How can you prevent hair loss naturally?

Written by Clémentine, reviewed and medically approved by Arnaud, Doctor of Pharmacy and owner of the Soin et Nature Pharmacy. Updated on 20 August 2026.

Hair loss is a cause for concern for both women and men. Finding a brush full of hair can be alarming, but there isn’t always cause for concern.
The lifespan of a single hair varies from 3 to 7 years. The hair is constantly being renewed: hair grows, lives, then dies and eventually falls out. A hair is considered dead when it stops growing, that is, when it no longer produces keratin. But that doesn’t mean it falls out straight away: it will take another three months before it detaches from the scalp, pushed out by a new hair.

What are the key factors in hair growth?

Hair has the highest rate of cell division in the body. It grows at a rate of between 0.5 and 2 cm per month. This rate depends on several factors: genetics, gender, age and hormonal imbalances. Growth is at its peak between adolescence and the age of 30, then slows down around the ages of 40–50. The hair cycle consists of three phases: growth (anagen), transition (catagen) and resting (telogen). At the end of the resting phase, hair falls out, which is a completely normal phenomenon.
Our hair is constantly subjected to various stresses: hormonal fluctuations, lifestyle, the environment, diet and our psychological and emotional state. These stresses can weaken the hair and trigger premature hair loss, which can sometimes be pathological (as in androgenetic alopecia). The hair cycle follows a specific sequence:

• Anagen: growth phase (2 to 6 years)
• Catagen: transitional phase (3 weeks)
• Telogen: resting phase (2 to 3 months)

At the end of the resting phase, the hair falls out. Every day, around 50 to 100 hairs reach this phase. The cycle begins again with the emergence of a new hair from the follicle.
Disorders of the growth cycle include:

• Anagen effluvium: an interruption of the growth phase causing abnormal loss of anagen hairs
• Telogen effluvium: significantly more than 100 hairs per day entering the resting phase

What causes hair loss?

The causes can be many and varied. Hair is a very good indicator of nutritional deficiencies, particularly mineral deficiencies.

Before attempting to reduce hair loss, it is important to establish whether it is normal. We set out the key indicators — duration, distribution, tests to request — in our article ‘Autumn hair loss: when it’s normal, when to be concerned’.

Mineral deficiencies have a direct impact on hair health

Hair is a reliable indicator of nutritional deficiencies, particularly those involving essential minerals. An iron deficiency can weaken the hair shaft, making the hair finer and more brittle, and leading to diffuse, continuous hair loss, as this mineral plays a part in oxygenating the cells responsible for hair growth. If a deficiency is confirmed by a blood test, your pharmacist will advise you on suitable iron supplements. Vitamin D, well known for its role in calcium absorption, also plays a part in the hair growth cycle; a deficiency is frequently associated with hair loss. Zinc, with its antioxidant properties, contributes to hair growth, and a deficiency can result in hair loss and a dry scalp.
Magnesium helps regulate the scalp’s pH by neutralising the acidic effects of sweat; a deficiency can therefore lead to irritation and dandruff, or even seborrhoeic dermatitis, which may be accompanied by significant hair loss. Calcium, which is closely linked to vitamin D, is absorbed less effectively if either is deficient, which can indirectly affect hair health. Finally, the B vitamins, which are essential for the shine and suppleness of the hair, play a major role in its growth and strength: if there is a deficiency, the hair becomes dry, brittle and falls out more easily, with the possible onset of dandruff.

Smoking, hair colouring and repeated exposure to the sun exacerbate hair loss

Smoking, which is responsible for numerous health problems, contains toxic and carcinogenic substances. In both men and women, it can have disastrous consequences for the hair. Several studies link smoking to an increase in hair loss. For healthier hair, giving up smoking is a difficult but important decision.
Repeated hair colouring can, in some cases, weaken the scalp and exacerbate existing hair loss, or even contribute to baldness in those who are predisposed to it. As the risk of damaging the hair shaft is significant, this can lead to a loss of density and leave hair looking dull and frizzy.
In very small doses, the sun is excellent for all hair types. Through vitamin D, it influences the hair’s life cycle and promotes keratin production. However, in excessive amounts, the consequences can be harmful. Excessive exposure to the sun accelerates the damaging effect of free radicals on the tissues surrounding the hair follicles. Just as rust attacks iron, these free radicals attack the perifollicular collagen, causing it to lose its suppleness and thus risk trapping the hair roots in a straitjacket — yet another factor contributing to the compression of the roots and a reduction in their activity.
If your hair already tends to become thinner or fall out easily, be wary of the sun: overindulgence in the summer often results in more pronounced hair loss in the autumn.

