The Missing Link: Diet Causes Weak Hair

With summer approaching fast, it’s crunch-time to get your bod back in shape before hitting the lake. But while counting calories may help you lose a little off your middle, it may be doing more than that: hair loss, while usually genetic, can also be caused by poor diet. If your body isn’t getting the nutrients it needs, it will begin to weaken—and that includes your hair.

What Weak Hair Does

While the Barnum & Baileys and Ringling Bros. stunt didn’t fail due to weak hair, it does demonstrate how important strong locks are. Weak hair can be evident through split ends, frequent hair loss, and hair that breaks easily through brushing or styling. While certain regimens—like towel-drying and heat-styling—are damaging, what you’re eating may have an even bigger impact.

Diets that are low in protein or iron may negatively impact your hair’s strength and growth. Low-protein diets, loss of blood or problems with nutrient absorption can point to a larger problem that you’ll want to discuss with your doctor; if a strict weight-loss diet is the culprit, however, it can be easily fixed. Your diet may take 2 to 3 months to fully impact your hair, so if you aren’t sure about your current dieting regimen, you may talk with your doctor to ensure your body—and hair—is getting what it needs.

Hair Maintenance

If your diet isn’t the culprit behind your weak and damaged hair, you may want to chat with your doctor about other potential causes: stress, medications, and surgeries are all possibilities. Once you get your locks in order, you’ll want to treat them with care. Here’s a basic list of hair do’s and don’ts:

• Do avoid washing your hair on a daily basis, because it will strip your hair of its natural oils. When you do wash your hair, avoid shampoos and products that feature heavy levels of alcohol and detergents. If you want to freshen up your look between washes, test out some dry shampoo—you can thank us later.
• Don’t avoid the hairdresser just because you’re trying to grow your hair out. A nice trim can rid your locks of any damaged or weakened hair, which will allow it to grow faster and healthier. Avoiding your stylist will only make things worse—trust us.
• Do use at-home hair products—if you know what you’re doing. If you must heat-style your hair, a good protectant can help stave off some of the damage. A nightly maintenance routine can also help your hair stay fresh and full, as long as you’ve been guided by an expert towards the right products for your hair.
• Don’t be rough with your hair—it only leads to more broken strands. Drying your hair with an old microfiber t-shirt is actually easier on your hair than a cotton towel, no matter what the movies will have you believe. If you’re prone to tangles, try easing them with a little conditioner and your fingers first; and try to avoid using heat styling tools on your soaking wet hair.

While you can’t always prevent your hair from becoming weak and falling out, you can start off with a strong foundation. Even after you’ve gone through hair transplantation, you’ll want to keep your locks strong and beautiful—and these tips can help. For more information, feel free to contact us! We’d love to hear from you!