How Stress Affects Your Scalp—And What to Do About It

From deep breathing to a healthier diet and optimized hair care regimen, trichologist Bridgette Hill has some sage advice to solve your scalp issues.

How Stress Affects Your Scalp—And What to Do About It

If you’re contending with any scalp issue—be it itchy, oily, or losing hair—there’s a decent chance it could be stress-related. (Just one more reason to commit to mindfulness during a particularly anxious time.) As trichologist and Paul Labrecque salon stylist Bridgette Hill explains it, “Stress increases the cortisol levels in our bodies and cortisol levels have a direct correlation to the hair follicle,” meaning issues at scalp-level might be hinting at overall anxiety. Hill has seen clients who complain of overly oily hair, when “there are things going on with them internally, causing stressors to trigger scalp issues that leads to different fungus and bacteria or a flaky, itchy scalp.” 

To help clients deal with scalp issues, Hill has launched an analysis tool, Root Cause, accessible online and through an app. Paired with a virtual consultation, it offers a deeper understanding of the potential issue at hand as well as the best plan of action to take. But here, in the interim, Hill provides best practices to help you throughout the journey of healing your scalp, and reaching your hair goals. 

Watch What You Eat

“Our goal is to always be improving nutrients in the body through the cell tissues and blood, and they need to be addressed internally and externally,” Hill says. Up your intake of fruits and vegetables—especially dark leafy greens—and decrease red meats, sodium, caffeine, and sugar intake if hair loss is something you’re worrying about.

Tune Into Your Breath

Plan ways to reduce your anxiety and relax your brain. Meditation is one proven method for finding calm and control. “I think one thing we take for granted is our own breath. People don’t realize simply slowing down your breathing helps reduce inflammation in the body as well.”

Adjust Your Hair Habits

As someone who struggles with stress-induced alopecia areata firsthand, Hill has a few favorite scalp rejuvenating products. A hair serum by Dr. David Kingsley called British Science, is “infused with vitamin Bs, which are so great for keeping follicular activity going,” Hill notes. Although she doesn’t shampoo often, when she does, Hill loves the Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Shampoo. She recommends those with longer strands put their shampoo products into an applicator bottle “so that the product penetrates the scalp more deeply.”

British Science Formulations Healthy Hair Serum

Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Shampoo

Between shampoos, rinse and condition with René Furterer Complexe 5 Detoxing Oil. “It's truly a cleansing oil, and that is a great thing for cellular turnover. It gets the blood circulating intensely and has lots of active oils that penetrate and reduce inflammation,” Hill said, “which is the end goal.”

René Furterer Complexe 5 Detoxing Oil

This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Akili King