Tigress Botanicals

Hair is more than something you style—it’s a mirror of your inner health. When you notice shedding, thinning, or a shift in texture, it’s often your hormones sending signals. The main players include:

Cortisol (the stress hormone)

Thyroid hormones (T3 & T4)

Estrogen and Progesterone balance

DHT (dihydrotestosterone)

Each of these can influence the hair growth cycle. Because hormones are interconnected, imbalances often show up in several ways at once. The good news? Herbal allies can help restore balance and create the inner environment hair needs to thrive.

🌿 Calm Cortisol & Stress Hormones

Why it matters: Chronic stress pushes follicles from the growth phase (anagen) into the shedding phase (telogen). It also increases scalp inflammation and drains progesterone.

Action Steps & Herbal Allies:

Ashwagandha: A powerful adaptogen shown to lower cortisol while gently supporting thyroid balance—two crucial factors for hair resilience. You can try it as a daily capsule or tincture

Rhodiola: Restores cellular energy and reduces burnout, helping the adrenals bounce back and stabilize hormone rhythms. It’s especially useful if hair loss is paired with fatigue or brain fog.

Holy Basil (Tulsi): Calms cortisol and balances blood sugar, reducing hormonal swings that destabilize follicles. A Tulsi tea or supplement is a gentle way to start (this blend is lovely).

Reishi Mushroom: Not only helps the body adapt to stress, but also supports immune balance and may inhibit 5-alpha-reductase—the enzyme that converts testosterone into follicle-shrinking DHT (try this formula).

✨ Daily practice: Pair an adaptogen with 10 minutes of mindful breathing, yoga, or tai chi to lower cortisol and calm the nervous system.

🌿 Support Thyroid Health

Why it matters: The thyroid sets your metabolic pace, and hair follicles are extremely sensitive to its fluctuations.

Action Steps:

Get labs: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and antibodies if possible.

Nutrient support: Selenium (from Brazil nuts), iodine (from seaweed), and zinc all support thyroid hormone conversion. A thyroid-support blend like this one can help fill gaps. Focus on gut health with probiotics and fiber, since a healthy gut improves thyroid hormone activation.

🌿 Balance Estrogen & Progesterone

Why it matters: Estrogen keeps hair in growth mode, while progesterone helps balance estrogen and reduce excess DHT activity.

Action Steps:

Seed Cycling: Pumpkin + flax in the first half of your cycle, sunflower + sesame in the second half. Interested in learning more? Here is an awesome article for more information on seed cycling.

Liver Detox Support: Help clear excess estrogen with cruciferous veggies, dandelion root tea, or milk thistle (a supportive option here.)

Vitex (Chasteberry): A gentle herb that supports progesterone naturally, especially if cycles are irregular.

🌿 Reduce DHT Activity

Why it matters: DHT binds to follicles and shrinks them, leading to thinning along the crown and part line.

Action Steps & Herbal Allies:

Saw Palmetto (classic for blocking 5-alpha-reductase). Available as capsules or tincture (see this option).

Nettle Root & Spearmint Tea: Gently help lower androgens.

Reishi Mushroom & Green Tea Extract: Both have DHT-modulating activity.

Topical Herbs: Use rosemary essential oil in a carrier oil 2–3x weekly, or a scalp serum with caffeine and botanicals (like this).

✨ Try a pumpkin seed oil scalp massage 2–3x per week for a natural way to inhibit DHT and improve circulation.

🌿 Feed & Protect Your Follicles

Why it matters: Follicles are some of the most energy-demanding cells in the body, needing constant nutrition.

Action Steps:

Iron: Aim to keep ferritin above 70 ng/mL. Iron-rich foods or supplements paired with vitamin C boost absorption.

B Vitamins & Biotin: Essential for keratin production.

Vitamin D: Optimize levels between 40–70 ng/mL for healthy cycles.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: From flax, chia, walnuts, or fish oil to calm scalp inflammation.

Protein: 20–30 g per meal. Collagen powder is an easy add-in to smoothies or coffee.

✨ Don’t forget external care: scalp massage, gentle exfoliation, and botanical oils (like jojoba or argan) protect follicles and improve circulation.

🌟 Putting It All Together

Healing hair loss takes patience—follicles work in slow cycles, so consistency is key.

Start small:

Add one adaptogen like Ashwagandha or Reishi.

Support your thyroid with iodine-rich seaweed.

Try a scalp massage with rosemary oil or pumpkin seed oil.

Over 3–6 months, these steps build on each other, helping not just your hair—but your energy, mood, and vitality.