Why is My Hair Thinning? Here are the Most Common Causes
- The Rooted Awakenings Team
- 14 hours ago
- 5 min read
If you’ve noticed your ponytail feels smaller, your part looks wider, or you’re shedding more than usual in the shower, you're probably not imagining it. And you're definitely not alone.
Hair thinning can feel personal. It can mess with your confidence. And it can be incredibly frustrating when you’ve “tried everything” and nothing seems to change.
But here’s the truth: You are not broken.
Hair thinning is often a signal, not a life sentence.
Your hair is deeply connected to your hormones, your stress response, your nutrient stores, your scalp environment, and your overall metabolic health. When something shifts internally (or externally), hair is often one of the first places you see it.
So let's dig in and get to the root!
common causes of thinning HAIR & what your body is communicating
1) Telogen Effluvium (Stress-Triggered Shedding)
Telogen Effluvium is one of the most common causes of sudden shedding, and it often shows up after a major stressor.
This could be:
A high-stress season at work
Illness (including viral infections)
Surgery or anesthesia
Rapid weight loss or restrictive dieting
A major life change or emotional stress
Postpartum recovery
Stopping hormonal birth control
With Telogen Effluvium, hair follicles shift prematurely into the “resting” phase of the hair cycle and 2-3 months later, the shedding begins. This delayed timing is why it can feel confusing or random.
What it can look like:
Noticeably more hair in the shower, brush, or on your clothes
Diffuse thinning (not just one spot)
A “handfuls of hair” feeling during washing days
Thinning that seems to happen quickly
The good news? In many cases, Telogen Effluvium is reversible - but the body needs safety, nourishment, and time to recalibrate.
2) Androgen-Related Thinning (Hormone-Driven Pattern Changes)
If your thinning feels more gradual and persistent (especially around the part line or crown), androgen-related thinning may be part of the picture.
This type of hair loss is influenced by hormones called androgens (like testosterone and DHT). It doesn’t mean you have “too much testosterone;” often it’s about sensitivity, hormonal shifts, inflammation, and metabolic patterns.
What it can look like:
Widening part
More scalp visibility on top of the head
Thinning at the crown
Hair that feels finer, weaker, or doesn’t grow like it used to
This can be connected to:
PCOS patterns
Perimenopause and menopause
Insulin resistance or blood sugar instability
Chronic inflammation
Genetics (but genetics are not the whole story)
When addressed early and holistically, many people can slow progression and support healthier regrowth.
3) Nutrient Deficiencies (Your Hair Isn’t a Priority to Your Body)
Hair is considered a “non-essential” tissue. Meaning: when the body is under-resourced, it will prioritize survival systems (brain, heart, organs) over hair growth.
Even if you’re eating “healthy,” nutrient gaps can happen due to stress, digestion issues, absorption problems, medication use, or restrictive eating.
Common nutrient-related contributors include:
Iron / ferritin
Vitamin D
B12
Zinc
Protein
Essential fatty acids
Biotin (less common than social media suggests, but possible)
What it can look like:
Increased shedding
Slow growth
Brittle strands
Hair that breaks easily
Thinning that worsens during stressful or depleted seasons
If you suspect nutrients are part of your story, the goal isn’t to throw random supplements at the problem! We want to identify what’s missing, why it’s missing, and how to rebuild from the inside out.
4) Thyroid + Metabolic Imbalances (When the Body Runs “Too Slow” or “Too Fast”)
Your thyroid helps regulate metabolism and hair follicles are extremely sensitive to metabolic shifts.
When thyroid function is off (even mildly), it can disrupt the growth cycle and contribute to thinning.
Hair changes may be connected to:
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Autoimmune thyroid patterns (like Hashimoto’s)
What it can look like:
Diffuse thinning
Dry, brittle hair
Hair that feels coarse or lifeless
Outer eyebrow thinning (a classic clue for some)
Shedding that won’t stop even after “fixing” stress and diet
Metabolic health also includes things like blood sugar balance, insulin patterns, and inflammation - all of which can influence hair growth.
