When “Normal” Is Not Normal: The Blood Tests Every Person With Hair Loss Should Ask For

Hair can be one of the first places your body whispers that something is not okay. Extra hair on the pillow. A thinner ponytail. That feeling of “I am doing everything right” and still watching more strands slip away.

Many people in this position are told the same thing. Your bloods are fine. Your results are “within range”. Nothing to worry about. But your hair is telling a very different story. So is your energy. So is your mood.

If your lab printout says normal, but your hair, brain, and body feel anything but, this blog is for you. There are gentle, science backed ways to look under the hood and support your hair and scalp. This is the checklist many people wish they had sooner.

What is actually happening?

Hair loss is rarely just about hair. It is often the visible end of a much longer story inside the body.

At a simple level, your hair follows a cycle:

• Growth phase (anagen) where hair actively grows for 2 to 7 years

• Transition phase (catagen) where the follicle shrinks and prepares to shed

• Resting and shedding phase (telogen) where hairs fall and make room for new ones

In times of stress, nutritional depletion, or hormonal change, the body prioritises survival. Hair follicles are not essential for staying alive. So the body quietly moves more follicles into the resting and shedding phase. The medical name for this is telogen effluvium.

Research and clinical experience show clear patterns:

• Low ferritin (iron storage), vitamin D, and sometimes B12 are common in people with diffuse shedding

• Thyroid imbalances are one of the most frequent medical causes of thinning hair, especially in people assigned female at birth

• Zinc deficiency appears in a meaningful percentage of telogen effluvium cases and affects keratin production

• Chronic stress and poor sleep can trigger shedding even when bloods look okay on the surface

None of this means your hair loss is permanent. It means there may be something measurable worth checking, so you are no longer guessing.

Common mistakes people make

When your hair is falling, the instinct is to do something quickly. That instinct is human. It can also lead to some understandable but unhelpful choices.

Only taking “hair vitamins” without checking bloods.
Many people reach for biotin or generic hair supplements first. Clinical reviews show that vitamins and minerals help most when they correct a documented deficiency. If ferritin, vitamin D, B12, or zinc are low, a targeted plan makes more sense than random pills.

Assuming “normal range” always means “optimal for hair”.
Lab reports are built to detect disease, not to optimise hair. For example, ferritin might be labelled normal at 15 micrograms per litre, yet hair specialists often aim for 70 micrograms per litre or higher for healthy growth. Being told you are fine at 18 does not mean your hair has what it needs.

Looking only at iron and ignoring ferritin.
A normal iron level does not guarantee that iron stores are adequate. Ferritin is the storage marker most linked to shedding in multiple studies. Without it, the picture is incomplete.

Expecting changes in weeks instead of months.
Hair grows slowly. Even once blood levels improve, follicles need time to move back into a healthy growth phase. Most people notice meaningful changes between 3 and 6 months, not in a few weeks.

Treating stress as “just life” rather than a physical input.
Chronic stress, poor sleep, and burnout are not character flaws. They are biological pressures. Ignoring them while only focusing on shampoo or supplements leaves a major piece of the puzzle untouched.

Practical steps that genuinely help

These are steps you can take even if you never buy from Kiri10™. They are not medical advice, but they are a practical starting point to discuss with a GP, naturopath, or trusted practitioner.

1. Ask for a structured bloods panel

Instead of “can you just check everything”, you can ask for specific tests. This makes the appointment easier for everyone.

A helpful starting checklist:

• Full blood count (FBC) and haemoglobin

• Ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, and total iron binding capacity

• Vitamin D (25 hydroxyvitamin D)

• Vitamin B12 and folate

• Thyroid panel: TSH, Free T3, Free T4 (and thyroid antibodies if autoimmune thyroid is suspected)

• Zinc (where clinically appropriate)

These markers are highlighted again and again in clinical and dermatology literature as relevant for diffuse hair shedding.

You can literally bring a written list and say:

“I am experiencing ongoing hair shedding and fatigue. Could we please check ferritin and iron studies, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folate, a thyroid panel, and zinc if possible.”

2. Understand “normal” versus “optimal” for hair

Exact numbers will vary by lab and country, but research and specialist guidance suggest approximate hair friendly ranges:

• Ferritin: general reference ranges may start at 12 to 15 micrograms per litre. Many hair specialists aim for 70 micrograms per litre or higher to support healthy growth.

• Vitamin D: deficiency is often defined below 50 nanomoles per litre, but hair and general wellness often improve when levels are above 75 nanomoles per litre.

• Zinc: deficiency can contribute to telogen effluvium. Levels below roughly 10 micromoles per litre may warrant attention.pubmed.

These are starting points. They are not absolute rules. Your GP or specialist will interpret them in the context of your health, but knowing the difference between “within range” and “optimal for hair” can help you ask the right questions.

3. Map your stress and shedding timeline

Many people notice a pattern once they look back.

