Hair Cycle Disruptions: 7 Reasons Your Hair May Be Falling Out Sooner Than It Should

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Author: Natalie Ng|21 April 2025

Your hair follows a natural rhythm. It grows, rests, and sheds in repeating cycles that keep your scalp healthy and full. But sometimes, this rhythm gets thrown off. When that happens, your hair may fall out earlier than expected — and often, faster than it can grow back. There are seven common reasons why this can happen. Things like hormone shifts, thyroid problems, ongoing stress, poor nutrition, certain medications, scalp issues, or even how you style your hair can all play a role. These factors can interrupt different phases of the hair cycle — like the anagen phase (active hair growth), the catagen phase (transition phase), or the telogen phase (resting phase) — and lead to earlier hair shedding, thinning, or even stalled new hair growth. Understanding how the hair growth cycle works, and what might cause it to go off track, is a good first step to improving your hair health. In the sections that follow, we’ll walk through each of these reasons and how they affect your hair follicles, hair strands, and overall hair growth. Keep reading to find out what could be affecting your hair follicle stem cells, disrupting your hair growth, and what you can do to support healthy hair growth again.

Hormonal Imbalances and Thyroid Dysfunction

Hormones play a major role in the hair growth cycle. When levels shift — whether due to age, health conditions, or other internal changes — they can interrupt how your hair grows, rests, and sheds. This often causes the anagen phase (the active growth phase) to shorten, while the telogen phase (the resting phase) starts earlier than it should. That means hair follicles stop producing new hair strands too soon, and you start noticing more hair shedding.

Impact Of Hormonal Changes On Hair Follicles

Changes in hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol can affect how the hair follicle functions. For example, higher levels of androgens (male hormones found in both men and women) can shrink hair follicles residing on the scalp. This slows active hair growth, weakens the hair shaft, and may lead to androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness).

Thyroid Function and Hair Growth

Your thyroid gland helps regulate how your body uses energy, and that includes how it supports hair follicle activity. If your thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism), the effect on your hair growth can be noticeable. - The hair bulb at the base of each follicle may not get enough energy or nutrients. - Your hair growth slows, and more hair strands enter the telogen stage too early. - You may notice excessive shedding, especially across the whole scalp rather than in patches. - Hair thinning can become more noticeable over time. If you've seen a sudden shift in how much hair you’re shedding or how your hair strands feel, especially alongside fatigue or weight changes, it’s worth checking your hormone and thyroid levels.

These kinds of imbalances often trigger telogen effluvium, a condition where a large number of hair follicles enter the shedding phase all at once. While this doesn’t always lead to permanent hair loss, it can take time for new hair to grow back and return to a normal growth cycle.

Chronic Stress and Elevated Cortisol Levels

Stress doesn't just affect your mood — it can also interrupt the hair growth cycle. When you're under ongoing stress, your body releases more cortisol. This hormone directly impacts how hair follicles function, often pushing them out of the anagen phase (the active growth phase) and into the telogen phase (the resting phase) too soon. As a result, you may notice more hair shedding, thinner hair strands, and slower new hair growth.

How Cortisol Disrupts Hair Growth

High cortisol levels affect the way your body uses energy and nutrients. During stressful periods, the body focuses on essential functions — and hair growth isn’t one of them. This shift affects the hair bulb, where hair begins, and can reduce blood supply to the hair root, making it harder for hair follicle stem cells and dermal papilla cells to support normal growth. - More hair follicles enter the telogen stage early, leading to excessive shedding - Hair shafts become weaker and break more easily - The growth cycle is disrupted, and fewer individual hairs stay in the active phase This stress-related condition is often referred to as telogen effluvium. It’s temporary, but the shedding can be noticeable, especially when brushing or washing your hair.

Although chronic stress doesn’t destroy hair follicles, it does throw off their rhythm. If the stress continues, new hair may take longer to return to the growth phase, and overall hair health can decline over time.

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Nutritional Deficiencies and Poor Diet

Your hair health depends on the nutrients you get from food. Without the right fuel, your hair follicles can’t stay in the active growth phase for long. Deficiencies in protein, iron, biotin, and key vitamins slow down the hair growth cycle, weaken the hair shaft, and lead to increased hair shedding and thinning over time.

