Out & About July 2017

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If it seems like you’re having more than
your fair share of bad hair days, it might be
time to take a closer look. The state of your
strands can give you insight into what’s
going on inside your body—from psychological
issues to physical problems.
If you feel like your hair is going haywire here
might be a few things to consider.
You’re going through some stress
It’s normal to shed 80 to 100 hairs a day.
But if it looks like you’re losing more than
what’s normal for you, it could be a sign of hair
thinning, which is not permanent, brought on
by psychological and physical stressors, like an
illness, pregnancy, or a period of depression.
The thing is, this shift often isn’t noticeable until
three to six months after the event—so it can
be tough to associate the cause with the hair
loss.
Panic not: If a big stressor is behind your hair
loss, it’ll grow back on its own, though it can
take another three to six months before it’s
back to normal.
In the meantime, focus on overall wellness: get
seven and a half to eight hours of sleep a night
and find stress-busting activities.
You’re eating too much junk food
If your hair looks lacklustre, dull, brittle, or is
thinning, it may be time to rethink what’s on
your plate.
When it comes to healthy hair, your overall diet
is critically important. If you’re eating a highly-
processed diet, any nutrients you do get are
shuttled to your body’s crucial operations, like
your heart and other organs.
Your hair won’t turn brittle and dull after one
burger, but over time, strands can suffer from
lack of nutrients.
To prevent the issue altogether (or make up
for past bad behaviour), try a diet heavy on
whole, rather than processed foods, and full of
colour—that’s where fruits and veg come in.
That will give your body—and hair—what you
need to stay healthy.
You’re not eating enough (of the right) fat
If you’ve recently slashed fat from your diet
in the hopes of losing weight, your hair may
respond by becoming lacklustre and weak.
Not only does dietary fat contribute to the
health of your hair, it also helps your body
absorb key fat-soluble nutrients, like vitamin
D, which has been associated with hair loss in
women that don’t get enough.
Luckily, you can eat your fat and be healthy,
too—if you choose the right ones.
Focus on eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty
acids and monounsaturated fats. Consider this
your license to load your basket with satisfying
goodies like oily fish, avocados, dark choco-
late, and olive oil.
You have too much testosterone
If you notice hair loss at the crown of your head
and dark facial hair sprouting on your upper
lip or thickening hair on your arms, see if your
waistline also seems wider than usual.
Excess tummy fat stores testosterone, which in
turn stimulates hair follicles to perk up and take
on the growth patterns usually seen in men.
What you can do: eat less sugar (we should
only eat six teaspoons a day, but most of us
are getting far more than that) and exercise
regularly to help decrease tummy fat, one of
testosterone’s favourite hideouts, thus reducing
its side effects.
You’re not drinking enough water
If your lacklustre locks are accompanied by
hot flushes, night sweats or lack of energy, the
common denominator is likely dehydration.
Dehydrated hair is brittle.
As for the heat, muscles that are dehydrated
get hotter quicker.
Lots of organisations recommend getting 2.7
litres a day from beverages and water-rich
foods.
Your skin, hair, and muscles will soak it up
and you’ll love how you look and feel, so try to
increase your daily water intake one glass and
one day at a time.
Victoria Lee from Diverse Beauty
T: 01635 728036
Hair apparent
Do your tresses seem a little lacklustre, or are you noticing your hair falling out more rapidly than usual? There
may be a simple explanation says VICTORIA LEE, and an equally simple solution