What is the cause of alopecia in females and why it happens

Panicking about shedding? Here’s what you need to know 

If you’ve noticed extra strands in the shower drain or your part looking a little too roomy lately, welcome to the club no woman ever wants to join, but more than half of us will experience at some point. Yep—over 50% of women deal with noticeable hair loss in their lifetime. It’s common, but it never feels common when it’s happening to you. Suddenly, every shed hair feels like a crisis, and every Google search for what is the cause of alopecia in females looks like a warning sign.

And honestly? The internet doesn’t help. One minute, it’s stress. The next it’s hormones. Then it’s genetics, diet, immune flare-ups, tight ponytails, seasonal changes, or the moon’s gravitational pull at this point. No wonder everyone spirals.

Here’s the reality your FYP rarely mentions. Alopecia isn’t a single condition. It’s a whole spectrum of hair loss patterns, triggers and timelines. Some types creep in over months. Others show up overnight and send you into detective mode. Some are temporary. Some come in waves. Some respond beautifully to treatment. And all of them are more manageable when you actually understand what’s going on.

And while you’re sorting out the root cause (pun not intended), you deserve to feel good in the mirror. That’s where supportive options like our lightweight toppers, full-coverage toppers and lace front wigs come in—because confidence shouldn’t pause while you wait for answers.

So, let’s break it down with zero scare tactics and zero shame, just real information women aren’t told often enough. Here’s what alopecia actually looks like, why it happens, and how to spot the signs without spiraling.

 

What alopecia actually means for women

Alopecia gets tossed around online like it’s one condition, one cause, one experience. In reality, it’s a broad medical term that simply means “hair loss”—which is about as specific as saying “skin issue.” It doesn’t tell you the cause, the pattern or the timeline. That’s why so many women feel lost when their shedding suddenly changes or patches appear out of nowhere.

Here’s the part no one teaches you during health class. Female hair loss doesn’t follow one script. It can show up as:

• Thinning on the crown that slowly spreads
• Widening parts that seem to shift week to week
• Small circular patches (the hallmark of alopecia areata)
• Overall shedding that feels like your ponytail is shrinking
• Breakage that mimics hair loss but isn’t coming from the follicle at all
  
  

And because each version behaves differently, the causes behind them vary too. Some are internal, some external, some both. The only universal truth is this—your hair is responding to something, and your body is sending a signal worth listening to.

For women, the emotional side hits hard. Hair is tied to identity, confidence and femininity in a way society rarely gives us permission to admit. Losing it can feel like losing a piece of yourself. But understanding the type of alopecia you’re dealing with turns the sadness into actual clarity.

But, before we start digging into the causes, let’s take a look at the major categories of alopecia that show up in women and how they differ.

 

The most common types of alopecia in females

Once you know that alopecia shows up in different forms, the next step is figuring out which one matches what you’re seeing in the mirror. Each type has its own “personality,” its own triggers and its own way of behaving on your scalp. And yes, some are temporary, some are chronic and some are a mix of both.

Here’s the breakdown every woman deserves but rarely gets. 

Androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss)

This one is incredibly common and usually shows up gradually. Think widening parts, thinning around the crown or ponytails that feel smaller out of nowhere. Genetics play a major role here, but hormones are the real co-stars. Many women notice it ramps up during their 20s, 30s or around perimenopause.

Alopecia areata

This is the one famous for sudden round patches. It’s autoimmune, which means your immune system gets a little confused and targets hair follicles. The onset can feel shocking, but it often goes through cycles of regrowth and shedding.

Telogen effluvium

This is the “my hair is coming out in handfuls” type of shedding. It’s triggered by big life events or system stressors—illness, childbirth, emotional stress, medication changes, nutritional shifts. Your follicles basically fast-forward into the fall-out phase. The good news? It’s usually temporary once the trigger calms down.

Traction alopecia

A styling-related type caused by chronic tension. Tight ponytails, braids or extensions worn improperly can irritate the follicles over time. It tends to appear along the hairline or temples.