How Missing Nutrients Affect Hair Growth

A lack of essential vitamins and minerals doesn’t show up overnight. It can take a few months before you start noticing symptoms like brittle texture, dullness, or more hair in your brush. But once those signs appear, it often means your hair follicles have already been affected. Common Nutrients That Support Hair Growth: - Biotin supports the production of keratin, the protein that forms hair strands - Vitamin D and zinc support hair follicle stem cells and help regulate the growth cycle - Iron helps deliver oxygen to the hair root, supporting energy for cell production - Vitamin A, C, and E contribute to scalp hydration and protection from environmental factors Without these, your hair growth slows, and new hair may not form properly. The hair follicle bulge, where hair begins, becomes less active, and follicle cycling can stop completely in some areas.

The Impact of Protein and Iron Deficiency

Protein is the foundation of hair cells. Your body uses amino acids from food to build keratin at the hair bulb. When you're not eating enough protein: - Hair strands become thin, weak, and more likely to break - Fewer individual hairs stay in the anagen phase, the stage of the hair where it actively grows Iron supports the dermal papilla in sending nutrients to the hair follicles. Low iron makes it harder for your follicles to produce new hair, pushing more of them into the telogen phase too early — which leads to more excessive shedding.

To support healthy hair growth, focus on a varied diet with lean proteins, iron-rich foods, leafy greens, and healthy fats. These nutrients help keep your hair follicles residing in the scalp functioning as they should.

Medications and Medical Treatments

Certain medications and medical treatments can disrupt your hair growth cycle, leading to noticeable changes in hair density, shedding, or even complete hair loss. These effects happen when drugs interfere with how hair follicles grow, transition, and rest — especially during the anagen, catagen, or telogen phase. Some treatments cause hair follicles to enter the telogen stage too soon, while others affect the exogen phase, where old hair falls out. In more severe cases, such as radiation therapy, the treatment can damage the hair follicle structure itself, affecting hair follicle morphogenesis and halting new hair growth altogether.

How Treatments Affect Hair Cycle Phases

Treatment Type

Primary Impact

Secondary Impact

Duration

Chemotherapy

Complete shedding

Hair follicle damage

Temporary

Hormone therapy

Pattern baldness

Androgenic alopecia

Long-term

Blood thinners

Extended catagen phase

Increased shedding

Variable

Antidepressants

Disrupted hair cycle

Noticeable thinning

Reversible

Each medication affects the growth phase of individual hairs differently, depending on how it interacts with the cell cycle, blood supply, and dermal papilla cells that support active hair growth. If you’re seeing sudden hair thinning, more hair in your shower drain, or changes in individual hair strands after starting a new treatment, it could be linked to how the drug affects your follicle cycling. While some hair loss is temporary, other effects — especially those tied to long-term medications — may lead to lasting changes in hair health. Talk with your doctor if you're concerned about hair shedding or changes in hair texture. In some cases, there may be alternative options or adjustments that can support your condition while reducing the impact on your hair follicles.

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Genes and Family History

Your genes play a key role in how your hair grows, how long it stays in each phase of the hair cycle, and how it responds to internal changes. If you have a family history of pattern baldness or hair thinning, your hair follicles may be more sensitive to hormonal shifts — especially androgens — which can disrupt the anagen phase and speed up entry into the telogen phase.

Genetic Influence the Hair Growth Cycle

Your genetic background affects several parts of the hair growth cycle: - It determines how long your hair follicles stay in the active growth phase, which impacts how long your hair strands can grow before they fall out. - It influences the shape, size, and density of your hair follicles residing on the scalp. - It controls how your hair follicle stem cells and dermal papilla cells respond to hormones like DHT, a common factor in androgenetic alopecia. - It defines how sensitive your hair bulbs are to inflammation or environmental triggers that may push them into an early resting phase. In people with a family history of androgenic alopecia, hair follicles often shrink over time, producing thinner hair shafts and shorter growth cycles. This condition can lead to excessive shedding and slow new hair growth, often starting at the crown or temples. Genetics also affect your hair bulge, where progenitor cells help generate new hair, and can impact how resilient these structures are over time. That means even with good hair care and nutrition, some hair loss may still occur if it's linked to inherited traits. If pattern hair loss runs in your family, it’s useful to monitor early changes in hair density, especially if combined with other triggers.

