Hair loss in women is more common than most of us think, and more emotionally exhausting than it’s often portrayed. By the age of 50, nearly 40% of women experience noticeable hair thinning or loss. Yet, the conversation around it is still hushed, oversimplified, or filled with generic solutions.
You’ve probably read enough about stress, PCOS, and nutritional deficiencies as the culprits and yes, they do play a role. But the truth is, female hair loss is complex, deeply personal, and often linked to hidden issues that aren't visible on the surface.
In this blog, we’ll mention general factors as well as the factors that can be one of the reasons for hair loss. We’ll look into the less talked-about causes, the different patterns of hair loss in women, and what it really takes to treat it effectively.
Understanding Hair Loss in Women
Hair loss in women is caused by multiple issues. It is hard to put a finger on the definite cause but you can surely check if you’re facing any of these problems which could lead to your hair loss. First let's understand how the growth cycle works.
Each strand follows a natural cycle:
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Anagen (growth phase)
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Catagen (transition phase)
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Telogen (resting and shedding phase)
But when internal factors disrupt this cycle, like hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, stress, or medical conditions like PCOS. Hair enters the shedding phase prematurely which leads to noticeable thinning and widening partitions.
In women, this often results in a condition called Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL), which progresses slowly but steadily. Early signs start as reduced volume or widening partitions, and if left untreated, may lead to irreversible follicle damage.
Sounds Scary! But all of this doesn’t happen in the blink of an eye, it takes years or even decades for the follicles to get damaged. Which means that you might still have time to find the cause of your problem and take measures to stop the hair fall and regrow hair.
Traya’s internal study revealed that most women struggling with hair fall also deal with issues like stress, low energy, and dandruff, which tells us how there is a need for a deeper, more holistic treatment approach.
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What Causes Hair Fall?
Hair fall can happen for many reasons, and understanding the root cause is the first step to treating it right. Some of the most common hair loss reasons in women are Hormonal imbalances, stress and lifestyle approach, nutritional deficiencies, postpartum effects, and heat and styling methods. Let’s look into each:
How Hormones affect Hair Growth
Hormonal changes are one of the most common reasons for hair fall in women. When hormones like estrogen, androgens (It’s a male hormone, but present in smaller amounts in women), thyroid hormones, or insulin go out of balance, they can disturb the natural hair growth cycle.
You may notice signs like hair thinning, irregular periods, acne, sudden weight gain or loss, and tiredness. Conditions like PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), thyroid problems, menopause, and insulin resistance are known to cause this kind of hair loss.
Like how PCOS can lead to higher levels of androgens that shrink the hair follicles, while menopause reduces estrogen levels, making hair thinner over time.
If these symptoms sound familiar, it’s a good idea to get your hormone levels checked, so you can start the right treatment and improve your hair health from within.
What Does Stress Do?
Our everyday life is filled with making stressful choices, from making decisions at work to taking care of ourselves. It's a neverending worry, but how is this stress affecting us mentally as well as physically? When you're constantly under stress, your body releases more cortisol (the stress hormone), which can push your hair into the shedding phase too soon.
Many women also face stress-related habits like skipping meals, poor sleep, or drinking too much caffeine, which quietly affect hair health over time. Even emotional stress, like work burnout, can cause sudden hair fall known as telogen effluvium.
People tend to miss out on the fact that stress also slows down digestion and nutrient absorption, which means your hair isn’t getting the nourishment it needs. That’s why managing your lifestyle, which includes all the basics, sleeping on time, eating balanced meals, and finding ways to relax, is just as important as using hair products or treatments.
How Nutritional Deficiency Affects Hair Health
Foods play a major role in developing our physical appearance, which goes upto skin, hair, or even nails. In India, even a traditional home-cooked diet can fall short on some key nutrients like iron, Vitamin D, B12, and protein, especially in vegetarian diets. In fact, studies show that nearly 50% of Indian women are iron-deficient, and Vitamin D deficiency affects over 70% of the population. These nutrients play a vital role in keeping your hair follicles strong and supporting healthy hair growth.
