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One day, it happens. You slide your fingers down your hair from top to bottom and freeze—there it is again, a small bundle of hair caught between each finger. At first, you brush it off. It’s a phase, a fluke, a one-off. It speaks softly at first. You notice your ponytail isn’t as thick, and your part looks a bit wider than usual. Denial provides you comfort until it can no longer. So the questions begin. What is causing this? Realization begins to settle in. Life has been taking a toll as of late, and stress levels have been more elevated than usual. Could that be the culprit? Well, some studies point to… yes!

If you’ve experienced more physical, emotional, or even hormonal stress, your scalp could pay the price. Under typical circumstances, your hair spends anywhere between 2 and 7 years in the growth stages. However, recurring exposure to stress can shift follicles from the growth phase to a transitional resting phase where strands shed more easily. Stress doesn’t act in isolation as it is not separate from your overall health. It’s an extension of your nervous system, immunity, nutrient absorption, and hormone levels. 

There are a few different types of stress-induced hair loss, such as Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles and Telogen effluvium, “the most common type hair shedding associated with trauma, such as but not limited to childbirth, surgery, high fever, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and other underlying medical conditions,” says Dr. Dina Strachan, board-certified dermatologist in NYC and owner of Aglow Dermatology. It’s a common type of hair loss that affects people after they experience severe stress or a change in their bodies, she adds. 

Treatment Solutions

Stress may be the trigger, but how you respond determines the outcome. When hair loss shows up under high- pressure moments, quick fixes are not the goal; it’s about restoring balance at the root. That means calming inflammation, supporting scalp health, increasing circulation, and reinforcing the hair growth cycle. 

Rituals that work with the body, not against it, are where you’ll begin to see true change and restoration. One treatment that could be a great starter is The Bomme Ritual—a 3-Step Scalp and Wellness Ritual, designed to meet your hair where it is, compromised, sensitive, and begging for support. Bomme doesn’t block hormones, but rather gently regulates the enzyme with their proprietary blend that produces DHT without interfering with testosterone itself. Even more importantly, Bomme is one of the only products that directly reduces IL-6, a cytokine that causes chronic scalp inflammation, thinning, and follicle damage. Most users notice improvements in thickness and shedding with consistent use over 8–12 weeks. 

Pairing this with other supportive treatments, day-to-day care, and weekly wash days, such as a peptide-rich tonic like Briogeo’s Dense to Density Shampoo, Conditioner, and serum Bundle to strengthen strands, energize follicles, and reduce hair fallout. Beyond routine products, don’t underestimate the power of lifestyle and internal support—addressing stress itself, optimizing nutrition, and managing sleep and movement all help reduce the biological signals that prompt follicles to enter rest and shedding phases. 

For folks looking for more targeted support, “a few non-invasive options could include red light therapy, Alma TED, which is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive hair restoration treatment,” says Dr. Strachan. It utilizes acoustic sound waves (ultrasound) and air pressure to deliver a specialized growth-promoting serum deep into the scalp, treating hair thinning and shedding by stimulating follicles, increasing blood flow, and enhancing scalp health, all without the need for needles, discomfort, or downtime.

The post More Than Skin Deep: How Stress Affects Our Hair appeared first on Essence.