When Your Hair Lets You Down: My Story &

What You Should Know About Women’s Hair Loss

Hair loss in women doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s often dismissed as a vanity issue, but if you’ve ever stood in the shower watching more strands than usual wash away, or noticed your part widening in the mirror, you know it can affect confidence and identity in a big way.

I’ve been there myself — more than once. After each of my pregnancies, when my dad was very sick, and again during the stress of finishing NP school, I went through heavy shedding known as telogen effluvium. Each time, it felt like another reminder that our hair is deeply tied to both our bodies and our emotions.

And then there was the vacation moment I’ll never forget.

I asked my husband to snap a quick photo of the top of my head. I thought I just wanted to check if I’d left my purple shampoo on too long. Instead, I zoomed in and saw just how thin my hair looked in the sunlight. I had an epic meltdown right there in our hotel room — sobbing during what was supposed to be a relaxing trip. It wasn’t about vanity. It was the shock of realizing how much hair loss had crept up on me, and how little control I felt I had over it.

Like many women, I also tried to cover it up. I’ve had extensions in almost every form you can imagine — tape-ins, beads, wefts, halos, and clip-ins. And while they can absolutely boost confidence in the short term, they come with their own challenges. The maintenance is a lot, and for someone like me with sensory sensitivities, not being able to scrub my scalp the way I want to was hard. Extensions helped me hide the problem for a while, but they weren’t a solution — and eventually, they felt like another stressor instead of a relief.

Those moments are why I’m passionate about helping women understand the why behind hair loss, and how to approach it with realistic expectations.

Why Hair Loss Happens

There isn’t just one cause. Sometimes the answer is straightforward, but more often it’s layered.

Telogen effluvium is one of the most common triggers. Stress — whether physical, emotional, or hormonal — can push hair follicles into a resting phase, with shedding showing up months later. This explains why it often happens after childbirth, illness, or high-stress life events.

Ferritin — your body’s iron storage — is another major factor. Low ferritin is one of the most common and overlooked reasons women shed hair, and the good news is that once identified, it’s often correctable.

But here’s the part that’s hard to swallow: a significant percentage of hair loss is genetic. That means no matter how perfect your nutrition, self-care, or supplement routine is, not all shedding is reversible. The key is setting realistic expectations while addressing what is modifiable.

The Perimenopause Factor

Hair loss doesn’t only happen after pregnancy or during stressful seasons. Hormones play a major role too.

In perimenopause — those years leading up to menopause — estrogen and progesterone begin to decline. At the same time, androgens (male-pattern hormones) become relatively stronger. That shift can make hair feel thinner, more brittle, and more prone to shedding.

For women who already have a genetic predisposition to thinning, perimenopause can accelerate the process. If you’re in your 40s or 50s and noticing changes that don’t match stress or nutrition patterns, your hormones may be a key part of the story.

Supplements: Sorting the Help from the Hype

Here’s where the confusion really sets in. Walk down any aisle or scroll social media and you’ll find endless “hair vitamins” promising thicker, fuller hair. But the truth is, supplements are not one-size-fits-all.

Take biotin, for example. It’s usually the star of these products. Biotin is a B vitamin that helps with keratin production — the protein that makes up hair, skin, and nails. A true biotin deficiency can cause hair loss, but the reality is, deficiencies are extremely rare. Most of us get plenty through a normal diet.

That hasn’t stopped companies from cramming 5,000–10,000 mcg of biotin into their formulas. The problem isn’t that biotin is harmful to your hair — it isn’t. The problem is that once your body has enough, extra doesn’t push hair to grow more. Instead, it can actually interfere with important lab tests, like thyroid or hormone panels, sometimes giving false results.

So, while too much biotin won’t impede hair growth, it can keep you from getting accurate medical answers. And it can give false hope when the real issue is something like low ferritin, thyroid imbalance, or genetics.

At Flora, we prefer Xtresse gummies because they use a balance of clinically studied ingredients rather than leaning on unnecessary megadoses of biotin.

And one more thing — more supplements does not equal more results. Stacking hair, hormone, and wellness formulas without guidance isn’t just wasteful, it can also put stress on your liver. Supplements should be used thoughtfully and with medical guidance, not just thrown together.

What About Hair Treatments?

Supplements and lifestyle changes are important, but they’re only part of the picture. For many women, professional treatments offer more noticeable results.

Topical treatments like minoxidil are widely available. They can help some women slow shedding or stimulate regrowth, but results vary and they require consistent, ongoing use.

Certain prescription medications can also help, though they’re not appropriate for everyone and may come with side effects.

Procedural options include:

• PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) scalp injections. This involves drawing your blood, processing it, and injecting the growth-factor-rich layer into the scalp. It can be effective, but it’s invasive, involves needles, and isn’t always comfortable.

   

• Alma TED. At Flora, we prefer TED because it’s completely non-invasive, pain-free, and requires no downtime. Instead of needles, TED uses ultrasound and air pressure to deliver growth factors and peptides directly into the scalp. In our experience, it offers the best balance of comfort, safety, and results — especially for patients in the earlier stages of thinning, when follicles are still present.

   

No single treatment is right for everyone, and that’s the point. The best plan depends on why you’re losing hair, what stage you’re in, and your goals.

Where to Begin if You’re Losing Hair

If you’re worried about shedding, start with a thoughtful evaluation. Bloodwork to check ferritin, thyroid, vitamin D, and hormones can uncover correctable causes. Sometimes the fix really is as simple as replenishing iron stores. Other times, we identify genetic or hormonal contributors that require a different approach.

Supporting scalp health, managing stress, and using safe nutraceuticals can all play a role — but the most powerful thing you can do is set realistic expectations and make a plan with someone who understands both the science and the emotional side of hair loss.

You’re Not Alone

I share my story — the pregnancies, the stress, the extensions, even the vacation meltdown — because I want you to know you’re not alone. Hair loss is personal, and it can feel overwhelming, but there are answers and there is support.

The photo here was taken during one of my harder moments with hair loss. Looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but I also know this will never be a “one and done” journey. For me, hair maintenance will be a lifelong task — and I’m okay with that. I’m optimistic that by keeping my ferritin levels healthy and staying consistent with treatments like Alma TED, I can continue to support my scalp and my confidence.

At Flora Aesthetics & Wellness, we take a thoughtful and personalized approach to hair restoration and wellness. If you’re ready to explore your options, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

XOXO,