Can Stress Make Your Hair Shed? Here’s What Helps

If your shower drain has looked fuller than usual lately, and the last few months have been a lot, those two things might be connected.

The short answer: yes, stress can make your hair shed. Mayo Clinic says the two can be related, and that it doesn’t have to be permanent.

What’s Actually Happening

Your hair has a growing phase and a resting phase. Significant stress can push a lot of hairs into the resting phase at once. Then, a few months later, they let go, usually while you’re washing or combing. Doctors call this telogen effluvium.

That delay is what makes it so confusing. Shedding usually starts about 3 months after the stressful thing, so you might feel fine by the time your hair starts coming out. It’s like a bill that shows up after the party’s over.

Is It Shedding or Breakage?

This one matters for relaxed hair. Shed hairs are full strands, often with a tiny white bulb at one end. Broken hairs are shorter, with no bulb.

If you’re mostly seeing short pieces, look at your routine first. Our guide to relaxed hair breakage is a good place to start.

What Helps

• Go easy on your hair. Skip tight styles, cut back on heat, and take your time detangling.
• Check your scalp before a touch-up. If it’s sore or irritated, wait.
• Deal with the stress itself. That’s the main thing. Even 10 minutes of quiet in your day counts, and so does saying no to something.
• Sleep and eat like it matters. Keep a steady bedtime, and don’t skip meals when things get busy.
• Move your body. Stretching, a walk, dancing in your kitchen, whatever you’ll actually do.
• Write it down. Note when the shedding started and what was going on about 3 months before. It’ll help if you end up talking to a doctor.

How Long It Lasts

Shedding can last 3 to 6 months, and most people regain their hair within 6 to 9 months. It takes longer to feel normal when your hair is long, so try not to judge it week by week.

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor if your hair loss is sudden or patchy, or if you’re shedding noticeably more than usual. Stress isn’t the only cause, and sudden hair loss can point to a medical condition that needs treatment. Go in sooner if you also have scalp pain, burns, or sores.

One Last Thing

Yes, we see the irony of a relaxer brand telling you to relax. But we mean it. Relax, sis.

Want more like this? Join the waitlist for relaxed hair tips and first word on our Signature Relaxer System, which is still in development.