It has been said that stress can make you go gray or cause you to lose your hair. But can it? Hair loss due to stress can occur after a traumatic life event such as divorce, death, or severe financial worries. This temporary hair loss, called ‘telogen effluvium,’ can also be caused by factors such as hormonal changes, illness, or poor diet. Hair evolves in a cycle of growth (anagen); transition (catagen); and resting (telogen). Prolonged or extreme stress can cause hair to prematurely enter telogen and break more easily. Stressful events can shock the hair cycle, pushing more hair into the shedding phase.