How to Stop Shedding Excessive Hair (When You're Losing Handfuls Every Day)

There's normal shedding. And then there's waking up with hair all over your pillow, seeing clumps in your hands during wash day, and watching your ponytail get thinner by the week.

If you're experiencing excessive hair shedding, you already know how scary it is. Every time you run your fingers through your hair, more comes out. Your shower drain is a horror show. You're starting to see your scalp where you never saw it before.

First, let's get one thing straight: some shedding is normal. The average person loses 50-100 hairs per day as part of the natural hair growth cycle. But if you're losing way more than that, if you're seeing bald patches, or if your part is widening, that's excessive shedding. And it needs to be addressed.

Here's what's probably causing it (and how to fix it).

The Difference Between Shedding and Breakage

Before we go further, you need to understand the difference:

Shedding: Hair falls out from the root. If you look at the strand, you'll see a small white bulb at the end. This is natural, but excessive shedding means something is wrong internally (hormones, stress, nutrition).

Breakage: Hair snaps off mid-shaft or at the ends. No white bulb. This means your hair is weak and brittle, usually from damage or lack of moisture.

Look at your fallen hair. White bulbs? Shedding. No bulbs? Breakage.

Both problems require different solutions, so figure out which one you're dealing with.

Why You're Shedding So Much Hair

1. Your Hormones Are Out of Whack

Hormonal changes are the number one cause of excessive shedding. Postpartum hair loss, thyroid issues, PCOS, menopause, birth control changes - all of these mess with your hormones and trigger shedding.

The fix: You might need to see a doctor to get hormones tested. But our Liquid Vitamin contains saw palmetto, which naturally blocks DHT (the hormone that causes hair loss). Take one dropper daily.

2. You're Not Getting Enough Protein or Iron

Hair is made of protein (keratin). If you're not eating enough protein or if you're anemic (low iron), your body prioritizes vital organs over hair growth. Result: your hair sheds excessively.

The fix: Eat more protein (eggs, fish, chicken, beans, tofu). Take our MSM Hair Growth Powder daily, which provides the sulfur your body needs to make keratin. If you suspect anemia, get your iron levels checked.

3. You're Stressed Out of Your Mind

Stress causes a condition called telogen effluvium, where a bunch of hair follicles enter the resting phase at the same time. Three months later, all that hair sheds at once. If you went through something stressful 2-3 months ago, that explains the shedding now.

The fix: You can't undo stress that already happened, but you can stop future stress-related shedding. Manage your stress (easier said than done, we know). Support your scalp with our Rosemary & Caffeine Daily Growth Spray, which blocks DHT and strengthens roots.

4. Your Scalp Health Is Terrible

Clogged follicles, product buildup, dandruff, inflammation - all of these weaken hair at the root and cause shedding.

The fix: Start with a clean scalp. Use our Rosemary Shampoo once per week to cleanse without stripping. Massage Hair Growth Oil into your scalp 2-3 times per week to improve circulation and reduce inflammation. Use a Scalp Massager while you do this to really get the blood flowing.

5. You're in a Shedding Season

Hair grows in cycles, and everyone goes through seasonal shedding (usually in fall). If it's temporary and you haven't changed anything about your routine, this might just be your body doing its thing.

The fix: Support your hair through the shedding phase with our Hair Growth Oil and Rosemary & Caffeine Spray. Keep your scalp healthy so new growth can come in strong.

The Anti-Shedding Game Plan

If you want to stop excessive shedding, you need to attack it from multiple angles:

Internal Support:

• Take Liquid Vitamin daily (saw palmetto blocks DHT)

• Take MSM Hair Growth Powder daily (provides sulfur for keratin)

• Eat more protein and iron-rich foods

• Drink 8 glasses of water daily

• Manage stress (sleep, exercise, meditation, whatever works)

External Support:

• Apply Rosemary & Caffeine Spray to scalp twice daily (blocks DHT topically)

• Massage Hair Growth Oil into scalp 2-3 times per week

• Use Scalp Massager for 3-5 minutes during oil application

• Shampoo only once per week with gentle, sulfate-free formula

• Deep condition weekly to prevent breakage (which looks like shedding)

Low Manipulation:

• Put your hair in protective styles to reduce handling

• Stop using heat

• Be gentle during detangling (use Hydrating Mist for slip)

• Sleep on a satin pillowcase

When to See a Doctor

If your shedding continues after 3 months of this routine, see a dermatologist or doctor. Excessive shedding can be a sign of:

• Thyroid problems

• Anemia

• PCOS

• Autoimmune conditions

• Nutritional deficiencies

Get blood work done. Sometimes the solution isn't a hair product - it's fixing what's happening inside your body.

Bottom Line

Excessive shedding is scary, but it's usually fixable. In most cases, it's either hormonal, nutritional, or stress-related. Support your body internally with vitamins and nutrition, support your scalp externally with growth-stimulating products, and give it time.

Hair growth happens in cycles. If stress or hormones triggered your shedding, it takes 3-6 months for things to regulate and for new growth to come in. Be patient with yourself.

And if you need help figuring out what's going on? Email us at support@tryveganic.com. We'll walk you through it.