{"id":96067,"date":"2026-07-24T19:43:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T19:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/?p=96067"},"modified":"2026-07-24T19:43:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T19:43:20","slug":"hormonal-hair-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Hormones and Hair: Understanding the Causes of Hormonal Hair Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"background:#eef5ff;border-left:5px solid #0079F1;border-radius:10px;padding:20px 22px;margin-bottom:8px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;color:#013366;font-weight:700;font-size:17px\">The key points at a glance<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;color:#2e3033;font-size:15px;line-height:1.6\">Hormones and hair are closely linked. The hair cycle is co-regulated by androgens (testosterone and DHT), oestrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones and cortisol (review PMC10968111, 2024). Behind the term hormonal hair loss lie two very different mechanisms.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#2e3033;font-size:15px;line-height:1.7\">\n<li><strong>Androgenetic alopecia (permanent):<\/strong> a genetically determined sensitivity of the follicles to DHT, patterned and progressive. It is the most common form, affecting up to 80% of men and around 40% of women in later life (endokrinologen.de), and it often starts in early adulthood.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diffuse telogen effluvium (usually reversible):<\/strong> hormonal shifts such as pregnancy, the menopause, coming off the pill or stress push many follicles into the resting phase at the same time. Once things settle down, hair usually recovers within 6 to 12 months.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The trigger is not your testosterone level:<\/strong> what matters is the inherited sensitivity of the follicles to DHT, not the amount of hormone circulating in your blood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"margin:12px 0 0;font-size:13.5px;color:#6b7280\">Straight to the practical part: <a href=\"#doctor-and-tests\" style=\"color:#0079F1\">which doctor to see and which blood tests to ask for, including cycle-day timing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is hormonal hair loss?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hormonal hair loss is hair loss triggered either by a change in hormone levels (a rise, a drop or a shift) or by an increased sensitivity of the hair follicles to particular hormones. The term covers two mechanistically very different forms, and telling them apart is the key to the right treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first is <strong>androgenetic alopecia<\/strong>: a genetically fixed sensitivity of the follicles to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It follows a pattern (a receding hairline at the temples and thinning at the crown in men, widening of the parting in women) and it progresses if left untreated. According to the review PMC10968111, it is by far the most common hormonal cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second is <strong>diffuse telogen effluvium<\/strong>: a temporary hormonal shift (a drop in oestrogen or progesterone, a thyroid imbalance, high cortisol) pushes many follicles into the resting phase in sync. Hair thins across the whole scalp, but it usually recovers once the trigger settles. Both sexes are affected, in different patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Search for hormonal hair loss online and you tend to get answers that stay on the surface. The hormone matrix below sets out every hormone involved, what it does to your hair and whether the effect is reversible, before we go through the most important ones one by one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n@media (max-width:767px){\n.eh-table-card-wrap{overflow-x:visible!important;border:0!important}\n.eh-table-card{min-width:0!important;width:100%!important;table-layout:auto!important;border-spacing:0!important}\n.eh-table-card thead{display:none!important}\n.eh-table-card,.eh-table-card tbody,.eh-table-card tr,.eh-table-card td{display:block!important;width:100%!important}\n.eh-table-card tr{background:#fff!important;border:1px solid #dbe4f0!important;border-radius:12px!important;padding:14px 16px!important;margin-bottom:12px!important;box-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(13,40,79,.06)}\n.eh-table-card td{text-align:left!important;padding:8px 0!important;border:0!important;border-bottom:1px solid #eef2f7!important;background:transparent!important;font-size:14px!important;overflow-wrap:break-word!important}\n.eh-table-card td:last-child{border-bottom:0!important}\n.eh-table-card td:before{content:attr(data-label);display:block;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.02em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#0079F1;margin-bottom:3px}\n.eh-table-card td:first-child{font-size:16px!important;font-weight:700!important;color:#013366!important;padding-bottom:10px!important;margin-bottom:6px!important;border-bottom:1px solid #dbe4f0!important;background:transparent!important}\n.eh-table-card td:first-child:before{content:none}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"eh-table-card-wrap\" style=\"overflow-x:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;margin:24px 0;border:1px solid #dbe4f0;border-radius:12px\">\n<table class=\"eh-table-card\" style=\"width:100%;min-width:720px;table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;font-size:15px;margin:0\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:24%;background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Hormone<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Effect on the hair<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">What triggers hair loss<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Typical pattern<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Reversible?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Hormone\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>DHT<\/strong> (from testosterone)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Effect on the hair\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Shortens the growth phase and makes sensitive follicles shrink<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What triggers hair loss\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Inherited follicle sensitivity, not the level in the blood<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Typical pattern\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Patterned (crown, receding temples)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Reversible?\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">No, progressive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Hormone\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Testosterone<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Effect on the hair\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Only relevant as the precursor of DHT<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What triggers hair loss\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Conversion into DHT in sensitive follicles<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Typical pattern\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Same as DHT<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Reversible?\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">No (androgenetic)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Hormone\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Oestrogen<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Effect on the hair\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Extends the growth phase and protects the hair<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What triggers hair loss\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">A drop (after childbirth, during the menopause)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Typical pattern\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Diffuse, across the whole scalp<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Reversible?