A poor diet as a cause of hair loss

An unbalanced diet or eating disorders can lead to an insufficient intake of nutrients, which can ultimately result in hair loss. Make sure you eat a healthy, balanced diet. Strong, healthy hair needs nutrients, which are essential for ensuring the correct physiological cycle of all tissues, especially where cell proliferation is high, such as in the hair follicle. A constant supply of these nutrients must therefore be provided by the blood.

Autumn hair loss: when the change of season affects alopecia

Like trees, our hair is sensitive to environmental changes: the transition to autumn is a period of radical change in the climate, and therefore in humidity, sunlight and outdoor temperature… This change affects the rhythm and speed of the hair renewal cycle, which can then lead to a greater number of hairs falling out.
We therefore see autumn hair loss (also known as ‘back-to-school hair loss’), which affects the entire head of hair but has little impact on overall volume. This seasonal hair loss usually lasts one to two months. If it continues significantly longer than this, it is worth speaking to your pharmacist or doctor to investigate other possible causes.

Hairstyles that are too tight can contribute to hair loss

Certain hairstyles, such as overly tight plaits, can contribute to hair loss due to prolonged pulling on the roots. This is known as traction alopecia. Wearing a very tight bun or ponytail every day can lead to hair loss in the long term: this is why dancers who regularly wear dance buns often suffer from it. To prevent this, vary your hairstyles, never tie your hair too tightly, and let your hair down regularly.

Hormonal changes and a reduction in hair volume

Hair loss after childbirth is perfectly normal. It is mainly due to hormonal changes and a drop in oestrogen levels. This hair loss is only temporary and lasts just a few months. Hair loss can also be linked to the contraceptive pill, whether you’re starting to take it, stopping it or switching to a different one.
Andropause is a biological phenomenon comparable to the menopause in women, but which affects men. It is characterised by a gradual decrease in the production of male hormones, primarily testosterone. This hormonal change can lead to various symptoms, including more pronounced hair loss. There is indeed a link between hair loss and testosterone levels: testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone which, when present in excessive amounts, can cause hair follicles to shrink and lead to hair loss. Andropause can therefore indirectly exacerbate baldness in men.

Some naturopathic tips to help minimise hair loss

• Avoid harsh hair treatments: harsh shampoos, hair colouring, straightening treatments and perms.
• Eat a balanced diet. Vary your meals to avoid nutritional deficiencies, particularly in iron, zinc and sulphur-rich proteins.
• Cut down on or stop smoking: it hinders the absorption of key nutrients.
• Massage your scalp, perhaps using a vegetable oil, to stimulate blood circulation.
• Avoid using a hairdryer set to too high a temperature.
• Manage stress: it disrupts hair growth cycles.
• Be mindful of your hormonal balance. Certain herbs may help.

Medicinal plants and hair loss

Several natural active ingredients are traditionally used to support the health of the hair and scalp. Field horsetail extract (EPS), rich in silica, is a remineralising herb traditionally used to support the vitality of the hair and skin.Clary sage essential oil, when applied to the skin, is valued for its effect on sebum production and microcirculation in the scalp, making it a common ingredient in hair care products.Nettle (Urtica dioica) plant extract, with its rubefacient properties, is traditionally used in treatments designed to tone the scalp. Finally,apricot kernel vegetable oil, rich in omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids as well as vitamins A and E, is used in clay-based hair masks to deeply nourish the scalp and reduce hair breakage.
As with any supplement or treatment, usage and duration should be decided on a case-by-case basis: seek advice from your pharmacist, particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, undergoing treatment or have a medical history.
If hair loss lasts for more than 3 months, it is no longer seasonal: speak to your doctor or pharmacist, who may recommend a blood test. If it affects the volume of your hair or the hairline, or if it is mainly localised on the top of the head, a dermatological consultation is recommended. Hair loss of this type may be due to a medical condition (traction alopecia, hair straightening, androgenetic alopecia) that only a doctor will be able to identify and treat.