Hair fall can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. One day your hair feels fine, and the next—your brush is full of strands. But what if the cause isn't as obvious as you think?
Here are 6 sneaky reasons you might be losing more hair than usual, and simple, natural ways to support your scalp and strands.
1. Stress and High Cortisol Levels
When you’re constantly stressed, your body produces excess cortisol (the stress hormone). This can trigger telogen effluvium, a condition where more hair enters the resting (shedding) phase of the growth cycle.
What helps?
- Daily scalp massages to calm your nervous system
- Deep breathing, meditation, or journaling
- Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha or tulsi
Fact check: According to the American Academy of Dermatology, emotional stress can directly impact hair loss patterns.
2. Hard Water Damage
If you live in an area with hard water, the minerals (calcium and magnesium) can build up on your scalp and hair shaft. This makes it harder for your scalp to breathe and for nutrients to penetrate the follicle.
What helps?
- Install a shower filter
- Rinse your hair with herbal infusions like rosemary or rice water
- Apply oil before washing to create a protective layer
Fact check: Studies show mineral deposits in hard water can decrease hair strength and increase breakage.
3. Tight Hairstyles and Traction
Always wearing tight buns, ponytails, or braids? You might be unknowingly damaging your roots.
What helps?
- Let your hair down more often
- Switch up your parting to reduce stress on the same areas
- Use gentle detanglers like neem wood combs
Fact check: Traction alopecia is a real and preventable form of hair loss caused by chronic tension on the follicles.
4. Nutrient Deficiencies
Even if you're eating healthy, low levels of iron, vitamin D, B12, or zinc can silently impact hair growth.
What helps?
- Get blood work done if you're noticing hair fall
- Add leafy greens, seeds, and healthy fats to your diet
- Ayurvedic hair foods: amla, curry leaves, fenugreek
Fact check: Iron deficiency is one of the top nutritional causes of hair loss, particularly in women.
5. Harsh Shampoos and Overwashing
Many commercial shampoos contain sulfates and silicones that strip your scalp’s natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation.
What helps?
- Use gentle, sulfate-free or herbal cleansers
- Limit washing to 2–3 times a week
- Try Ayurvedic hair cleansers like reetha, amla, and shikakai
Fact check: Dermatologists caution against over washing and using harsh surfactants, which disrupt the scalp’s microbiome.
6. Scalp Inflammation
Itchy, flaky, or sore scalp? This could be low-grade inflammation—a root cause of hair thinning that often goes unnoticed.
What helps?
- Use anti-inflammatory oils like rosemary, onion oil, and black seed
- Avoid scratching or over-styling
- Keep your scalp hydrated and exfoliated
Fact check: Scalp inflammation disrupts the hair growth cycle and weakens the follicle structure.
Hair fall isn’t always about age or genetics. Often, it’s your body sending signals about what it needs. By supporting your scalp, reducing inflammation, and nourishing from within, you can encourage healthier, stronger growth.
Explore natural, small-batch hair care solutions made with traditional wisdom at Herbal Edge — your scalp will thank you.