\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Usually yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Hormone\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Progesterone<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Effect on the hair\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Generally considered hair-friendly (may dampen DHT)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What triggers hair loss\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">A drop in the luteal phase or perimenopause<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Typical pattern\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Diffuse<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Reversible?\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Usually yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Hormone\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Cortisol<\/strong> (stress)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Effect on the hair\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Pushes follicles prematurely into the resting phase<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What triggers hair loss\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Chronically raised by long-term stress<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Typical pattern\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Diffuse<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Reversible?\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Yes, once the stress ends<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Hormone\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Thyroid<\/strong> (T3\/T4)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Effect on the hair\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Regulates cell division in the hair root<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What triggers hair loss\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">An underactive or overactive thyroid<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Typical pattern\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Diffuse<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Reversible?\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Yes, once treatment is stable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Hormone\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Prolactin<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Effect on the hair\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Can interfere with the hair cycle<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What triggers hair loss\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Markedly elevated levels<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Typical pattern\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Diffuse<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Reversible?\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Usually yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Hormone\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>DHEA-S<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Effect on the hair\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">An androgen precursor, converted into testosterone and DHT<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What triggers hair loss\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Raised in PCOS or adrenal excess<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Typical pattern\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Patterned (in women)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Reversible?\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Partly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#6b7280\">A simplified overview based on the review \u201cThe Hormonal Background of Hair Loss in Non-Scarring Alopecias\u201d (PMC10968111, 2024). It is no substitute for a medical diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DHT and androgenetic alopecia: the most common hormonal cause<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hormonal hair loss, and it is driven by the androgen DHT. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase (mainly type 2, encoded by the SRD5A2 gene) converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. DHT then binds to androgen receptors in the hair root of genetically sensitive follicles (Endotext NBK279028).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DHT binds to the androgen receptor roughly 2 to 5 times more strongly than testosterone does, and it detaches again more slowly (NCBI Endotext NBK279028; review PMC10968111, with the exact factors varying by measurement method). The result is gradual miniaturisation: the follicles produce ever finer, shorter hairs until growth stops altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\" style=\"max-width:560px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/follikel_miniaturisierung-2.png\" alt=\"Illustration of a hair follicle in cross-section before and after DHT-driven miniaturisation\" class=\"wp-image-96063\" style=\"width:560px;max-width:100%;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/follikel_miniaturisierung-2.png 1536w, https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/follikel_miniaturisierung-2-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/follikel_miniaturisierung-2-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/follikel_miniaturisierung-2-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The crucial point is this: androgenetic alopecia is not driven by the testosterone level in your blood, but by the inherited sensitivity of your follicles and the activity of 5-alpha reductase. That is why this form is described as hereditary. The route from testosterone to DHT and on to miniaturisation can be set out as a short chain of events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f7fafd;border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:18px 16px;margin-bottom:6px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 12px;color:#013366;font-weight:700;font-size:15px\">How androgenetic hair loss develops (chain of events)<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;gap:8px;font-size:14px\">\n<span style=\"background:#013366;color:#fff;border-radius:8px;padding:9px 13px\">Testosterone<\/span>\n<span style=\"color:#0079F1;font-weight:700\">&#8594;<\/span>\n<span style=\"background:#0079F1;color:#fff;border-radius:8px;padding:9px 13px\">5-alpha reductase<\/span>\n<span style=\"color:#0079F1;font-weight:700\">&#8594;<\/span>\n<span style=\"background:#013366;color:#fff;border-radius:8px;padding:9px 13px\">DHT<\/span>\n<span style=\"color:#0079F1;font-weight:700\">&#8594;<\/span>\n<span style=\"background:#0079F1;color:#fff;border-radius:8px;padding:9px 13px\">binds to sensitive follicles<\/span>\n<span style=\"color:#0079F1;font-weight:700\">&#8594;<\/span>\n<span style=\"background:#013366;color:#fff;border-radius:8px;padding:9px 13px\">Miniaturisation<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pattern gives the cause away. Men lose hair frontotemporally (a receding hairline at the temples) and at the vertex (the crown), graded on the seven-stage Norwood-Hamilton scale. Women show a diffuse widening of the central parting while the hairline usually stays intact (the Ludwig or Sinclair scale). You will find more on how this progresses in women in our article on hair loss in women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One point matters for younger readers: androgenetic alopecia is not simply a sign of ageing. With the right genetic predisposition, miniaturisation can begin in early adulthood, often from the early twenties, and then progress slowly over years. It is precisely this age group that later accounts for a large share of those looking for targeted treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On prevalence: according to endokrinologen.de, around 80% of men and about 40% of women over the age of 70 are affected. This is also why a hair transplant works at all: the follicles at the back of the head carry almost no DHT-sensitive receptors and stay stable for life. For the cycle behind all of this, see our article on the hair growth cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Testosterone and hair loss: the big