Hair loss is one of those challenges that cuts deeper than the surface. For many women in postpartum and menopause, it’s not just about strands on the pillow; it’s about confidence, identity, and the quiet grief of feeling like your body is slipping out of your control. Cristina Marie McKay knows this intimately. Having faced hair loss herself, not once but twice, she turned her frustration with being dismissed by doctors into fuel for research, innovation, and advocacy. Today, as co-founder of Everbella®, Cristina is helping thousands of women prevent hair loss, regrow hair, and heal from the inside out through regenerative health solutions rooted in science and holistic living. In this conversation, Cristina opens up about her personal journey, her pioneering work in supplement technology, and why hair health is really a window into whole-body well-being.

1. You’ve lived this journey yourself, experiencing hair loss twice. Can you share what that season was like for you, and how it led to your passion for helping other women?

The season of losing my hair (not just once, but twice) was awful. The first time was the worst. My 30th birthday was approaching, and I was balding like a middle-aged man. I had a bald spot on the top of my head that was the size of a baseball. In addition to that, I was dragging through life with no energy, the most horrendous bloat, and my skin felt dry and weathered. When I looked in the mirror, I hardly recognised my reflection. I visited dermatologists and doctors, and no one seemed to be able to identify the cause. Ultimately, it was all written off as “just a part of getting older.” That left me feeling hopeless, spiralling into self-pity. 

I finally snapped out of it with the love and encouragement of my husband. He motivated me to take control and dig deeper. So I started reading medical journals, beauty magazines, and skin care forums… I then had a plan.

I changed my lifestyle, created daily self-care rituals, and experimented with supplements. And within months, I was back to my old self again. After talking to friends and acquaintances about my journey, I discovered that many women who have experienced something similar felt there was no hope. That’s when I made it my mission to share my story and findings with others. 

The second time I lost my hair, I approached it very differently. I was more knowledgeable, less panicked, and better prepared. It was disheartening, of course, but I knew I could recover because I understood what my body needed. And that’s the reality about hair loss: it’s a journey many women will experience more than once in their lifetime. But having the knowledge to recover makes all the difference. It gives hope. And hope changes everything.

2. Many women are told that hair loss in postpartum or menopause is “just part of ageing.” What do you want women to know about why that narrative isn’t the full truth?

So many women are told that hair loss is just “a normal part of ageing.” Hormones do shift, and those changes are natural; however, that’s only part of the story. Hair loss is typically an indicator that something deeper is going on in the body. It can be connected to lack of nutrients, stress, poor sleep, gut health, and a whole lot of other conditions… not just age.

3. How do hormonal shifts during menopause affect hair health, and what are the most overlooked contributing factors?

During menopause, hormonal shifts have a big impact on hair health. Estrogen, which helps keep hair strong and shiny, drops significantly. This can lead to thinning, slower growth, and more shedding. Many women think it’s just about hormones, but that’s not the only factor. 

The most overlooked factors are things like stress, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies, and gut health. All of these work together, so addressing just one thing isn’t enough. It must be a holistic approach to promote hair growth.

Women need to know that hair loss isn’t a life sentence and that there are a variety of things they can do to promote regrowth. Understanding these additional factors gives hope and an action plan. Instead of feeling defeated, women can take daily steps to restore their hair and confidence. 

4. You went through a lot of frustration with conventional medical answers. What did you discover through your own research that felt like a breakthrough?

My biggest breakthrough discovery was just how important supplementation was, and that not all supplements are created equal. 

Early in my journey, I thought I was doing everything right. I was eating healthy, exercising, and using high-quality hair products. Heck! I even moved to a 24-acre farm to enjoy a slower-paced life. But my hair was still lacklustre, my energy was still a bit sluggish, and my skin wasn’t quite glowing. 

Then I learned that produce in the U.S. has lost up to 80 per cent of its nutrients since the 1950s. For example, you would need to eat twelve oranges today to get the same vitamin C as one orange back then. Even the healthiest diet can still fall short, which is why supplementation is so important. 

To supplement, I tried different capsules and powders. They helped, but the results were still underwhelming. That’s when I discovered micelle liposomal technology. This method makes nutrients much more bioavailable and absorbable, meaning your body can actually use them. That discovery completely changed the way I approached supplementation. 

5. Everbella’s Complete Collagen Plus was born out of your personal search for answers. What makes this formula and technology different from standard collagen supplements?

If you’ve ever bought collagen from a health food store or online, there’s a good chance it wasn’t doing much for your body. Most collagen supplements face two big problems. 

First, they’re “naked,” meaning they aren’t protected from the harsh acids in your stomach. This destroys most of the nutrients before your body can even use them. 

Second, the nutrients themselves are often too large to pass through your small intestine, so absorption is limited.

Complete Collagen Plus works completely differently. It uses micelle liposomal technology to make sure your body actually gets what it needs. The collagen is first encased in micelles, which act like a protective shield, keeping it safe from stomach acid. Then it’s wrapped in liposomes, which are made of the same materials as your cell membranes. This makes your body recognise the nutrients and absorb them efficiently. 

With Complete Collagen Plus, you are not just taking collagen. It is a carefully designed blend of anti-ageing nutrients, including collagen, MCTs, omega-3s, and vitamin E. These ingredients work together to support radiant skin, stronger hair and nails, more energy, and overall vitality. It is a bioavailable solution that helps your body look and feel its best from the inside out. In fact, some women report seeing results in as little as 29 days. 

