Why might your hair be shedding more?
Hair grows in cycles. Each follicle moves through a period of growth, rest and eventual shedding, making room for a new strand.
Sometimes, a change in your health or circumstances pushes more follicles into the resting phase at once. The resulting shedding known as telogen effluvium often appears around three months later. That delay explains why the cause isn’t always obvious.
After pregnancy
During pregnancy, hormonal changes can mean fewer hairs shed. After birth, those changes reverse, and the extra hairs can fall out over a shorter period.
It can feel unsettling, particularly alongside the demands of caring for a baby. Postpartum shedding is commonly temporary, although recovery takes time.
Following significant stress or illness
Major emotional stress, fever, surgery or illness can disrupt the hair cycle. Shedding may become noticeable after the event has passed.
After rapid weight loss or changes in nutrition
Extreme dieting and marked weight loss can trigger shedding. Iron deficiency may also contribute; a clinician can assess whether testing is appropriate.
Hormonal changes and medications
Stopping hormonal contraception or starting certain medicines can trigger shedding. Thyroid conditions are another possible cause. Persistent shedding deserves assessment, because different types of hair loss can overlap.
Where botanical care fits
Understanding the cause of shedding and caring for the hair you have are both valuable.
OBG Hair Nectar brings together botanical oils in a pre-wash ritual designed to nourish the scalp and condition dry lengths. Its focus is softness, smoothness and shine, alongside a moment of calm before washing.
Avocado and baobab oils: the conditioning heart of the blend
These plant oils form part of OBG’s nourishing base, helping give the ritual its rich, silky feel. For dry lengths, conditioning care is about improving how hair feels and handles.
Pumpkin seed oil: a botanical with growing research interest
Pumpkin seed oil is one of OBG’s signature ingredients. Pumpkin seed oil offers several distinct benefits for the scalp and hair, supported by both nutruient density and clinical research.
Rosemary: an aromatic ingredient with a research story
Rosemary gives OBG part of its distinctive botanical scent. It has also been studied in a trial involving people with pattern hair loss, with increased hair counts observed after six months.
Lavender and peppermint: the sensory finish
Alongside rosemary, lavender and peppermint create OBG’s fresh, herbal aroma—turning a practical wash-day step into an invitation to pause.
Massage gently into the scalp, smooth through the lengths, leave for 20 minutes to overnight, then wash out.
Botanical conditioning can care for your hair while you address the reason behind shedding. If shedding is sudden, persistent or worrying, or you notice bald patches or scalp discomfort, speak to your GP.
Your hair. Your ritual. Your OBG.