Medical Providers:
Dr. Randy Gelow, MD, FASAM
Ray Hamilton, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Last Updated: September 9, 2025
When people think about the effects of alcohol, they often focus on liver damage, impaired judgment, or addiction. But what about your hair? Does alcohol cause hair loss?
While drinking doesn’t directly make your hair fall out overnight, the connection between alcohol and hair loss is real—and often overlooked. From poor nutrition to stress and hormonal shifts, alcohol can impact the health of your hair in many ways.
In short: yes, drinking alcohol can cause hair loss—but usually as part of a broader picture. Alcohol alone may not be the sole reason your hair is thinning, but it can be a major contributing factor.
Alcohol affects your body in ways that can lead to hair loss over time. It disrupts your hormone balance, dehydrates your body, and robs you of the essential nutrients your hair needs to grow and stay healthy.
So while you might not notice the effects right away, hair loss and alcohol consumption can be connected, especially with long-term or excessive drinking.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the link between alcohol use and androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness). The results showed drinkers had a 1.4× higher odds of AGA compared to non-drinkers—but this was not statistically significant.
There are several indirect effects of alcohol on hair, most of which stem from how alcohol disrupts your body’s normal processes. Here are the key ways alcohol can affect your hair:
Alcohol blocks the absorption of many key nutrients, including zinc, iron, folic acid, and vitamins B and D. These nutrients play a critical role in hair growth and scalp health.
When your body is lacking in essential nutrients, it prioritizes vital organs over things like skin and hair. Over time, this contributes to hair loss or makes existing hair problems worse.
Heavy drinking can disrupt the endocrine system, which controls hormone levels. Hormones like cortisol, insulin, and thyroid hormones directly influence the hair growth cycle. An imbalance can trigger hair shedding or delay regrowth.
Alcohol is a diuretic—it causes the body to lose more fluid than normal. Dehydration and reduced blood flow to the scalp mean less oxygen and fewer nutrients reach hair follicles, which may affect hair strength and thickness.
Thinning hair is one of the more common signs of poor scalp health. But what does alcohol-related hair thinning really look like?
You might notice:
Hair thinning from alcohol often develops slowly, especially with ongoing heavy alcohol consumption. It’s not always easy to link it back to drinking unless you’re looking closely at your habits and health changes.
Heavy drinking and hair loss are often part of a larger chain reaction. People with alcohol addiction may also struggle with:
All of these factors can negatively impact your hair. Excessive alcohol consumption can deplete your energy, damage your liver, and suppress your immune system—all of which may affect hair quality and growth.
The good news: most alcohol-related hair loss is not permanent. If the root cause is a nutrient deficiency, hormonal imbalance, or scalp issue, stopping or reducing alcohol intake—along with lifestyle changes—can help reverse the damage.
However, long-term excessive drinking may cause lasting effects, especially if it leads to liver disease or chronic malnutrition. The earlier you act, the better your chances for full recovery.
Here are common red flags that your drinking habits could be affecting your hair health:
If these signs sound familiar, it may be time to take a closer look at how your alcohol intake is impacting your body—starting with your hair.
Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference in your hair’s recovery. Here’s how to support healthy hair growth while reducing the damage alcohol may have caused:
The most direct step is to reduce your alcohol intake. If you’re a heavy drinker, consider seeking support from a treatment center or therapist. Recovery not only helps your physical and mental health—it can improve your hair, too.
Focus on foods rich in:
A nutritious, consistent diet helps reverse nutritional deficiencies that often contribute to hair loss.
Drinking water supports circulation and keeps your scalp moisturized. Dehydration makes hair dry, brittle, and more prone to breaking.
Stress triggers hormonal shifts that affect hair. Try techniques like deep breathing, journaling, or therapy to stay emotionally balanced—especially if you’re in recovery.
If you’re unsure whether your hair loss and alcohol consumption are connected, speak with a healthcare provider. Blood tests can detect key nutrient levels or hormonal imbalances.
So, does alcohol cause hair loss? Yes—it can, especially when combined with nutritional deficiencies, heavy drinking, and long-term neglect of your health. While alcohol doesn’t directly pull out your hair, it contributes to internal imbalances that may result in hair thinning or slowed growth.
If you’ve started noticing unusual hair shedding or other physical changes, it might be a sign that your drinking habits are taking a toll. The earlier you act, the better your chances of reversing the damage—not just to your hair, but to your overall health and well-being.
At Hope House, we help people rebuild their lives through personalized, evidence-based treatment for alcohol addiction. Whether you’re concerned about alcohol-related hair loss or struggling with the emotional impact of addiction, our team is here to support your recovery—every step of the way.
