Sleep Your Way To Better Hair

According to a Consumer Reports survey, 164 million Americans a week suffered from insomnia well before coronavirus. But now, those numbers are climbing even higher as we all anxiously navigate this new reality.

Many of us know that getting enough sleep each night is critical in supporting optimal immune system function, alleviating stress and depression and increasing daily productivity. But did you know it also helps support healthy hair growth and can even help with hair loss and thinning?

The Facts - Does sleep help hair growth

Hair loss, slower hair growth and thinner hair are a natural part of the aging process. It is normal to lose anywhere between 50 to 150 scalp hairs a day. But if you’ve been noticing significantly more hair fall lately and haven’t been sleeping well, there is strong evidence that the lack of sleep could be to blame. The good news is that there are plenty of solutions out there to help!

How Sleep Impacts Hair Quality

There are many ways sleep quality affects strands. Lack of sleep can result in higher levels of stress which has been shown to result in telogen effluvium hair loss (in plain speak, that’s when the hair follicle is forced into a premature resting state followed by premature shedding). It also can stop the body’s ability to generate healthy epithelial cells (your scalp skin and hair follicles are made up of layers of these cells, so if the cells are weaker so is your hair!). And lastly, sleep deprivation can affect your body’s ability to produce a hormone called melatonin, which not only helps regulate your sleep cycle but is also linked to increased hair growth.

The most impactful route to reclaiming your hair is with a 2-pronged approach that focuses on getting more sleep and using the right hair-care products that will help protect and strengthen the hair you have while supporting future hair health.

3 ‘Must have’ Sleep Products for a Better Night’s Rest

If the usual advice of ‘exercise more daily, cut down on caffeine, try an evening meditation app, put an aromatherapy diffuser with calming lavender or white noise machine in your bedroom, stay off your iPhone before bed, etc’ doesn’t work, we swear by these 3 products:

• Take CBD oil or chews 15-20 minutes before bedtime allows the body to relax and unwind setting the stage for a more restful sleep*. We love Healist Advanced Naturals Sleep Drops because of their high-quality, expertly crafted U.S. organically farmed CBD and botanical essential oil blends. All Healist Advanced Naturals products are also vegan, cruelty-free and non-GMO.
• Try a weighted blanket. Weighted blankets provide warm, gentle pressure that mimics the feeling of being held, naturally increasing the body’s production of serotonin (a technique known as Deep Touch Pressure). Weighted blankets are available at a variety of price points and also lighter, cooling options perfect for summer (or hot flashes!).
• Change your lightbulbs. It’s not just the light from your smartphone that can keep you awake. There are a variety of light bulbs including GE’s C-Life and C-Sleep Smart or HealthE’s Good Night LED bulbs that offer lower, sleep enhancing light levels to help support the body’s natural melatonin production – your sleep and hair growth hormone!

Choosing Better Haircare Products

Hair that’s been impacted by the body’s natural aging process + sleep + stress tends to be weaker and more fragile. Step one is choosing high quality, sulfate-free products that replenish moisture to existing hair, fortifying hair to decrease breakage and helping hair appear fuller and shinier. We love Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner with strengthening Bamboo and thickening Hops and Lift Me Up Hair Thickener, a double award-winning styling product that lifts hair at the roots and wraps around each strand for fuller looking styles, while nourishing the scalp and follicles with ceramides and niacinamide to promote healthier hair.

For your healthiest hair longer term, consider products that improve the condition of the scalp and support the body’s inner health. Superpower Fortifying Hair & Scalp Serum helps nourish the scalp and energize follicles to promote healthier hair. When used daily along with Significant Other Hair, Skin & Nails Supplement + Retinol Boost, hair becomes stronger, thicker and healthier over time.

We’d love to hear from you! What are your favorite sleep tips or products?  Comment below.

Note: Significant hair loss can be linked to a variety of factors aside from the body’s natural aging process including underlying medical conditions, medications, genetics, and hormones so the most important question you should always ask yourself when experiencing significant shedding is “What’s behind my hair loss?”, consulting with your doctor.

* The statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any diseases.