Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

Would you believe a good hairdresser sometimes knows if his/her client is pregnant long before they are ready to share their news with the world and in some cases, before they even know themselves! How can this be? Because the impact of hormonal fluctuations is so strong that it impacts luster, texture, thickness and color of the hair. Have you ever noticed during prolonged periods of stress in your life you may experience greater hair loss? Sometimes dandruff or an itchy scalp can accompany hormonal imbalances. Is there a connection?

Our hormones stimulate hair growth and hair loss. If you can understand the interplay between your hormonal balance and your diet, you can sometimes prevent the most distressing aspects of hair loss. We’ve discussed this before, female hair loss is caused by the combination of the presence of an abundance of the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and having hair follicles that have more androgen receptors for DHT. You can do a lot to support your body’s ability to process hormones efficiently even though there’s a genetic component to this issue. Reality is that hair follicles are very responsive to hormonal changes and imbalances in your body. Most hair loss is temporary and resolves itself once the body re-balances.

Worth mentioning again, here are the most common causes of female hair loss:

• Hormonal Birth Control (hair usually will regrow after 6 months of ceasing hormonal birth control.)
• Polysystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)- a holistic approach is the best way to address this
• Pregnancy/Childbirth- some women experience changes in hair during pregnancy while more women experience it after pregnancy.
• Thyroid Disease- both an overactive thyroid and an under-active thyroid can cause hair loss.
• Deficient Diet, lots of fad diets, extreme calorie restriction, low protein diets, even junk-food vegetarian diets may result in massive amounts of hair loss.
• Medications such as prescription drugs to treat anxiety and depression as well as blood pressure medication.
• Low Serum Iron- women with too heavy or frequent menstrual periods may develop iron deficiency.
• Stress, today many women deal with chronic low grade stress, which- depending on their genetic disposition, can trigger early onset of androgenic hair loss.

Can you prevent this? There are things you can do. Do not take birth control or antidepressants unless you absolutely have to. Maintain a healthy diet, avoid fad diets or extreme detox diets where you go with out protein for several days. Physical activity is a good preventative as it promotes circulation and helps you deal with stress in your body more effectively. Try St. John’s Wort for depression, it’s been shown to help and is natural with no side effects.

If your hair is already thinning, it’s important that you learn the cause of your problem. Many things can be easily corrected such as an iron deficiency or thyroid issues. You can work on your diet by cutting out sugar and caffeine to help your body respond to stress better. Increase your fiber for better elimination, and find a physical activity that makes you happy! This will help increase your serotonin levels which will help you with the impact of stress on your delicate hormonal balance.

Here are some “home remedies” to improve your hair’s health.

• Fruits and veggies-they contain flavonoids which protect hair follicles and encourage growth
• Brewer’s yeast, green peas, brown rice, bulgur, lentils, oats, sunflower seeds and walnuts. These are all high in biotin, an essential nutrient for healthy hair and skin.
• Ginko Biolba- improves scalp circulation
• Saw palmentto- helps with testosterone balance in a woman’s body
• Inositol- vital for hair growth
• Kelp- supplies minerals needed for proper hair growth, really good if the thyroid is deficient.
• BioSil-aids in hair growth and strength
• B-Complex with Biotin- important for hair growth, biotin deficiencies have been linked to hair loss
• MSM (methylsuffonyl-methane)-aids in the manufacture of keratin, the protein wich is the major component of hair.

And, of course, let your hairdresser help you with shampoos and conditioners that will help rather than exacerbate your problem.  At Fantasia, we sell Hair Support System, which is all about strengthening your hair. Rather than despairing about your diminishing locks, be pro-active. There are things you can do!