How Does Stress Affect the Hair Growth Cycle?

The word “stress” gets thrown around a lot, but have you ever stopped to think about what it actually is? Stress is a normal biological response to challenges or changes that, like most things, can be helpful or harmful depending on the amount of stress you’re experiencing.¹ Short-term bursts of stress can help you focus or be more alert, but experiencing long-term stress without any relief can become a problem.¹

There are many different types of stress, but three common types are physical, emotional, and mental. Physical stress comes from things like exercise, an injury, or illness, as opposed to emotional and mental stress, which are internal.^2-6 You’re more likely to experience emotional stress when you’re facing challenging relationships or life events, whereas mental stress often comes from an internal conflict.^2-6

Normally our hair follicles will spend about 2-7 years in the growth phase. However, repeated exposure to physical or emotional stress can prematurely lead the hair follicles to shift from the growth phase to a transition phase and then resting phase, where hair sheds more easily. 

Stress can also have an indirect effect on other interconnected systems, such as hormone levels, circulation to the scalp and hair follicles, nutrient absorption, and the immune system, possibly triggering other root causes that impact hair thinning.

Stress can be a real problem for your hair—so much so that we identified it as a key root cause of hair thinning. Because our goal is always to address root causes from within, Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals include adaptogenic ingredients like Ashwagandha.* The relationship between Ashwagandha and stress is well-studied, and our formulas use plant actives extracted from the leaves and root of the plant to help relieve stress—leading to reduced hair shedding.^7,*   

We also developed Stress Adaptogen for anyone who needs a little extra support with stress management.* This Hair Wellness Booster is designed to be used with your Hair Growth Nutraceutical to specifically target stress as a key root cause of hair thinning.* Formulated with natural adaptogens, including Rhodiola, Reishi, and Schisandra, Stress Adaptogen includes ingredients that help the body manage both mental and physical stress, which in turn helps balance the hair cycle.^8-12,*