Scarring alopecias

Less common, but important to mention. These involve inflammation that damages the follicles. They require medical attention early, because catching them fast makes a huge difference.

This is why it’s so hard to self-diagnose. Two women can both say “my hair is falling out” and be dealing with completely different conditions. But once you know the type, you can understand the cause. And that’s where things finally start to make sense.

What actually causes alopecia in females? The real reasons behind the shedding

Female hair loss can feel mysterious, dramatic, and ✨way✨ too personal, but the truth is far less chaotic than Google makes it sound. Alopecia isn’t one condition, it’s one result. And the causes hiding underneath it? Those fall into a handful of major (and very common) categories.

Most girlies experience more than one trigger at a time, which is why hair loss can feel like such a puzzle. Here’s the breakdown—clear, relatable, and rooted in real science.

Hormonal shifts

Hormones are loud. When estrogen dips or androgens rise, your follicles pick up the message instantly.

This can happen during:

• Postpartum recovery
• Birth control changes
• Perimenopause or menopause
• Thyroid fluctuations
  

How it shows up: Diffuse thinning, a widening part, shedding that seems to speed up overnight.

Genetics

If thinning runs in your family, you’re not imagining patterns—you’re seeing inheritance at work. Female pattern hair loss often appears slowly, and the age it shows up varies dramatically from woman to woman.

Autoimmune activity

This includes alopecia areata, where the immune system mistakenly targets the follicles.

Common signs:

• Sudden smooth, round patches
• Brows or lashes thinning
• Shedding that comes in waves

Stress doesn’t cause autoimmune alopecia, but it can absolutely intensify flare-ups.

Nutrient deficiencies

So many women struggle with low iron, ferritin, vitamin D or protein without knowing it. When your body has limited resources, hair is the first thing to get downgraded.

Think of it this way: your body protects vital organs first—your strands come later.

Scalp inflammation

Your scalp is skin, not just “hair storage.” When it’s inflamed, irritated or imbalanced, follicles get the memo.

Common triggers:

• Dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Yeast overgrowth
• Chronic scratching or buildup

Inflamed skin creates a hostile environment for growth.

Stress (physical or emotional)

Hair often responds to big life moments, just on a delay. Telogen effluvium typically shows up 2–3 months after the stressful event.

You’re not “imagining it starting out of nowhere”—your follicles are just following their timeline.

Styling habits

Mechanical stress can absolutely contribute to alopecia. We’re talking about:

• Tight ponytails or braids
• Frequent bleaching
• Heavy heat styling
• Extension installs with too much tension

When strands are tugged or stressed repeatedly, follicles weaken.

Every pathway looks a little different, but they all communicate the same message—your hair is reacting to something happening inside or around you. Understanding that something is the first step to feeling grounded again, instead of spiraling through Google at midnight.

 

How to spot the early signs of alopecia in females

Most women don’t notice hair loss the moment it starts. It tends to whisper before it screams, and because we’re so used to shedding, the early clues feel easy to ignore. But catching alopecia early can make a huge difference in how manageable it feels.

Here’s what to keep your eyes peeled for.

A widening part that wasn’t there before

This is one of the earliest visual changes. If your middle part suddenly looks like it’s stretching out, it’s a sign the follicles along the top of the scalp are shrinking.

Shedding that feels “out of character”

Yes, 50–100 hairs a day is normal. What’s not normal:

• Handfuls in the shower
• Hair covering your pillow
• Hair collecting on your clothes throughout the day

If your gut says, “Okay, this is new,” listen to it.

Thinner ponytail density

One of the most accurate measurements. If your ponytail suddenly feels lighter or your hair tie wraps around one extra time, something’s shifting.

Circular or patchy loss

This is the calling card of autoimmune-related loss. The patches can be coin-size or larger, smooth to the touch, and may appear suddenly.

