Possible Reasons Your Hair Is Dry, Brittle, and Falling Out
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Why Your Hair Is Dry and Falling Out and How to Fix It

Why Your Hair Is Dry and Falling Out and How to Fix It
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Updated on September 25, 2025
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If your hair feels like straw and is falling out, you might jump to conclusions about your health. But don’t panic: A number of things can cause dry, brittle hair that sheds easily, and some are fairly simple to fix.

Chronic dry hair can fray and break more easily, contributing to hair loss, says Mary Stevenson, MD, a dermatologist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. But it’s also possible to have dry hair that’s not falling out or hair that’s falling out but not dry.

Here’s what might be going on:

Poor Hair Care

The way you style and care for your hair may result in dry or thinning locks. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), things that can damage your hair include:

  • Harsh shampoos
  • Hot oil treatments
  • At-home coloring, chemical straightening, perming, and relaxing treatments
  • Overuse of flat irons, curling irons, blow-dryers, or hot combs
  • Tight hairstyles
  • Rough combing

How to Fix It

Be gentle. “Too much traction and pulling on hair can cause permanent thinning,” Dr. Stevenson says.

Other good hair care practices the AAD and Stevenson recommend to help keep hair healthy include:

  • Using a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt to dry hair with less friction, then blow-drying on low heat or air-drying the rest of the way
  • Limiting sun exposure (wear a hat on bright, sunny days)
  • Using conditioner after every shampoo, and generally shampooing less
  • Using a wide-toothed comb to gently detangle wet hair

Older Age

Getting older, combined with genetics, can cause dry hair and hair loss that may not be preventable.

Your hair and skin may get drier as you get older because the body produces less sebum, the oil that keeps hair and skin hydrated, over time, according to UCLA Health.

Balding, or androgenetic alopecia, also known as pattern alopecia, typically affects more males than females. According to MedlinePlus, more than half of all males have some hair loss by the time they’re 50.

How to Fix It

Over-the-counter topical minoxidil applied to the scalp daily, as well as prescription medications from your dermatologist, can help. “Topicals and oral medications and anti-androgens can be used to treat both female and male pattern variations,” Stevenson says.

Wigs, hair extensions, and surgical hair transplants are also possibilities when hair is dry and falling out to help diminish the appearance of baldness.

Stress

Emotional or physical stress can cause you to lose a large amount of hair in a short period, according to Cleveland Clinic, although it typically won’t dry out your hair.

The medical term for this type of stress-induced hair loss is telogen effluvium. You may notice clumps or large handfuls when you brush, wash, or run your fingers through your hair.

Certain stressful events that can lead to hair shedding include:

  • A death of a loved one
  • Severe infection
  • Job loss
  • Major surgery
  • Rapid weight loss

How to Fix It

Try to be patient. Know that after this particularly stressful period is over, your hair should eventually grow back. Your doctor may suggest medications or supplements that can speed the process.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Not getting enough of certain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients can lead to dry hair or hair loss.

According to the AAD, you need adequate amounts of protein, iron, zinc, and biotin for healthy hair. However, getting too much vitamin A or selenium can cause your hair to fall out.

How to Fix It

A balanced diet can correct hair loss and dry hair due to poor nutrition. Supplements can address any nutrient deficiencies that remain. See your doctor if you think you might be lacking a specific nutrient.

For thicker hair, Stevenson recommends eating an assortment of fruits and vegetables to ensure you’re getting all nutrients.

While biotin supplements are marketed for hair growth, the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements warns there’s little scientific evidence to support this — unless you have a biotin deficiency, which is very rare.

Biotin can alter some lab results, so it’s important to let your doctor know before you start biotin supplements.

Hormone Changes

A decrease in estrogen levels that typically happens during menopause or after having a baby can increase hair loss, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Hair loss after pregnancy is usually temporary, while hair loss after menopause may be permanent.

How to Fix It

Go easy on your hair in the postpartum period. This means gentle shampooing, wearing your hair down, and skipping chemical treatments.

Johns Hopkins Medicine points out that pregnancy hormones often give you thicker hair. Your growth pattern will probably go back to normal when your hormone levels do, within 6 or 12 months.

You might also check in with your doctor to see whether there’s another hormone condition causing dry, brittle hair, like a thyroid problem.

If you’re bothered by thinning hair after menopause, treat it gently, and talk to your doctor about treatment options.

Medical Conditions

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss all over the body. In addition, certain conditions can affect hair growth and texture, according to the AAD and NYU Langone Health, including:

  • Hypothyroidism
  • Lupus
  • Syphilis
  • Ringworm or other scalp infections
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

How to Fix It

We lose about 100 hairs a day, says Mayo Clinic, so some hair loss is normal. But get help from your doctor if you’re worried about your strands.

“Definitely seek out a board-certified dermatologist if you think your hair is falling out, shedding excessively, or thinning,” urges Stevenson. They can help diagnose the cause and direct you to treatment for any underlying condition.

Certain Medications

Some medications may contribute to dry hair, hair loss, or both, according to Mayo Clinic, including those used to treat:

  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Gout
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure

How to Fix It

Never stop taking a prescribed medication without talking to your doctor. Let them know about your symptoms. They may be able to prescribe an alternative drug or offer solutions to help with the side effects.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
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Oyetewa Asempa, MD, FAAD

Medical Reviewer

Dr. Oyetewa Asempa is an assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine, and the director of the Skin of Color Clinic for Baylor's department of dermatology. She was born and raised in Atlanta and then went on to graduate summa cum laude from Howard University in Washington, DC.

She completed her medical training at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, during which time she also completed a year of research at the National Institutes of Health. She completed her internship at George Washington University, and then her residency training at the Harvard dermatology program, where she served as chief resident in her final year.

She specializes in hair loss and scalp disorders, as well as pigmentary disorders in patients of color. She has spoken at multiple national conferences. Outside of medicine, she enjoys writing short stories, as well as writing and performing spoken word poetry.

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Jennifer Kelly Geddes

Author

Jennifer Kelly Geddes is a New York City-based freelance writer and editor, who covers health, wellness, pregnancy, and parenting. She has held positions at Food & Wine, Parenting, Seventeen, and Airbnb magazines and was a research editor at Parenting for more than a decade. Jennifer has also worked as a research editor for Kiwi, Scholastic Parent & Child, Dr. Oz: The Good Life, Modern Farmer, CR Fashion Book, V, VMan, Parents, and National Geographic Kids. She has created custom content for dozens of websites, including Care, SafeBee, Fisher-Price, Mastercard, the National Sleep Foundation, Realtor, Working Mother, Grandparents, Time Out New York KIDS, Good Housekeeping, and Chewy. She holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College and an MA from Columbia University. And she is the mom of two teen girls and a rescue pup named Django. An avid tennis player, cross-country skier, and yoga enthusiast, she divides her time between West Harlem in Manhattan and Ghent, New York.

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