Description: Losing more hair than usual? Hormones might be the real culprit. Here's an honest breakdown of the hormones-hair fall connection — and what you can actually do about it.
Let me paint a picture you might recognize.
You're in the shower. You run your fingers through your hair, and way more strands come out than they used to. You look at the drain and there's a clump of hair that definitely wasn't there a few months ago. You check your brush and it's full. You notice your ponytail feels thinner. You see more scalp than you'd like when you part your hair.
And you're thinking — what the hell is happening?
You're eating well. You're using good hair products. You're not doing anything differently. So why is your hair suddenly abandoning ship?
Here's what nobody tells you until you're already Googling at 2 AM in a panic: hair fall is almost always connected to your hormones.
Not always. But almost always. Especially if the hair loss came on suddenly, or if it's happening alongside other weird symptoms you can't quite explain.
So let's talk about it. Honestly. Clearly. Let's break down exactly how hormones affect hair fall, which hormones are the main culprits, what signs to look for, and — most importantly — what you can actually do about it.
First Things First — How Hair Growth Actually Works
Before we get into the hormones part, you need to understand how hair growth works. Because hair fall isn't random. It's part of a cycle.
Every hair on your head goes through three phases:
Anagen (Growth Phase) — This lasts 2-7 years. Your hair is actively growing during this phase. About 85-90% of your hair is in this phase at any given time.
Catagen (Transition Phase) — This lasts about 2-3 weeks. Hair stops growing and detaches from the blood supply. About 1-2% of your hair is in this phase.
Telogen (Resting Phase) — This lasts about 3-4 months. The hair is just sitting there, resting, before it falls out and a new hair starts growing in its place. About 10-15% of your hair is in this phase.
Normal hair fall is about 50-100 strands per day. That's just the natural cycle. Hair in the telogen phase falls out, and new hair grows to replace it.
But here's where hormones come in. Hormones control how long each phase lasts, how many hairs are in each phase, and how thick each hair grows.
When your hormones get out of balance, they can:
- Push way more hairs into the telogen phase at once (which means more hair falling out all at once a few months later)
- Shorten the anagen phase (so hair doesn't grow as long or as thick)
- Shrink hair follicles (so new hairs grow back thinner and weaker)
- Stop hair growth entirely in some follicles
That's the hormones-hair fall connection. And once you understand it, a lot of things start making sense.
The Hormones That Control Your Hair (For Better or Worse)
Let's get specific. Here are the hormones that have the biggest impact on whether your hair thrives or falls out.
1. Androgens (Testosterone and DHT)
This is the big one. Androgens — male hormones that both men and women have — are the number one hormonal cause of hair loss.
What they do: Testosterone gets converted into DHT (dihydrotestosterone) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT binds to hair follicles — especially the ones on the top and front of your scalp — and shrinks them. Over time, those follicles produce thinner, weaker hair, and eventually they stop producing hair altogether.
This is called androgenic alopecia or pattern hair loss. It's the most common type of hair loss in both men and women.
Signs it's androgen-related:
- Hair thinning on the top of your head and along your part
- Hairline receding (more common in men, but happens to women too)
- Hair falling out but not regrowing as thick
- You have other signs of high androgens — acne, oily skin, unwanted facial hair (in women), irregular periods
Who's affected: Men and women both, but it shows up differently. Men typically get a receding hairline and bald spot on top. Women typically get diffuse thinning across the top of the scalp.
2. Estrogen
Estrogen is the hormone that protects your hair. It keeps hair in the growth phase longer, makes hair thicker, and generally keeps your hair happy.
What happens when estrogen drops: When estrogen levels fall — during menopause, after pregnancy, or when you stop taking birth control — your hair loses that protection. More hairs shift into the resting phase. Growth slows down. And a few months later, you get a wave of hair fall.
Signs it's estrogen-related:
- Hair fall started after pregnancy (postpartum hair loss)
- Hair fall started during or after menopause
- Hair fall started after stopping birth control pills
- You have other low estrogen symptoms — hot flashes, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, mood swings
Who's affected: Mostly women, especially during major hormonal transitions.
3. Thyroid Hormones (T3 and T4)
Your thyroid controls your metabolism — including the metabolism of your hair follicles. When your thyroid is off, your hair suffers.
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): Hair becomes dry, brittle, and thin. Hair growth slows down. You lose hair not just on your scalp, but also your eyebrows (especially the outer third).
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid): Hair becomes thin and fine. You get diffuse hair loss all over your scalp.
Signs it's thyroid-related:
- Hair is dry, coarse, and breaks easily
- You're losing hair on your eyebrows too
- You have other thyroid symptoms — fatigue, weight changes, sensitivity to cold or heat, brain fog, irregular periods
Who's affected: Anyone, but more common in women, especially over 40.