Part 2 of 2
HAIR HEALTH SERIES · EXPERT INSIGHT
Once you understand that stress-related hair loss is a signal from a system under pressure, the question changes. It's no longer "what do I put on my hair?" It becomes, what does my body actually need right now?
Dr. Jawaher Kadhem has that conversation with patients regularly. And her answers tend to go against the grain of what the beauty industry tells you to do first.
Recovery only happens in one mode
The nervous system context matters here because it shapes everything else. When the body is locked in fight-or-flight, blood and nutrients are being routed away from the scalp and toward the organs that keep you alive and moving. Hair growth is not a survival priority.
"Recovery only really happens when the body is in a 'rest and digest' mode," Dr. Kadhem says. Which means that no product, supplement, or treatment can fully deliver on its promise if the nervous system hasn't been given permission to settle. The internal environment has to shift first. Everything else is secondary.
The foundations, not the extras
I've made a few lifestyle tweaks to address the issue, and Dr. Kadhem herself doesn't ask for anything complicated. "Mastering the foundations of health makes the biggest difference. The body naturally wants to maintain balance, so things like regular movement that isn't overly intense, prioritizing recovery with mobility, stretching, yoga, or even sauna, and making sure you're eating enough nutrients all matter."
We've heard it over and over again - hydration is high on that list, too. "Even mild dehydration can put the body into a stress response." Sleep quality and consistency matter just as much. "Going to bed and waking up around the same time each day, along with getting some morning sunlight, can help regulate the body's stress response."
And then there's something that rarely makes it onto wellness lists. "Just as important is emotional health. Feeling connected to loved ones, laughing, and having a support system all play a role in how the body handles stress."
She acknowledges the gap between knowing and doing. Most of us know we have to move our bodies, sleep better, and hydrate more, but do we do it? "These conversations are actually easy for me to have with patients. The harder part is implementation. Lifestyle changes are often the most challenging because they require consistent daily effort."
What to put down on your scalp
The moment we notice hair loss, our instinct is to act on it topically. We search for and buy a new prescription-strength shampoo or a powerful scalp serum. Sound familiar? Dr. Kadhem sees this pattern constantly, and she's direct about where it leads. "The first thing many people do when they notice hair loss is go buy shampoos packed with active ingredients. But when the scalp is already stressed or sensitive, piling on strong treatments can sometimes add more irritation than benefit."
Her recommendation during high-stress periods is the opposite of what most people expect. "I usually recommend keeping hair care simple and choosing gentle formulas with fewer unnecessary additives to support the scalp while the body restores balance internally."
"Scalp health is often more oversold than overlooked. There are so many products claiming to optimize scalp and hair health that people end up layering multiple treatments at once. Ironically, that approach can sometimes irritate the scalp rather than support it." — Dr. Jawaher Kadhem.
The ingredient guidance is equally straightforward. "Using products that are gentle and avoiding ingredients that irritate your scalp, like heavy fragrances or overly harsh formulations, can support the scalp environment while the body works on restoring balance internally." During a high-stress period, the scalp doesn't need more intervention. It needs less.
The honest truth about recovery
After everything, after the lifestyle shifts, the gentler routine, the intentional rest, Dr. Kadhem's most important message is about expectation.
"The one thing I wish people understood is that there usually isn't a single fix. Stress-related hair loss is often the result of several things happening at once, so recovery tends to be a multifaceted process. We usually start with the lowest hanging fruit, the most obvious contributors, and build from there, but it rarely comes down to just one change or one treatment."
The goal isn't to find the perfect product or the right supplement. It's to create the conditions where the body can do what it already knows how to do. What it's asking for is balance.
Missed part one? Read: Why Stress Is Making Your Hair Fall Out.
Dr. Jawaher Kadhem is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor at Sidra Healing. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.