Alcohol and hair loss: is there a link?

If you’re a social drinker and start to notice more strands of hair in your hairbrush than usual, you may begin to wonder if happy hour is to blame. 

Does alcohol cause hair loss? And do you have to forego the occasional glass of wine for a healthy head of hair? Read on to find out.  

Hair loss

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Drinking alcohol does not cause hair loss. But drinking heavily or regularly may affect your body and overall health, leading to certain health issues that can cause hair loss. 

So, even though alcoholic drinks do not cause hair loss directly, drinking alcohol may do so indirectly. 

While drinking alcohol is not one of the direct causes of hair loss, alcohol intake has been linked to other things that do cause hair loss, including nutrient deficiencies and smoking. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the effects of alcohol on the body and how they may harm the health of your hair.

Alcohol and nutritional deficiencies

Heavy drinking is linked to nutritional deficiencies. Particularly, excessive alcohol consumption can deprive the body of the following vitamins and minerals (Almohanna, 2019; Lieber, 2004):

• Zinc 

• Magnesium

• Calcium

• Protein

• Vitamin A

• Vitamins B1, B2, and B6

• Vitamin C

• Folic acid

How does this happen? When studying people with alcoholism, researchers found that many heavy drinkers are malnourished, meaning they either don’t ingest enough key nutrients or their bodies cannot properly absorb the nutrients (Lieber, 2004).

Not taking in enough key nutrients is likely due to alcohol’s low nutritional value (hence people often referring to alcohol as “empty calories”) and not eating a proper diet. But even if you eat a balanced diet, excessive alcohol use can still affect how your body absorbs and digests food, making it harder for you to actually reap the benefits of the vitamins and minerals you consume (Lieber, 2004). 

And when your body isn’t able to get the nutrients it needs, hair loss may occur (Almohanna, 2019).

Alcohol and smoking

Not all people who drink are smokers, but many people light up when they start drinking. Smoking is linked to hair loss, or more specifically, androgenic alopecia (pattern baldness) (Babadjouni, 2021; Salem, 2021). 

Aside from contributing to certain factors that may cause hair loss, alcohol abuse is also associated with other health problems, including (NIAAA, n.d.):

• Brain impairments

• Mood and behavior disruptions

• Impaired coordination

• Heart issues

• Stroke

• High blood pressure

• Liver problems 

• Pancreatitis

• Cancer

• Weakened immunity

• Hormonal changes

There are many ways to treat and prevent hair loss. Some may be more successful than others. Ultimately, what works for you may take some trial and error. However, the following tips may be helpful in maintaining or restoring hair health.

Limit alcohol consumption

Being mindful of the amount of alcohol you drink is a smart way to prevent hair loss (and maybe prevent any hair loss from getting worse). That said, you don’t have to give up alcohol completely if you don’t want to. 

A good guideline to follow is the CDC’s recommendation of drinking no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women (CDC, 2021).

Try hair loss medications

Minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) and finasteride (brand name Propecia) are two medications FDA-approved to treat certain types of hair loss. 

Minoxidil is a topical medication that you apply directly to your scalp. It is approved for men and women with androgenic alopecia. Finasteride is an oral pill, only approved for use in men, that you take daily to slow hair loss and encourage regrowth. 

Your healthcare provider may recommend other medications, depending on your type of hair loss. 

Eat a nutritious diet

Try to eat a balanced diet full of things like leafy green vegetables, lean meats, beans, and whole grains—and avoid excess sugars and processed foods—to get the vital nutrients your body needs for healthy hair growth. 

Some research suggests that eating too much sugar and high glycemic index (GI) foods may be linked to hair loss. Eating too much sugar may increase sebum (oil) production, which can drive scalp irritation and inflammation. Not only that, eating too many high GI foods may raise your insulin levels, which can also affect hair growth (Goluch-Koniuszy, 2016). 

Keep an eye out for getting too much selenium or vitamin A, as an excess of either nutrient may  be linked to hair loss (MacFarquhar, 2010; Almohanna, 2019).

While alcohol consumption doesn't directly affect the hair growth cycle, excessive drinking is associated with other health conditions that may be linked to hair loss. 

And even though there’s not much research on whether or not curbing alcohol consumption can prevent or reverse hair loss, cutting down on drinking may help. Of course, if you notice persistent thinning hair, it’s worth reaching out to a healthcare provider who can not only help you get to the bottom of why you’re losing your hair but can recommend individualized treatment options as well.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

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Current version

June 13, 2022

Written by

Kristen Fischer

Fact checked by

Chimene Richa, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Chimene Richa, MD

Dr. Richa is a board-certified Ophthalmologist and medical writer for Ro.