Hair Shedding: Why It Happens and How Your Shower Water Could Be Making It Worse

Hair Shedding: Why It Happens and How Your Shower Water Could Be Making It Worse

Hair shedding can be one of the most confronting changes in someone’s appearance. You notice more strands in the drain. A heavier clump in the brush. A widening part. A scalp that feels irritated or tight after showering.
And suddenly, you’re thinking about it all the time.

The truth is: some shedding is normal — but certain lifestyle factors, stressors, and even what’s in your shower water can amplify it.

This guide breaks down the real causes of hair shedding, how Australians may unknowingly worsen it due to water quality, and how a filtered shower head can support healthier hair over time.

What Counts as “Normal” Hair Shedding?

Dermatologists commonly define normal daily hair shedding as 50 to 100 strands per day.
This is simply your natural hair growth cycle doing its job.

But when shedding increases — rapidly or gradually — it’s often linked to one or more underlying triggers.

According to Healthline, common causes include stress, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, scalp irritation, illness, and harsh external factors like chlorine or hard water.
(Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-loss)

The Most Common Root Causes of Hair Shedding

Here’s what typically drives noticeable hair shedding, in a way that’s factual, digestible, and not fear-based.

⭐ 1. Telogen Effluvium (Stress-Related Shedding)

One of the most common causes of sudden shedding is telogen effluvium — a temporary condition where a stressful event pushes hair follicles into the “shedding” phase of the growth cycle.

Triggers can include:

  • Emotional stress

  • Illness

  • High fever

  • Major life changes

  • Postpartum shifts

The Mayo Clinic notes that stress can temporarily disrupt normal hair cycling, increasing shedding for 2–6 months.
(Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions)

This type of shedding is reversible — but it can be emotionally overwhelming.

⭐ 2. Hormonal Changes (Including Thyroid & Postpartum)

Hormones play a significant role in hair density. Shedding can occur due to:

  • Thyroid imbalance

  • Pregnancy and postpartum shifts

  • Perimenopause/menopause

  • Hormonal contraception changes

In Australia, these are among the most common clinical reasons people seek dermatology support for hair loss.

⭐ 3. Nutritional Deficiencies

Low levels of iron, zinc, vitamin D, and protein can impact the hair growth cycle.

The Australian Government’s HealthDirect resource highlights iron deficiency as a widespread issue in women, which can directly affect hair shedding.
(Source: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/iron-deficiency)

It’s worth checking with your GP if you suspect this might be a factor — especially if you’ve been feeling fatigued.

⭐ 4. Scalp Irritation, Inflammation & Sensitivity

A scalp that feels:

  • Tight

  • Itchy

  • Dry

  • Flaky

  • Stinging after showering

…is more prone to shedding.

Inflammation around the follicle makes hair less anchored, meaning strands release more easily.

And this is where water quality can quietly impact shedding.

⭐ 5. Hard Water, Chlorine & Minerals in Your Shower Water

Many homes across Australia have hard water, high chlorine, or both.

Hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium can:

  • Build up on the scalp

  • Disrupt the skin’s moisture barrier

  • Cause dryness or irritation

  • Make hair brittle and more prone to breakage

  • Lead to heaviness at the roots that makes shedding more noticeable

Chlorine, commonly added to Australian tap water, can:

  • Strip hair of natural oils

  • Dry the scalp

  • Exacerbate sensitivity

  • Trigger itchiness that leads to more mechanical shedding

If you’re unsure about your area’s water profile, you can check it here:
→ Flowy Water Hardness Map

So… Can a Filtered Shower Head Help With Hair Shedding?

A filtered shower head can’t fix medical causes like hormonal shifts or nutritional deficiencies — and we should always be honest about that.

But:
If shedding is being amplified by scalp irritation, dryness, mineral buildup, or harsh water conditions, a high-quality filtered shower head can make a meaningful difference.

Here’s how:

✔ 1. Reduces Chlorine Exposure

Filters like Flowy’s KDF-55 + Calcium Sulfite blend are designed to reduce chlorine — a known irritant for both skin and hair.

This can help:

  • Reduce scalp tightness

  • Improve softness

  • Support a healthier hair environment

  • Lower the amount of friction that leads to shedding in the shower

✔ 2. Minimises Hard Water Effects

By reducing mineral content and sediment, filtered water can:

  • Improve scalp comfort

  • Reduce dryness and flakiness

  • Help prevent mineral buildup on hair fibres

  • Support stronger, less brittle strands

This doesn’t stop shedding at the follicle level — but it reduces breakage that people often mistake for shedding.

✔ 3. Supports a Healthier Scalp Environment

A calmer, soothed scalp reduces mechanical shedding caused by:

  • Itching

  • Overwashing

  • Product stiffness

  • Residue buildup

Many Flowy customers — including those in hard water regions like Perth, Adelaide, and regional areas — report noticeable improvements in:

  • Hair softness

  • Reduced irritation

  • Less hair coming out in the shower

Is it a cure? No.
Does it help remove the environmental stressors that worsen shedding? Yes.

And for many people, that alone feels life-changing.

When You Should See a Doctor

A filtered shower head is a supportive solution — not a replacement for medical advice.

You should speak to a GP or dermatologist if you notice:

  • Rapid, severe shedding

  • Widening part or patchy loss

  • Sudden hair texture changes

  • Scalp pain or ongoing inflammation

  • Shedding lasting longer than 4–6 months

Hair concerns are medical concerns. You deserve clarity and care.

How to Determine If Water Quality Is Affecting Your Hair

You’ll likely see these signs:

✔ Your hair feels dry or frizzy after showering
✔ Your scalp feels irritated or tight
✔ You notice residue on your shower glass
✔ Your hair looks dull despite good products
✔ You’re in a known hard-water area

You can check your exact city here:
→ Flowy Water Hardness Map

And you can take the personalised quiz to see how your water quality may be affecting your skin and hair:
→ Flowy Hair & Skin Quiz

Bringing It All Together

Hair shedding is almost always a combination of internal factors (stress, hormones, nutrition) and external stressors (water quality, scalp irritation, product buildup).

A filtered shower head can’t solve the internal causes — but it can remove the environmental triggers that make shedding worse, especially in cities with hard or highly chlorinated water.

By improving the scalp environment and reducing irritation, you give your hair its best chance to grow, recover, and feel like itself again.

If you want to learn more about how Flowy supports healthier hair, you can read about it here:
→ Flowy Filtered Shower Head

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