misconception<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to testosterone and hair loss, one thing is clear: a high testosterone level on its own does not cause hair loss. What matters is the conversion into DHT by 5-alpha reductase and the genetic sensitivity of the follicles, not the absolute amount in your blood (review PMC10968111; Endotext NBK279028). That is why plenty of men with a full head of hair have high readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The myth that baldness means high testosterone, and therefore more masculinity, does not stand up to scrutiny. On average, men with androgenetic alopecia do not have higher total testosterone levels than men without hair loss. The difference lies in local follicle sensitivity and enzyme activity in the scalp, not in the systemic level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The widespread belief that frequent masturbation or sex raises testosterone and thereby triggers hair loss is not supported either. There is no reliable evidence of a causal link between ejaculation frequency and androgenetic alopecia (Medical News Today overview as a secondary source). Short-term hormone fluctuations do not change the inherited sensitivity of your follicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For women the picture is different. Even mildly raised androgens, for example in PCOS or after stopping a strongly anti-androgenic pill, can trigger an androgenetic pattern in sensitive follicles. According to the review PMC10968111, around 42.5% of women with PCOS show an androgenetic pattern, compared with roughly 6% of women in the general population under 50. The adrenal precursor DHEA-S also plays a part here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oestrogen: the hair-protecting hormone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oestrogen has a protective effect on hair. Oestradiol, the active form, acts through the ER-beta receptor to extend the growth phase (anagen) of the follicles and to promote cell division in the hair root. When levels are high, as they typically are in pregnancy, hair looks fuller and denser (review PMC10968111).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oestrogen also raises sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which binds free androgens in the blood and so indirectly lowers the DHT burden. When oestrogen levels fall, for instance after childbirth, during the menopause or after stopping certain hormone treatments, that protection disappears. More follicles switch into the resting phase in sync, and around 2 to 4 months later diffuse hair loss becomes visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Progesterone and your hair<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for progesterone and hair, the picture is friendlier: progesterone is generally considered hair-friendly. One proposed mechanism is that progesterone competes with testosterone for the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. In vitro and in animal models it even shows a higher affinity for the enzyme than testosterone, which could dampen DHT production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An important caveat: this substrate competition is well documented biochemically, but translating it into \u201cprogesterone prevents hair loss in humans\u201d is not backed by meaningful clinical trials. Progesterone is not a recognised treatment for hair loss. Anything said about it therefore remains a hypothesis rather than an established effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, a drop in progesterone (in the luteal phase of the cycle, during perimenopause or after stopping certain contraceptives) is seen as one of several factors that can contribute to diffuse hair loss. It usually acts together with the fall in oestrogen rather than in isolation. That is why oestrogen and progesterone are best looked at as a ratio, not separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pregnancy and postpartum hair loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hair loss after childbirth is a classic effect of hormonal readjustment. During pregnancy, high oestrogen levels keep many follicles in the growth phase for longer than usual, so hair looks thicker. After the birth, oestrogen drops abruptly and many of those follicles switch into the resting phase together.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\" style=\"max-width:720px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/frau_haare_alltag.png\" alt=\"Woman checking her hair at home, symbolising hormonal hair loss after pregnancy or during the menopause\" class=\"wp-image-96064\" style=\"width:720px;max-width:100%;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/frau_haare_alltag.png 1536w, https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/frau_haare_alltag-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/frau_haare_alltag-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/frau_haare_alltag-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result, 2 to 4 months after the birth, is diffuse hair loss: postpartum (telogen) effluvium. The literature puts the frequency at around 20% of women (review \u201cTelogen Effluvium\u201d, PMC6709511), although one critical paper (PubMed 27386466) questions whether it exists as a clearly defined entity at that frequency. The prevalence figures are therefore not entirely consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reassuring part: this type of hair loss is physiological and, as a rule, fully reversible within 6 to 12 months of the birth. It is not a reason to consider a hair transplant. Most women affected need patience rather than treatment while their hormones settle back down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Perimenopause and the menopause<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the perimenopause and menopause, oestrogen and progesterone fall markedly while androgens gain relative weight. This relative androgen dominance creates a double effect: diffuse thinning caused by the hormonal drop itself, plus a possible worsening of an androgenetic pattern that was already there genetically (female pattern hair loss, FPHL; Cleveland Clinic, review PMC10968111).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and bioidentical hormones are not licensed treatments for hair loss. A systematic review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (13 studies) found no consistent evidence that menopausal hormone therapy reliably improves hair loss; some individual studies even reported deterioration (summary in Medical Dialogues, a secondary source).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HRT is prescribed for other medical reasons, and a knock-on benefit for hair is not established. The only medicine licensed for female pattern hair loss remains topical minoxidil. Further options, and how hair loss progresses in women, are covered in our article on hair loss in women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your cycle, the pill and hormonal contraception<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether the pill helps or harms your hair depends on the progestogen it contains. Anti-androgenic progestogens can stabilise hair, while androgenic ones can contribute to hair loss in susceptible women. After stopping the pill, a shedding phase often follows 2 to 3 months later: a hormonal readjustment that follows the telogen effluvium pattern. Whether that is purely the temporary shift, or whether an androgenetic pattern is running alongside it, can be assessed visually with a <a href=\"\/uk\/hair-analysis\/\">hair analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"eh-table-card-wrap\" style=\"overflow-x:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;margin:24px 0;border:1px solid #dbe4f0;border-radius:12px\">\n<table class=\"eh-table-card\" style=\"width:100%;min-width:480px;table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;font-size:15px;margin:0\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:34%;background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Generally hair-friendly (anti-androgenic progestogens)<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Less favourable (androgenic progestogens)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Generally