Harmony Hub Health
Functional Medicine, Hormone Health and Weight Loss with Michele Postol, CRNP
Harmony Hub Health
The Hair Restoration Accelerator Program: Science, Seasons, and Serious Growth
Hair in the drain, panic in the brain? Let’s replace doomscrolling with a plan. Seasonal shedding isn’t random—it’s biology responding to less sunlight, stress spikes, thyroid shifts, post-viral impacts, hormonal swings, low ferritin, and a congested scalp ecosystem. We break down how these forces collide between October and February and show you how to stop the slide with data, not gimmicks.
We start by decoding the internal drivers that flip follicles into telogen: vitamin D deficiency that weakens bulbs, telogen effluvium from August stress showing up as November fallout, and underdiagnosed thyroid issues that thin and brittle the strands. Then we layer in PCOS, perimenopause, postpartum androgens, and ferritin depletion, plus microbial and oil congestion that smother follicle openings. The throughline is clear—measure what’s off, correct the biology, and only then stack targeted regenerative tools.
From there, we walk through a comprehensive 12-week Hair Restoration Accelerator that blends lab-guided functional medicine with medical-grade regeneration. Hydrosoline scalp therapy deep-cleans plugs and porphyrins, calms inflammation, and boosts microcirculation so follicles can breathe and absorb. PRP delivers your own growth factors to wake up stem cells, extend the anagen phase, and strengthen shafts, while exosomes fast-track density and speed. At home, a growth-factor serum with microchannel stamping and a red light brush keep follicles energized and responsive between sessions. We talk quality collagen with proven peptides and cofactors, why timelines matter (shedding down by month 1–2, texture by 3–4, new growth by 4–6, density by 6–12), and where biology sets real limits for long-standing, shiny baldness.
If your ponytail feels smaller, the crown looks sparse, or postpartum or seasonal shedding has rattled your confidence, this strategy brings clarity and momentum. Subscribe for more root-cause, evidence-based strategies, share this with a friend who’s stressing over the shower drain, and leave a review with your top hair-loss question so we can tackle it next.
Find me at www.harmonyhubhealth.com
Email me at michele@harmonyhubhealth.com
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is to provide comprehensive, affordable, integrative care that addresses the root cause of health issues. At the Hub, the focus is on individual patient journeys. I strive to optimize health, vitality, and longevity, fostering a community where each person can thrive in body, mind, and spirit. Okay, so if you find yourself looking at your shower drain and thinking, oh, man, I am shedding more than my dog. You are not alone. Welcome to seasonal shedding season where everyone starts panicking, Google becomes the enemy, and everyone is convinced that they're gonna go bald. As a functional medicine nurse practitioner and a regenerative aesthetic practitioner, I'm here to tell you two things. Number one, you're not imagining it. Shedding increases this time of year. And number two, you can absolutely fix it, but you must fix what caused it. Let's dig into why your hair is acting this way and the exact plan that I use at Harmony Hub Health to bring it back stronger than ever before. So, why does shedding get worse in the fall and winter? Well, hair growth runs on biology, and several seasonal triggers collide between October and February. First of all, there's less sunlight. When there's less sunlight, you have lower vitamin D. And when you have low vitamin D, you have weak follicles. Vitamin D is a hormone, and when levels drop, hair follicles shift into the shedding phase early. And by November, almost everyone in Maryland is deficient. And then we have these stress spikes that then put you into this telogen effluvium. In this phase, a large number of hairs shift from the growth phase, which is the antigen phase, into the shedding phase, which is the telogen, all at once. So holiday chaos, work pressure, lack of sleep, all of these push your body into shedding mode six to 12 weeks later. So this means that August stress then becomes your November hair loss. Another reason is the thyroid slowdown in the colder months. When you have hypothyroidism, that gives you thinner hair, brittle strands, and shedding. And thyroid dysfunction is wildly underdiagnosed in women. And as a side note, Harmony Hub Health does have thyroid optimization program where I can help you with that. Next, we have post-illness and post-viral shedding from COVID, flu, colds. All of those can trigger major shedding a few months later. And let's not forget the hormones. These are my PCOS, my perimenopause, my postpartum. High androgens shift hair into the fallout stage, especially at the crown and at the temples. Another reason I see is when your ferritin drops. So low ferritin is when you have low iron storage. And it's one of the most common causes of female hair loss, and almost no one tests for it properly. And then let's talk about poor scalp health