It starts small: One day, you suddenly notice more hair than normal in your brush or around the shower drain. Then, the next, you start to see stray strands everywhere, from the bedroom to the kitchen. No matter the circumstances, experiencing any noticeable changes in your hairline can make you start to question what exactly is going on.
So, how do you know whether the amount of hair shedding is normal or if it’s signaling a more serious problem? Read on to learn more about some of the major signs of hair shedding. Plus, what products you really should be using to combat hair shedding.
Popular Products
Save $101
Hair
GRO Hair Serum (3 Pack)
Save $81
Hair
GRO Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner Kit
Save $131
Hair
GRO Full Routine Kit
Hair
Sign #1: Your Stress Levels Are Spiraling Out of Control
When your stress levels start skyrocketing, it can be damaging to both your mind and body alike. And while shedding 50 to 100 hairs per day is completely normal, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, excessive stress may lead to increased hair shedding. If you have clumps of hair coming out, seek the help of a dermatologist to perform a hair pull test to determine if the underlying cause really is stress or something more troubling.
Integrating other stress-reducing techniques such as yoga, self-care practices and massage can also help to quell excess tension. Treat yourself to a soothing, stress-busting self-care ritual, with the added benefit of improving blood circulation to your hair follicles at the end of the day. Pair a GRO Revitalizing Scalp Massager with Pure Marula Oil for a calming massage with both mental and physical health benefits.
Sign #2: You Can’t Sleep
Stress typically goes hand-in-hand with sleep — or rather, the lack of it with sleeplessness and/or trouble either falling or staying asleep. While yes, a certain degree of stress is necessary and needed for our bodies to function properly, it also elevates cortisol levels, which can negatively impact both hair growth cycles and potentially accelerate hair loss.
Higher cortisol can trigger pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins acting as messengers between cells that regulate — either creating or fighting — inflammation. Inflammation in the scalp can impact the health, growth and shedding of hair. Additionally, sleepless nights spent tossing and turning are more than simply disruptive — they can wreak havoc on hair, including shedding and breakage.
Counteract these hair issues by utilizing your pre-bedtime routine as an act of mindfulness. Truly taking the time to unwind is the ultimate act of self-care at the end of the day. Integrate a nightly ritual of applying GRO+ Advanced Hair Serum before bed. Then, hit the sack, resting — and protecting — your scalp and hair by sleeping on a gentle pillowcase to helps to minimize and prevent damage.
Related: Is Meditation Missing From Your Hair Growth Routine?
Sign #3: Your Diet Needs an Overhaul
From stress to travel to a jam-packed schedule, there are many factors that can make our daily eating habits less than ideal. And any other recent shifts, such as starting or stopping a diet or going on an extended junk food binge, can play a role in our overall health, including that of our hair.
One example: Eating too much sugar as a stress-coping mechanism. This can lead to imbalances, scalp irritation or sensitivity and inflammation, which can all potentially alter the hair growth cycles.
Consider adding a daily supplement into your routine like GRO Biotin Gummies to help fill in the gaps. Take one strawberry-flavored vitamin a day to get your daily dose of biotin, plus essential nutrients like folic acid, Vitamins A, B-5, -6 and -12, C and E, plus zinc — all of which are key in neutralizing free radicals, along with supporting and nourishing the scalp and hair.
Read: Nicole Cogan’s Favorite Vegamour Picks
The Takeaway
If hair shedding becomes troublesome or you notice clumps of hair loss, see your doctor. Otherwise, integrate holistic habits and targeted hair wellness products into your day-to-day schedule to make self-care, including for your scalp and hair, part of your regular routine for a healthier, happier you!
Popular Products
Save $101
Hair
GRO Hair Serum (3 Pack)
Save $81
Hair
GRO Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner Kit
Save $131
Hair
GRO Full Routine Kit
Hair
More from VEGAMOUR
- 6 Expert Tips to Stop Hair Thinning
- 6 Tips If Your Hair Won’t Stop Shedding
- How Often Should You Wash Thinning Hair?
- These Autoimmune Diseases Might Cause Hair Loss
Photo credit: Ömürden Cengiz/Unsplash
Author
Crystal Fenton
Author
Crystal Fenton
Crystal Fenton is a freelance writer & beauty editor with over a decade of experience in both print and digital content, Author of "The Healing Power of the Pineal Gland: Exercises and Meditations to Detoxify, Decalcify, and Activate Your Third Eye Chakra", Simon & Schuster, March '22 and E-RYT®200 YACEP® Yoga Instructor.