Hormones and Hair Loss: How Changes Affect Hair Growth and What You Can Do About It

Hair thinning and shedding are more than cosmetic changes. They are often signs of deeper hormonal and physiological shifts, especially during the transitions of pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause and past menopause. 

In perimenopause, many women notice their hair losing volume, the part widening, or more strands on the pillow or in the shower. These changes can feel discouraging, but they are also a message from the body about balance and nourishment.

How Hormones Influence Hair

Throughout a woman’s life, hormones play a central role in maintaining healthy hair growth. 

During pregnancy, many women experience the opposite of hair loss and love their thicker, fuller hair, all thanks to elevated estrogen levels that keep follicles in the growth phase longer. After delivery, when hormone levels rapidly drop, a temporary shedding phase known as telogen effluvium can occur. This typically peaks a few months after birth and gradually resolves as hormones stabilize. Supporting the body with nutrient-dense foods, gentle stress management, and adequate rest can help the hair recover naturally during this transition.

It’s also worth noting that telogen effluvium (the temporary form of hair shedding) can happen from drastic changes in the hormone cortisol after periods of intense physical or emotional stress, like the loss of a loved one, surgery, relative nutrient or calorie restriction from heavy training or sports, repeated work travel, or an extended illness. The shedding often shows up two to three after the stressful event, which can make it feel sudden or even alarming. But it’s actually your body’s way of protecting itself; a redirecting of energy away from hair growth during times of stress. Once balance is restored, new growth usually follows, and the hair gradually returns to its normal cycle about three to six months later.

During perimenopause into menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels decline. Interestingly, in early perimenopause testosterone can actually be more dominant in relation. This shift can make hair follicles more sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone known to shrink follicles and slow new growth. At the same time, increased stress, changes in metabolism, and nutritional deficiencies can create a perfect storm for shedding and thinning. When we address these root causes, we give the body what it needs to restore balance from within.

The Science Behind Nutrafol

Recent clinical research has shown promising results for women experiencing hair thinning during menopause. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that women taking Nutrafol Women’s Balance for six months experienced significant increases in hair growth and reductions in shedding. A follow-up study showed continued improvements in hair quality, thickness, and overall well-being after twelve months of consistent use.

Nutrafol Women’s Balance is formulated specifically for women in the menopausal transition. It targets key drivers of hair thinning (hormonal changes, stress, and nutrient depletion) by combining ingredients such as saw palmetto, ashwagandha, maca, and marine collagen. Together, these nutrients support hormone balance, strengthen follicles, and encourage healthy hair growth. Many of our Wellness Insights practitioners–incuding me!–have noticed improvements in shedding with consistent use for 6 or more months.

For younger women experiencing stress-related or postpartum shedding, Nutrafol Women’s offers a similar foundation with a slightly different balance of ingredients designed for the reproductive years. This formulation supports healthy hair growth by addressing daily stress, inflammation, and nutritional gaps, which are common root causes of hair thinning in younger women. 

Integrative Support for Hair Health

Healthy hair begins with a healthy body. Supporting your hair from the inside out means focusing on nutrient-dense meals, regular movement, quality sleep, and effective stress management. I often remind my patients that health stems from balance. Not perfection, but balance. 

At Wellness Insights, we also offer red-light scalp therapy. This non-invasive photobiomodulation treatment uses specific wavelengths of red light (around 630-655 nm) to stimulate the scalp, promote follicle activity, and improve hair density and thickness. A randomized controlled trial in women with pattern hair thinning found that a 655 nm low-level laser helmet used every other day for 16 weeks resulted in a 37% increase in hair count compared to sham treatment. When used consistently as part of a broader program to address lifestyle, red light scalp therapy becomes a powerful complement in our integrative hair-health toolkit.

Take the Next Step

If you have noticed changes in your hair during menopause, know that you are not alone and that support exists. 

We are able to offer a unique discount to our community. Shop Nutrafol Women’s and Women’s Balance today and begin supporting your hair from within.