It started with a few extra strands in the brush. Then, it was clumps in the shower. Finally, Sophia Umansky—daughter of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills icon Kyle Richards and real estate mogul Mauricio Umansky—took to TikTok to show the world exactly what was happening to her hair.
She wasn't just shedding. She was losing it. Honestly, it was a pretty "graphic" reveal for someone whose life usually looks polished to a high-gloss finish on Buying Beverly Hills.
The 25-year-old reality star admitted she felt like she’d be "bald in about a week" at the rate her hair was falling out. It’s the kind of nightmare scenario that makes anyone with a scalp start sweating. But why is it happening? Is it the medication everyone’s talking about, or is there something else going on under the surface?
The Mounjaro Connection and the Hair Loss Scare
Sophia didn't hold back on the details. She’d been taking Mounjaro—a GLP-1 receptor agonist primarily used for Type 2 diabetes but widely prescribed off-label for weight loss—for about four months.
About three months into that journey, the "dramatic hair loss situation" kicked into high gear.
She posted videos showing piles of long brunette tresses on her shower wall and clogging the drain. It’s a side effect that’s been scaring the life out of "Ozempic era" users across the country. But here’s the kicker: Sophia herself doesn't think the drug is the direct culprit.
"I don't think it is a direct result of the medication," she told her followers. "I think it is a direct result of rapid weight loss because of the medication and not eating enough vitamins, protein, all that kind of stuff."
She’s basically hitting the nail on the head. Doctors have a name for this. It’s called Telogen Effluvium.
What exactly is Telogen Effluvium?
Normally, your hair goes through three phases:
- Anagen: The growing phase.
- Catagen: The transition phase.
- Telogen: The resting phase.
In a healthy scalp, about 10% of your hair is in the telogen (resting) phase at any given time. But when your body goes through a massive shock—like losing a ton of weight very quickly or a major illness—it panics. It decides that keeping your hair is a "luxury" it can't afford right now.
The body shifts way more of those follicles into the resting phase at once. Three months later? Those hairs all fall out together. It’s like a mass exodus of your hairline.
Nutrition, Weight Loss, and the Reality of "Starving" Hair
The problem with drugs like Mounjaro or Zepbound isn't necessarily the chemical itself attacking the hair follicle. It's the fact that they are too good at their job.
They kill your appetite.
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When you aren't hungry, you don't eat. If you aren't eating, you aren't getting the building blocks for keratin—the protein your hair is actually made of. Sophia admitted that at the start, she was just focused on "eating enough" but wasn't tracking her actual nutrient density.
Basically, her hair was starving even if her body was hitting a new goal weight.
The Role of Protein and Iron
Hair follicles are some of the most metabolically active cells in your body. They need a constant supply of energy and specific nutrients to keep churning out new strands. If your ferritin (iron storage) levels drop or your protein intake isn't hitting that "sweet spot," your hair is the first thing to go.
Sophia’s experience isn't an isolated celebrity quirk. Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro and Zepbound, actually noted hair loss in their clinical trials. For Zepbound, about 7.1% of female patients reported hair loss compared to just 1.3% in the placebo group. It’s a real, documented phenomenon tied to the metabolic shift of rapid weight reduction.
How Sophia Umansky is Fighting Back
So, what do you do when you’re a 20-something in Beverly Hills and your signature look is literally thinning before your eyes? You pivot.
Sophia has been very open about her "rescue" routine. She isn't just sitting back and waiting to go bald. She’s throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks—or rather, what stays in her scalp.
- Upping the Protein: She’s making a conscious effort to eat more protein and use protein powders.
- Supplementing: She mentioned using OMI hair growth peptides, Vital Proteins collagen, and Grüns vitamins.
- Topical Care: She’s experimenting with thinning-hair shampoos and conditioners.
- The Pro Advice: Some fans and experts suggested she check her thyroid and iron levels, which is honestly the smartest move anyone in this position can make.
It's a lot of work. It’s also a reminder that "easy" weight loss often comes with a hidden tax.
The Bigger Picture: 2026 Hair Trends and Longevity
Interestingly, Sophia’s struggle is happening right as the beauty world is shifting. In 2026, we’re seeing a massive move away from "quick fixes" and toward what experts call "hair longevity."
We’re over the era of just slapping on extensions and calling it a day. People want their actual, natural hair to be thick and healthy from the root. Trichologists (scalp experts) are becoming the new rockstars of the beauty world.
If you look at the trends for this year, it’s all about "scalp-first" thinking. People are using DNA tests like TrichoTest to see how their genetics affect hair loss. They’re getting PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections and exosome treatments.
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Sophia’s transparency is actually right on trend, even if the reason for it is stressful. By talking about it, she’s stripping away the shame that usually comes with female hair thinning.
Misconceptions About Celebrity Hair
There’s this idea that celebrities have "magic" hair that never fails. We see them on the red carpet with these massive, voluminous manes.
But a lot of that is smoke and mirrors. Extensions, toppers, and expensive styling go a long way. When Sophia showed the "raw" version of her hair loss, it broke that fourth wall. It showed that even with all the money and resources in the world, your body’s biology doesn't care about your Instagram following.
If you starve the body, the hair leaves. Period.
What You Can Learn from the Umansky Hair Saga
If you’re taking a GLP-1 or just trying to lose weight quickly, you don't have to follow Sophia down the "I’m going bald" path. You can be proactive.
1. Prioritize Protein from Day One
Don't wait for the shedding to start. Aim for high protein intake immediately. We’re talking 0.8g to 1g of protein per pound of goal body weight. It sounds like a lot because it is.
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2. Watch the Rate of Loss
Losing 1-2 pounds a week is generally "safe" for hair. When you start dropping 5+ pounds a week, you are essentially signaling to your body that you’re in a famine. The body responds by shutting down non-essential functions (like hair growth).
3. Get the Bloodwork
Before you buy a $100 shampoo, check your Ferritin, Vitamin D, and Zinc levels. If the "tank" is empty, no amount of topical oil is going to fix the engine.
4. Be Patient
Telogen Effluvium is temporary. Once you stabilize your weight and fix your nutrition, the hair usually starts growing back in 3 to 6 months. It’s a slow process, but your follicles aren't dead—they’re just napping.
Sophia’s openness might feel like "TMI" to some, but it’s actually a public service announcement for the Ozempic era. You can have the body, but you have to feed the hair.
If you’re noticing more shedding than usual, start by tracking your daily protein intake and scheduling a full metabolic panel with your doctor to rule out underlying deficiencies. Don't panic—just like Sophia, you can pivot your routine and get your density back before the "bald in a week" prediction ever comes true.