You’ve probably experienced having bad hair days from time to time, and although this may distress you, especially when you need to go out, if this happens frequently, your hair may be telling you something that you need to pay attention to. How your hair is faring may give you hints on the status of your health, which is why it would help if you know what your hair’s condition is telling you. If you want to get an idea on how your hair is faring, here’s what you need to know.

Poor digestion

If you notice that your hair is becoming lack luster, dry, or slow in growth, it may be that you are missing out on important nutrients.  Keep in mind that our hair cells need nutrients for them to grow. However, if your diet consists of processed foods, salty and greasy foods, it will take a toll on your hair too. Our hair needs protein, but when you avoid eating animal food, it may affect your hair’s growth and overall health.

Iron deficiency

Studies have shown that hair loss is often linked to iron deficiency, along with other symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue. Since you have low red blood cells, your body will be using its energy for more important functions rather than stimulating hair growth. Patients who tend to bleed a lot or are anemic are usually prescribed with iron supplements, but you can get this from organ meats as well as grass-fed red meat. 

Nearing menopause

Another possible reason why you are having hair problems is that you may already be nearing your menopause. This means that your estrogen levels are going down which can lead to hair loss. Hair thinning may occur two to three years before menopause sets in. If you are seeing signs of bald spots or thinned out parts of your hair, talk to a hair care expert to discuss your options.

Stress

Is your hair fall starting to become worse? Well, it might be a sign that you are way too stressed. It may be that your hair is starting to show gray when you are feeling stressed out lately. This is due to your stress hormones blocking communication with your hair follicle thus causing melanin absorption. This is the reason why your hair is turning gray. Although short term stress will not cause a significant loss to your hair, chronic illness may have a part to play. So, if you wish to prevent hair loss, it is important that you find a way to deal with the amount of stress that you are feeling.

Not getting enough quality sleep

We all need to get a good night’s sleep to help rejuvenate our mind and our body, but with our busy work schedule, we barely get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day. If you have been missing out on restful sleep for some time now, you’ve probably noticed its effects on your hair. Don’t be surprised when this happens because not getting enough sleep can disturb our hormone levels which can also affect our hair’s overall health.

Dehydration

Another possible reason why our hair is not looking great is that we are suffering from dehydration. Our body is made up of 70% water and when we haven’t been drinking enough in a day, we are putting ourselves at risk of dehydration. Drinking beverages such as iced tea, soda, and alcohol are not really recommended. Plain water can help flush the toxins in our body, while revitalizing our hair and scalp.