Finding more hair than usual in your hairbrush or shower drain can be a bit alarming. Maybe your ponytail feels thinner, your parting looks wider, or you're just noticing a lot more hair coming out when you wash or brush it.

It's hard not to worry, especially when you start wondering why it's happening. Is it stress? Hormones? Something missing from your diet? And will it grow back?

While it's easy to put it down to getting older, genetics, or even your shampoo, hair loss can sometimes be linked to what's going on inside your body.

Your hair is affected by all sorts of things, from hormonal changes and nutritional deficiencies to thyroid problems and periods of physical or emotional stress. When something disrupts the normal hair growth cycle, you might start shedding more than usual.

And here's something worth knowing: hair loss doesn't always happen straight away. Sometimes the trigger goes back several months, which can make it tricky to figure out what's changed.

So, before you panic or spend a fortune on new hair products, let's look at some of the common reasons your hair might be falling out and what you can do about it.

First, Is It Normal to Lose Hair Every Day?

Hair shedding is a completely natural part of the hair growth cycle. Most people lose approximately 50–100 hairs each day as older hairs fall out and new ones begin to grow. You might notice more hair coming out when washing or brushing it, particularly if you have longer or thicker hair.

However, there's a difference between normal shedding and excessive hair loss. If you're consistently noticing significantly more hair falling out, visible thinning, a widening parting, or patches where hair is no longer growing, it may be worth investigating.

The important thing to remember is that hair loss isn't a single condition. There are several different types, and understanding the underlying cause is the first step towards addressing it.

1. Stress Could Be Affecting Your Hair Growth Cycle

We often talk about stress in terms of its effects on sleep, digestion, and mental wellbeing. But your hair can also be affected. One common cause of excessive shedding is a condition called telogen effluvium.

This happens when a larger-than-usual number of hair follicles prematurely enter the resting phase of the hair growth cycle. More hair falls out than normal as a result.

It can be triggered by:

• Prolonged emotional stress.
• A major life event or period of anxiety.
• Surgery or physical trauma.
• A significant illness or high fever.
• Rapid weight loss or restrictive dieting.

What’s important to know is that hair shedding associated with this doesn't always happen immediately. It can take around two to three months after a stressful event before you notice a difference. This means the trigger might not be something happening in your life right now. It could be something your body experienced several months ago.

The good news is that stress-related shedding is often temporary, with hair growth gradually recovering once the underlying trigger has been addressed.

2. Are You Getting Enough Iron and Essential Nutrients?

Your hair needs a consistent supply of nutrients to support healthy growth. When your diet doesn't provide enough of certain nutrients, or your body isn't absorbing them properly, hair health can sometimes be affected.

Iron is particularly important because it helps your body produce haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen. Low iron levels, particularly iron-deficiency anaemia, can be associated with increased hair shedding.

Other nutrients that play a role in normal hair health include:

• Protein: Hair is primarily made from a protein called keratin. Not eating enough protein can affect normal hair growth.
• Zinc: This mineral supports normal cell division and tissue repair, processes involved in maintaining healthy hair follicles.
• Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 contributes to normal red blood cell formation and energy metabolism. Deficiency can affect overall health and may be associated with hair changes.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D is involved in several processes within the body, including those associated with hair follicle function. Research has explored links between low vitamin D levels and certain types of hair loss.
• Glutathione: Often called the body's master antioxidant, glutathione helps protect cells from oxidative stress. As oxidative stress may play a role in hair follicle health and hair loss, researchers are exploring its potential connection to healthy hair growth.

It's worth remembering that hair loss doesn't automatically mean you have a nutritional deficiency. However, if your diet has been restrictive, you've experienced significant weight loss or you're concerned about your nutrient intake, it's worth looking into what you might be missing.

4. Could Your Thyroid Be Playing a Role?

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that has a surprisingly big influence on your body. It produces hormones that help regulate metabolism, energy levels, and several other essential functions.

When your thyroid isn't producing the right amount of hormones, it can affect different systems throughout the body, including the hair growth cycle. Both an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can contribute to hair thinning or increased shedding.

Other symptoms can include:

• Persistent tiredness.
• Unexplained weight changes.
• Feeling unusually cold or hot.
• Changes in bowel habits.
• Dry skin.
• Changes in your menstrual cycle.

If you're experiencing hair loss alongside some of these symptoms, it's worth asking your GP whether thyroid function testing is appropriate. The good news is that hair changes associated with thyroid disorders can often improve once the underlying condition is properly managed.

