Hair Loss While Travelling Southeast Asia: What Happened to Me and How to Prevent It
Last updated on October 4th, 2026
If you’ve noticed more hair in your brush, shower drain, or on your pillow since travelling Southeast Asia, you’re definitely not alone.
After living in Thailand for six months and travelling through Vietnam for three months, I experienced more hair loss than I ever had in my life! As someone with naturally long, thick hair, it was upsetting to watch so much of it fall out every day and not knowing what was causing it either.
The strange thing was that it didn’t happen immediately.
When I first arrived in Thailand, my hair was completely normal. It wasn’t until around three months into our travels that I started noticing more hair coming out when I washed it, brushed it, and even when I simply ran my fingers through it.
I went into full blown panic state!!
I wasn’t planning on returning to the UK anytime soon so I knew I had to figure out what was going on. I spent months researching possible causes, trying different hair products, changing my routine, and speaking to other people from Thailand and Vietnam who had experienced similar issues.
But the good news is that my hair is now healthy, thick and strong again!
In this blog, I’ll share what I believe caused my hair loss, what I tried while travelling, what actually helped, and the routine that has helped my hair recover since coming back to the UK. I hope this helps if you are going through the same!
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Why was my hair falling out while travelling?
Looking back, I don’t think there was one single cause.
Instead, I believe it was several different factors happening at the same time which led to my hair falling out.
1. Stress from moving to the other side of the world
This was probably the biggest factor for me.
Moving from London to Thailand sounds exciting (and it was!) but it was also one of the biggest changes I’d ever experienced.
I had left my family, my routine, my comfort zone and everything familiar behind. I arrived in a country I’d never visited before and suddenly had to build a completely new life. As someone that really appreciates a routine you will understand how this can have a big impact on you!
Even after settling into Thailand, there was always uncertainty. We were moving around, taking flights, finding new accommodation and constantly adjusting to different environments.
Many people don’t realise that stress-related hair shedding often happens months after the stressful event itself. By the time my hair started falling out, the stress had already been building for many months and I only realised at it’s peak.
When I realised my hair was falling out, this led me to stressing out even more!
Eventually I realised that panicking wasn’t helping. I started focusing on ways I can de-stress and started incorporating more beach walks, yoga and daily breath work which did help manage the stress.
2. Nutrient deficiencies
When you’re travelling, it’s surprisingly easy to eat less and an unbalanced diet too. You’re exploring new places, eating food on the go, adjusting to unfamiliar foods and realising you care more about convenience rather than nutrition
I realised that although I was eating regularly, my diet wasn’t as balanced as it had been at home.
You quickly realise that hair, skin and overall health relies on nutrients such as iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, zinc and protein. When these are lacking, it can affect how your hair grows and sheds.
3. Intense sun exposure and humidity
The Southeast Asian climate was completely different from what my hair was used to back in the UK.
The UV and humidity was no joke and being exposed to it day in, day out definitely had an impact on my hair.
I noticed more breakage, dryness and strands snapping at different lengths which didn’t look the best so I started wearing it up constantly!
4. Different water quality
This was something I hadn’t even considered before travelling. The water in Thailand and Vietnam felt different from the water in the UK and left my hair feeling more rough, tangling easier and harder to manage.
The water quality alone didn’t cause my hair loss, but it definitely contributed to it!
5. Eating less than I realised
The heat played a bigger role than I expected.
When it’s 35°C outside every day, you’re often less hungry. I found myself skipping meals, eating smaller portions and not always getting enough protein.
At the time it didn’t seem like a big deal, but over several months it likely contributed to the increased shedding.
What my hair looked like before and after travelling
This was my hair when I just arrived in Phuket, Thailand. My hair was so long, thick and healthy! It was my favourite feature and I loved wearing it down all the time.
This was a few months after living in Phuket, Thailand. My hair was so long but it was falling out more and more when I’d brush and wash it! It was also always so frizzy due to the humidity and I could not do anything about that.
I felt the most insecure here as my hair was the thinnest I had seen before. This was in September which is when my hair loss was at it’s peak. I remember getting ready this morning and crying as I was plaiting my hair and hair was just falling out. It definitely didn’t help that I was really stressed out about it either!
We then moved to Vietnam and my hair was still falling out but I started using a shower filter & the Kerastase Genesis Hair Serum . I did realise a change in my hair here as it was not falling out as much but it still was always so dry, frizzy and just didn’t look the best either.
We were living in Da Nang and that’s when I decided to just do a big hair chop! I realised it would help my hair more and would be way easier to maintain too.
This is a clearer picture to show how much my hair thinned out and just looked completely different to how it was when I first started travelling!
This is my hair now! It is long, thick and so much more healthier. I share my hair care routine below and have been using the same routine for the past 9 months and it has completely transformed my hair!!
What I tried (and what actually helped)
When my hair shedding started in Southeast Asia, I went into full ‘try everything’ mode. Some things helped, some didn’t and some were just nice extras that made my hair feel better.
Below is everything I tried during this period including what worked and what didn’t.
Shower filter
Yes, I know. The shower filter is one of those things you constantly hear about and I honestly thought it was over hyped and didn’t make an actual difference.
I didn’t use a shower filter during my first few months in Thailand. Once I realised how much hair I was losing, I ordered one and installed it immediately.
I did notice a difference! It didn’t magically stop the shedding completely, but there was a clear reduction in how much hair I was loosing in the shower and when brushing.
If you’re staying in Southeast Asia for an extended period, I would absolutely recommend bringing one with you from home and not waiting until the problem starts to get one!
Sunsilk power shot
If you’ve been to Thailand, you’ve probably seen these in every 7-Eleven and all over TikTok.
