Sleep and Hair Health: How Quality Sleep Can Affect Hair Loss

Worried about your beauty and wellness? You often seek solutions for maintaining attention-grabbing looks. You might incorporate numerous beauty-enhancing practices into your routine. But what about your hair? Well, the answer to promoting vibrant and healthy hair might be closer than you think – right within the empire of your sleep. Wondering how? Let’s discuss the role of sleep in your hair health.

The Hair Growth Cycle and Sleep

Your hair goes through a remarkable cycle of growth, rest, and shedding, known as the hair growth cycle. Learning this cycle is essential to understand how sleep influences hair health and potential loss.

Your hair growth comprises three main phases:

· Anagen – The growth phase, where hair follicles actively produce new hair cells. It can last several years, determining the length and thickness of our hair.

· Catagen – The transitional phase when hair growth slows down and follicles shrink.

· Telogen – The resting phase, where hair follicles remain dormant before shedding old hair and entering the next growth phase – anagen.

Each hair follicle passes through the three stages mentioned above. If hair follicles get damaged, hair loss occurs. Here sleep plays a crucial role. Do you know that sound sleep can help you maintain a healthy hair growth cycle? During sleep, your body undergoes various restorative processes. It includes cell regeneration and hormone regulation, which directly impact hair follicles.

How Does Sleep Impacts Hair Health?

When you fail to get adequate and good quality sleep, it can lead to various hair-related issues. Let’s see its effect on hair health.

· Hair Growth

As said above too, during sleep, your body goes through a complete restorative process. Everything happens when you are fast asleep, from hair growth to hair repair. Here if you are getting enough sleep, it can disrupt this process. Thus, affecting hair development means slower or weaker growth of hair.

· Hair Loss

Poor quality sleep disrupts the hair growth cycle, and you will experience increased hair shedding in the telogen phase.

· Hair Texture

Lack of sleep can impact the moisture balance in your scalp and hair. This can lead to dry, brittle hair being more prone to breakage and split ends.

· Scalp Health

Sleep deprivation can negatively affect the overall health of your scalp. It can disrupt natural oil production, leading to a dry scalp or increased oiliness. This, in turn, contributes to conditions like dandruff or scalp inflammation.

· Premature Aging

Lack of sleep or getting poor sleep quality may accelerate the aging process, including premature greying of hair. Although genetics largely determine when your hair turns grey, sleep deprivation can speed up this process.

It is vital to note that these conditions vary from person to person. The individual experiences depend on various factors like genetics, diet, and overall lifestyle. It is recommended to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep; only then will you be able to maintain overall health, including your hair’s health.

How to improve sleep quality for hair health?

Now that you know that lack of sleep results in hair loss. So it’s time to rethink hair health and understand how to improve your sleep quality to benefit your hair health. Here are some tips for you:

· Stick to a Sleep Schedule

It is vital to follow a consistent sleep routine for hair and for your complete well-being. Always try to go to sleep and wake up the following day at a consistent time. It will help if you stick to this schedule even on enjoyable and stress-free weekends too. By following this cycle, you are helping your body’s internal clock gets regulated and promote better sleep.

· Create a Relaxing Bedtime Routine

Keep yourself engaged in mind-relaxing activities. Following them in a routine before your bedtime will signal to your body that it’s time to go to sleep. Depending on your personal liking or interests, you can try a warm bath, practice meditation, exercise deep breathing exercises, read a book as per your interest, or listen to calming music.

· Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment

Make your bedroom a comfortable and sleep-friendly space. Ensure the room is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature. Consider using earplugs, eye masks, or white noise machines if needed.

Also, look for a comfortable mattress with relaxing and supportive pillows and of course, breathable bedding. Go for bamboo sheets, as these are known for their softness and moisture-wicking properties. These will help you regulate your body temperature and thus give you better sleep.

· Limit Screen Time Before Bed

Do you know when you surf mobile phones, tablets, etc., right before going to sleep, the blue light emitted from these electronic devices greatly impacts your sleep cycle, as per sleep foundation. If you avoid using these devices for at least an hour before bedtime, it will work in your interest.

· Avoid Stimulants

Some people have a habit of consuming caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. If you are doing so close to your bedtime, then be ready to experience a night of disturbed sleep and, thus, poor health. These substances disrupt your sleep patterns to adverse levels and thus affect the quality of your sleep.

· Exercise Regularly

You can even promote better sleep if you engage in regular physical activities. But do not go for any intense exercise close to your bedtime. While a light exercise can help you fall asleep fast, a vigorous one will make an impactful energizing effect and thus make it harder for you to fall asleep.

· Manage Stress

For any reason, if stress surrounds you, it can negatively impact your sleep quality. If you are undergoing such conditions, manage stress by practicing relaxation techniques. You can also keep yourself engaged in your favorite hobbies or seek support from loved ones or professionals.

· Avoid Heavy Meals and Fluids Before Bed

Eating a heavy meal or consuming large amounts of fluids close to bedtime can lead to discomfort. You can experience indigestion and can have frequent trips to the bathroom as well. Thus you will end up disrupting your sleep.

· Seek Medical Advice if Necessary

Even after taking all the required measures, if you constantly struggle to get good quality sleep, chances are there that you are suffering from a sleep disorder. Don’t worry about such cases; consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation and guidance.

Remember, everyone’s sleep needs, and preferences are different. So it’s essential to find what works best in your interest and improve your sleep quality and in turn promote hair health.