Sleep and It Will Grow: How Getting the Proper Sleep Affects Hair Loss and Growth

We all know sleep is extremely important, and it allows our bodies to recharge for a new day. Sleep plays a huge role in your brain function, regeneration, and stem cells production. So when you start to mess around with your sleep patterns, you may start to experience some negative side effects like memory loss, mood swings, and loss of appetite. These are all factors that can quickly turn into more visual problems like hair loss. When you start to connect the dots on sleep, there’s no way you can recharge your hair and your body without a good night’s sleep.

For Sleep Awareness Week, we’re breaking down the relationship between sleep and hair and how you can improve the quality of your sleep and hair for optimal health. 

Sleep and Hormones 

When you lack quality sleep or not enough sleep at all, you can start to upset the hormone balance in the body. While hormonal changes can wreak havoc on your sleep, they can also lead to a vicious cycle, resulting in poor overall health. When your body isn’t able to get some good snoozing, it creates a challenge for the restorative processes to take place. This process is required for the protein synthesis of the hair, as well as the release of enzymes and growth hormones. It’s a system that is necessary for hair to thrive accordingly.  

The body is a complicated place, but when it’s running on low sleep, it’s a recipe for disaster. When you start to feel that sleepiness, your body produces a hormone called melatonin which helps regulate the sleep cycle. It’s also a hormone that increases hair growth. When you’re decreasing your melatonin levels with poor sleep habits, you’re simultaneously creating poor hair habits in the process. There’s a direct impact on the body’s natural hormones when sleep is taken seriously. A factor that may cause inadequate rest is often stress levels. Stress is never good for the body in any form, but especially for the hair. This uneasiness in the body can start to push the hair follicle into a premature resting state and eventually causes the hair to fall out. The phrase about being so stressed out that you’re going bald was never meant to be a funny myth. 

We all have our nights when we’re tossing and turning, but when those nights are reoccurring, it might be time to rethink your nighttime routine. If you can improve your quality of sleep, there’s a better chance of you reviving your hair for better growth and strength. The next time you notice changes in your strands, instead of running to buy more products, you may want to revisit those sleep habits you’ve had in the last couple of weeks. 

Improving Sleep 

There’s a reason why medical professionals suggest 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Getting in those golden hours of slumber allows your body to regulate hormones and recharge the right way. You want to be able to get the most out of your Zzz’s, and if you’re not setting a strict regimen before bed, there’s no telling what can happen to your hair. Whether you’re someone who needs a warm glass of milk before hitting the pillow or likes to wind down with a warm bath, do what it takes to get to bed and stay asleep. 

Creating a nightly wind-down routine can make a huge difference for your body and health. Getting your body to the stage of deep sleep can seem hard at first, but with these tips, you’ll be dreaming in no time, and your hair will thank you for making the necessary change. 

           Ambiance:

Think about what it takes to set the mood for restorative sleep. This means making the room as dark as possible, setting your temperature on a cooler setting, and keeping your phone far away from the bed. You want to ensure there are no midnight distractions that can ruin your precious slumber.            

           Comfort & Care

Did you know the average person will sleep for a third of their life? Make an effort to snag a mattress that brings you the sleep you need. For even more care while dreaming, go the extra mile and use fabrics that are best for your hair. Whether you use a silk pillowcase, headscarf, or bonnet, silk is the best fabric to lay your head on for all those hours of rest. The breathable fabric allows for optimal circulation compared to other fabrics. Incorporate these tips for the ultimate nighttime routine that will get you ready for bed. 

Sleep for the Whole Family 

Quality sleep shouldn’t just be a priority for you, but for your whole family. Especially if you have little ones, you want to make sure you’re setting the example for healthy bedtime habits and how important it is for their growth. Development is precious for young children in order to keep them on the right path for making the benchmarks. As a family, setting the tone for good habits is something that stays with children for a lifetime. Making sure to teach children how to take care of themselves both internally and externally is an essential part of parenting. Topics like the importance of routine hair washing, detangling, and styling will help children with hair consistency and prevent future damage. This same concept should be reiterated for other self-care categories such as sleep. Just as important as keeping your hair clean, the body also does its own form of cleansing while it’s in a deep sleep. 

Although hair change doesn’t happen overnight, there are many factors that can prevent your hair from healthy growth. From hormones to stress and poor habits, sleep your way to longer, stronger hair and make a difference for your body inside and out.