and microbial imbalance. If you have high porphyrins or bacteria, oil congestion, dandruff or inflammation, they suffocate your follicles. So your hair isn't just acting up, it's reflecting internal stress, hormone imbalance, nutrient depletion, or inflammation. These are all things functional medicine can measure and absolutely treat. So that's my list of usual suspects. But what you don't want to do when you notice shedding, please do not buy random hair gummies. Do not start just biotin. Um, don't switch shampoos 12 times looking for something that you feel is making your hair thicker. Do not panic cut bangs, okay? Do not order any hair serum off of TikTok and don't ask your hairdresser what blood work you need. None of that works. Your hair follicles are tiny little organs. They respond to biology, not wishful thinking. So let me tell you what actually does work and why I do it this way. Hair regrowth requires a root cause and regenerative combination. First of all, we have to evaluate your biology. I like to evaluate your thyroid, your iron stores, your iron, your B12, your folate, your insulin, your vitamin D, your cortisol, all of your inflammation markers, and if we need to, even taking a good look at your gut and your microbial triggers. Because if your blood work is off, your hair is gonna be off too. We need to fix the internal imbalances. So we need to support your thyroid, we need to balance androgens, we need to restore your ferritin, we need to stabilize your blood sugar, we need to look at stress and cortisol, make sure you have vitamin D and reduce inflammation. This is what creates lasting hair growth. And then I like to regenerate the follicles with medical treatments. This is where the magic happens. Regenerative therapies wake up dormant follicles and restores growth. Which brings me to my hair restoration accelerator program. This is a program that I created that is limited edition for the season to help you with all things hair. This new hair restoration accelerator program is a 12-week regenerative and functional medicine protocol for real hair recovery. This program was created because women and men deserve more than just take biotin and hope for the best. So I combine functional medicine with medical grade regenerative treatments. This is a seasonal limit edition program that is based off of my full hair restoration program. And here is what is included. First, I use my spectra um analysis machine to really look at your scalp. I want to start with a baseline scan to evaluate the follicle density. Um, how much oil production do you have? Do you have a lot of bacteria or porphyrins? Um, how's your circulation? And is there a lot of inflammation? And can I see early thinning patterns? There's no guessing, there's no hoping, and then we can track progress with repeat scans with the spectra scanner. Then I like to really start with some professional treatments, and we will start with the hydrosoline scalp treatments. This is a game changer for hair restoration. If you're working on hair growth, you can't just treat the follicles, you have to treat the scalp environment too. Healthy hair comes from a healthy scalp, and that's exactly where the hydrosoline shines. Hydrosoline is also sometimes called hydroscalp or aquascalp therapy. It is a deep cleansing, exfoliating, and nutrient-infusing treatment that's designed specifically for your scalp. Think of it as the professional facial that your scalp has been looking for. This treatment is so powerful on its own, but even better when we combine it with PRP, which is platelet-rich plasma or exosomes, um, and your hair restoration accelerator protocol combines all of these down together. So the hydrosoline works by removing the blockages that suffocate your follicles. Most people dealing with hair thinning don't even realize that their scalp is congested. So the hydrosoline uses fluid-based exfoliation and it removes hardened sebum, dead skin buildup, any product residue. If you have pollen, debris, environmental toxins, or um porphyrins, which is that bacterial buildup, you know, oil plugs can sit over the follicle opening. And when these blockages sit on the scalp, your follicles struggle. They struggle to breathe, they can't get nutrients, they can't cycle properly, and you know, they struggle to stay in that growth phase. So hydrosoline clears the runway so follicles can really function. And this will be combined when we do move to our new location. Um, there will be head spa treatment that is also going to complement that. But the second thing that it does, it also reduces inflammation, which is a huge root cause of hair loss. Inflammation is one of the biggest disruptors of hair growth. The hydrosoline flushes out inflammatory debris, um microbial imbalance, oxidative stress, and any accumulated waste in the scalp. This lowers inflammatory load in the follicle bulb, which is essential because chronic inflammation shortens the growth cycle and speeds up the shedding phase. So a calm scalp equals a more stable growth cycle. Another thing the hydrosoline does is it balances oil production and microbiome health. So many people with