hair-friendly (anti-androgenic progestogens)\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Cyproterone acetate (strongest anti-androgenic effect in animal models)<br\/>Dienogest, drospirenone (around 40%)<br\/>Chlormadinone acetate (around 20%)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Less favourable (androgenic progestogens)\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Levonorgestrel<br\/>Norethisterone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#6b7280\">The percentages come from comparative animal models of anti-androgenic potency, not from human studies on hair loss (endocrinology specialist portals, secondary sources). Treat them as rough guidance. Any effect takes at least 3 to 6 months to appear. The choice of pill is always a decision for your gynaecologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a special case: the excess of androgens can lead to increased body hair and, at the same time, to an androgenetic pattern of hair loss. The hormonal coil releases low-dose levonorgestrel; isolated cases of hair loss have been reported, but a robust causal link is not established. The copper coil is hormone-free and therefore neutral from a hormonal point of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cortisol and stress-related hair loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stress can trigger hair loss. Chronic psychological or physical stress keeps cortisol levels permanently raised. Cortisol acts through CRH receptors at the follicle and impairs the build-up of the skin&#8217;s ground substance, which promotes a premature switch from the growth phase to the resting phase (review PMC10968111). The result is diffuse telogen effluvium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The time lag is characteristic: the triggering stressful event usually lies around 3 months before the hair loss becomes visible (review \u201cTelogen Effluvium\u201d, PMC6709511). So if you suddenly start losing more hair, look back at the preceding weeks rather than only at the present. Once the strain is over, hair usually recovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alopecia areata needs to be distinguished from this. It is an autoimmune condition in which immune cells attack the follicle, and it is not primarily hormonal or stress-related, even though stress is thought to be a possible trigger. Round, sharply defined bald patches should be assessed by a dermatologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thyroid hormones and hair<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The thyroid can cause hair loss. Both an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and an overactive one (hyperthyroidism) trigger diffuse hair loss, because the hormones T3 and T4 control cell division in the hair root and the length of the growth phase. In hypothyroidism, cell division slows and telogen effluvium follows (review PMC10968111).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The connection is common: in one study cohort, around 31% of women with female pattern hair loss also had hypothyroidism (review PMC10968111). That is an association, not a necessary causal link. Because the topic is a broad one, you will find the details, including test values, treatment and recovery, in our separate guide to thyroid-related hair loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reversible or permanent? The difference that matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether hormonal hair loss grows back depends on the type described above: the diffuse hormonal type is usually reversible once the trigger settles, while the patterned androgenetic type progresses without treatment. The table below brings together the signs that let you tell the two apart in everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"eh-table-card-wrap\" style=\"overflow-x:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;margin:24px 0;border:1px solid #dbe4f0;border-radius:12px\">\n<table class=\"eh-table-card\" style=\"width:100%;min-width:560px;table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;font-size:15px;margin:0\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:28%;background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Sign<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Points to diffuse \/ reversible (hormonal shift)<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Points to patterned \/ androgenetic<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Sign\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Distribution<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to diffuse \/ reversible (hormonal shift)\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Evenly thinner across the whole scalp<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to patterned \/ androgenetic\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Parting, temples, crown<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Sign\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Trigger<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to diffuse \/ reversible (hormonal shift)\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Childbirth, the pill, stress, thyroid<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to patterned \/ androgenetic\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Gradual onset, runs in the family<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Sign\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Course<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to diffuse \/ reversible (hormonal shift)\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">A burst of shedding, then recovery<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to patterned \/ androgenetic\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Slowly progressive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Sign\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Hairline<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to diffuse \/ reversible (hormonal shift)\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Stays intact<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to patterned \/ androgenetic\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Recedes (men) \/ parting widens (women)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Sign\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Context<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to diffuse \/ reversible (hormonal shift)\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Clearly linked to a specific event<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Points to patterned \/ androgenetic\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Increasing over years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#6b7280\">Guidance only, and no substitute for a medical diagnosis. Which type you are dealing with is best clarified by a professional hair analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\" style=\"max-width:560px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/muster_vergleich__uk-1.png\" alt=\"Schematic comparison of hair loss patterns in men (Norwood-Hamilton) and women (Ludwig) in androgenetic alopecia\" class=\"wp-image-96065\" style=\"width:560px;max-width:100%;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/muster_vergleich__uk-1.png 1536w, https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/muster_vergleich__uk-1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/muster_vergleich__uk-1-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/muster_vergleich__uk-1-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is one nuance that rarely gets explained: a diffuse hormonal shock (stopping the pill, childbirth, severe stress) can unmask an androgenetic alopecia that was already there genetically and speed up how quickly it becomes visible. Both mechanisms then work together. That is exactly why a professional assessment beats guesswork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For treatment this means: only the androgenetic form, with a stable, DHT-resistant donor area, responds to hair loss medication or a hair transplant. Diffuse hair loss caused by a hormonal shift is not suitable for either and usually