Scalp Conditions and Infections

The health of your scalp directly affects how your hair follicles function. For hair growth to stay consistent, the scalp needs to stay clean, balanced, and free from inflammation or infection. When that balance is disrupted, hair follicle cycling is affected — which can lead to premature shedding, slowed new hair growth, or even temporary hair loss.

How Scalp Issues Disrupt the Hair Growth Cycle

Several common conditions interfere with the scalp's ability to support healthy hair follicles: - Fungal infections can disrupt the sebaceous gland, which affects the moisture and oil balance near the hair root - Bacterial infections may inflame areas around the hair follicle bulge, disturbing the function of hair follicle stem cells - Seborrheic dermatitis creates build-up and scaling that clogs hair follicles, limiting active hair growth - Psoriasis speeds up epithelial cell turnover, which disrupts the normal stage of the hair cycle These problems can force hair follicles into the telogen phase earlier than usual, slowing down the anagen phase and weakening the hair shaft. Over time, this causes more individual hair strands to fall out and fewer to regrow. If you're dealing with itching, flaking, or redness, these symptoms may be affecting your hair health even before visible hair thinning begins. Early treatment is important to restore balance to the scalp and protect the structures that support active growth — including the dermal papilla, inner root sheath, and outer root sheath.

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Aggressive Hair Care Practices and Styling

How you treat your hair day to day matters just as much as internal health or genetics. Regular use of harsh styling methods can weaken the hair shaft, stress the hair follicle, and disrupt the normal hair growth cycle. Over time, these practices can reduce the number of individual hairs in the anagen phase and increase shedding during the telogen stage.

Styling Habits That Disrupt Hair Growth

- Tight hairstyles like braids, ponytails, or buns can cause traction alopecia, a type of hair loss caused by pulling hair strands out of the follicle before they complete the growth phase - Frequent heat styling without thermal protection weakens the hair shaft, making it more prone to breakage and interrupting active hair growth - Chemical treatments such as bleaching, perming, or relaxing can damage the hair bulb, interfere with hair follicle morphogenesis, and slow new hair growth - Rough brushing or combing, especially on wet hair, breaks individual hair strands and may prevent them from reaching full length These actions not only damage the surface of your hair strands, but also affect what's happening below — in the hair root, hair bulge, and dermal papilla, where hair cells are actively forming. If you're noticing more hair thinning, split ends, or shedding after styling, it might be time to reassess your routine. Supporting healthy hair growth means using gentle techniques that protect your hair follicles and allow them to stay in the active phase longer.

How F8 Hair Regrowth Treatment Supports the Hair Growth Cycle

Once the hair cycle is disrupted, supporting the hair follicles with the right care becomes key. The F8 Hair Regrowth Treatment is a non-invasive solution designed to restore balance to the scalp environment and encourage healthy hair growth by stimulating the natural phases of the hair growth cycle — especially the anagen phase, when hair strands actively grow.

How the Treatment Works

F8 combines low-energy laser therapy with a targeted hair growth serum. This treatment helps reactivate dormant follicles, improve blood supply to the hair root, and boost the function of the dermal papilla — all of which support stronger and longer-lasting active hair growth. The process includes three main steps: 1. Scalp and Follicle Assessment A professional examines the scalp hair, evaluates hair follicle health, and identifies areas of hair thinning or excessive shedding using magnified imaging. 2. Laser Stimulation A handpiece emits low-level laser energy across the scalp. This light energy reaches the hair bulb, activating hair follicle stem cells and encouraging the surrounding capillaries to increase microcirculation. Better circulation means more nutrients reach the hair follicles, supporting new hair growth. 3. Serum Infusion After laser exposure, a hair growth serum is applied. It penetrates easily into the scalp, helping unclog hair follicles, reduce oil buildup from sebaceous glands, and restore moisture. This creates a balanced scalp environment that supports consistent follicle cycling.

