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Choosing shampoo · 4 min read

Does Switching Shampoo Cause Hair Loss? What to Know Before Choosing the Right Shampoo

Did shedding increase after a new shampoo? The timing of hair loss, what a shampoo really changes and what to look for on the label.

Does Switching Shampoo Cause Hair Loss? What to Know Before Choosing the Right Shampoo

Shedding runs behind the clock

Widespread shedding becomes visible on average 3–4 months after its trigger (Malkud, 2015). Shedding noticed a few days after switching shampoo is usually the result of a cause months earlier or of the seasonal cycle (Kunz et al., 2009).

What a shampoo really changes

Shampoo changes the environment of the scalp. In a randomised study, using a shampoo for 12 weeks changed the scalp’s microbiome and lipid profile (Li et al., 2025). In other words, the shampoo you choose affects the balance on your scalp every day.

Harsh cleansers can dry out and sensitise the scalp; on a dried-out scalp, itching and flaking increase.

What to look for on the label

Type of cleanser: gentle cleansers free of SLS and SLES put less strain on the barrier (Löffler and Happle, 2003). pH: of 123 shampoos measured, 61.8% had a pH above 5.5; an alkaline pH can increase friction and breakage along the hair shaft (Gavazzoni Dias et al., 2014). Ingredients: a moisture-supporting formula free of alcohol and parabens.

Thinning in women and men

Thinning is not only a men’s issue: over the age of 80, thinning on the mid-front scalp is seen in 57% of women and 73.5% of men (Gan and Sinclair, 2005). In a clinic study in Turkey, male-pattern thinning was found in 67.1% of men and 23.9% of women (Salman et al., 2017).

A shampoo does not change a genetic predisposition. But a prebiotic formula that cleanses without weighing the scalp down and supports microbiome balance leaves the roots light, so hair looks fuller and livelier.

Frequently asked

Is there an adjustment period with a new shampoo?

The scalp may take a few weeks to adapt to a new routine. In studies of microbiome-focused shampoos, changes were measured at 4 weeks.

Sources

  1. Malkud (2015). Telogen Effluvium: A Review. J Clin Diagn Res. PubMed ↗
  2. Kunz et al. (2009). Seasonality of hair shedding in healthy women complaining of hair loss. Dermatology. PubMed ↗
  3. Li et al. (2025). The effects of caffeine and adenosine on the microbiome and lipidome of the scalp. Int J Cosmet Sci. PubMed ↗
  4. Löffler & Happle (2003). Profile of irritant patch testing with detergents: sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate and alkyl polyglucoside. Contact Dermatitis. PubMed ↗
  5. Gavazzoni Dias et al. (2014). The Shampoo pH can Affect the Hair: Myth or Reality?. Int J Trichology. PubMed ↗
  6. Gan & Sinclair (2005). Prevalence of male and female pattern hair loss in Maryborough. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. PubMed ↗
  7. Salman et al. (2017). Frequency, severity and related factors of androgenetic alopecia in dermatology outpatient clinic: hospital-based cross-sectional study in Turkey. An Bras Dermatol. PubMed ↗