recovers on its own. A <a href=\"\/uk\/hair-analysis\/\">hair analysis<\/a> uses photos to classify the visible pattern and so helps to distinguish the two types. It is a visual first assessment, not a medical blood test and not hormone diagnostics, but it is an honest first step rather than a sales pitch for a treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons has-custom-css is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"\/uk\/hair-analysis\/\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:50px;border-top-right-radius:50px;border-bottom-left-radius:50px;border-bottom-right-radius:50px;background-color:#0079f1;font-size:16px\">Start your free hair analysis<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:13px;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:48px\">Free, with no obligation. A photo-based assessment of your pattern, not a substitute for a medical blood test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Treatment: it depends on the cause<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How hormonal hair loss is treated depends on the mechanism behind it. With the reversible, diffuse type, the cause comes first: get your thyroid treated properly, have your iron and ferritin levels checked, reduce stress, and give it time after a pregnancy or after coming off the pill. Spontaneous recovery usually takes 6 to 12 months. Over-treating a self-limiting process makes little sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the androgenetic type there are effective, medically established options. The overview below classifies the two most important active substances by who they are used for, the strength of the evidence and the warnings attached. For more on the substance itself, see our article on minoxidil for hair loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"eh-table-card-wrap\" style=\"overflow-x:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;margin:24px 0;border:1px solid #dbe4f0;border-radius:12px\">\n<table class=\"eh-table-card\" style=\"width:100%;min-width:640px;table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;font-size:15px;margin:0\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:31%;background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Active substance<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Used for<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Strength of evidence<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Warning<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Active substance\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Minoxidil<\/strong> (topical)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Used for\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Men and women, applied to the scalp<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Strength of evidence\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">The highest level of evidence according to the European S3\/EDF guideline<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Warning\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">A temporary increase in shedding in weeks 2 to 6 is normal and does not mean the treatment has failed. Not everyone responds.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Active substance\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Finasteride<\/strong> (oral, 1 mg\/day)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Used for\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Men only, prescription-only medicine<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Strength of evidence\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Proven effective: it inhibits 5-alpha reductase and lowers DHT levels<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Warning\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Sexual side effects occurred in around 3.8% of participants in studies versus 2.1% on placebo, and were mostly reversible. Post-finasteride syndrome is still being debated. Contraindicated in women. See the safety note below.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#6b7280\">This is context rather than a treatment recommendation. Any drug treatment belongs in the hands of a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#fff7ed;border-left:5px solid #f59e0b;border-radius:10px;padding:16px 18px;margin-bottom:8px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033;font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.6\"><strong style=\"color:#013366\">Safety note on finasteride:<\/strong> European medicines regulators (CMDh\/EMA) agreed measures in 2025 relating to the risk of suicidal thoughts, and some countries now require a signed information form from doctor and patient before the medicine is prescribed. Finasteride is contraindicated in women (it is teratogenic in pregnancy) and should only be taken after a detailed discussion with a doctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For women, anti-androgens prescribed by a doctor are an option. According to the AEDV consensus document (2023), the most effective approach in postmenopausal women is minoxidil combined with a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor; before the menopause, spironolactone can be used instead of the inhibitor. Additional aspects such as nutrients are covered in our article on hair loss capsules, and a blood test for hair loss can reveal a deficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A hair transplant is an option where the androgenetic pattern is stable and the donor area is secure. In women, caution is needed: with the female pattern, the back of the head often miniaturises too, so there is frequently no reliable donor area. A transplant is only an option here after strict trichological assessment, never as a blanket solution. And not every case of diffuse hair loss is hormonal, as our articles on iron deficiency and vitamins for hair loss explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does it take for hair to grow back?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With reversible, hormonally driven hair loss, regrowth follows the natural hair cycle, and that takes patience. Once the trigger settles, the shedding slows down first, before visible new hair appears. The timeline below shows the typical course after the recovery phase begins (derived from the telogen effluvium model, PMC6709511 and PMC10968111).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"eh-table-card-wrap\" style=\"overflow-x:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;margin:24px 0;border:1px solid #dbe4f0;border-radius:12px\">\n<table class=\"eh-table-card\" style=\"width:100%;min-width:480px;table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;font-size:15px;margin:0\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:34%;background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Period<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">What happens in the follicle<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Period\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Months 1-2<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What happens in the follicle\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">The trigger normalises (thyroid treatment settled, stress reduced, hormonal shift complete) and the shedding visibly slows down.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Period\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Months 3-4<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What happens in the follicle\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">The follicles leave the resting phase and enter a new growth phase (anagen).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Period\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Months 5-6<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What happens in the follicle\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">The first visible baby hairs (short, fine new hairs) appear along the hairline and on the top of the head.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Period\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\"><strong>Months 6-12<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"What happens in the follicle\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Hair density usually recovers largely or completely in diffuse, reversible hair loss.