\u201cI\u2019m hearing about it constantly right now,\u201d says celebrity hair colorist Kadi Lee of Highbrow Hippie. \u201cIt\u2019s such a new topic and we\u2019re still early on the long-term data, but it\u2019s hard to ignore what I\u2019m seeing in the chair, and the concern being raised by my clients.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Master colorist and stylist Paul Labrecque of Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa says it\u2019s an expected side effect at this point, one that he talks about often with clients. \u201cAny significant weight loss creates a loss of hair, whether it is from bariatric surgery or GLP-1s,\u201d he explains. When that happens, hair goes into what he calls a shock phase, and it thins, fast.<\/p>\n
Master colorist Shawn Butner of Anushka Spa and Salon sees the same pattern from a different angle. \u201cWe really see it impact the hair density and quality,\u201d he says, often noticing before clients say a word. \u201cIt\u2019s not the same as before they went on the drug.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Delayed Reaction<\/h2>\n
None of these changes show up on schedule. \u201cGLP-1 medications shift appetite significantly, and that shift can lead to nutrient gaps,\u201d Lee says. Nutrition, she says, has a direct impact on hair health, and clients on these medications are noticing changes. \u201cHair operates on a delay, so changes happening now reflect what was happening in the body a few months ago,\u201d Lee adds. \u201cRecovery works the same way. It takes time to show up.\u201d<\/p>\n
What stylists are describing has a clinical name: telogen effluvium. Certified trichologist Emily DeNard, founder of Emunah Beauty, says that rapid weight loss can register as physical stress, pushing more hairs than usual into the resting, or telogen, phase. Once there, \u201cthat hair must complete the shedding process before the follicle can cycle back into the anagen growth phase,\u201d she explains. That\u2019s why shedding can continue even after weight stabilizes or nutrient deficiencies are corrected.<\/p>\n
Ignore the gap long enough and it compounds. \u201cIf deficiencies go unattended, I see slower regrowth and more texture changes,\u201d Lee says. \u201cHair tends to come in finer and drier than before.\u201d Labrecque sees the reverse just as often. \u201cOnce the loss is sustained in weight and you get back to a well-rounded diet, hair fallout will stop. Hair usually grows back as the body readjusts.\u201d<\/p>\n
The scalp tends to speak up first. \u201cDryness is the biggest indicator,\u201d Lee notes. \u201cWhen nutrient intake drops, the scalp loses blood flow and moisture and feels tight, flaky or irritated. I\u2019m also seeing more scalp sensitivity. Scalps that used to tolerate certain products or treatments without issue are reacting more than before.\u201d Her rule for this stretch is simple: less, not more. Clean, hydrated, calm, and no extra product or processing.<\/p>\n
The Basic Rules<\/h2>\n
While hair loss science might not have caught up yet, salon service already has. Butner recommends his clients take \u201ca full-spectrum protein supplement, not just a collagen one.\u201d Lee also stresses getting enough protein, healthy fats, iron and vitamins A, C, D and E, preferably before hair changes begin. \u201cIt\u2019s also important for GLP-1 users to collaborate with a trusted doctor to ensure all their medical needs are met,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n
When it comes to styling, Butner says heat protectant isn\u2019t optional anymore, and recommends weekly deep conditioning. Lee\u2019s instinct runs the same direction: Back off the heat, back off the processing. \u201cWhen the hair is damaged, it needs more TLC, not more processing or heavy heat-styling.\u201d<\/p>\n
DeNard says temporary telogen effluvium should begin resolving once the primary trigger has been addressed, generally within nine months. \u201cIf it does not, that is an important sign that another underlying cause may be contributing to the hair loss,\u201d she explains. \u201cIt\u2019s important to properly evaluate and rule out every possible contributing factor instead of assuming the shedding is simply taking longer than expected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fake It for Now<\/h2>\n
While hair recovers, temporary fixes can help fill in the gaps without adding stress. \u201cNothing can attach to the hair when it is in a fallout state,\u201d Labrecque says. When strands are too thin and clients need a quick fix, his workaround is a topper that attaches with a flexible, jewelry-string headband, built to put zero stress on compromised strands.<\/p>\n
Lee treats it case by case. \u201cIn general, I steer clients away from adding anything that will create more tension on the hair and scalp, especially if it\u2019s already fragile or shedding,\u201d she says. Fibers ask the least of the hair, in her experience. \u201cThey build density in the moment and wash right out. The goal is always to get the hair and scalp healthy enough that cosmetic or topical additives aren\u2019t necessary. These are not a long-term solution, but rather temporary Band-Aids that mask the underlying problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wait Out the Cycle<\/h2>\n
When it comes to regrowth, patience is part of the process. \u201cBe gentle with yourself. This is a temporary response to a big change, not a permanent one,\u201d Lee says. \u201cHair is usually the last place the body sends resources, so if you\u2019re seeing changes there, be proactive rather than reactive.\u201d Results won\u2019t show up for two to three months either way, she adds. It just asks for a head start.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you or someone you love is on a GLP-1, chances are y […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3539"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3539"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3539\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}