6. Hair loss often impacts women’s confidence and self-image profoundly. How do you approach this conversation in a way that honours both the emotional and physical aspects?

I’ve learned to open this conversation by showcasing my vulnerability. I tell women I have walked in their shoes and I know what they are going through, and that they are not alone. Losing your hair messes with more than your appearance. It can reach deep and impact your confidence, your self-image, and even your sense of self-worth. We discuss feelings, and I provide them a sense of hope. I display my before and after photos and provide customer stories so they can see the real results. 

I also provide them with actions they can start right away, such as my self-soothing scalp massage to increase circulation and my best DIY recipes for a natural approach to regrowing their hair. The aim is to create a safe space where both emotional and physical aspects are respected. My goal is to shift the mindset from shame and frustration to hope and empowerment. 

7. What are some of the key lifestyle and nutrition shifts that support stronger, healthier hair from the inside out?

In my experience, and based on what has worked for my clients and customers, there are three key areas to focus on.

The first is stress. In fact, it’s one of the biggest hidden causes behind hair loss. It disrupts hormones, hinders nutrient absorption, and even pushes hair into shedding mode. Fortunately, there are small daily habits like walking, deep breathing, or simply allowing for some quiet time that can help soothe stress and allow your hair to reboot.

The second is diet. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals gives your hair the building blocks it needs to grow. The saying, “you are what you eat”, is absolutely true when it comes to healthy hair. 

The third is supplementation. Using high-quality supplements, like collagen and biotin, can fill in gaps and give your body what it might be missing from a diet alone. 

Topical treatments like serums and scalp massages can certainly help too, but the inside-out approach is where it all begins.

8. Beyond supplements, what role do stress, sleep, and gut health play in hair regrowth and overall vitality for women in midlife?

Stress, sleep, and gut health are important factors when it comes to hair regrowth and overall vitality for women in midlife.

When stress is high, cortisol rises (your body’s stress hormone) and that negatively impacts your estrogen production. It can even push hair follicles into a resting phase, which leads to shedding and halted growth.

Sleep is just as important because that is when your body repairs, balances hormones, and regenerates cells that support healthy hair.

Poor gut health can lead to hair loss because it makes it harder for your body to absorb important nutrients like biotin, iron, and zinc, which hair needs to grow. An unhealthy gut can also cause inflammation in the body, which disrupts the hair growth cycle.

When you lower stress, get quality sleep, and keep your gut healthy, your whole body becomes a better environment for hair growth. Not only does your hair benefit, but your hormones, energy, mood, and confidence do too.

9. Entrepreneurship often begins with solving a personal problem. What has building Everbella taught you about resilience, leadership, and advocating for women’s health?

My personal health struggle was the spark that ignited EverBella. But my passion to help others is what kept me moving forward. I never want another woman to feel as hopeless and alone as I once did. I want to be a light for others in a dark time.

Building EverBella has taught me a lot about resilience. There have been plenty of difficulties, like losing my hair for the second time and failed product formulations. But each one reminded me that this challenge is only temporary and I must push on.

It has also taught me what leadership really means. For me, that is leading with empathy, listening to women’s stories, and creating solutions that genuinely work to meet their needs.

More than anything, it has made me an advocate for women’s health. I saw how often women’s struggles were brushed off. That’s what really drove me to speak up and to give women resources of hope. EverBella is more than a brand… It’s a safe space allowing women to take back their health and their confidence.

10. For a woman reading this who’s currently feeling defeated by thinning hair or hair loss, what words of hope and practical first steps would you want to give her today?

I would say that hair loss is temporary, and you can overcome this! You may not see results immediately, but with a consistent approach, you can heal and regrow your hair. 

As far as practical first steps, these are the three main ones that I swear by:

1. Enhance your diet. Research shows that certain vitamins and minerals can really make a difference for your hair. Some of the most impactful are biotin, vitamin D, iron, and zinc. Together, they help your hair follicles function properly, support keratin production, and keep your scalp healthy. Begin by incorporating more hair-loving foods into your diet (cheat sheet below).

2. Reduce your stress daily. Try techniques like yoga, meditation, and gratitude journaling to see what resonates with you the most. This will help lower your cortisol levels and support hormonal balance. The result? Your hair follicles will enter the growing phase.

3. Improve your scalp care. Your scalp is like the soil that hair grows from… If it’s well-nourished and balanced, follicles can produce stronger strands. Take a look at your hair care products and make sure that you are nurturing your scalp with products that are organic, natural, and paraben-free. Also consider practising scalp massage to boost circulation by bringing more nutrients and support to hair follicles. 

Cristina’s story is a reminder that our struggles often become the soil for our greatest contributions. What began as a deeply personal challenge has blossomed into a mission to empower women with knowledge, tools, and hope. Hair health isn’t about vanity; it’s about vitality, resilience, and reclaiming the confidence to show up fully in our own lives. Cristina invites us to see beyond quick fixes and instead nurture our bodies from the inside out. I hope her journey leaves you not only inspired but also reassured that midlife can be a season of renewal, where strength and beauty are built strand by strand.

Come join me on Substack, where I share my Love Notes, a gentle pause in your week to reflect, realign, and reconnect in midlife. It’s not just another newsletter; it’s an intimate circle where I offer fresh intentions, soulful prompts, and simple but powerful shifts to inspire purposeful, creative living. Together, we’ll uncover the small but meaningful changes that help you design a life that feels beautifully your own.