5. Hormonal Changes Can Make a Difference

Hormones influence many aspects of hair growth, which is why changes in hormone levels can sometimes be reflected in your hair.

This can be particularly noticeable during certain stages of life:

• After pregnancy: Many women experience increased shedding in the months following childbirth. Changes in oestrogen levels can cause more hairs to enter the resting phase, resulting in noticeable shedding.
• Perimenopause and menopause: Changing hormone levels during midlife can influence hair density and texture. Some women notice gradual thinning, particularly around the crown and parting.
• PCOS: Polycystic ovary syndrome can involve higher levels of androgens (sometimes called male hormones). In some women, this contributes to a pattern of thinning hair on the scalp.
• Coming off hormonal contraception: Changes in hormone levels after stopping certain forms of contraception can sometimes trigger temporary shedding.

Hormonal hair changes aren't always temporary, and different conditions require different approaches. If you're noticing persistent thinning or other hormonal symptoms, a medical assessment can help identify what's happening.

6. Your Medication Could Be Contributing

Sometimes, the cause of hair loss isn't related to diet, stress, or hormones at all. Certain medications can affect the hair growth cycle and contribute to increased shedding or thinning. Depending on the medication, this can include some antidepressants, blood pressure medications, acne treatments, and hormonal medications.

If you've noticed a change in your hair after starting a new prescription or changing your dosage, mention it to your GP or pharmacist. But remember you should never stop taking prescribed medication without medical advice. There may be alternative options if a medication is suspected of contributing to the problem.

7. Your Hair Loss Could Be Genetic

Not all hair thinning is caused by something you're doing, eating, or experiencing. Female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is a common form of progressive hair thinning.

It often develops gradually, with women noticing:

• A widening parting.
• Less volume around the crown.
• A ponytail that feels noticeably thinner.
• More visible scalp through the hair.

Genetics and hormonal factors can both play a role.

Although this type of hair loss can become more noticeable with age, it isn't inevitable. Treatments are available, and seeking advice early can help you understand your options.

8. Don't Overlook Your Scalp Health

Sometimes the problem starts much closer to the surface. Conditions affecting the scalp can contribute to hair loss - particularly when inflammation or infection is involved. For example, psoriasis, eczema, and fungal infections can affect the scalp and even interfere with normal hair growth.

There’s also a type of hair loss called traction alopecia that happens when hair follicles are put under stress. This can be caused by frequent tight hairstyles, extensions, or excessive tension.

You should always pay attention to persistent itching, redness, scaling, soreness, or areas of broken hair - particularly if accompanied by thinning or bald patches.

What Can You Do If Your Hair Is Falling Out?

The temptation is often to reach for a new shampoo, hair growth serum, or supplement. But before spending money on products, it's important to understand why your hair is falling out in the first place.

Here are a few sensible places to start:

1. Look at what’s changed in your life recently.

Think back over the previous three to six months. Have you been particularly stressed, unwell, dieting, losing weight, or starting a new medication? These details may help identify a potential trigger.

2. Review your nutritional intake.

Are you eating enough protein? Is your diet varied? Are you getting enough iron and other essential nutrients? Restrictive eating can make it harder to meet your nutritional needs.

3. Speak to your GP.

If you're experiencing persistent or noticeable hair loss, arrange an appointment. Depending on your symptoms and medical history, your GP may recommend blood tests to investigate possible causes, such as iron deficiency or thyroid problems.

4. Be gentle with your hair.

Avoid unnecessarily tight hairstyles, excessive heat styling and aggressive brushing. If you wear extensions, make sure they're fitted and maintained in a way that minimizes tension on your natural hair.

5. Give your hair time.

Hair growth is a slow process. Even after an underlying trigger has been addressed, it can take several months to notice improvements in shedding and density.

The Bigger Picture: Your Hair Is Part of Your Overall Health

It's easy to think of hair as purely cosmetic. But healthy hair growth depends on a complex combination of genetics, hormones, nutrition, and normal physiological processes. When something changes, your hair can sometimes be one of the first places you notice it.

That doesn't mean every extra strand in your shower is something to worry about, though. Some shedding is completely normal and many common causes of increased hair loss are temporary or manageable.

However, persistent changes deserve attention. Rather than immediately reaching for another hair product, take a step back and consider what your body might be telling you. Getting to the root of the problem often means looking beyond your hair altogether.

Identifying and addressing the underlying cause is the most important step.

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