• Major stress event, illness, crash diet, or burnout

• Two to four months later, noticeable shedding increases

• Bloods might be mildly low or normal, but the nervous system has been under pressure for much longer

Telogen effluvium commonly appears on this delay. Seeing this pattern on paper can be validating. It is not “random shedding”. It is your hair reflecting what your body has carried.

4. Nourish with real food, not just capsules

Hair follicles are among the most metabolically active cells in the body. They need:

• Enough protein at every meal

• Iron and ferritin from foods like red meat, lentils, and leafy greens

• Zinc from eggs, seeds, and shellfish

• B12 from animal products or fortified sources

Clinical reviews repeatedly highlight iron, vitamin D, zinc, biotin, and B12 as key nutrients linked to thinning when deficient. Supplements can support, but they sit on top of what you eat every day.

5. Support your nervous system on purpose

You cannot always remove every stressor. You can change how often your body gets a break from them.

Useful resets include:

• Regular walks outside, especially in nature - soak it all in, ensure you're present in the moment

• Short, gentle breathing practices - one I like is breathe in via your nose for roughly four seconds, hold it for roughly four seconds and breathe out for longer than you did inwards and push the breathe out with your mouth

• Minimum one, optimum two, truly work free days each week

• Sleep routines that give your brain a chance to downshift - mine are - an hour or two before bed try lowering lights, use lamps, salt lamps are beautiful solf light - stop using your phone or devices - ensure a peaceful, quiet environment (if possible)

In British Association of Dermatologists and NHS aligned guidance, telogen effluvium often improves within several months once the underlying cause is addressed and the system is not constantly overloaded.

6. Set a 6+ month horizon

It is tempting to “wait and see” for a few weeks and then decide nothing is working. Hair biology does not move that quickly.

When people correct iron, vitamin D, or B12 deficiencies, and address thyroid issues where needed, studies suggest shedding often begins to improve within several months and hair volume follows over time. Setting a realistic horizon from the start can protect your hope and patience.

7. Keep self worth separate from your lab report

This is perhaps the most important piece. Numbers can be useful. They are not your value.

The goal of this bloods guide is not to make anyone obsessive about results. It is to give you enough clarity that you can make decisions without guessing and without shame. Whatever the numbers say, you still deserve support, progress, and kindness to yourself along the way. 🧡

Where Kiri10™ fits in

Kiri10™ was built on an inside out approach. That means we care deeply about what you are doing in your bloods, your nervous system, and your daily routines, not just what is on your bathroom shelf.

Functional Keratin™ is the hero ingredient at the centre of our Triple Keratin Complex™. It is sourced from New Zealand sheep wool and is 91 percent bio identical to the keratin structure found in human hair. Functional Keratin™ was clinically studied to reduce shedding by up to 43 percent in trials. It supports the structural environment around the follicle so hair can move through its growth cycle in a healthier way.

KiriGlow™ capsules use this Triple Keratin Complex™, combined with OptiMSM™, Hydrolysed Marine Collagen, and a small supportive amount of biotin, zinc and copper. The formulation is 99 percent naturally derived. It was created to nourish and support hair from within over 3 to 6 months, not as a fast fix in a few weeks.

Our 4 step routine pairs this internal support with external care:

• KiriGlow™ capsules to feed follicles from within

• KiriCare™ shampoo and conditioner to gently cleanse and protect the scalp and hair

• KiriCare™ serum to support the hair fibre and reduce breakage day to day

For many people, KiriGlow™ and our bundles are one part of a bigger plan. They work alongside blood testing, nutrition, and stress support. We celebrate the thousands of people they have helped. We are also honest when the answer includes “please get your ferritin and thyroid checked” as part of the picture.

If your current reality is “I am taking good care of my hair and it still is not changing”, this blog and this routine are designed to sit together. Your body’s ability to recover is real. Our job is to support it, not to overpromise.

References

1. Healthline. Blood Tests for Hair Loss, and What They May Indicate. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/blood-tests-for-hair-loss

2. Belgravia Centre. Why Women With Thinning Hair May Need a Blood Test. Belgravia Centre. https://www.belgraviacentre.com/blog/why-women-with-thinning-hair-may-need-a-blood-test

3. Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A. The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review. Dermatology and Therapy. 2019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6380979/

4. JDD. Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies in Patients With Telogen Effluvium. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2026.

5. Lola Health. Blood Test for Hair Loss: Which Markers to Check. Lola Health. https://lolahealth.com/blogs/longevity/blood-test-for-hair-loss

6. Bolt Pharmacy. Nutritional Deficiency Hair Loss: Causes, Tests, and NHS Treatment. Bolt Pharmacy. https://www.boltpharmacy.co.uk/guide/nutritional-deficiency-hair-loss

7. Roseway Labs. Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss? Roseway Labs. https://rosewaylabs.com/which-vitamin-deficiency-cause-hair-loss/

8. Lincoln AgriTech. Effect of keraGEN IV Keratin oral supplementation on hair, skin, and nails. HealthMed trial. https://lincolnagritech.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HealthMed-Effect-of-keraGEN.pdf