors include:

• Stress and cortisol spikes

• Hormonal shifts

• Scalp inflammation

• Nutrient deficiencies

• Harsh haircare habits

When we remove those disruptors, the hair cycle can rebalance — which is exactly what we aim for.

Hormones, Stress & Life Changes

Hormones are one of the biggest drivers of sudden hair shedding. Postpartum changes, illness, menopause, and even chronic stress can send your follicles into telogen effluvium, a temporary shedding response.

Stress increases cortisol, which reduces circulation and nutrient delivery to follicles. When your body is in survival mode, hair is one of the first places it cuts corners.

What helps:

• Prioritize sleep and nervous-system support

• Breathe, stretch, or meditate 5–10 minutes a day

• Pair topical care with internal stress management

You’re not “doing something wrong” — your system just needs calm and nourishment.

Scalp Health: The Root of Hair Growth

As a founder, this is the hill I will die on: your scalp is skin, and it must be treated that way if you want healthy hair. Dandruff, product buildup, yeast overgrowth, and chronic inflammation can clog follicles and stop new hair from emerging.

Signs your scalp may be contributing to shedding:

• Flakes or itching

• Tight, sore, or oily scalp

• Slow growth

• Excess buildup or dull roots

This is why I created ANTIDOTE Hair Care — to give people clean, botanical formulas that heal the scalp instead of irritating it. Ingredients like rosemary, ginseng, nettle, and provitamin B5 help reduce inflammation, support circulation, and strengthen roots naturally.

What helps:

• Exfoliate or detox the scalp weekly

• Use sulfate-free, anti-inflammatory shampoos

• Avoid heavy silicones and synthetic fragrance

Nutrition, Deficiencies & Hair Loss

Hair isn’t essential for survival, which means when nutrients are low, the body diverts vitamins and minerals to more critical organs first. Hair gets the leftovers.

Common deficiencies linked to hair thinning include:

• Iron

• Vitamin D

• B-vitamins

• Zinc

• Omega-3 fatty acids

Support your hair internally by:

• Eating more protein, leafy greens, beans, nuts, and seeds

• Checking iron and vitamin D levels with your doctor

• Staying hydrated and reducing inflammatory foods

Topical care + internal care is the winning combination.

Styling Damage & Harsh Ingredients

Even if your scalp and hormones are balanced, breakage can look and feel like hair loss. Daily heat, tight hairstyles, bleaching, and harsh detergents can weaken the hair shaft until it snaps.

Avoid or limit:

• Heat tools over 350°F

• Tight ponytails and braids

• Sulfates, parabens, drying alcohols, and heavy silicones

Do instead:

• Use heat only a few times a week

• Apply a protectant (like ANTIDOTE Juniper Hair Shield) before styling

• Deep condition weekly

Protecting your hair fiber prevents unnecessary thinning.

Aging & Genetics

With age, the growth phase shortens and strands become finer. Genetics can also play a role. But here’s what most people don’t realize: even if genetics load the gun, inflammation, stress, and harsh ingredients often pull the trigger. You still have influence.

Helpful habits include:

• Daily scalp massage to boost circulation

• Anti-inflammatory haircare

• Consistency and patience

Your Hair Can Recover — Here’s the Plan

To rebalance and regrow, focus on three pillars:

1. Scalp Health

• Detox weekly with ANTIDOTE Rosemary Shampoo

• Use gentle, growth-supporting shampoos and conditioners (like ANTIDOTE)

2. Internal Support

• Prioritize protein, minerals, and stress reduction

3. Hair Fiber Protection

• Protect from heat, pulling, and harsh formulas

Most people begin seeing improvement in 60–120 days, which aligns with the natural hair cycle.

If you’re asking, “Why is my hair falling out?” the answer is rarely just one thing — but that also means you have more than one pathway to healing. With the right routine, the right ingredients, and a little patience, your hair can absolutely get stronger, fuller, and healthier again.

I created ANTIDOTE because I wanted solutions that support the scalp, respect the body, and actually work. I’m cheering for you — and I’m here if you ever need guidance on choosing the best routine for your hair.