Understanding Hormones and Hair Growth

When we begin to see hair as part of our body’s inner ecosystem, it becomes easier to understand why shifts in life, whether a new season, a stressful time, pregnancy, or the transition into menopause, are mirrored in our strands.

The Cyclical Nature of Hair

Every strand of hair moves through a cycle, much like our own daily and monthly rhythms:

- Growth (Anagen): where hair flourishes, nourished at the root.

- Transition (Catagen): a gentle pause, as the follicle steps back.

- Rest and Release (Telogen): when hair falls away, making space for new beginnings.

Hormones are the subtle conductors that decide how long each of these phases lasts.

The Role of Hormones in Your Hair

Estrogen and Progesterone

These nurturing hormones lengthen the growth phase, bringing the fullness and radiance we often notice in pregnancy. When they drop away in postpartum or menopause, shedding may feel more pronounced.

Androgens (Testosterone and DHT)

Often spoken of as “male” hormones but present in all of us, androgens influence the size and strength of our follicles. In excess, they can shrink them, making hair finer and more fragile over time.

Cortisol (Stress Hormone)

When stress lingers in the body, cortisol can push more hairs into the shedding phase. This is why months after a stressful chapter, our hair may reflect what we have been carrying.

Thyroid Hormones

The thyroid governs energy, metabolism, and warmth in the body. When it is out of balance, the hair often tells us first by becoming thinner, drier, or falling more than usual.

Hair Through Life’s Seasons

Puberty

The hormonal changes of puberty are often the first time we notice how deeply our inner world affects our hair. A rise in androgens can encourage new growth, sometimes making hair feel thicker, fuller, or more textured. At the same time, oil glands become more active, which can make the scalp greasier or more prone to build-up. It is a chapter of learning how to care for hair as it begins to express a new rhythm.

Pregnancy and Postpartum

During pregnancy, higher levels of estrogen keep more strands in their growth phase, which is why hair often feels abundant, silky, and strong. After birth, as hormones begin to settle, many experience a shedding phase. This is not hair being lost forever, but the body recalibrating. The cycle is making space for renewal, even if it feels confronting in the moment.

Menopause

With menopause, estrogen and progesterone gently decline, allowing androgens to play a stronger role. Hair may begin to feel finer, more fragile, or less dense than before. This stage calls for deeper nourishment and a gentler touch, honouring the body as it transitions into a new phase of wisdom and strength.

Stressful times

Periods of emotional or physical stress invite cortisol to rise in the body. This can quietly alter the cycle, often showing up as increased shedding several months later. While temporary, it can feel unsettling. Understanding that hair is reflecting the stress carried within reminds us that self-care and slowing down are not indulgences but necessities.

Nurturing Hair When Hormones Shift

While we cannot stop the tides of our hormones, we can create rituals that bring balance and remind the body it is supported.

- Feed the follicles with whole, nutrient-rich foods. Hair thrives on what we consume. Prioritise protein, minerals such as iron and zinc, and nourishing fats to provide the building blocks for strength and shine.

- Calm the nervous system with grounding practices. Breathwork, yoga, journaling, or time in nature help regulate cortisol and support the inner balance your hair relies on.

- Invite circulation to the scalp through oiling and massage. Apply a nourishing hair oil and take a few mindful minutes to work it in using slow, circular motions. You can use your fingers, a jade scalp stimulator, or a scalp massager to encourage blood flow, support growth, and soothe both scalp and spirit. This ritual becomes not just hair care, but a moment of self-care.

- Seek guidance when needed. If hair changes feel sudden, dramatic, or persist, consult a professional. Sometimes hair is the body’s way of whispering that something deeper requires attention and healing.

Our hair is not separate from us. It is part of our story, reflecting the unseen dance of our hormones. By tending to it gently and honouring the seasons it moves through, we remind ourselves that growth, shedding, and renewal are all natural parts of life’s cycle.