The Big Lie About Stress and Hair Loss (Plus 6 Other Blatant Hair Loss Lies)

There’s no two ways about it. Hair loss sucks.

For men, about 66% of us will have at least some hair loss by the age of 35. But it’s not just a male problem. Women experience it too.

Man or woman, hair loss can be a traumatic, stressful thing to experience. The good news is that there are a lot of good treatment options out there. But we’ll talk about those in another article.

Here, we’re going to talk about a lot of the blatant lies that people tell (and many believe) about hair loss. Some of them are just old wives’ tales still told. Others are put out there by those selling hair growth treatments so they can make more money off people who believe their lies.

Whatever the case, if you want to do something about your hair loss, you have to know what’s true and what’s a bunch of malarkey. That way you can make better decisions about what to do about your hair loss. So here are 7 of the biggest lies told about hair loss…

Lie #1: You’re Losing Hair Because of Stress

Yes, it is true that there is a link between stress and hair loss. There are some who experience hair loss because of stress. However, hair loss due to stress, anxiety, or have PTSD is a SHORT term problem. Once your stress levels normalize, your hair and scalp with recover.

Lie #2: Hats Can Cause Hair Loss

Have you ever feared wearing hats because people say it can cause hair loss? Well, fret not, it’s not true. You just have to keep your hats clean. Otherwise, they could cause an infection in the scalp that could lead to hair loss. But, as long as they’re clean, wear your favorite hats as much as you want!

Lie #3: Eating Too Many Carbs Causes Hair Loss

Nope. The reality is carbs contain necessary vitamins and nourishment that your hair needs.

Lie #4: Elevated Testosterone Levels Can Cause Hair Loss

A lot of men think that their elevated testosterone levels or DHT causes hair loss. However, this is simply not the case. The sensitivity of your hair follicles are the reason for hair loss. Not DHT.

Lie #5: Shampooing Too Much Causes Hair Loss

Maybe you get freaked out if you’re washing your hair and notice some hair loss. Rest assured, shampooing your hair is not the cause. Shampooing your hair does not cause hair loss. (The only exception being a rare case where you have an allergic reaction to a shampoo.) So clean your hair as much as you want.

Lie #6: Using Hair Spray and Hair Gel Causes Hair Loss

The products themselves (so long as you use ones that have been tested and approved) don’t cause hair loss. However, too much hair primping (curling, ironing, stretching, etc.) can contribute to hair loss.

Lie #7: Everyone (Men) Goes Bald As They Age

Yes, the odds are high most men will experience hair loss as they age. However, not everyone will. There are studies that show not all seniors suffer from hair loss.

Related article: When grey or white hair turns yellow