In short, YES! It's not our imagination; hormonal changes bring many unwanted changes to our hair. Periods of significant hormonal changes such as Perimenopause, menopause and Postpartum (also known as telogen effluvium) can cause havoc on our hair.
HOW DO HORMONES AFFECT OUR HAIR?
Because our hair's growth cycle is affected by hormones, the changing hormone levels around any of these periods often accelerate any changes to your hair. Most changes are due to immense hormonal fluctuations, and the main two culprits are estrogen and progesterone. During Menopause, perimenopause and postpartum, estrogen levels decrease: estrogen is a hair-friendly hormone that helps to keep hair in its anagen (growth) phase for longer.
When estrogen and progesterone levels decline or are off-balance, hair growth slows, and hair loss becomes more pronounced. As they decline, the production of natural oils in the scalp decreases, leaving hair feeling dry and brittle and resulting in more frizz. You may also notice your hair is thinning, lacking volume, or shedding more.
On the other end of the scale, some women may notice their hair becoming wavy or curly during or after these phases. This can be due to several factors, including changes in the natural oils in the scalp, alterations in hair follicle shape, and changes in the hair's protein structure.
📌Deep Condition
This will fuel your hair with moisture. Helping to prevent dryness, breakages and frizz.
Try Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment for medium to thick or protein sensitive hair or Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner for fine hair or if a protein treatment is desired.
📌Treat Your Scalp Like the Ultimate Feeding Ground to Optimize Hair Growth
Now is the time to scale up your scalp care routine. If your scalp is dry, use gentle, moisturizing shampoos and wash it less frequently. If your scalp is oily, you may want to shampoo every other day; this varies from person to person. It's important to get movement in the scalp area. The capillaries underneath the skin shrink and must be stimulated to increase the blood flow to the hair roots. Scalp treatments and scalp massaging daily are great ways to do this.
Try Jessicurl Stimulating Scalp Massage Oil to stimulate the hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth.
📌Use a Hair Oil
This will seal the moisture within your hair strands while adding shine.
Try Jessicurl Oil Blend for smoothing out frizz, layering into styling routines, or with heat for deeper hydration.
📌Incorporate More Protein
Hair is primarily made of protein, specifically keratin. A decrease in estrogen levels can lead to thinner hair and slower growth. To combat this, increasing protein intake can be beneficial. Good protein sources include lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and soy products.
While it may feel like you are losing control over your hair at this time, you can control many factors in terms of diet, lifestyle, and hair care; these are three significant areas that can influence your hair health.
Remember, while we may be dreaming of our hair as it was, other people don't view your hair in the past; they see it as it is now. Tweaking your current hair routine or adding additional steps once you've recognized your hair's new attributes will help this phase of your hair flourish!
(Always seek professional advice if you are experiencing severe hair loss.)
Love Claire x
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