Noticing your hair thinning? Wondering how much shedding is normal, or if it is time to consider hair growth treatments? It all depends on what is behind your hair loss. Here are five common causes of hair loss in women, how to manage thinning hair, and what changes you can make to your routine.
What causes female hair loss?
1. You're lacking nutrition
Poor nutrition can take a serious toll on your health, and that includes your hair. If your diet is not balanced, if fast food is your go to, or if you have recently experienced significant weight loss, your hair might be paying the price.
What to do: If you are unsure how to build a balanced diet, consider seeing a nutritionist. Focus on getting enough zinc, selenium, iron, protein, and healthy fats to support strong hair. Supplements can also help, but talk to your doctor before starting anything new. For a closer look at which nutritional deficiencies tend to matter most, see our full guide on the role of nutrition in hair loss.
2. You're entering menopause
You expected the hot flashes and mood swings, but hair loss too? While menopause itself does not directly cause hair loss, the hormonal shifts that come with it often do. Lower levels of estrogen and progesterone can throw your hair cycle off balance, leaving more strands in the shower drain than usual.
What to do: Menopause is a natural phase, but that does not mean you have to manage its symptoms alone. Talk with your gynecologist about your options, including whether hormone replacement therapy might be right for you. They can help you decide what is best based on your health, symptoms, and personal goals.
3. You're taking medication
Some medications, like hormone therapies, thyroid treatments, or certain types of birth control, can trigger excess shedding or damage hair follicles. Drugs used to treat cancer, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression can also contribute to hair loss.
What to do: Always follow your doctor's guidance, but do not hesitate to ask questions. In some cases, lifestyle changes like getting more exercise can help manage conditions such as high cholesterol or blood pressure, which may reduce the need for certain medications over time. Talk with your physician about your options, or ask for a referral to a specialist who can help you take a more complete approach to your health and your hair.
4. You're going through a stressful life event
Major emotional stress can affect your body much like a physical illness. Intense psychological strain can disrupt the hair growth cycle, leading to thinning or even sudden shedding in clumps. Even everyday stress takes a toll over time. The medical term for this kind of stress related shedding is telogen effluvium, not to be confused with alopecia areata, which is a separate autoimmune condition that causes distinct bald patches rather than diffuse shedding.
What to do: Going through a tough time can feel overwhelming. The good news is that stress related hair loss is often temporary. As your body recovers, your hair typically does too. For ongoing stress, focus on small, positive changes: move your body, try mindfulness practices, or spend time doing things you love. These habits support both your emotional health and your hair.
5. Your hair loss is genetic
If your mother or grandmother experienced thinning hair, you might too. Hereditary hair loss, also known as female pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia, is one of the most common causes of hair thinning in women. It is rooted in your genetics and tends to progress gradually over time.
What to do: Unlike some other causes of hair loss, genetic hair loss often calls for targeted treatment. Options include topical or oral medication such as Finasteride (Propecia®), though it is not suitable for everyone. That is where Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) comes in. The Theradome PRO and EVO laser helmets offer a non-invasive, FDA-cleared way to support hair regrowth safely and effectively.
Figuring out your hair loss
The pattern of your shedding is often the biggest clue to what is causing it:
- Gradual thinning at the part? This is the classic signature of genetic, hormonal, or nutritional causes, the kind that builds slowly over months. Menopause, low iron or zinc, and hereditary diffuse thinning all tend to show up this way.
- Sudden clumps of shedding? This points more toward telogen effluvium, often triggered by a specific event, physical or emotional stress, a new medication, or a major life change.
If you have recently gone through a pregnancy, high stress period, or a significant diet change, that timing usually explains sudden shedding. If nothing specific comes to mind and thinning has been slow and steady, genetics or a hormonal shift are more likely. Either way, a dermatologist can confirm the cause with a simple exam or blood work.
How Theradome can help
Thousands of women have already seen results with Theradome. Theradome is an FDA-cleared helmet device using US-made lasers, delivering LLLT at a wavelength of 680 nanometers to stimulate hair follicles and support regrowth, whatever the underlying cause. By using the Theradome PRO LH80 or Theradome EVO LH40 for 20 minute sessions twice a week, at the optimal energy dose for each session, most women notice improved hair thickness within 8 to 12 weeks. For a full at-home regimen, use either helmet alongside the Complete Hair Growth Bundle.
If you would like a deeper breakdown of a specific cause, see our full guides on how to prevent hair loss in women and the different types of hair loss in women. If you are ready to take control of your hair health, explore the Theradome laser helmet and start your journey today.