thinning hair also have excess oil or dandruff or fungal issues, bacterial overgrowth, or those high porphyrin levels. This creates a very hostile environment for hair growth. So we want to normalize your oil levels and reduce microbial imbalance, gently cleanse without stripping, and create a healthier scalp biome. A balanced microbiome lets follicles thrive. Another thing the hydrosoline does is it improves circulation. So if you have more oxygen, then you have more growth. The fluid movement, the suction, the stimulation does increase microcirculation and that brings more oxygen, more nutrients, more minerals, and more blood flow. Follicles can't regulate or regenerate if they're starved of nutrients. Hydrosoline supports that nutrient exchange that really fuels the growth. Another thing it does is it does help increase absorption of hair growth serums, whether it's PRP, exosomes, peptides. This is one of the biggest reasons it pairs beautifully with my hair restoration accelerator program. When the scalp is cleansed and microchannels are open, the absorption of regenerative actives significantly improves. So following the hydrosoline in the accelerator program, you'll have three that are PRP, and you'll also have three that uses the anti-age hair growth serum. And, you know, there's also options to add with peptides like copper or KPV. And this creates dramatically better penetration and better cellular response. The hydrosoline preps the canvas so that the regenerative modalities can really get in there and do their job. Another thing it does is it helps reduce shedding by resetting the scalp cycle. If you have a congested, inflamed, and balanced scalp that pushes hairs into the shedding phase. So the hydrosoline removes the triggers, it resets the scalp environment, it stabilizes the cycle, it supports a shift back into that growth stage. And this is why a lot of patients notice less shedding within weeks. They notice improved texture, reduced itching and flaking of the scalp, and just a healthier, cleaner scalp feeling immediately. It does make you feel much better and it makes you more compliant. You know, um, since the PRP and exosomes do work over several months, the hydrosoline gives you that instant comfort, that instant cleanliness, and that instant improvement in how your scalp actually feels. So you're gonna love it a lot. Um, the people that would benefit the most from hydrosoline to the scalp, it's best for people that have dandruff. It's really good for people with oily scalp or clogged follicles, um, high porphyrin levels, um, inflammation, a lot of shedding, um, buildup from dry shampoo or hair products, PCOS-related or hormone-related scalp congestion, and slow hair growth despite other treatments that you've tried. Basically, anybody who wants a healthier scalp and better hair growth would benefit from this. Also, with this program, you do get three PRP sessions, and PRP is the natural science-backed way to wake up sluggish hair follicles. PRP stands for platelet rich plasma. It's a concentrated portion of your own blood that's packed with growth factors, healing proteins, and cellular messengers that stimulate tissue repair and regeneration. When you use it on the scalp, PRP is one of the most effective non-surgical treatments available for thinning hair, shedding, and early hair loss. Best of all, it's 100% your body's own biology. PRP uses your body's natural healing signals to reactivate dormant or weakened follicles. So I do this by I draw a small amount of your blood, um, about the same amount as basic blood work. Your blood is then spun in my centrifuge and I separate your blood into layers. We have your red blood cells, your platelet poor plasma, and then your platelet-rich plasma. This is where the gold is. Um, the collection is injected into the scalp and the thinning areas or where you need hair growth. And this places the growth factors exactly where the follicles need them. Then they go to work. PRP signals the follicle stem cells to repair, regenerate, strengthen, and re-enter the active growth phase. This improves both the number of growing hairs and the thickness of each strand. Um, PRP has several powerful effects on hair follicles. It increases blood flow, which brings more oxygen and nutrients so that you have healthier hair growth. It extends that antigen growth phase so it helps your hair grow longer and thicker before shedding, and it reduces inflammation around the follicle. So inflammation is such a major trigger for hair loss. It does activate follicle stem cells because dormant follicles get that signal to wake back up and it strengthens the hair you already have because it improves that shaft integrity, it reduces breakage, and it boosts the density. Um, it also helps to counteract shedding, so um, which is really important for the telogen of fluvium and stress-related hair loss. So PRP is ideal for that stress hormone shedding from the telogen of fluvium. It's for early androgenic hair loss. This that's known as the female pattern thinning, um, postpartum shedding, thyroid-related thinning, PCOS-related hair loss, seasonal shedding, um, hair thinning from