Hair Loss Causes You Might Be Overlooking

Hair loss affects a ton of people, but it often occurs without people even noticing. Genetics and age has an impact, but we often subconsciously add to the problem through our daily lifestyles, for example poor nutrition, lack of sleep, skipping meals and poor habits. These small little hiccups happen many times in everyday life and they compound into thinning hair or weak hair. So here are five common habits that cause hair loss and a couple of changes to remedy them.

Poor Nutrition and Missing Meals

One of worst reasons for having weak or brittle hair could be poor nutrition. We need to remember that some missing meals or snacks or eating only chips, candy or fried foods is undermining many essential nutritional. To grow hair strong, you want protein, iron, healthy fats and vitamins – without most of these nutrients, hair tend to become dull, brittle or more easily damaged.

Many people also forget to the importance of hydration. Water in your body has direct impacts on your scalp health and your hair’s texture. Hair could be the first indication as you begin to neglect nourishment.

Stress Getting the Best of You

Stress not only affects the mind but also impacts the body (including hair growth). Under stress, the body releases hormones that disrupt the normal hair growth cycle. Many individuals undergo sudden hair loss or thinning after a stressful episode or trauma event or a time of great pressure.

Long-term stress can increase inflammation and cause hormonal changes that affect hair health. Simple stress-relief activities like meditating, spending time outside, deep breathing, and talking with family and friends can help manage hormones and minimize hair loss.

Intensive Styling and Chemicals

While heat styling equipment (straightener, curling wands, blow dryer) can provide quick results, it will ultimately do damage that lasts. Heat styling on a regular basis weakens strands, making them dry and brittle.
Chemical applications such as bleach, color, or perms also reorganize the structure of the hair, putting it at risk for injury and hair loss.

Spaced out styling is good for hair. Applying a heat protectant before any heat is used and wearing softer, healthier styles will help hair to be happier.

Washing that Damages Hair

When you wash your hair has a great impact on the health of your hair. If you wash too much you can strip the scalp of the oily substance – Sebum – that keeps it nourished and protected. On the other hand, If you have gone too long without washing, you can create dirt, sweat, and oil build-up which will clog follicles and irritate your scalp. The shedding can happen either way.
A common mistake would be to go to bed with wet hair. Wet hair is much weaker, and can sustain damage when you sleep on it. There are also styles you may use that are tight, enough tension can cause hair loss due to ongoing pulling, technical called traction alopecia. Wearing your hair to dry before bed and styles that are more relaxed can help protect them from damage.

Dehydration and lack of sleep

Water and hydration is just as essential to your hair as it is to the rest of your body. It’s important to drink enough water, and tend to consumption of water-based foods (cucumbers, oranges, melons etc) to keep your hair hydrated. Poor diets and inactivity contribute to dehydration as well.
Sleep is another important component that is very often overlooked. When we sleep, we rest and recover, including our hair. If we have inconsistent or limited sleep, it can disrupt our hormonal balance, which can stifle regrowth. Ultimately, try to make getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep per night a focus for the possibility of supporting your overall health, and healthier hair.

Small Change, Big Difference

Hair loss is not just a hereditary trait or using expensive products, sometimes it comes down to day to day habits – eating unhealthy foods, not managing stressors, over-styling the hair, staying hydrated, and not getting enough sleep, are all cumulative ways of ruining your hair health gradually.

Being aware of these lifestyle faults, and making some minor lifestyle changes, that are able to keep is consistent – anyone can improve their hair health and reduce shedding.

If you have been keeping up with health news, this is a timely reminder that self-care is not just about products, and pampering at the salon. Often the greatest changes come from the day to day stuff, eating healthy, stress management, well-rested and hydrated.