Category: Scalp Health

Ozempic, Wegovy & Hair Thinning in Women: What’s Really Happening (And What You Can Do About It)

by Emmanuel
GLP-1 weight-loss injection pen beside a hand holding shedding hair, illustrating hair thinning associated with rapid weight loss.

GLP-1 weight-loss medications like Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Mounjaro® have changed lives. But as more women begin or complete their weight-loss journeys, one unexpected concern keeps coming up:

“Why am I losing hair?”

Hair thinning is not an official side effect of GLP-1 drugs, but that does not mean it is not happening. In fact, many women notice:

  • Extra shedding in the shower
  • A widening part
  • Thinner ponytails
  • More visible scalp
  • Hair that feels weaker or grows back finer

The good news: Most GLP-1–related hair loss is indirect and often reversible. But in some cases, thinning can progress into visible loss that benefits from early intervention or cosmetic solutions.

Let’s break down why it happens and what you can do to protect and restore your hair.

Can Stress Hormones Like Cortisol Cause Hair Loss? Here’s What Really Happens to Your Scalp

by Emmanuel

Close-up of a woman gently touching her scalp, symbolizing stress-related scalp sensitivity caused by elevated cortisol levels. The image represents how chronic stress hormones can affect scalp health and hair growth.

Most people understand that stress can affect their body — tight shoulders, poor sleep, or changes in appetite — but few realize it can also impact the scalp.
We see this connection every day. When cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) remains elevated for too long, it can disrupt the normal function of the scalp and hair follicles.

Cortisol is essential in short bursts — it helps your body respond to immediate challenges. But when life stress becomes chronic, so does cortisol. That imbalance changes how your body distributes energy and nutrients, leading to scalp irritation, shedding, and weaker regrowth over time.

Let’s explore exactly how this happens — and how a trichological scalp analysis can help restore balance and healthier hair.

Does Alcohol Cause Hair Loss? Understanding the Real Connection Between Drinking and Hair Health

by Emmanuel
close-up of a man washing his hair in the shower, symbolizing healthy scalp care and prevention of hair lossWhen most people think about hair loss, alcohol doesn’t usually make the list of causes. But while alcohol itself doesn’t directly cause hair loss, the effects it has on your body — from disrupting sleep to depleting nutrients — can absolutely affect the health of your scalp and hair. Let’s explore what’s really happening beneath the surface.

1. Stress and Cortisol: The Hidden Connection

Stress is one of the most common internal triggers of hair loss. According to Harvard Health, elevated cortisol levels can push hair follicles into a resting phase — a process known as telogen effluvium — where shedding occurs more easily. When this happens repeatedly, it can lead to visible thinning across the scalp. High stress also disrupts hormone balance and scalp oil production, often resulting in increased itch, dandruff, or inflammation that further weakens hair growth.

What to Expect During a Trichological Scalp Treatment

by Emmanuel

Professional stylist applying a scalp treatment with a dropper to a female client in a high-end Cleveland salon, highlighting trichology and scalp health services.

Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp. If you’re searching for a Trichological Scalp Treatment in Cleveland, you may be wondering what really happens during the process. Our treatments go beyond basic salon care to restore balance, improve scalp health, and protect the hair you have. Just like your skin benefits from a facial, your scalp benefits from this customized, restorative care.

But here’s what makes the difference: Trichological Scalp Treatments are not “one-size-fits-all,” nor should they be self-diagnosed. Every guest begins with a ScalpCheck®, which allows our trained team to identify the root causes of your scalp concerns and build a customized treatment protocol.

At Jeffrey Paul’s Hair & Scalp Specialists in Cleveland, we believe your journey begins with knowledge—and continues with a plan that’s unique to you.

Step-by-Step: What Happens in the Center

Why Is My Scalp So Itchy? A Trichologist Breaks It Down

by Emmanuel

Woman scratching her itchy scalp with a frustrated expression, text overlay reads “got itch?”—visual concept for blog post about oily scalp and scalp inflammation.

Got Itchy Scalp? It Might Not Be What You Think

Think it’s dryness or dandruff? The real culprit is likely excess oil—and your current routine may actually be making it worse.

If your scalp itches, your first thought is probably, “It must be dry.”
You might reach for conditioner, scalp oils, or even Head & Shoulders—only to find it gets worse.