For instance, low iron can weaken hair roots, while a lack of Vitamin B12 may cause hair thinning. Simple additions like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, dairy, lentils, and sunlight exposure can help improve levels. But if your hair fall continues despite eating well, it's a good idea to get your nutrient levels tested and support your diet with targeted supplements.
Also Read: Diet Chart for Healthy Hair 2025
Postpartum Hair Loss
Many women notice hair fall a few months after childbirth, and it can feel scary, but rest assured it’s completely normal. During pregnancy, high estrogen levels keep hair from falling. But once those levels drop after delivery, all that extra hair starts shedding at once. This phase is called telogen effluvium and usually lasts a few months.
While it often settles on its own, lack of sleep, stress, and nutritional gaps can make it worse. Gentle hair care, a balanced diet, and a little patience go a long way. If hair fall continues beyond a year, it’s a good idea to check for underlying issues like thyroid imbalance or nutrient deficiencies.
How Styling Habits Can Secretly Damage Your Hair
A good ahir day makes even a bad day better but using straighteners, curling wands, or even a daily blow-dry might make your hair look great temporarily, but over time, all that heat can weaken your strands. Excessive styling breaks down the natural protein in hair, leaving it dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.
Frequent coloring or chemical treatments like smoothening can worsen the damage. Women often overlook this as a hair loss reason because the hair doesn’t fall from the root as it simply breaks mid-length. To protect your hair, try using heat protectant sprays, limit styling to special occasions, and embrace more natural hairstyles. Your hair will grow healthy just in time!
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Other Causes of Hair Loss in Women You Might Want to Know
While hormonal changes, stress, and diet are commonly known hair fall reasons in female cases, there are several reasons that can quietly affect your hair health. Let’s look into a few of these:
1. Chronic Inflammation & Gut Health
Your Gut regulates your food for you which helps absorb essential nutrients. Poor gut health can interfere with the absorption of these essential nutrients that your hair needs.
Inflammation in the body which is often caused by highly processed foods, excess sugar, or underlying health issues, can disturb the hair growth cycle. Research also shows a link between gut imbalances and inflammatory scalp conditions, which are becoming increasingly common in Indian women.
2. Nutrient Absorption Issues
Even if you're eating a balanced diet, your body might not be absorbing nutrients well due to digestive issues like IBS, low stomach acid, or leaky gut syndrome. This means deficiencies in iron, B12, or zinc might still occur which leads to weak or thinning hair.
3. Side Effects of Common Medications
Certain medications, like antidepressants, acne treatments (like isotretinoin), birth control pills, and even some blood pressure meds may disrupt the hair growth cycle. Many people don’t realize their routine medication might be the hidden reason behind their ongoing hair thinning and hence it is best to consult your doctor or dermat if you’re facing any of these issues.
4. Perimenopause
Often beginning in the mid-to-late 30s or early 40s, perimenopause causes fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels, which can shrink hair follicles and slow regrowth. It’s a silent contributor to female pattern hair fall but is rarely diagnosed early.
5. Undiagnosed Thyroid Imbalance
Thyroid issues (especially hypothyroidism) are increasingly seen in young Indian women. These hormonal shifts directly impact hair quality and growth. If you notice sudden hair fall with fatigue, mood changes, or weight fluctuations, do consider getting your thyroid checked.
6. Scalp Conditions You Might Miss
Conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, or even mild fungal infections can damage the scalp barrier and cause persistent hair fall. Since these don’t always come with pain or itching, many people usually overlook them as a root cause.
As we’ve seen so far, there are various reasons why women may experience hair loss, and identifying the root cause isn’t always easy at first glance.
If you’re concerned about your hair fall and want to understand what’s causing it, you can take Traya’s Free Hair Test. It helps determine the underlying reason for your hair problem.
Once you get the results, you also have the option to consult with a Traya hair coach and receive a personalized, holistic treatment plan which will be made specifically for your hair needs.
Take Traya's Free Hair Test
Treatments For Hair Loss in Women
When dealing with hair loss, it’s important to know that there’s no overnight cure, but there are treatments that can help in the short run while you work on fixing the real, underlying causes. Let’s look into each:
Short-Term Solutions
These are things that give you faster, visible results, but they may not last if the root cause isn’t addressed.