5) Scalp Conditions + Inflammation (The “Soil” Matters)
Think of your scalp like soil. Even the healthiest seed can’t thrive in an inflamed environment.
Scalp conditions don’t always cause dramatic flakes or itching. Sometimes the inflammation is subtle, but persistent.
Common scalp-related contributors include:
Seborrheic dermatitis (often oily flakes, redness, itching)
Eczema / atopic dermatitis (dryness, sensitivity, irritation)
Chronic inflammation
Follicle congestion
Microbiome imbalance
Product buildup or irritation
What it can look like:
Flaking or “dandruff” that keeps coming back
Itchiness, tightness, tenderness, or burning
Redness or irritation
Excess oiliness or sudden dryness
Increased shedding alongside scalp discomfort
A calm, balanced scalp supports stronger follicles, better circulation, and healthier growth patterns over time.
6) Medications (Sometimes Hair Loss Is a Side Effect)
Certain medications can trigger shedding or thinning, either by shifting the hair cycle, altering nutrient levels, or changing hormonal pathways.
Common medication categories associated with hair thinning include:
Some antidepressants
Blood pressure medications
Retinoids (high-dose Vitamin A derivatives)
Blood thinners
Some cholesterol medications
Certain hormonal medications (including starting/stopping birth control)
Chemotherapy drugs (most well-known, but not the only ones)
Important note: Never stop a medication without medical guidance! But if your thinning started after a medication change, it’s worth considering as part of your timeline.
7) Hormone Shifts (Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause)
Hormones don’t just affect mood and energy, they influence your hair cycle directly.
Major transitions like postpartum recovery or perimenopause can create a perfect storm:
Shifts in estrogen and progesterone
Increased stress response
Sleep disruption
Nutrient depletion
Changes in thyroid and blood sugar patterns
What it can look like:
Postpartum shedding (often 3–5 months after birth)
Increased shedding around the hairline/temples
A gradual thinning pattern in perimenopause
Hair texture changes (finer, drier, more fragile)
These seasons can feel alarming, but they’re also opportunities to support the body more intentionally.
8) Chronic Stress (Even When You’re “Handling It”)
Stress isn’t just emotional; it’s physiological.
You can be high-functioning, successful, and pushing through, all while your nervous system is quietly overwhelmed.
Chronic stress can impact hair by:
Increasing cortisol
Disrupting sleep and recovery
Depleting key nutrients
Triggering inflammation
Worsening hormone imbalance
Contributing to Telogen Effluvium patterns
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for your hair is help your body feel safe again.
Not through perfection, but through consistency. Small shifts lead to big changes.
Why It’s Often Not “Just One Thing”
One of the most important things to understand about hair thinning is this: it’s rarely caused by a single factor.
Hair loss is often a layered issue. It can be a combination of:
a stressful season
nutrient depletion
hormone shifts
scalp inflammation
metabolic changes
That’s why quick fixes rarely work long-term. And why a root-cause approach is so powerful.
What You Can Do Next (A Root-Cause Approach)
If you’re dealing with hair thinning, here are a few grounded next steps:
Track the timeline: When did it start? What changed 2–3 months before? Hair tells the story of what happened earlier.
Look at patterns: Is it shedding (more hair fall), thinning (less density), or breakage (hair snapping)? Each one points to different root causes.
Support the scalp environment: A calm scalp is the foundation for growth. Flaking, itching, oiliness, or tenderness are not “normal.”
Don’t guess with supplements: Random supplements can backfire, especially with iron, iodine, or high-dose vitamins. Testing and targeted support matter.
Get personalized guidance: You deserve answers that connect the dots, not another product that makes empty promises.
Your Hair Can Recover
Hair thinning can be scary, but it can also be a turning point. It can create a moment where you finally stop chasing surface-level solutions and start listening to what your body needs.
You are not broken. Your body is communicating. And when we get to the root, real change becomes possible.
If you’re ready to understand what’s driving your thinning and create a plan that supports your hair from the inside out, we’re here.
Let’s get to the root - together!
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