Here’s the thing: most itchy scalps aren’t dry. They’re oily.

And that “itch” you’re feeling? It’s often inflammation from oil buildup—not a lack of moisture. As trichologists, we see this every day. Understanding the real cause is the first step toward relief.

Is a heat protectant important for my hair?

by Emmanuel

Is a heat protectant important for my hair?Heat Protectant Vital for Hair, We are in the middle of summer, which means sun, pool, and lots of ice cream cones! No one likes a melted ice cream cone, but it is replaceable, but when it comes to melted hair that’s permanent. It raises the question, Do you need a heat protectant for your hair?

In today’s world, sunscreen is a must for anyone who wants to go out in the sun. Sunscreen keeps the skin protected against the heat of the sun. In the same way, you should never…NEVER… place heat on hair without some form of heat protectant. In a sense, heat protectants are hair’s sunscreen for blow dryers and hot tools. Without them, your hair risks being damaged.

Blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons can be dangerous sources of heat for hair because they have the potential to burn the hair and strip away its natural oils and moisture. This can make hair dry, brittle, and even more prone to breakage.

By coating the hair shaft with a protective layer, heat <span data-issueid="a7ea571f-c49c-4a03-8a98-95675d6dd0f3" aria-label="open issue for the following text protectants work to prevent the heat” data-testid=”issue-underline:protectants prevent heat”>protectants prevent the heat from penetrating the hair and damaging the inner structure. The use of heat protectants can also help to keep the hair healthy and prevent breakage by sealing in moisture.

Here are some of the benefits of using heat protectant:

Is Conditioner Bad For Hair?

by Emmanuel

conditioner hair loss

Most people believe conditioner is a harmless product for their hair. This is true – unless the product is misused.

How Does Conditioner Cause Hair Loss In Your Growing Hair?

Properly using any product is key to achieving the desired results, but it is the incorrect use of a product that can have undesirable effects. Conditioner is specifically designed to be used on the mid-shafts to ends of hair, where hair is most damaged and in need of the most moisture. Most people are applying conditioner very similar to how they apply shampoo. This means that the conditioner is getting directly onto the scalp, and this, in combination with improper rinsing, can lead to build-up and long-term hair loss. Why is that? Because most conditioners have some form of oil in them, so if you already have a problem with oily hair or an oily scalp, adding the conditioner onto the scalp can only contribute more to the issue of excessive oiliness and lead to some very undesirable effects such as:

  1. Scalp itch
  2. Oily dandruff
  3. Excessive hair shedding

3 Keys To Proper Conditioner Use

  1. Emulsify the conditioner – After squirting the conditioner into your wet hands, and BEFORE placing it onto hair, rub the product together in your hands, emulsifying the product before working it through the mid-shafts to ends.

 

  1. Less is more – You don’t need a lot! We repeat! You DON’T need a lot. Remember you are only placing conditioner on the mid-shafts of your hair to the ends. If your hair is 8-10” long, you really only need about a nickle sized amount of conditioner. You can always add a little more, but more is not always better.

 

  1. Mid-Shafts to ends – The first 2-3 inches of your growing hair is the healthiest hair. That hair is not in need of extra moisture. Focus your conditioner use on the mid-shaft (middle of hair) to the ends as this is where hair needs the most help. An easy way to do this if you have long hair is to pull hair over one shoulder and gently massage it into the hair from mid-shaft to ends.

How Does Conditioner Cause Hair Loss In Your Hair Addition?

In the video above, we show the inside of an actual hair addition. The white spots that are seen on the inside is the build-up of conditioner that has been placed at the base of the hair addition instead of ONLY at the mid-shaft to ends. Conditioner should NEVER be used at the base of the hair addition.

When conditioner gets onto the nylon base of a hair addition, it begins to build up, and because it is almost impossible to get the conditioner out once built up, it ultimately causes hair loss in three ways:

  1. When the conditioner is wet and built up at the base, it can cause the hand-tied knots to become loose or slip, causing normal brushing to cause hair to come out at the knot.
  2. When the conditioner gets into the base of hair addition and then becomes dry and hardens, it can cause the hair to break over normal brushing or styling.
  3. Then there is the dreaded itch! Conditioner is defiantly not good for the scalp. It contributes to excessive oil on the scalp, and excessive oil is the #1 cause of itch. Often times the white areas in the video are exactly where the guest is itching, and that is exactly where they begin to notice holes or missing hair in their hair addition.

