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Life events & procedures that trigger hair shedding
Births, weaning, illness, diets, surgery, styling and the seasons: the non-drug triggers, with their sourced timing.
| Trigger | Sourced onset | Sourced duration / settling | On calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postpartum | weeks 8–10 | weeks 26–39 | Yes |
| After surgery & anaesthesia | weeks 8–16 | weeks 26–39 | Yes |
| Gastric sleeve & bariatric surgery | weeks 13–17 | weeks 37–39 | Yes |
| Stopping breastfeeding | not reliably sourced | weeks 4–26 | Yes |
| Stopping birth control | weeks 8–13 | not reliably sourced | Yes |
| COVID-19 & high fever | weeks 6–13 | not reliably sourced | Yes |
| Crash diet & fasting | weeks 8–16 | weeks 26–39 | Yes |
| Hair transplant shock loss | weeks 2–8 | not reliably sourced | Yes |
| Seasonal shedding | varies | varies | No |
| Braids & traction | varies | varies | No |
Postpartum
Postpartum shedding is commonly noticed about two months after giving birth…
ProceduresAfter surgery & anaesthesia
Hair shedding after an operation is usually telogen effluvium…
ProceduresGastric sleeve & bariatric surgery
In a study of 156 women after sleeve gastrectomy…
Life eventsStopping breastfeeding
HealthLink BC notes that…
Life eventsStopping birth control
When a woman stops oral contraceptives…
Life eventsCOVID-19 & high fever
After COVID-19…
Life eventsCrash diet & fasting
Losing 20 pounds or more is a common trigger of excessive shedding (AAD)…
ProceduresHair transplant shock loss
Shock loss (recipient-site effluvium) — shedding of native hairs around the grafts — typically occurs 2–8 weeks after surgery…
Life eventsSeasonal shedding
In a UK study of 14 men…
Life eventsBraids & traction
Traction alopecia can get better when it has only been present for a few weeks or months if the tension is stopped…