I need you to picture this: You're standing over your bathroom sink, holding a hairbrush full of what looks like a small animal. Your heart sinks. That's not just "normal shedding"—that's your confidence, your identity, your peace of mind circling the drain.
If you're here, you've probably tried the special shampoos, the growth oils, the scalp massages. You're exhausted from finding hair everywhere—on your clothes, in your food, in your baby's fist. I see you, and I need you to know: this isn't forever.
After working with hundreds of women in our Atlanta clinic, I've found that most "hair loss tips" are either too vague or completely wrong for Black hair. Here are the only three things that actually move the needle.
1. Stop Guessing About Your Iron Levels
Here's the truth that makes most women in my clinic gasp: if you're shedding, there's an 80% chance your ferritin (iron stores) are too low. And no, your annual physical didn't check this.
Most doctors only check hemoglobin—the emergency iron that keeps you alive. They don't check ferritin—the savings account your hair draws from. You can have "normal" hemoglobin but ferritin so low your hair is starving.
What to do RIGHT NOW:
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Demand a ferritin test from your doctor (not just hemoglobin).
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Know that for hair growth, we need levels above 70 ng/mL.
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Stop taking iron with coffee or tea—the tannins block absorption.
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Take your iron with Vitamin C (like our Iron Protein Plus) to actually absorb it.
I've seen women stop shedding within weeks of fixing their ferritin alone. It's that powerful.
Some tips from a Trichologist:
2. Your Scalp is Crying for Help
That tight, itchy, painful scalp? It's not normal. Inflammation is literally choking your follicles. But most of us are so focused on our strands we ignore the soil they're growing in.
What to do RIGHT NOW:
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Wash your hair weekly—yes, even with extensions or braids. Buildup creates inflammation.
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Use a scalp treatment before washing to break up buildup.
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Massage gently—don't scratch with your nails.
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Switch to silk/satin everything—bonnets, pillowcases, scrunchies.
If you're dealing with actual soreness, bumps, or redness, this could be early CCCA or folliculitis. Don't ignore it.
3. Stop Taking Random Supplements
That hair vitamin with 25 ingredients? It probably has minuscule amounts of what you actually need. Most over-the-counter supplements are underdosed and missing the co-factors that make them work.
What actually works:
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Zinc - but only if you're deficient (too much can cause hair loss).
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Vitamin D - most Black women are severely deficient.
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Biotin - only helps if you're actually deficient.
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Saw Palmetto - for DHT-related thinning.
The problem? You don't know which ones YOU need. That's why we use lab testing to create targeted protocols instead of throwing random supplements at the wall.
When "Natural Solutions" Aren't Enough
Look, I love a good DIY treatment. But if you're dealing with CCCA (the scarring alopecia common in Black women), hormonal hair loss from PCOS or perimenopause, autoimmune hair loss like alopecia areata or traction alopecia that's been going on for years, no amount of rosemary oil or vitamin E is going to fix this. You need real medical intervention.
What We Do Differently at Nina Ross
When you come to us desperate to stop the shedding, we don't just give you generic advice. Here’s what we do for you:
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Test Before We Treat
We run comprehensive labs to check your ferritin, Vitamin D, thyroid, and hormones. We can't fix what we don't measure.
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Create Personalized Protocols
Based on your results, we might recommend our medical-grade supplements at therapeutic doses that actually work.
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Use Advanced Treatments
For stubborn shedding, we use PRP therapy and exosome treatments to calm inflammation and stimulate growth at the follicular level.
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Provide Real Support
We understand the emotional toll of hair loss. We help you navigate the frustration and fear while we work on solutions.
Ready to Actually Keep the Hair on Your Head?
If you're in the Atlanta area and you're tired of guessing, book your Hair Therapy Evaluation with us for just $99. Let's run the right tests and create a plan that actually works for your hair.