Discover the Health of Your Hair & Scalp

Statistics show 84% of women and 58% of men use conditioner. Are you using conditioner?  Do you have hair shedding,  oily hair/scalp, itch, or dandruff? Maybe you are using conditioner the wrong way. Or maybe there is more to the health of your hair and scalp.

Our exclusive ScalpCheck gives you an in-depth analysis designed to help determine the health of your hair and scalp. This allows us to customize a hair and scalp care protocol based on your specific needs. Ultimately treating sleep-related hair scalp problems and helping you have beautiful, healthy hair and scalp for years to come.

hairscalp

Can A Lack of Sleep Affect Hair Loss?

by Emmanuel

Can a good night of sleep help prevent hair loss and ultimately create healthier hair?

The importance of sleep for our health cannot be overstated. In addition to improving our physical and mental health, a good night’s rest aids in enhancing our moods, creating a healthier heart, controlling weight, and strengthening our immune systems. Consistent sleep patterns can also make all the difference between having healthy hair or continuing to lose it.

Here are two main ways sleep directly affects our hair:

Did Covid Cause My Hair Loss?

by Emmanuel

There has been an influx of hair loss after testing positive for Covid. We help answer the big question…

 

November through January, the United States had an incredible resurgence of Covid cases. Since then, there has been an increased awareness of individuals claiming that after testing positive for Covid, they see thinner hair, increased shedding, and a change in hair texture or feel. So is there a direct correlation between testing positive for Covid and experiencing hair loss?

The answer is not an easy one.

The direct answer is no. Hair loss has not been directly linked as a side effect of having Covid, nor has it been listed as a symptom of Covid. That said, experiencing hair loss after testing positive for Covid is happening, but not the way we think. It is not Covid that is causing hair loss, but rather the stress that Covid places on the body, in combination with the already increased levels of daily stress that everyone is currently facing. This is known as Telogen Effluvium.

 

Stress affects the body in many ways – One way is hair loss.

Does Holiday Stress Cause Hair Loss?

by Emmanuel

The holidays are a special time of year, but the stress they can add may increase hair shedding. Is this normal or a sign that points to more significant problems?

The holidays are fast approaching, and along with them come the joys of the season like glad tidings, great food, and time spent with family & friends. Unfortunately, one unforeseen effect of the holiday season is the added stress that they can cause, and for some individuals, this can lead to stress-related hair loss.

Stress can be one of the hairs’ biggest enemies. They explain that as our body reacts to stress, our adrenal glands produce cortisol, AKA “the stress hormone.” Individuals in a constant state of stress may have chronically elevated cortisol levels, leading to health issues like adrenal fatigue. A fatigued adrenal gland does not work as efficiently and can alter the production of other hormones, like DHT.  Increased DHT levels directly affect hair follicles and their growth cycle, even leading to hair loss.

Do I Need A Trichologist or A Dermatologist?

by Emmanuel

Trichologist near me

A commonly asked question we hear is, “What is the difference between a trichologist and a dermatologist, and do I need a trichologist?” To answer this question, we must first look at what Trichology is and the difference between a dermatologist and a trichologist.

 

What is Trichology?

Trichology is the scientific study of hair, hair loss, and scalp problems. Trichology was first recognized as a para-medical or non-physician discipline in Britain in 1902.

Nearly a century later, Trichology is being recognized & practiced in the United States. Trichology is commonly thought of as a branch between cosmetology and dermatology.

Spring Hair Shedding

by Emmanuel

Spring is here – flowers and trees are beginning to bloom, but your hair might be starting to fall. Is this normal seasonal hair shedding or a sign that points to more significant problems?

As the winter comes to an end and the spring months fast approach, so too does seasonal hair shedding. Seeing more hairs than usual on your hairbrush, on the bathroom floor, or in the shower can leave the average man or woman in a bit of a panic. Is this kind of hair loss typical? Should you be concerned?

