Source: Courtesy of Viviscal Professional
You might not be seeing your clients face-to-face, but that doesn’t mean you’re not in communication with them! It’s possible that you’re now fielding some questions about stress-induced hair loss from clients (or even experiencing it yourself). There’s no doubt about it: this is a stressful time for pretty much everyone. We all experience stress differently. Unfortunately, for some people, stress manifests as hair loss. So why does stress cause hair loss and what can you do about it?
Why Stress Causes Hair Loss
There are several reasons why periods of extreme stress can result in hair loss. First of all, stress can cause an involuntary contraction of your muscles. If you’ve ever felt tension in your neck or shoulders after a long day at work, you know exactly what we’re talking about. This tightening also affects the muscles in the scalp, which are connected to your hair follicles. This contraction can result in slowed hair growth. After a while, some of the affected hair follicles may even shed their hair.
Stress can also affect eating habits. If you tend to reach for sugary, starch-heavy foods when the going gets tough, you’re certainly not the only one. But choosing carb-heavy, processed foods instead of nutrient-dense whole foods means we’re consuming less of the nutrients necessary for healthy hair growth. Without those vital nutrients, hair growth can slow and stop altogether, leading to shedding.
Finally, stress is also thought to exacerbate other forms of hair loss, like alopecia areata and trichotillomania.
How to Reduce Hair Loss from Stress
If you or your client are experiencing hair loss, it may be wise to speak to a doctor. After all, hair loss can have many causes beyond stress. But it certainly never hurts to reduce your overall stress levels since stress can have many other unpleasant manifestations besides hair loss.
Of course, there’s no single right way to reduce stress. Every person needs to find the technique that works best for them. If you need a few ideas for yourself or your clients, these can help you get started:
1. Getting some exercise, whether that means taking a walk outside, running up and down the stairs, dancing to your favorite music, or following along with an online workout class
2. Practicing yoga or meditation
3. Creative activities like drawing, painting, or crafting
4. Working on a puzzle
5. Taking a hot bath or shower
6. Reading books or journaling
If a change in eating habits is to blame for hair loss, taking a hair growth supplement like Viviscal PRO may also help. Viviscal PRO is a 100% drug-free, clinically proven dietary supplement that effectively promotes existing hair growth in both women and men. Viviscal PRO supplements work by supplying vital nutrients to the hair follicles. The influx of these nutrients in the bloodstream help nourish hair follicles, encouraging them to grow strong and healthy hair.
And it really is effective! In the latest clinical trials, participants taking Viviscal PRO saw a 57% increase in the number of terminal hairs versus vellus hairs after three months. As a quick reminder, vellus hairs are the short, fine hairs that covers the body, while terminal hairs are the longer, pigmented hairs that grow on the head. After six months, users saw an 80% increase in the terminal hair count. That’s why Viviscal PRO is so popular with celebrities, dermatologists, and celeb stylists.
The good news about stress and hair loss? Once the offending stressor is removed, hair growth should go back to normal. While only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of stress-induced hair loss, it certainly doesn’t hurt to reduce stress levels and practice healthy habits.
