Hair & Hormones
So I was literally going to title this blog “WTF is up with hormones?” Because that’s how I really feel. But, I didn’t. Cool story, huh?
First of all - what are hormones? Hormones are chemical signals that the body uses to send messages between body parts. The google definition is: The main function of endocrine glands is to secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Hormones are chemical substances that affect the activity of another part of the body (target site). In essence, hormones serve as messengers, controlling and coordinating activities throughout the body.
Weather you realize it or not, we all have been through a hormonal change. Some more severe & noticeable than others.
Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by hormones.
I’m raising mine!
(Also, if you don’t get this reference, please stop what you are doing and go watch the movie Mean Girls.
That’s way more important right now instead of reading this blog.)
K, back to the blog-
The H word… HORMONES. The dreaded changes that dramatically can seem like a personal roller coaster. I thought it was just up and down from month to month, come to find out… women’s hormones change dramatically every SEVEN years. 7 years?! I didn’t know this until a few years ago when I had a hormonal change that impacted my health greatly. But, that’s for another time. Okay, so hormones…seriously can have a big impact on your hair.
Hair texture usually changes throughout life, shifting with hormones, metabolism, and overall internal health. Here are some of the common causes of a change in your hair texture that specifically effect our hormone health. Now, obviously I am not a doctor, so please check with your healthcare professional for your specific hormone needs and changes. I’m going to keep this info short and sweet, since you can then further your research with your doc or good ol’ google. But, might I add- don’t do the “google diagnosis” thing… Take it from me. It’s a black hole of worry. Ask your doc.
MENOPAUSE:
Okay, so this one in particular, can trigger hair texture changes, as it causes androgen hormone levels to increase. Here’s a few things I’ve researched the heck out of the past couple years. While androgens do not necessarily decrease hair, they reduce hair’s diameter, resulting in an unwanted loss of volume. Isn’t that crazy? The human body, man… it’s something incredibly fascinating to me.
GENETICS AND HEREDITARY STUFF:
Genes play a very big role in determining how much our hair will thin and change as we age. If you want to get a good idea of how your hair may change over time, just look at your parents. If you have a genetic predisposition to thin hair, a reduction in hair volume can occur as soon as you hit puberty. For those with little or no genetic predisposition, hair thinning can be much milder.
The most common cause of hair loss, Androgenic alopecia, is hereditary and leads to an overall reduction in hair volume over time. This genetically determined type of hair loss typically occurs along the top of the head when hair follicles that are overly sensitive to normal levels of androgens (male hormones) become smaller, making hair thinner with each passing hair growth cycle.
NEW MAMAS THIS IS FOR YOU:
Hormonal fluctuations also affect your hair during and after pregnancy. When you’re pregnant, you may notice that your hair is thicker, shinier, and longer. This is due to higher estrogen levels and increased blood flow that naturally occurs in the body during pregnancy, which slows down the normal rate of hair fall. However, once you give birth to your baby, these estrogen levels drop. The sudden change causes sudden and significant postpartum hair loss typically beginning 2-4 months after the arrival of your little one(s). Sometimes it can also vary from child to child. I have lots of mama clients who had a lot of hair loss with their first and not their second, and vise-versa. Of course, this also depends on each individual women.
While it can be alarming to find large chunks of your hair in the shower drain… Most women do not typically lose more than what would have occurred during the 9 months of pregnancy. The hair loss just feels more dramatic because it is happening all at once. According to experts, new moms can lose up to 400 strands in a single day!
STRESS:
Another big cause of hair texture change is stress. I mentioned this in many blogs, including my post on “Your hair is everywhere”, a blog about shedding. But, in case you missed it… i’ll mention again. Stress messes with us, like, BIG TIME. And, our hormones are no exception to this reality. Unfortunately, stress can raise levels of male hormones, causing hair to shed and appear thinner. Since the average person loses 50 to 100 strands of hair a day, shedding should only be considered a problem when you notice an excessive amount of hair loss.
I will be releasing a PART 2 of this blog sharing my own personal hormonal struggles that had consumed me in the past few years. Would you be interested in hearing my personal journey with changes? I know, the suspense is JUST killing you - LOL, but i’m going to write it anyways.
In conclusion… The relationship you have with your mane is a lifelong journey.
For better or worse, hair texture changes are a normal part of aging.
I know this blog may have been slightly dry and consumed with facts, but it’s so important to be aware of what is happening in our bodies and tend to it the best we can. Hopefully this will be a great little reminder to stay in tune with your bod and pay attention to any changes.
The good news is, I’m here for you no matter which part of the journey you are on.
Hope you are staying well right now, sending love to you all!
xx, Car
Photos: @painted.harmony / Outfit&Photos: @jaydenpboutique