The holiday season is full of festive fun—from decked halls to stacked social calendars. But with so many things to do and places to be, it’s not without stressful moments, which can have a culminating effect and manifest in physical ways.
Stress-related hair loss is surprisingly common this time of year, so if you’re seeing more strands in the shower drain, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about protective measures to maintain hair health (and a merry spirit) during the crazy holiday hustle.
The Relationship Between Stress and Hair Loss
Stress is hard on your whole body, including your hair. The most common type of hair loss from stress is called “telogen effluvium,” a condition where significant stress forces more hair follicles into the resting phase of the growth cycle. Following this prolonged resting phase, the hairs shed simultaneously (after 2-3 months) which can present as noticeable thinning.
In addition to triggering stress-related hair loss, increased pressure this time of year can exacerbate existing scalp issues like inflammation, which weakens hair follicles and leads to shedding. It can be tempting to deal with stress by reaching for comforts like one more cocktail, another serving of that sweet treat, or even skipping meals altogether. But by disrupting your body’s precious balance, you can create even more disruption in your hair’s healthy growth cycle.
How Can You Keep Your Hair Healthy During the Holidays?
1. Don’t Skimp on Self-Care
Things like finding the perfect gift, meeting end of year deadlines or planning a memorable gathering each come with their own pressures. Avoid burnout and keep stress at bay by scheduling time to decompress. It may seem counterintuitive to add even more things to your calendar, but time blocking can be a helpful way to ensure you remember and keep these “appointments” with yourself. Whether it’s a quick workout, coffee with a friend or a morning meditation, don’t miss these commitments that have the power to re-energize you when it matters most.
2. Eat and Sleep Like a Queen
Quality sleep is the most forgotten beauty secret but it’s a big one. Getting plenty of rest during stressful periods is the key to keeping energy levels up and making sure you glow from the inside out. Nutrition also plays a crucial role in hair strength and resilience. It’s okay to indulge, but we love the 80/20 rule during holiday festivities.
The 80/20 rule advises that you eat nutritious, nourishing foods 80 percent of the time and have a serving of your favorite treat with the other 20 percent. Hydration is important as well since cold temperatures and artificial heat can rob moisture from skin and hair. Remember to alternate with glasses of water between all the holiday “cheer.”
3. Supercharge Your Hair Care Routine
The right lineup of hair care products can help combat stress-related hair loss. In addition to regular washing and conditioning, growth serums help support stronger, thicker looking hair. Applied twice a day, our Vibrant Scalp Treatment is powered by a proprietary blend of biodesigned proteins and signal peptides formulated to boost elastin to help anchor hair. This breakthrough technology helps minimize visible shedding and is clinically proven to deliver fuller looking hair in 12 weeks. For further protective measures, always use a heat protectant before styling and avoid blow drying until your hair is 50-80% dry to prevent damage.
4. Boost Your Brows and Lashes
Hair loss from stress isn’t limited to your scalp. If you’re noticing skinny brows or sparse lashes, it’s time to bring in targeted brow and lash serums to help renew what’s been lost. Reclaim more youthful looking brows with our best-selling BROW Shape Altering Serum to naturally enhance brow shape and fullness. At the same time, enhance the length of your lashes with our award-winning LASH Follicle Fortifying Serum. Once your brows and lashes reach the fullness you desire, continue with the maintenance application to keep the look you love.
Stress-related hair loss often resolves once the underlying stressor subsides, but ongoing care is essential. By managing stress, nourishing your body, and investing in quality care products, you can ring in the new year with the confidence that comes with naturally beautiful hair, lashes and brows. Take a deep breath, relax, and let this be the season where your self-care resolutions take center stage.