Are You Listening To What Your Hair Is Trying To Tell You?

If having healthy hair is your goal, then your goal should also be to have a healthy body. The two go hand-in-hand. for without good health, your hair and skin will suffer . You can use as many products and supplements* as you like, but if you aren’t paying attention to your body, then your hair will definitely tell on you.

There are different ways that your hair talks about the neglect you’ve had for your body, and it’s important that you listen when it does.

The warning signs are always there, so before you go reaching for a new product to combat hair thinning or hair fall, remember that it’s likely happening because there’s a deficiency within yourself. Here are some of the things your hair may have been trying to tell you.

Your hair is wearing thin

If you notice that your locks are becoming less luscious, it could be because you are lacking in protein. Most of us know that protein is important for our hair, which is why we should do more than just use protein treatments.

You should also be combining this method with a protein-rich diet. I can speak to this because my hair has stayed healthy without the use of any protein masks or products that promote protein.

I always recommend plant-based protein, which is healthier and easier for your body to absorb. You can find plant-based protein in the form of hemp protein powder, spirulina, quinoa, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), hazelnuts, almonds, romaine lettuce, portabella mushrooms and broccoli.

Your hair is shriveling up 

When your hair becomes overly dry, it’s a given that it’s going to start to fall out. This is why we in the natural hair community put a lot of effort into keeping our kinks and curls well-moisturized and oiled.

However, sometimes this isn’t enough. This is especially so if you are suffering from an underlying condition like thyroid disease, also known as under-active thyroids or hypothyroidism.

This simply means that your thyroids aren’t working the way they’re supposed to. Other symptoms you will notice if this is the case include muscle pain, puffy face, weight gain, joint pain, tiredness and cold intolerance.

What your body is calling for is iodine, which you can find plenty from in seaweeds like Irish moss, kelp and bladderwrack.

Other natural ways to get it is by eating flax, ginger and black walnuts (especially the hulls, which can be bought in powder form and added to your smoothie).

Your hair is shedding ever so slightly

Well, if you’re noticing shedding, then it’s likely it’s doing it more than slightly. When you notice that you’re hair is shedding more than usual, then it could be because you are low in iron*.

In severe cases, you may be anemic. Lacking in iron* can be detrimental to your health and hair. Your blood is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to the rest of your body, so if there aren’t enough cells to do the job, then how will your body and hair get the nutrition you’ve been eating through your diet and supplements*?

Iron* and minerals are the Bobbsy twins, you can’t have one without the other; however, in taking minerals it’s useless if you are anemic.

Natural remedies for anemia include iron*-rich foods and herbs like moringa* leaf powder, sarsaparilla, dandelion root and yellow dock.

It’s best to buy this from an herbalist who can give you the proper dosage, because taking in too much of yellow dock could cause you to have diarrhea, since it is also a cleanser.

Your hair is becoming brittle

There are varying causes for brittle hair — from chemical treatments to thyroid disease. If you have an imbalance in your hormones, this too could be affecting the strength of your hair.

If you have medications that contain high doses of cortisol, it could result in brittle hair. There are also certain medications that are used for treating eczema, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hepatitis that can also be the culprit. Or it could just be that you are neglecting and mistreating your hair.

The answers to these issues are pretty obvious — if you are using certain medications, see if you can switch or use natural treatments instead, if you have a thyroid issues or a hormonal imbalance you need to consume the seaweeds mentioned previously.

Lastly, you should stop using chemical treatments and take better care of your hair with products that use botanical ingredients and oils.

If all else fails, it could be the chlorine in your tap water — so make sure to upgrade to a shower head with a filter.

Your hair is dropping in clusters

Okay, maybe not that dramatic, but if you are having a lot of hair loss or even balding, then you are severely deficient. You’re going to need to improve your nutrient in-take ten fold.

Your diet will need to consist of fatty acids, proteins, B vitamins*, vitamin A*, vitamin C*, zinc, iron and vitamin E*.

Here’s what you can include in your meals:

Protein: raw nuts, mushrooms, romaine lettuce, legumes, hemp, quinoa

Fatty Acids: hemp, flax, almonds, walnuts, kale, spinach

B Vitamins*: spirulina, moringa, Irish moss, bladderwrack

Vitamin A*: collard, kale, seaweeds, red peppers and other leafy greens

Iron: spirulina, moringa, kelp, nori, dulse and other seaweeds

Zinc: grains, seeds and legumes

Now, make sure to stay away from foods that can clog your blood or clog the capillaries that deliver blood to your hair follicles.

This includes dairy, soy, wheat, sugar, animal fat, vegetable oils and even vegan butters* and mayonnaise. I know this will be hard for a lot of you, but it’s a must if you want to save your hair and prevent the problem from returning!

Save your health save you hair

It’s a simple process that people make difficult because they have grown accustomed to unhealthy habits. You have to take better care of your body, make sure you’re eating high-nutrition foods daily and pay close attention to whatever it is your hair and body are telling you.

If you can keep yourself in  good health, you will find keeping healthy hair to be a piece of cake. Are you noticing any of these conditions? What remedies are you using to combat them?