As the popularity of weight-loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro continues to soar, a growing number of clients are bringing a new concern into the salon chair: hair thinning and sudden shedding.
These medications, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but their appetite-suppressing effects have led to widespread use for medical weight loss.
While the aesthetic transformation can be dramatic, many users are now reporting side effects related to hair health. Hair professionals are increasingly finding themselves on the front line of these conversations.
Hair loss expert and GLOWWA Ambassador Krysia West explains, “GLP-1 medications work by mimicking a hormone that affects blood sugar levels, insulin production and appetite. As a result, many users experience significant weight loss. While that’s a positive outcome for many, rapid weight loss – whether from medication, dieting or surgery – can sometimes trigger a condition called telogen effluvium, where more hairs than usual enter the shedding phase.”
This form of hair loss, triggered by physiological stress on the body, typically causes diffuse shedding and volume reduction. “Nutritional deficiencies, hormonal shifts and stress (all of which can accompany medical weight loss) can exacerbate the issue,” she adds. “We’re seeing this more and more in salons and among our wider professional community.”
Consultant Dermatologist and Trichologist Dr Sharon Wong is also seeing a sharp rise in Ozempic-related hair complaints at her clinic. “GLP-1 agonist-related hair loss is certainly on the rise as these treatments become more widely used. We are seeing patients presenting with dramatic hair shedding and subsequent volume loss,” she says. “In telogen effluvium, there is a disturbance in the hair cycle leading to more hairs shifting prematurely from the growing phase into the shedding phase.”
Dr Wong notes that while the medications are relatively new, the precise cause remains under investigation. “It’s not yet clear whether the hair loss is purely due to rapid weight loss causing calorific withdrawal from hair follicle cells, or if the medication itself plays a more direct role.”
What is Telogen Effluvium?
Telogen effluvium is a common type of temporary hair loss triggered by physiological stressors such as illness, surgery, emotional stress or, increasingly, rapid weight loss due to medications. It often leads to diffuse shedding, typically noticed around two to three months after the triggering event.
While telogen effluvium is usually reversible, the emotional impact can be significant, especially for clients unprepared for the change.
One of the challenges is that telogen effluvium tends to appear a few months after the initial trigger, making it difficult for clients to identify the cause.
Dr Wong adds, “At this stage, it isn’t certain if the hair loss later settles when the weight stabilises, or whether reducing the medication dose has any impact. Topical treatments containing Minoxidil can help to stabilise the hair cycle, while physical therapies such as Tricopat – which delivers growth factors to the follicles – can also be beneficial. However, if the medication is still being taken, treatments may be less effective.”
How Hair Professionals Can Help
-
Provide reassurance: Let clients know they’re not alone. This type of hair loss is common and often temporary.
-
Educate with empathy: Explain the possible link between rapid weight loss and hair shedding, and encourage clients to speak with their healthcare provider.
-
Suggest nutritional support: Krysia recommends a targeted supplement. “Personally I advise a hair supplement, like GLOWWA, which delivers a powerful combination of nutrients that support healthy hair growth and overall wellbeing.”
-
Follow up: Regular check-ins can help monitor progress and make clients feel supported through the process.
As the popularity of weight-loss injections continues to grow, so does the need for salon professionals to understand their wider impact. Arming yourself with the knowledge to guide and support clients experiencing hair loss ensures you remain a trusted expert, and makes all the difference to clients facing unexpected changes. Feeling inspired? Check out the hairdressers turned trichologists?
Join our DOSE x Salon International, a two-day symposium designed to educate hairdressers in hair and scalp health with sessions including common hair and scalp conditions, menopause hair, male hair loss, Ozempic hair loss and much more. Stay tuned for more details on tickets.