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#6b7280\">These are rough guides and vary from person to person. Androgenetic hair loss does not follow this course on its own; it needs targeted treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"doctor-and-tests\">Which doctor, and which tests?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first port of call for hormonal hair loss is your GP, for a basic blood count and a TSH reading. If the results are abnormal or there is a specific suspicion, a referral follows: endocrinologists for hormones in general, gynaecologists for the menstrual cycle, contraception, the menopause and PCOS, and dermatologists or trichologists for pattern analysis and assessment of the donor area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For women, the timing of the blood test is crucial: without the right day of the cycle, many hormone readings say very little. You can print out the checklist below, or photograph it, and take it along to your appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"eh-table-card-wrap\" style=\"overflow-x:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;margin:24px 0;border:1px solid #dbe4f0;border-radius:12px\">\n<table class=\"eh-table-card\" style=\"width:100%;min-width:560px;table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;font-size:15px;margin:0\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:28%;background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Test<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">When to measure<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#013366;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Who orders it<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Test\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Testosterone (total and free), DHEA-S, SHBG, FSH, LH, oestradiol<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"When to measure\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Cycle days 3-5 (early follicular phase)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Who orders it\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Gynaecologist \/ endocrinologist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Test\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Progesterone<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"When to measure\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Cycle days 19-21 (about 7 days after ovulation)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Who orders it\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Gynaecologist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Test\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">TSH, fT3, fT4<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"When to measure\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Any day of the cycle<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Who orders it\" style=\"background:#ffffff;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ef;overflow-wrap:break-word\">GP \/ endocrinologist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Test\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#013366;font-weight:600;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Ferritin, vitamin D, prolactin<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"When to measure\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">Any day of the cycle<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Who orders it\" style=\"background:#f4f8fe;color:#22303e;font-weight:400;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding:13px 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;border:0;overflow-wrap:break-word\">GP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#6b7280\">If your cycle is irregular or you are past the menopause, have the timing set individually by your doctor. This reflects standard laboratory practice and is not a set of target values. There is more on this in our articles on blood tests for hair loss and the causes of hair loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f0f6ff;border:1px solid #cfe0f7;border-radius:10px;padding:18px 20px;margin:8px 0 4px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;color:#013366;font-weight:700;font-size:16px\">A view from clinical practice<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033;font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.65\">In women in particular, there is rarely just one cause. In clinical practice, a diffuse component driven by a hormonal shift (the menopause, the thyroid, iron) frequently overlaps with a genetically determined androgenetic pattern. That is why the first question is always which type you have, not which treatment to use. A careful assessment prevents reversible hair loss from being treated unnecessarily and androgenetic hair loss from being recognised too late. (Elithair Medical Board)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions about hormones and hair<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">Which hormones cause hair loss?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">The main players are DHT (derived from testosterone), a drop in oestrogen and progesterone, thyroid hormones (T3\/T4), cortisol when you are under stress, and, in women with PCOS, prolactin and DHEA-S. DHT is the most common cause of permanent, patterned hair loss.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">Is hormonal hair loss reversible?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">That depends on the type. Diffuse hair loss caused by a hormonal shift (childbirth, the pill, stress, the thyroid) is usually reversible and recovers within 6 to 12 months. Androgenetic hair loss (DHT) progresses without treatment and does not grow back on its own.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">Does testosterone cause hair loss?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">No, not directly. What matters is the conversion into DHT and the inherited sensitivity of the follicles, not the testosterone level itself. On average, men with hair loss do not have higher testosterone readings than men without it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">What does progesterone do to your hair?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">Progesterone is generally regarded as hair-friendly because it may dampen DHT production. That effect is documented biochemically, but it is not backed by meaningful studies in humans. Progesterone is not a recognised treatment for hair loss.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">Hair loss after stopping the pill: how long does it last?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">Usually it is only temporary. After you stop, a shedding phase often follows 2 to 3 months later because of the hormonal readjustment. As a rule, hair recovers afterwards. If the shedding lasts longer than 6 to 12 months, it should be assessed by a doctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">Hair loss during the menopause: what helps?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">Topical minoxidil is the option with proven evidence, and the only medicine licensed for female pattern hair loss. Hormone replacement therapy is not a licensed treatment for hair loss, and the evidence for it is inconsistent. Having the pattern assessed by a doctor is the first step.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">Can stress trigger hair loss?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">Yes. Chronic stress keeps cortisol raised and pushes follicles prematurely into the resting phase. The visible hair loss (telogen effluvium) typically appears around 3 months after the stressful period and usually recovers once that period ends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">Can a hair transplant stop hormonal hair loss?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">Only in certain cases. It is possible with an androgenetic pattern and a stable, DHT-resistant donor area, but not with diffuse hair loss caused by a hormonal shift. In women the donor area is often affected too, which is why a strict trichological assessment is needed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">Which pill is good or bad for your hair?