Scalp “visibility” you didn’t used to have

If harsh lighting is suddenly your enemy, or you notice more scalp in selfies, that’s an early thinning pattern—not your imagination.

Changes in texture

Hair often becomes finer, weaker, or more brittle before it starts shedding. If your texture suddenly feels “off,” your follicles may be under stress.

Itching, burning, or tenderness

Scalp inflammation is one of the most overlooked symptoms. If your scalp feels irritable or reactive, it can hint at the underlying cause of your alopecia.

Spotting these signs early doesn’t magically fix hair loss—but it absolutely helps you make smarter decisions before things escalate.

How to figure out your cause and the signs that actually matter

Once you realize how many pathways can lead to alopecia, the next panic-inducing thought usually hits fast: Okay…but which one is mine?

Take a breath, girl. There are real, recognizable patterns that point you in the right direction—no medical degree required.

Here’s how to read what your hair is telling you.

Look at where the thinning starts

Different causes leave different “maps” on your scalp.

• Top or crown thinning: often hormonal or genetic
• Round, smooth patches: autoimmune activity like alopecia areata
• Shedding from all over: usually stress-related or nutrient-based
• Breakage instead of fallout: heat, color or styling tension
• Hairline stress: tight styles, extensions or traction alopecia

Your part, hairline, and shower drain are basically sending clues—you just need to translate them.

Pay attention to timing

Hair loss rarely happens at random. Something usually came first.

Think back 2–3 months.

That’s the typical delay before shedding shows up.

Common triggers include:

• A major stress event
• Illness
• Switching birth control
• Having a baby
• Beginning strict diet
• Surgery
• Sudden weight changes

If the timing lines up, you already have your first hint.

Check your scalp’s vibe (but not with your nails)

The scalp gives away a lot:

• Redness or flakes? → likely inflammation
• Burning or soreness? → tension or irritation
• Itching? → dryness, imbalance, or dermatitis
• No symptoms at all? → often hormonal or genetic

Your follicles react to the environment they live in. A stressed-out scalp usually equals stressed-out hair.

Think about recent habits

Sometimes the cause isn’t internal, it’s something you’ve been doing without realizing it.

Ask yourself:

• Been bleaching more?
• Using hot tools without protectant?
• Wearing tight ponytails or buns?
• Trying new supplements?
• Wearing extensions recently?

Hair is strong, but it still has limits. Repeated tension or heat eventually catches up.

When in doubt, your bloodwork will tell the truth

The top deficiencies linked to female hair loss are:

• Iron/ferritin
• Vitamin D
• Zinc
• B vitamins
• Protein intake
  

If you’re constantly fatigued, cold, dizzy, breaking out, or your nails feel weak—your body might be hinting the issue isn’t “just hair.”

 

When everything feels confusing (because hair loss rarely feels simple)

If you’ve made it this far and still can’t pinpoint what’s actually behind your shedding, please know this is normal. Female hair loss is layered, emotional and—frustratingly—rarely caused by one single thing. You can check every symptom list on the internet and still feel like nothing adds up.

And that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

Here’s the truth no one says out loud enough:

Hair loss in women deserves real medical attention, not guesswork. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, unsure or your shedding is accelerating, that’s the moment to loop in a dermatologist or your primary doctor. Bloodwork, scalp analysis and professional eyes can spot things you absolutely cannot see on your own.

You don’t need to be your own detective.

But while you’re figuring out the “why,” you still deserve to feel good in your hair.

If you’re in that messy in-between phase—the waiting rooms, the patch tests, the “maybe try this” advice—this is exactly where our toppers shine. At The Lauren Ashtyn Collection, we create full-coverage and light-coverage toppers that blend in seamlessly and help you feel like you again while the deeper causes get sorted out. We even offer lace front wigs for babes who want total coverage without sacrificing movement or realism.

We’re not here to push a quick fix—we’re here because this is our specialty, and honestly? We’re pretty darn good at it 😉