It’s a fact of life – our bodies are delicate systems where even the smallest hormonal fluctuations can lead to massive changes. While these changes often manifest as skin breakouts, emotional imbalances, and other physical discomforts, they also profoundly affect our hair. While discussions related to hair are only sparked up in hair care topics, there is nowhere hormonal changes are more evident than in our crowning glory, our hair. You might be curious about how your hormones might potentially affect your hair. This blog discusses the fascinating narrative and discovers how hormones, with a particular focus on pregnancy, conditions like PCOS, and the cortisol-fueled impact of stress, can significantly affect our hair.
Hair Journey With Pregnancy
This is one of those precious seasons when you are expecting a little one, with your body combined with a rollercoaster ride of hormones, in between the happiness of having a baby and the stress that comes with carrying. During and after pregnancy, hormonal changes can influence your hair, causing it to either thicken or thin out. Around 15 weeks into pregnancy, some women may notice their hair feeling thicker, not because each strand is thicker, but because the hair remains in the growth phase for longer, resulting in less hair falling out due to increased estrogen levels.
Pregnancy can lead to various changes in your skin, including acne, melasma, and stretch marks. Likewise, your hair may go through alterations, which, while not typically permanent, this hair loss is typically temporary and resolves within about 12 months after giving birth.
The PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and the Hair
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects women during their reproductive years. PCOS causes an excess of testosterone, which can disrupt hair growth, resulting in hair loss, particularly around the temples and frontal areas of the scalp. This hair loss is known as androgenic alopecia and is linked to the elevated levels of androgens, often called male hormones, even though women have them too.
A significant type of hair loss associated with PCOS in a female hair journey involves thinning at the crown or hairline of the hair. A significant number of people with PCOS, around 20-30%, experience this type of hair loss.
Hormonal Hair and Stress
For women some hair shedding is perfectly normal. You might notice a few strands in your comb. However, when you start to notice an alarming increase in hair loss, to the point where you’re pulling out clumps of hair, it could be an indication that stress is taking a toll on your hair.
Stress can affect your hair in a few ways. Two are through the conditions called telogen effluvium and trichotillomania. Stress can push more hair follicles into the resting phase, causing more hair to fall out when you brush or wash your hair. If you find yourself experiencing excessive hair loss, it’s essential to address the underlying stress and consider consulting with a hair care professional like Bloom Hair Atelier, where we attend to all kinds of hair concerns, with a certified in-house trichology, because your hair health is our concern. Reducing stress through relaxation techniques can often help mitigate the impact of stress on your hair.
Holistic Hair Care at Bloom Hair Atelier Salon
Hormones act as conductors in the orchestra of your body. When everything works together, your hair looks great, but when hormones get out of balance, your hair can suffer. The important point is to understand how hormones affect your hair. If you’re experiencing hair troubles, book a consultation with Bloom Hair Atelier, a holistic hair care salon where prioritizing your hair’s health and growth is our objective.
Schedule an appointment today with Bloom Hair Atelier to take the first step towards realizing your hair goals and maintaining a healthy hair journey, whilst undergoing hormonal effects.