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">It depends on the progestogen. Anti-androgenic progestogens (cyproterone acetate, dienogest, drospirenone, chlormadinone) are generally considered hair-friendly, while androgenic ones such as levonorgestrel or norethisterone are seen as less favourable. The choice of pill is always a decision for your gynaecologist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:16px;margin-bottom:0\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px;color:#013366;font-weight:600\">Does masturbation cause hair loss?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#2e3033\">No, that is a myth. There is no reliable evidence of a causal link between ejaculation frequency and androgenetic alopecia. Short-term hormone fluctuations do not change the inherited sensitivity of your follicles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f7fafd;border:1px solid #e3e8ef;border-radius:10px;padding:18px 20px;margin-top:8px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;color:#013366;font-weight:700;font-size:15px\">Sources<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#2e3033;font-size:14px;line-height:1.7\">\n<li>\u201cThe Hormonal Background of Hair Loss in Non-Scarring Alopecias\u201d, 2024 (PMC10968111). <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10968111\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Link<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u201cAndrogen Physiology: Receptor and Metabolic Disorders\u201d, Endotext (NCBI Bookshelf NBK279028). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK279028\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Link<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u201cTelogen Effluvium: A Comprehensive Review\u201d (PMC6709511). <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6709511\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Link<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u201cThe Postpartum Telogen Effluvium Fallacy\u201d (PubMed 27386466). <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27386466\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Link<\/a><\/li>\n<li>AEDV\/Grupo Espa\u00f1ol de Tricolog\u00eda: consensus document on androgenetic alopecia, 2023 (Actas Dermo-Sifiliogr\u00e1ficas). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.actasdermo.org\/es-recomendaciones-sobre-el-manejo-clinico-articulo-S000173102300844X\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Link<\/a><\/li>\n<li>ANSM: \u201cFinast\u00e9ride 1 mg et chute de cheveux\u201d (patient information requirements). <a href=\"https:\/\/ansm.sante.fr\/dossiers-thematiques\/finasteride-1-mg-et-chute-de-cheveux\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Link<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Springer Medizin on the EDF\/S3 guideline: \u201cAndrogenetische Alopezie: Neue Leitlinie empfiehlt Minoxidil\u201d. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springermedizin.de\/alopezie\/androgenetische-alopezie-neue-leitlinie-empfiehlt-minoxidil\/15713850\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Link<\/a><\/li>\n<li>endokrinologen.de: \u201cAnlagebedingter Haarausfall\u201d (hereditary hair loss, prevalence figures). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.endokrinologen.de\/androgenetische-alopezie.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Link<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"margin:12px 0 0;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;line-height:1.6\">Last reviewed 2026. This article is for general information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If your hair loss persists, please speak to a doctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which hormones cause hair loss?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The main players are DHT (derived from testosterone), a drop in oestrogen and progesterone, thyroid hormones (T3\/T4), cortisol when you are under stress, and, in women with PCOS, prolactin and DHEA-S. DHT is the most common cause of permanent, patterned hair loss.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is hormonal hair loss reversible?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"That depends on the type. Diffuse hair loss caused by a hormonal shift (childbirth, the pill, stress, the thyroid) is usually reversible and recovers within 6 to 12 months. Androgenetic hair loss (DHT) progresses without treatment and does not grow back on its own.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does testosterone cause hair loss?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No, not directly. What matters is the conversion into DHT and the inherited sensitivity of the follicles, not the testosterone level itself. On average, men with hair loss do not have higher testosterone readings than men without it.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What does progesterone do to your hair?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Progesterone is generally regarded as hair-friendly because it may dampen DHT production. That effect is documented biochemically, but it is not backed by meaningful studies in humans. Progesterone is not a recognised treatment for hair loss.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Hair loss after stopping the pill: how long does it last?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Usually it is only temporary. After you stop, a shedding phase often follows 2 to 3 months later because of the hormonal readjustment. As a rule, hair recovers afterwards. If the shedding lasts longer than 6 to 12 months, it should be assessed by a doctor.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Hair loss during the menopause: what helps?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Topical minoxidil is the option with proven evidence, and the only medicine licensed for female pattern hair loss. Hormone replacement therapy is not a licensed treatment for hair loss, and the evidence for it is inconsistent. Having the pattern assessed by a doctor is the first step.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can stress trigger hair loss?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Chronic stress keeps cortisol raised and pushes follicles prematurely into the resting phase. The visible hair loss (telogen effluvium) typically appears around 3 months after the stressful period and usually recovers once that period ends.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can a hair transplant stop hormonal hair loss?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Only in certain cases. It is possible with an androgenetic pattern and a stable, DHT-resistant donor area, but not with diffuse hair loss caused by a hormonal shift. In women the donor area is often affected too, which is why a strict trichological assessment is needed.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which pill is good or bad for your hair?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It depends on the progestogen. Anti-androgenic progestogens (cyproterone acetate, dienogest, drospirenone, chlormadinone) are generally considered hair-friendly, while androgenic ones such as levonorgestrel or norethisterone are seen as less favourable. The choice of pill is always a decision for your gynaecologist.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does masturbation cause hair loss?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No, that is a myth. There is no reliable evidence of a causal link between ejaculation frequency and androgenetic alopecia. Short-term hormone fluctuations do not change the inherited sensitivity of your follicles.