We shed an average of 80 to 100 hairs every day. This is considered normal, healthy hair shedding. These hairs that are shed are not lost. Instead, they are going through a cycle of growth, transition, and then rest, when hairs release and are shed, before the process repeats. During certain times of the year, you may notice an increase in shedding, especially in the late fall months. This common phenomenon is known as seasonal shedding.

The exact cause of seasonal shedding is unclear, but studies show that seasonal loss affects more women than men and occurs most often during the spring months, like April and May, and sometimes in the fall, September and October.

If you have been properly maintaining your hair and scalp, seasonal shedding usually is not a cause for concern. With time, shedding should stabilize back to normal daily levels, and average hair growth will continue. However, if you have not been correctly caring for your hair and scalp’s specific needs, you could be experiencing symptoms similar to seasonal shedding, which can lead to long-term hair loss.

Which Shampoo Prevents Hair Loss?

by Emmanuel


It’s a question we hear all the time! You begin noticing more hair than usual collecting in your shower drain or bathroom floor. Or maybe your hair has lost volume or your ponytail has gotten noticeably smaller. You begin to worry, try to figure out what is going on and how you can prevent further hair loss and ultimately get your hair back. The answer must be that the shampoo you are using isn’t the right one and so the obvious next step… “Hey Google – Which shampoo prevents hair loss?”

Thousands of products begin to fill your screen and you are left with determining which is best for you? Which shampoo has the best model with the hair that looks just like you want yours to look? Which shampoo makes the most enticing claims to restore hair that has been lost?

We are here to answer the question once and for all – Which shampoo prevents hair loss?

Does Covid-19 Cause Hair Loss?

by Emmanuel

We can all agree that 2020 has been a crazy year! More and more individuals are complaining of an increase in hair loss and hair shedding. Due to the increased numbers of people being infected by Covid-19 and the addition of potential symptoms related to Covid-19, the question now becomes – “Does Covid-19 cause hair loss?”

The answer – no…but also Yes!

Huh?!? That doesn’t make much sense. So are you saying, “No, Covid-19 doesn’t cause hair loss, or yes, it does?

We are saying both. No, hair loss is not a direct symptom of Covid-19. However, over the last six months, we have seen a record number of job losses, increased medication usage, poor diets, and decreased physical activity, all of which have contributed to an unprecedented level of stress due to the onset of Covid-19. This increased level of stress from Covid-19 is now significantly contributing to individuals noticing increased shedding in the shower drain, bathroom floor, or brush.

To help you better understand how the increased levels of stress from Covid-19 affect our hair, we must first understand the basics of hair growth.

Do You Have 5 Minutes to Treat Your Hair Loss?

by Emmanuel

 

Hair loss is one of the biggest contributors to stress in our culture, with the most common cause of hair loss being hereditary hair loss. Individuals with hereditary hair loss experience what is called miniaturization of hair. Miniaturization occurs when the hair follicle shrinks in size causing the individual hairs to become smaller and finer. Causes of miniaturization include but are not limited to

stress, DHT, and medications. If nothing is done to treat these miniaturized hairs, the follicle will go away and the hair will be lost for good.

 

Fight Back Against Miniaturized Hair

You don’t have to stand for miniaturized hair any longer thanks to TricoGlam Home! TricoGlam Home is our revolutionary new light therapy device designed to prevent and treat hair loss at home. This lightweight helmet uses 105 specialized red LED lights to fight hair miniaturization by increasing the microcirculation of blood vessels to the scalp and increasing nourishment to hair follicles. The result is revitalized hair follicles that grow faster, thicker, and healthier.

5 Minutes Daily Fights Miniaturization

TricoGlam Home is convenient and easy to use! It has a rechargeable battery that uses a USB port, similar to most Smartphone devices. Once charged, place the TricoGlam helmet on your head and the LED treatment begins – it’s as simple as wearing a hat. For best results, we recommend using TricoGlam as a part of your scalp and hair care protocol. Wear for 5 minutes per day or 20 minutes twice weekly to penetrate your scalp to stimulate growth of your existing hairs and help revitalize miniaturized hairs.

When used with the proper hair and scalp protocol the benefits of the TricoGlam Home are increased dramatically!

Want to find out more about the health of your hair and scalp? Then a ScalpCheck is where you need to begin!