Why We Shed More Hair During Times of Emotional and Energetic Release
I wanted to address a common yet rarely explained experience to offer a deeper understanding and perspective when it comes to hair loss/shedding. I’ve noticed something in my body that often mirrors what’s happening in my inner world.
Whenever I’m going through a time of emotional or energetic release letting go of a version of myself, stepping out of an old role, or moving through deep internal change I start shedding more hair than usual. At first, I brushed it off. But over time, it became clear: this wasn’t random. My hair was speaking the same language my spirit was. It, too, was letting go.
I’ve come to see this as a kind of sacred communicationbetween the seen and the unseen, between the physical body and the energetic field. And I know I’m not alone.
Let’s explore why this happens and how you can begin to trust your hair not just as an aesthetic expression, but as a messenger of deeper shifts.
Hair and Identity: Ancient Wisdom Meets Inner Knowing
In many ancient traditions, hair is more than protein it’s power. It’s a visible expression of identity, memory, vitality, and even spiritual energy. In Ayurveda, hair (kesha) is considered a secondary tissue formed from asthi dhatu, or bone tissue, which itself is deeply impacted by digestion, nourishment, and mental health. When we are depleted emotionally or physically our hair is often one of the first places to reveal it.
Hair has always carried symbolism. Cutting or losing hair is part of mourning rituals, rites of passage, or renunciations in many cultures. It’s tied to release, rebirth, and transformation. So when we begin to shed emotionally or spiritually when we release a long-held identity or pattern why wouldn’t the hair also let go?
The Science Behind Hair Shedding in Times of Change
There is a physiological foundation for this as well, which supports what many of us feel intuitively. Telogen Effluvium is a common form of temporary hair shedding that occurs when the body pushes more hair follicles into the “resting” (telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle. It’s often triggered by:
• Emotional stress
• Major life transitions
• Illness or shock
• Hormonal shifts
The effects are typically seen 1–3 months after the triggering event when you’ve come through the intensity, but your body is still recalibrating. This aligns perfectly with what many people describe after a breakup, job change, spiritual awakening, or period of grief.
Additionally, stress elevates cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Cortisol disrupts digestion, hormones, and nervous system function each of which directly influences scalp health and follicle activity. Hair, like the nervous system, thrives on safety, nourishment, and rhythm.
When life feels chaotic, the body conserves its resources for survival. Hair, as non-essential tissue, takes a back seat. This isn’t failure. It’s adaptation.
The Bridge Between Body and Spirit
We often talk about healing the body or the spirit as if they exist in separate spheres. But the body is always listening. When the soul releases, the body participates. Hair being so closely tied to identity and nourishment is often one of the first places we notice this shared language. So if you’re shedding hair during a time of inner transition, consider this. Your hair may not be falling out because something is wrong. It may be falling away because something is being released. What if this shedding is part of the healing?
Rituals to Support the Body During Energetic Shedding
Whether you’re moving through a spiritual shift or navigating real-life change, you can support your hair and your whole system in gentle, grounded ways:
1. Nourish the Scalp and Nervous System
• Warm oil scalp massages with Brahmi, Bhringraj, or Amla-infused oils
• Abhyanga (Ayurvedic self-massage) to bring the body back into rhythm
• Herbal teas and adaptogens to calm cortisol and regulate hormones
2. Honor the Release
• Create a letting-go ritual: write, burn, bury, or breathe through the old identity
• If it feels right, cut a small lock of hair with intention
• Take a salt bath or smudge your body with incense or palo santo and sage
3. Let the Body Rest
• Don’t panic or rush to “fix” it.
• Instead, ask your body: What are you helping me release?
If you find yourself shedding more than usual pause. Before you worry, before you react, ask yourself gently. What am I letting go of right now? What no longer fits? What identity am I outgrowing? Your body might not be betraying you it might be participating in your healing. Your hair may be showing you that transformation is not just happening within it’s happening all over. Honor the process. You are shedding what is no longer needed.