Hair says a lot about a person—the color, the style, the cleanliness.
Did you know it can even tell you something about a person’s health?
Stress is a daily struggle for seven out of ten adults in the US. You are probably thinking, “what does stress have to do with my hair?”
Glad you asked. As it turns out, stress that results in lack of sleep may be to blame for the poor health of our hair.
The relationship between stress and lack of sleep
Stress is the result of chronic sleep deprivation. If you are logging less than seven hours a night, you and your hair may be paying for it.
If sleep and stress were in a relationship, let’s just say it would be complicated. That’s because stress often robs us of a good night’s sleep and lack of sleep increases levels of stress, which keeps us up at night. Talk about a lose-lose.
The relationship between stress and sleep all hinges on hormone disruption.
Cortisol, the stress hormone, should naturally decrease at bedtime. However, when you are under chronic stress, cortisol levels stay elevated. The result? You’re up half the night tossing and turning.
Not to mention, lack of sleep itself causes hormone disruption. When you aren’t getting enough sleep, cortisol levels are thrown all out of whack, which can put you under more stress than you were to begin with. Yikes.
How stress is impacting your hair
The bad news is stress can take a toll on your luscious locks. First and foremost, stress can make your hair oily. Research shows high levels of cortisol increase oil production. If that’s not bad enough, here’s the next kicker: stress can actually cause hair loss.
Temporary hair loss caused by bouts of severe stress is known as telogen effluvium. When you are under stress, hair follicles prematurely stop growing. Oftentimes, it’s not until three months later that the hairs actually shed. This can last up to six months.
Hair loss caused by stress is often remedied with treatments that speed up hair growth. But it’s better you get to the root of the problem—treating the stress.
Here’s how to love your hair by dealing with your stress:
Get more sleep
Just as we are disciplined about diet and exercise, we should also be disciplined about our sleeping habits. That means you should create a wind-down routine and stick to it.
About an hour before bed, begin to dim the lights in your room, stash the screens and opt for a book instead. Our brains need to be prepped for sleep. Those prone to chronic stress should especially avoid working late into the night or responding to email close to bedtime.
If you struggle with sleep on a regular basis, take a look at your sleep health from a holistic point of view. Are you experiencing low back pain that is keeping you from getting comfortable? Is it time for a new mattress? Are there other disturbances to your sleep such as light, noise and temperature? Assess your sleeping environment for possible disturbances and make adjustments accordingly. Sleep is an integral part of overall health and wellness. It’s important you take the appropriate steps to protect it.
Not to mention, studies have found that melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate your sleep, also has an effect on hair growth. Topical melatonin has been shown to increase hair growth, which means that a decrease in melatonin could hypothetically lead to hair loss.
Log those hours!
Take a mental break
Practicing meditation before bed helps relax your mind and body after facing a busy day. Getting in the routine of winding down an hour before your bedtime will help prep your body for sleep.
Meditation is known for improving breathing and reducing stress. It is also known for calming anxieties. If you lay awake, wide-eyed and restless for more than 20 minutes, climb out of bed and try a few deep breathing exercises. This practice will quiet your mind by refocusing racing thoughts, while simultaneously, releasing tension you carry throughout your body. All in all, it will put you in a more peaceful state to be able to fall asleep.
If you love your hair, and we know you do, give it the TLC it deserves.
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