Why Is My Hair Shedding Like Autumn Leaves?
It started with the drain.
The little circle of sadness I noticed after a shower.
Just a few strands at first. Then a clump. Then the kind of wad that makes you wonder if you’re secretly molting.
Menopause, you sneaky b*tch.
Hair shedding during perimenopause and menopause is common—common enough that dermatologists casually wave it off and tell you to “monitor it.”
Meanwhile, you're standing in Target holding a bottle of biotin gummies like it’s a life preserver.
Hair is identity.
It’s how we express mood. Style. Confidence.
It’s how we hide—behind bangs, buns, or a messy twist on day five of dry shampoo and prayer.
And when it starts to fall out? It’s not just about looks. It’s about grief.
Grieving who you were. Grieving the ease with which you used to feel put together. Grieving the version of you who didn’t count hair strands in the mirror.
So… what’s actually going on?
Let’s talk science for a second.
Estrogen and progesterone help keep hair in the growth phase longer. When those hormone levels drop, hair shifts into the shedding phase sooner—and stays there longer.
Add in stress (hi, cortisol), thyroid shifts, iron deficiency, or a bad reaction to hormone therapy, and your hair starts exiting stage left.
And yes, it’s normal… but that doesn’t mean it’s not brutal.
So here’s what I’ve been telling my clients—and myself:
Hair loss doesn’t take away your femininity.
It doesn’t erase your sex appeal.
It doesn’t mean you’re sick, failing, or falling apart.
It means your body is shifting. And it’s asking for nourishment, not shame.
This is your permission slip to:
Cry about your hair
Shave your head if you want to
Spend too much on a hair mask and wear it while eating nachos in the bathtub
Talk about it—even if it feels “vain” or “silly” (spoiler: it’s not)
Get support that’s not just a supplement aisle or a condescending YouTube tutorial
Losing hair in midlife doesn’t make you less you.
It just makes you a woman going through yet another transformation.
And like every season before this one… you’ll rise from it.
(Preferably with some scalp oil and a silk pillowcase.)
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