\"}}\n]}\n<\/script>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The key points at a glance Hormones and hair are closely linked. The hair cycle is co-regulated by androgens (testosterone and DHT), oestrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones and cortisol (review PMC10968111, 2024). Behind the term hormonal hair loss lie two very different mechanisms. Androgenetic alopecia (permanent): a genetically determined sensitivity of the follicles to DHT, patterned [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":96066,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-adv":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_hm_hreflang_map":{"de":36529,"en":96819,"es":91753,"fr":96895,"it":107540,"pt":89599,"tr":83158,"uk":96067,"x_default":96819},"_hm_language_code":"uk","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-hair-loss"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.1 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Hormones and Hair: Hormonal Hair Loss from DHT, Testosterone, Oestrogen &amp; Progesterone<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hormones and hair: how DHT, testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone drive hair loss. How to recognise hormonal hair loss and which types are reversible.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hormones and Hair: Understanding the Causes of Hormonal Hair Loss\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hormones and hair: how DHT, testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone drive hair loss. How to recognise hormonal hair loss and which types are reversible.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Elithair\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/elithair.en\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-24T19:43:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/hero-12.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1536\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dr. Imad Moustafa\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dr. Imad Moustafa\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"20 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Dr. Imad Moustafa\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/11ce37e83a6343e4c37edcd4b5498e41\"},\"headline\":\"Hormones and Hair: Understanding the Causes of Hormonal Hair Loss\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-24T19:43:20+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4065,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/hero-12.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Hair Loss\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/\",\"name\":\"Hormones and Hair: Hormonal Hair Loss from DHT, Testosterone, Oestrogen & Progesterone\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/hero-12.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-24T19:43:20+00:00\",\"description\":\"Hormones and hair: how DHT, testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone drive hair loss. How to recognise hormonal hair loss and which types are reversible.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/hero-12.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/hero-12.png\",\"width\":1536,\"height\":1024,\"caption\":\"Full, healthy hair backlit by soft light, symbolising the interplay between hormones and hair\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/hormonal-hair-loss\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Hormones and Hair: Understanding the Causes of Hormonal Hair Loss\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/\",\"name\":\"Elithair\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Elithair\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/elithair-logo-primary.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/elithair-logo-primary.svg\",\"width\":1,\"height\":1,\"caption\":\"Elithair\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/elithair.en\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/elithair.global\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@ElithairGlobal\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.tiktok.com\\\/@elithair.global\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elithair.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/11ce37e83a6343e4c37edcd4b5498e41\",\"name\":\"Dr. Imad Moustafa\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9190499f6f3008cd7da57b179f07bfea4b4e382c816ba3e0de68db0b5a70c07d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9190499f6f3008cd7da57b179f07bfea4b4e382c816ba3e0de68db0b5a70c07d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9190499f6f3008cd7da57b179f07bfea4b4e382c816ba3e0de68db0b5a70c07d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Dr. Imad Moustafa\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Hormones and Hair: Hormonal Hair Loss from DHT, Testosterone, Oestrogen & Progesterone","description":"Hormones and hair: how DHT, testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone drive hair loss. How to recognise hormonal hair loss and which types are reversible.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Hormones and Hair: Understanding the Causes of Hormonal Hair Loss","og_description":"Hormones and hair: how DHT, testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone drive hair loss. How to recognise hormonal hair loss and which types are reversible.","og_url":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/","og_site_name":"Elithair","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/elithair.en","article_published_time":"2026-07-24T19:43:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1536,"height":1024,"url":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/hero-12.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Dr. Imad Moustafa","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dr. Imad Moustafa","Estimated reading time":"20 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/"},"author":{"name":"Dr. Imad Moustafa","@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/11ce37e83a6343e4c37edcd4b5498e41"},"headline":"Hormones and Hair: Understanding the Causes of Hormonal Hair Loss","datePublished":"2026-07-24T19:43:20+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/"},"wordCount":4065,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/hero-12.png","articleSection":["Hair Loss"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/","url":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/","name":"Hormones and Hair: Hormonal Hair Loss from DHT, Testosterone, Oestrogen & Progesterone","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/hero-12.png","datePublished":"2026-07-24T19:43:20+00:00","description":"Hormones and hair: how DHT, testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone drive hair loss. How to recognise hormonal hair loss and which types are reversible.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/hero-12.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/hero-12.png","width":1536,"height":1024,"caption":"Full, healthy hair backlit by soft light, symbolising the interplay between hormones and hair"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/blog\/hormonal-hair-loss\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Hormones and Hair: Understanding the Causes of Hormonal Hair Loss"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/","name":"Elithair","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/#organization","name":"Elithair","url":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/elithair-logo-primary.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/elithair-logo-primary.svg","width":1,"height":1,"caption":"Elithair"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/elithair.en","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/elithair.global\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@ElithairGlobal","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@elithair.global"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/11ce37e83a6343e4c37edcd4b5498e41","name":"Dr. Imad Moustafa","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9190499f6f3008cd7da57b179f07bfea4b4e382c816ba3e0de68db0b5a70c07d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9190499f6f3008cd7da57b179f07bfea4b4e382c816ba3e0de68db0b5a70c07d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9190499f6f3008cd7da57b179f07bfea4b4e382c816ba3e0de68db0b5a70c07d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Dr. Imad Moustafa"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96067"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96067\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elithair.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}