They’re super cheap (under £1 a sachet), so I bought a lot of them in hopes they would help my hair in any way!
They left my hair feeling soft and smooth so if your hair is already healthy, this is a great product for a little boost.
But for reducing hair loss? I personally didn’t notice any difference and would say it might work for some and won’t for others!
Vita Keratin gold
This is another viral product that I kept seeing everywhere on social media as well as popular among travellers in Thailand.
This is a keratin-based treatment, so it focuses more on strengthening and smoothing the hair rather than anything scalp or hair loss related.
I used it every other wash as recommended for protein-based products. I did notice my hair feeling more moisturised and softer!
However, like the Power Shot, it didn’t have any noticeable impact on the actual shedding.
My usual sulphate-free shampoo
One thing I didn’t do was constantly switch shampoos. I continued using my go-to which is the Design Essentials shampoo. I’ve always loved this shampoo and recommend it to everyone I know!
It is a great shampoo as it’s gentle to the scalp and sulphate-free.
During hair loss, I didn’t want to constantly switch products and risk irritating my scalp further, so sticking to something familiar and gentle was important.
Hair masks
Hair masks didn’t stop my hair falling out, but it did make a noticeable difference in managing my hair. It helped keep my hair soft, hydrated and easier to detangle, which meant less tugging and breakage.
How long did recovery take?
This was probably the question I searched for most when I was on my hair recovery journey.
The answer is: longer than I wanted as hair growth takes time and consistency.
Even after identifying possible causes and improving my routine, it took several months before I noticed a real difference especially with the shedding.
I started loosing a lot of hair 3 months into living in Thailand and when I went to Vietnam I slowly started to notice changes. It was a 4 month journey before realising a noticeable difference!
My hair care routine now – This changed everything!
After coming back to the UK, I have found the perfect routine that has completely transformed my hair and made it more full, smoother and longer!
Before washing my hair, I massage my scalp with a scalp massager to activate the scalp (you can also use a tooth comb) and then I apply the Kitsch oil which contains Rosemary, Biotin and Castor oil. I would recommend combing it throughout your whole scalp for a few minutes.
I then apply the Kerastase Genesis Hair Serum and comb that through too. This takes only a few minutes but I have seen a considerable amount of new hair growth from doing it consistently over the last months.
I leave this on for 20–60 minutes before shampooing.
I wash my hair with the Design Essentials shampoo which is a gentle sulphate-free shampoo and then apply a nourishing hair mask from Amika which is GREAT! I leave it on for around 20-30 minutes which leaves your hair soo smooth!
After rinsing, I avoid rubbing my hair with a towel and instead gently squeeze out excess water.
I then apply Amika Hydro Rush Leave-In Conditioner and Amika Superfruit Star Lightweight Hair Oil & Heat Protectant throughout my hair. I realised my hair doesn’t do well with too many products!
Every other wash, I use Only Curls Creme for extra softness and moisture.
When brushing, always start at the ends and work your way up to avoid pulling hair out. I feel like the type of brush you use is important too!
I’ve followed this routine consistently for around seven months and have seen a huge improvement in my hair’s thickness, shine, softness and overall health. It does take time and patience but it does pay off!
I hope this helps you if you are going through something similar!
Final thoughts
If there’s one thing I wish I’d known before travelling Southeast Asia, it’s that hair loss doesn’t automatically mean something is seriously wrong.
Seeing large amounts of hair come out every day can feel scary and worrying especially when you don’t know what’s causing it.
For me, my hair loss was likely caused by a combination of stress, dietary changes, climate, water quality and lifestyle changes that came with moving abroad and all the emotions that followed.
While it took time, patience and a lot of trial and error, my hair eventually recovered to how it was before I left the UK (or even better!)
If you’re currently going through the same thing, know that you’re not alone. Be patient with yourself, focus on your overall health, and remember that healthy hair growth is a long-term process, not an overnight fix!
FAQs
Is it normal to experience hair loss while travelling?
Yes, it can be. Travelling often involves major changes to your routine, diet, sleep, stress levels and environment. This can sometimes lead to temporary hair shedding a few months later rather than immediate. It will feel worrying but once you start researching you realise it is a lot more common that you might think!
Does the water in Thailand cause hair loss?
I don’t believe the water alone caused my hair loss, but I do think it played a part in to the condition of my hair and scalp. I noticed my hair became rougher, more tangled and harder to manage after moving to Thailand. I noticed a difference once using a shower filter and implementing new hair products consistently as my hair loss did reduce slightly.
How long does travel related hair loss last?
Everyone is different, but in my experience it wasn’t a quick process. I started noticing significant shedding around three months into living in Thailand and didn’t see real improvements until around three to four months later. Hair growth takes time as your hair works in cycles, so consistency and patience are incredibly important even though in the moment you may just want a quick fix ASAP.
Can stress from moving abroad cause hair loss?
Absolutely. Looking back, stress was probably one of the biggest factors for me. Moving to a completely new country, leaving my family behind, adjusting to a different culture and living without my usual routine put a lot of stress on my body. Stress-related hair shedding does often appear months after, which is why it can be difficult to connect the two.
What helped my hair the most while travelling?
The biggest improvements came from addressing the possible root causes rather than relying on hair products alone. For me, that meant managing my stress, improving my diet, using a shower filter, wearing protective hairstyles (my favourite was the side plait) and sticking to a gentle hair care routine. While some products made my hair feel softer, these lifestyle changes made the biggest difference.
What should I pack if I’m worried about hair loss while travelling Southeast Asia?
If I could go back and do it all again, I would pack a shower filter, a hair growth oil, a gentle sulphate-free shampoo, a nourishing hair mask, a wide-tooth comb and a satin pillowcase.