inflammation or illness, um, weak miniaturized follicles, which I'll see that on the spectra scan, um, or loss of density in the crown or temples. PRP is not ideal for areas with complete follicle losses like scarring alopecia, but it is excellent for follicles that are still alive but just not performing well. Um, and this is why PRP works so well for women that lose their hair because of their thyroid, because of iron deficiency, hormones, stress, inflammation, um, postpartum shifts, or chronic illness, because PRP helps override many of these issues by rebuilding the follicles' growth machinery, even while we work on the internal root causes through the functional medicine portion. A lot of people ask me, well, how soon will I see results? The typical timeline I see is within the first one to two months, that's when you notice shedding is um decreasing. At three to four months, the texture, the fullness starts to improve. Four to six months, new growth becomes visible. In six to twelve months, this is when the density really increases. Hair growth is slow, but PRP accelerates and strengthens that process. Not only do you get three PRP with this accelerator program, you also get three exosome treatments. Exosomes are cellular messengers that tell follicles to wake up and grow, just grow. They also reduce inflammation, they increase hair density, they improve the speed of regrowth, and it really boosts the outcomes when you pair it with the PRP. This is like the fast forward button. Not only do you get three exosome treatments in the office, you also take home um antiage or anti-age is what I like to call it, hair regenerative treatment plan that you also use at home. So anti-age uses stem cell-derived growth factors and cytokines. They're not actual stem cells, um, but they're designed to wake up dormant hair follicle stem cells. So it encourages them to re-enter an active growth phase. The system leverages the biology of hair cycles when follicles become inactive, whether it's from age or stress or hormones, and these growth signals help reactivate them. And the home hair system that you get to take home is amazing. It has a bottle of anti-age hair serum, which is enriched with WNT1 stem cytokines. It has polybotanicals, it has a blend of stimulants and growth factor signals. It also comes with a 0.25 millimeter microchannel stamp. This is a dermal needling device you use at home. Microneedling helps increase the serum penetration to your scalp so the growth factors reach the follicle stem cells much more effectively. It also comes with a hair thickening brush for massaging and helping with scalp stimulation and serum absorption. So, what I love about the antiage is it's non-hormonal, it's non-surgical, it uses growth factors instead of hormones. Um, so you don't get any of the side effects or contraindications associated with hormone-based hair treatments. It does target the root at the follicle level instead of just coating hair or stimulating circulation superficially. So it works at the cellular signaling level. So this really reactivates those follicles that have gone dormant. Um, it is a useful standalone at-home regimen as well. So if you want this kit but you don't want the full accelerator program, we can work that out. But the botanical extracts, the growth factors, and the delivery system not only aim for regrowth, but also helps optimize the scalp environment. One thing that I do have to let you know is that results really do depend heavily on internal factors. So hormones, nutrition, stress, scalp health, systemic inflammation. Um, a lot of response can be variable based on these factors, also, because hair growth is a slow cyclic process. Consistent and extended use um helps, and it's usually required before a visible change. As with any regenerative treatment, realistic expectations are key. Um, not all follicles can be revived, especially if there's long-term scarring or genetic hair follicle loss. It is most effective as part of a comprehensive approach. That's why we address internal health like your thyroid, your hormones, your nutrients, and then we look at your scalp environment and go on with maintenance. And I also have to add that there will be lab-guided supplementation, which is a core part of your hair restoration plan, because hair regrowth is never just an external treatment. It is a biology problem, and biology requires raw materials. This is why every patient in the hair restoration accelerator program receives that fully individualized functional medicine support plan based on a comprehensive lab panel. And I start with the targeted lab testing. Hair loss is often the symptom, and the cause is usually buried in the labs. I use those lab results to tell me exactly where your hair is being starved, where it's being stressed or disrupted. So you receive a personalized supplement protocol. There's no guessing, there's no generic hair vitamins. I do carry neutrophil, and that is a great option for those that do not want to go through a full individualized plan. But with the accelerator program, each supplement is chosen based on your biology. I also include collagen support