Stress and Hair Loss: What You Can Do to Stop the Shedding (2025)

Seeing more strands than usual in your brush or noticing your ponytail is a little thinner? If you recently experienced a stressful event, like the loss of a loved one or medical concerns, you may be wondering if there’s a connection. It’s a question many women ask: Does stress cause hair loss? And if so, what can you do to stop it? We went straight to a hair pro to get the facts—and the fixes—so you can feel more in control of your hair and your health.

Does stress really cause hair loss?

The answer, according to experts, is a resounding yes. Tetiana Mamontova, lead hair transplant surgeon at Harley Street Hair Transplant Clinics in London, confirms that stress can indeed be a common cause of hair loss in women over 40. Two ways stress can affect the hair are that it leads to different types of hair loss, which she breaks down below.

• Telogen effluvium: According to research, significant physical or emotional stress can cause a large number of hair follicles that are in the anagen phase (active growth) to prematurely enter the telogen phase (a.k.a. resting phase) of the hair growth cycle. Hair loss typically begins around two to three months after the stressful event occurs.
• Alopecia areata: This autoimmune condition is typically set off by stress. It causes the immune system to attack the person’s own hair follicles, resulting in patchy hair loss. Hair loss often occurs rapidly, developing over a few days or weeks.

How exactly are stress and hair loss connected?

“Stress elevates levels of a hormone called corticosterone in the body. This hormone then impacts the dermal papilla, a cluster of cells vital for hair follicle function,” explains Dr. Mamontova.

“Normally, the dermal papilla releases a molecule named GAS6, which acts like a signal to activate hair follicle stem cells and promote hair growth. However, when stress ramps up corticosterone, this crucial communication pathway can be disrupted, leading to hair shedding.” Promisingly, a study showed that delivering GAS6 directly could restore hair growth in stressed subjects, offering a potential future avenue for treatment.

Can hair loss from stress be reversed?

“There isn’t a way to know that stress is the specific cause of your hair loss, unfortunately,” says Dr. Mamontova. But, if your hair loss is widespread and the hair is falling out more evenly across the scalp, and you had some trauma, significant illness, surgery or maybe the death of a loved one within the last two to three months, chances are it’s due to stress. The telogen (resting) phase of hair growth typically lasts around 3 months, which is why most women won’t notice hair loss for about two to three months after a stressful event occurs (and this is the case if it’s a one-off event or ongoing chronic stress).

Can hair loss from stress be reversed?

The good news is that stress-related hair loss is generally temporary, says Dr. Mamontova. “If you’re experiencing the patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), the number one thing to do is to try and de-stress by any means necessary,” she says. (Check out our tips on how to reduce stress and anxiety here.) “Alternatively, by doing nothing, hair will usually grow back, although it can take 6 to 12 months.”

If you’re worried or if you don’t see your hair regrowing naturally, Dr. Mamontova recommends talking to your doctor about steroid injections, which can help spur new hair growth. She also recommends a new available drug called Ritlecitinib. This is beneficial for those with alopecia areata as it works on a cellular level to combat hair loss.

If your stress-related hair loss leads to rapid hair loss around the scalp (telogen effluvium), “the same applies as above and de-stressing techniques are key,” says Dr. Mamontova. Also helpful? “Over-the-counter medications like minoxidil can help stimulate hair growth, prioritizing sufficient sleep and a balanced diet rich in whole foods, while minimizing processed foods and sugar is also crucial.” But, again, hair will usually grow back on its own, so there’s no need to add hair regrowth to your list of things to stress about.