Benefits of the F8 Hair Regrowth Treatment

- Non-invasive and painless: The laser energy gently stimulates hair follicle bulge areas without damaging skin. - Improves scalp health: Helps regulate oil production and clear blocked follicles. - Boosts blood flow: Supports active growth by improving delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the hair cells. - Safe for both men and women: Suitable for those experiencing early hair thinning, telogen effluvium, or reduced anagen phase activity.

By supporting the biological needs of your hair follicles, F8 can help you maintain consistent follicle cycling and extend the duration of the growth phase. It’s especially helpful for anyone struggling with disrupted human hair growth, whether from stress, styling, or other factors discussed earlier in this article. If you're looking for a solution that works with your natural hair cycle — not against it — this treatment may help get your hair health back on track. Book your consultation today to take the next step toward stronger, healthier hair!

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FAQ

Can Hair Growth Supplements Interact With Other Medications I'm Taking?

Hair growth supplements can interact with medications you're taking, potentially causing adverse effects or reducing the effectiveness of either substance. You should always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplements, as ingredients like biotin can interfere with lab test results, and certain vitamins may interact with blood thinners, thyroid medications, or antibiotics. It's crucial to review your complete medication list with a professional.

How Long Does It Take for Hair to Grow Back After Treatment?

After treatment, your hair's regrowth timeline depends on several factors. You'll typically notice new growth within 3-6 months, though full regrowth can take 12-18 months. The timeframe varies based on the cause of hair loss, treatment type, and your overall health. Your genetics, nutrition, and hair care routine will influence recovery speed, and you'll see the best results when following your healthcare provider's recommendations consistently.

Does Wearing Hats Frequently Contribute to Increased Hair Loss?

Wearing hats doesn't directly cause hair loss, despite popular misconceptions. Your hair follicles receive nutrients through your blood vessels, not from the air, so covering your head won't affect hair growth. However, if you're wearing tight hats that pull on your hair or dirty caps that can cause scalp infections, you might experience traction alopecia or other scalp conditions that could lead to temporary hair loss.

Can Swimming in Chlorinated Pools Damage Hair and Cause Shedding?

Yes, swimming in chlorinated pools can damage your hair and cause shedding. When you're exposed to chlorine regularly, it strips your hair's natural oils, weakens the protein structure, and makes strands brittle and prone to breakage. Your hair can become dry, discolored, and more susceptible to tangling. To protect your hair, wear a swim cap, wet your hair with non-chlorinated water before swimming, and use a clarifying shampoo afterward.

What Role Does Air Pollution Play in Premature Hair Loss?

Air pollution can affect your hair health in several ways: 1) Airborne toxins and particulate matter settle on your scalp, potentially blocking hair follicles and impeding growth, 2) Free radicals from pollution can damage your hair's protein structure and weaken strands, 3) Environmental pollutants may trigger oxidative stress, leading to premature hair aging and loss. You can protect your hair by regularly cleansing and using antioxidant-rich hair products.

Book Now to Experience
F8 Hair Regrowth Treatment

1 Minute Self-Registration

Date should not be before minimal date

I have read and agree to the Privacy Statement and Terms & Conditions

Hair Cycle Disruptions: 7 Reasons Your Hair May Be Falling Out Sooner Than It Should

Hormonal Imbalances and Thyroid Dysfunction

Impact Of Hormonal Changes On Hair Follicles

Thyroid Function and Hair Growth

Chronic Stress and Elevated Cortisol Levels

How Cortisol Disrupts Hair Growth

Read More

Nutritional Deficiencies and Poor Diet

How Missing Nutrients Affect Hair Growth

The Impact of Protein and Iron Deficiency

Medications and Medical Treatments

How Treatments Affect Hair Cycle Phases

Genes and Family History

Genetic Influence the Hair Growth Cycle

Scalp Conditions and Infections

How Scalp Issues Disrupt the Hair Growth Cycle

Read More

Aggressive Hair Care Practices and Styling

Styling Habits That Disrupt Hair Growth

How F8 Hair Regrowth Treatment Supports the Hair Growth Cycle

How the Treatment Works

Benefits of the F8 Hair Regrowth Treatment

FAQ

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