in every single program. Collagen is one of the most important structural proteins in your body. It does strengthen the hair shaft, it um strengthens the scalp connective tissue and your skin elasticity. It does strengthen your nails, your joints, and that microvasculature that feeds your follicles. But you know, most collagen sold in stores don't do very much. Um they're poorly absorbed, they're underdosed, they're contaminated with fillers, or don't stimulate actual collagen production in your body. This is why patients are often shocked when they switch to orthomolecular collagen and finally see real improvement in hair thickness, reduced breakage, their nails are stronger, um, they have more joint comfort, they are um better hydrated on their skin, and they have overall recovery and repair. And I am a supplement snob because collagen isn't about just adding collagen, it's about signaling. Cheap collagen powders give you random collagen peptides with no science behind the peptide size or sequence. Your body can't use all of them effectively. Orthomolecular uses clinically studied collagen peptides that specifically activate fibroblasts, which are the cells responsible for producing your own collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. The result is a biological response, not just a protein powder. And peptide size really matters. Size does matter. Many store brands contain peptides that are so large you would never be able to absorb it well. Orthomolecular uses hydrolyzed peptides with the correct molecular weight so that there's an increased absorption, there's improved bioavailability, and they actually reach the hair follicle and dermal layers. So it doesn't just go through your gut and your digestive system. Your body can actually use it. And it's not just backed by marketing, it is backed by research. That's what I love about orthomolecular. Please don't just fall for some supplement on Amazon with a pretty label that has zero published research. Orthomolecular has superior ingredients, no fillers, no junk. A lot of those commercial collagens have artificial sweeteners, um, gums, um, maltodextrin, inflammatory fillers, poor quality bovine or marine collagen. Some of them have heavy metals. Orthomolecular collagen is third-party tested. It is medical grade. It's free from inflammatory additives, it is sourced from high-quality traceable collagen peptides. You get exactly what you need and nothing that you don't. And you cannot find this on Amazon. If you do find this on Amazon, do not buy it there. Um, they actually put on their containers that they're not for sale on Amazon. You can only get orthomolecular through a licensed professionals. The other thing I love about orthomolecular collagen is that it has cofactors that are needed for hair and collagen synthesis. So it's more than peptides. Orthomolecular does include the zinc, the vitamin C, antioxidants, amino acids, anti-inflammatory support. So these cofactors amplify results and help the collagen actually become usable building blocks for your scalp, your hair, and your skin. Most commercial collagens is just collagen powder in a tub. So when I see people with Hashimoto's, PCOS, IBS, leaky gut, chronic inflammation, um, even MTHFR or perimenopause or any type of cortisol dysregulation, they don't absorb low-quality collagen properly. Um, orthomoleculars clean formula and targeted peptides is gives just a better tolerance, better absorption, and better results. So, yes, this program already includes a lot of stuff. But guess what else you get? Guess what else you get? You get a red light hair growth brush. There is um a lot of research out there on these red light hair growth brushes or lamps. And a red light brush uses low-level laser or LED therapy, it's known as L L L T, to stimulate hair follicles at the cellular level. So this isn't gimmicky, it's actually supported by strong clinical research. Um, that red light boosts cellular energy, which is your ATP production. Red light can penetrate the scalp and increase that ATP, the energy source cells use to repair and grow. So more ATP is more active, healthier follicles. Um, the red light also can increase that microcirculation. So it brings more oxygen, nutrients, minerals, and growth signals as well. So those follicles that were starving, they can finally function again. The red light can reduce inflammation around the follicles because inflammation, remember, is one of the biggest disruptors of hair growth. The red light can calm those inflammatory pathways and stabilize the hair cycle and reduce shedding. And the red light also helps to extend the growth phase. Remember that antigen? So red light helps keep hairs in their active growth phase longer. So this gives you that thicker, healthier strands with more density. And LLLT sends the signal that tells your lazy follicles to re-enter growth mode. So this is really helpful in hormone or stress-related thinning. And again, that red light, the healthy, oxygenated, low-inflame follicles respond better to regenerative treatment. So when you're using this red light brush in between your medical grade PRP and exosomes, all