The latest hyperbolic headlines surrounding GLP-1s are that people taking the weight loss drugs are going to lose their hair.
We're seeing shouty headlines proclaim hair loss as a side effect of weight loss drugs, but as with so many attention-grabbing articles about GLP-1s, these headlines are designed to inject fear into users rather than be actually useful, and as a beauty editor I am really, really fed up with it.
Why do weight loss drugs cause hair loss?
The reason someone on weight loss drugs might lose their hair isn't down to the drugs themselves. It can actually be attributed to the rapid weight loss caused by injecting GLP-1s (and taking the new pills), as well as the nutritional changes users of Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic go through.
© Getty ImagesFor a quick science lesson from someone who was notoriously bad at science at school – when we eat less (as someone taking a weight loss drug will, due to appetite suppression), there are fewer nutrients in the body.
Our hair is the last part of us to receive nutrients and the first to be withheld from, so any beneficial nutrients consumed will go to the bodily functions that need them most, meaning few are left for hair – hence the thinning you might see. Trichologist Hannah Gaboardi, who has over 15 years of experience in the industry, explains it better than I do, noting: "Hair growth is considered non-essential, so the body may redirect energy away from the hair growth process, causing more hair follicles to enter the resting phase."
Cast your mind back to Covid times (I know, I'd rather not think about it either). Lots of people lost hair after catching Coronavirus, and that was for a similar reason - the stress on the body meant hair was the last thing on its mind to nourish. HELLO!'s Head of Beauty, Cassie Steer experienced the same affliction this year after having the flu.
An expert's take on weight loss and hair loss
For a hair expert's explainer, trichologist Eva Proudman, who works with Absolute Collagen and has over two decades of experience in the trichology industry, shared her thoughts with HELLO!.
Widely recognised as one of the UK's leading experts on hair loss, thinning, shedding, and scalp diseases, Eva eloquently explains: "When you lose weight quickly, your body doesn't have time to adjust, and this can trigger a sudden imbalance to the growing and shedding cycle called telogen effluvium."
© Getty ImagesSofia Baig, Lead Trichologist at haircare brand MONPURE, confirms: "A significant calorie deficit or restrictive diet means the body lacks key nutrients such as protein, iron and zinc, which disrupts the normal hair growth cycle. The result is increased shedding which often appears two to three months after the initial weight loss."
Eva says that she's seeing more patients than ever in her clinic experiencing hair shedding during weight loss, explaining that telogen effluvium sees hair follicles shift into a resting phase, causing noticeable shedding months later.
The good news? The condition is temporary and easily remedied. The obvious solution would be to stop taking the drugs, get your nutrient levels back up, and as a result, see your hair return to its usual thickness.
If stopping the drug isn't an option, but you want to work to preserve your hair, there are whole haircare ranges targeted to this new phenomenon as well as supplements.
For example, Absolute Collagen's Sculpt Pro, available at Boots, has an ingredients line-up including collagen, iron, zinc, biotin, B-vitamins, and vitamin D to help keep hair follicles in the growth phase and reduce shedding. It was co-developed with women on weight-loss programmes, so was created with weight-loss-related issues in mind.
Hannah Gaboardi, who works with haircare brand Calecim (who sell an incredible hair serum which stimulates hair growth by activating the hair follicles), says to look for supplements with ingredients such as protein, iron, zinc, biotin, vitamins A and E, and omega-3 fatty acids, as these are essential for maintaining healthy hair growth, strength, and texture. "Protein, in particular, is a building block for hair, and its deficiency can lead to hair thinning and loss. Iron, on the other hand, supports the delivery of oxygen to hair follicles, while zinc aids in hair tissue repair. Biotin is crucial for keratin production, a protein that forms the structure of hair."
For hair care, try Philip Kingsley's Density Collection, which was designed to reduce shedding, protect hair density and support healthy hair growth through a combination of scalp treatments and thickening products.
We also rate Monpure's Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum, £83. It uses pumpkin seed extract, which blocks the production of DHT, a major hair loss offender. The unique formula also contains vitamin A and lactic acid to decongest follicles and promote healthy hair growth.
