Discover Your GLP-1 Hair Loss Risk Level>>>

Real talk—GLP-1’s are probably the greatest thing since sliced bread, with nearly 1 out of 8 Americans currently taking a GLP-1 such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound or generics such as semaglutide or tirzepatide.

These are innovative drugs, that have been shown to be anti aging, anti-inflammatory and have numerous benefits, in addition to regulating your blood sugar, and weight loss. If you have taken the GLP leap of faith and enjoyed a lower a1c or some weight loss— congratulations!

GLP stands for glucagon-like peptide, a natural hormone that balances the blood sugar, and also changes the receptor in the brain, making the stomach feel fuller. With GLP’s the mythical calorie number that used to seem so unrealistically low, and farfetched became the exact number I was full at, without counting or thinking. It’s like your body gets a reboot to its operating system. However as more people get on these peptides they are noticing some side effects, besides nausea and quitting their online shopping habits — they are noticing hair loss.

GLP is a hormone that affects many of the other hormones in your body, some in great ways and some in not so great ways. First it mimics the natural hormone to regulate blood sugar (insulin, glucagon), slow digestion, and reduce appetite (affecting ghrelin/leptin indirectly). It also influences reproductive hormones (like testosterone/estrogen in PCOS), potentially impacting ovulation, and can affect the heart and metabolism, leading to secondary effects on overall hormonal balance, though research continues. As that happens, the appetite decreases and you lose weight, your fertility could increase, your brain is calmer, your sleep is even more restful.

The only problem is the body doesn’t understand why it is losing weight so quickly so that can shift your body into a shock of sorts sparking telogen effluvium (TE) which is a temporary shedding of hair caused by stress on the body. When your calorie and nutrient intake drops too quickly it disrupts the hair growth cycle. During telogen effluvium it is possible to lose anywhere from 30-50% of your your hair. Because your hairs shed 2-3 months after telogen ( their resting phase) it often feels confusing and sudden. The good news is that this is likely temporary and your hair can grow back— but it takes time.

You don’t necessarily notice your hair loss until it is about 3 months in and you have lost around 30-50% That is definitely a scary statistic. Though the shedding is temporary, it still lasts a few months before regrowth begins, unless you do something about it! However, you may have underlying genetic hairloss that the telogen effluvium reveals, which makes the hair loss seem permanent.

So what can you do about it. Think proactively when it comes to hair growth. If you dont want this side effect to happen to you ( or your dont feel like waiting and seeing if you will experience hair regrowth… hopefully, maybe), you can start using preventative minoxidil, an amped up version like Hair Cultivated, could be just the right answer. Also take your vitamins especially B12, Zinc. Keep eating your protein, and making sure you are getting good sleep, and utilize different modalities like red light or scalp massage to keep the scalp stimulated. Since hair growth is slow it may take up to 6 months to see a full recovery. Also during this time, your hair is ore vulnerable to breakage, so if you are using a regular over the counter minoxidil or hair growth remedy, you might encounter more loss.

We advocate for being gentle with your strands, and being proactive about any hair loss you face so that it does not become a permanent feature and you can turn it around.

Are you at risk of GLP shedding? Find Out!