of this just amplifies and maintains the results that you're gonna get. With Harmony Hub Health, because I cover all three pillars of real regrowth of number one, identifying and fixing the internal root cause, number two, regenerating the follicle with PRP and exosomes, and then number three, giving you a solid home program to maintain stimulation. This is so amazing. Most programs only address one of these three pieces, and that's why people fail. Um, so this is perfect for women with the seasonal shedding or postpartum shedding or PCOS hair loss, um, thyroid-relating thinning, stress-induced shedding, crown or temple thinning, overall loss of density, um, excessive hair fall, um, you know, during washing. So if your ponytail feels smaller than it used to, this program is definitely for you. Um, but it's not just for women. This is also for men. Um, and you know, this is a very important conversation to have with my male patients, and it's all about expectations and, you know, setting realistic expectations and biology. Hair restoration depends on one thing. You know, are there living follicles still present? So if you come to me with the ball head, we're gonna be really looking at that spectra analysis to see, you know, if the follicles are dead, if they're scarred over, if they're shiny or gone, there's no topical or PRP or exosomes, there's not even a laser. Um, there's no supplement in the world that I can give to regrow hair in those areas. Um, because if you're bald and you had full follicle loss, not just follicle weakness, um, I cannot bring it back. However, in early male pattern hair thinning, the follicle shrink, the hair miniaturizes, the density drops, um, but the follicle is still alive. And that is when PRP, exosomes, red light, and regenerative treatments work extremely well. There has to be something there for me to regenerate. You know, there has to be something to wake up. And we can tell, you know, regrowth is possible if, um, especially for the men, if you do see small, thin, peach fuzz hairs, if we can see visible pores, um, if the scalp shows any texture, um, or if you still have micro hairs, um, even if the thinning is patchy, it just can't be smooth. Um, if your scalp is completely shiny under the microscope and I don't see any pores or there's no tiny hairs present, or the area has been bald for many, many years, um, especially if the texture looks like smooth skin rather than scalp skin, then there is biological limitation. I'm not saying I'm not gonna treat you. Some men still want treatment, but even if full hair regrowth is impossible, the accelerator program can still stabilize further hair loss. Um, it can thicken the hair that you do still have, it can improve your scalp health, um, and it can slow progression. So men who still have hair on the crown or the back of the head or the sides, or they have those fading hairline edges, this program is still for you. If you're a man that's fully bald with no viable follicles, then the only real treatment becomes hair transplant. And this is surgically moving, living Follicles from the back of the scalp to the bald areas, and I cannot do that in my office whatsoever. That being said, if you do have or if you've had a hair transplant, surgeons love when patients do PRP or add red light and proper supplementation before and after to give you the best results with your transplant. So, men and women, if you're shedding, thinning, or noticing change in thickness, this is the most powerful evidence-based program available. And I am so excited to have this at Harmony Hub Health. Part of the Black Friday specials were four new limited edition programs, and this accelerator was just one of them. So if you're interested, you can check out my website at www.harmonyhubhealth.com. You can even text the word hair to 410-575-4274 to get more details on this program. And you can come and schedule a consultation and see me at Monarch Beauty and Spa until the new Harmony Hub Health location is up and running. Um, because your hair can grow back, your confidence can return, and this program is the program that will get you there. I've talked to a lot of patients and I know that this program is more comprehensive, even though it's my mini program and just a small part of my full hair optimization program. This is amazing. This is only available until January the 5th, and then you know, people interested after that will go to that full program. This is just very seasonal, this is very limited. And as always, this podcast is educational, not medical advice. And I'm not your personal provider through your headphones yet. Everybody is unique, especially when it comes to hair restoration, their hormones, peptides, supplements, their metabolism. So make sure you talk with your healthcare provider before trying anything new. Nothing discussed today, um, diagnosis, treats, or cures disease, and results will always vary based on your genetics, your lifestyle, and actual compliance. Harmony Hub Health is not responsible for decisions you made after listening to this, but I am here to help you make informed ones. So I hope to see you at Harmony Hub Health.