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Minoxidil: A popular topical treatment that boosts blood flow to the scalp and supports hair regrowth. Works well when paired with internal support.
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Hair Masks, Serums, Derma Rollers: These help improve scalp health, hydration, and texture. They can reduce breakage and promote a healthier scalp environment.
Also Read: How to Use Dermaroller Effectively
Long-Term Solutions
For hair growth that actually lasts, you’ll need to work from within.
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Hormonal Balance: It will be best to address issues like PCOS, thyroid, or post-pregnancy hormonal shifts to understand the problem and then take actions accordingly.
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Scalp Health: Treating dandruff, inflammation, or clogged follicles helps create the right base for hair growth.
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Gut Repair and Nutrition: If your body isn’t absorbing nutrients properly, your hair won’t get the nourishment it needs, no matter how healthy you eat.
Want Help? Here’s What Traya Can do
Traya understands that real results need both short-term support and long-term care. That’s why our treatment plans combine topical solutions like minoxidil and scalp serums with internal care like herbal tablets, personalized diet plans, and lifestyle changes.
Plus, with constant follow-ups from hair coaches, you’re never left to figure it out alone. Everything is tracked and adjusted as your hair improves which makes sure you stay on the right path toward sustainable hair growth.
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Hear From Our Customers
1. Kavita’s Story of Hair Regrowth
Like many women, Kavita had tried everything, from oils to over-the-counter solutions to stop her hair fall. “Starting mein hair fall ke liye bohot kuch kiya, but ek tukda bhi baal nahi uga. Kuch bhi try kiya, koi farak nahi pada,” she shared.
When she began her Traya treatment, her hair loss was at the medium widening stage, mainly triggered by nutritional deficiencies, stress, and poor sleep. With Traya’s personalized plan that targeted her internal health, Kavita started noticing real changes. “6 months mein results dikhne lage aur volume wapas aa gaya haai,” she said, happy to see her hair finally grow back.
The good news is that Kavita’s story isn’t unique. In a clinical study, 93% of Traya users saw visible hair improvement within 5 months of consistent treatment. This success comes from Traya’s unique 3-science approach combining Ayurveda, Dermatology, and Nutrition to treat hair loss from the root.
Conclusion
Hair fall is often a sign that something deeper is going on, whether it’s stress, nutrition gaps, or hormonal imbalance. That’s why taking early action is so important. Instead of just treating the symptoms with temporary fixes, it helps to understand what your body is really trying to say.
If you’ve been struggling with hair fall and haven’t figured out why, it’s time to dig deeper. Start with Traya’s Free Hair Test, it helps you uncover the real reason behind your hair issues and gives you a personalized treatment plan to address it from the root.
People Also Ask
Can female hair loss grow back?
Yes, in many cases, female hair loss can grow back, especially when it’s due to temporary causes like stress, hormonal changes, or nutritional deficiencies. With the right treatment and care, such as addressing the root cause and following a consistent routine, regrowth is possible.
What is the solution for hair loss?
The proper solution for hair loss depends on the reason behind it. Some may benefit from topical treatments like minoxidil, while others need to fix internal imbalances like hormones, diet, or stress. A personalized approach that targets the root cause is often the most effective.
How to improve thinning hair?
Improving thinning hair starts with nourishing your body from within. Eating a balanced diet, reducing stress, and using gentle, scalp-friendly hair products can help. Treatments like derma rolling, hair serums, and Ayurvedic oils also support thicker, healthier hair over time.
How to know if hair loss is due to stress?
Hair loss from stress usually appears a few weeks or months after a stressful event. It often shows up as sudden shedding or thinning all over the scalp (a condition called telogen effluvium). If your lifestyle has been overwhelming lately and there are no other medical issues, stress could be the likely trigger.
References
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Demographics of women with female pattern hair loss and the effectiveness of spironolactone therapy |
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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Latent iron deficiency in Indian women and children |
https://www.ijcbr.in
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Female pattern hair loss: A clinical, pathophysiologic, and therapeutic review |
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
