The impact of sleep on hair health
Lack of sleep has a direct impact on physical and mental health. It can cause concentration problems, weaken the immune system, or even increase the risk of certain illnesses.
Poor-quality or insufficient sleep can also impact the health of your hair. Discover its role and the solutions to limit its effects in this article.
What is the impact of lack of sleep on hair?
Lack of sleep has many negative effects on the health of your hair.
Increase in skin conditions
Lack of sleep directly affects skin health and therefore the scalp.
An experiment conducted in 2019 by Elma D. BARON showed the effects of sleep deprivation on skin health. This study compared dermatological conditions between night and day workers.
Result: night workers tend to have more skin problems such as acne, irritations, seborrheic dermatitis, or dandruff. This is due to an increase in certain substances such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, and cortisol. These molecules promote the growth of abnormal cells, responsible for skin problems.
Increase in oxidative stress
Lack of sleep increases the production of certain molecules called reactive oxygen species. They can damage cells by attacking lipids, proteins, and DNA, which causes inflammation and can lead to itching.
This production of ROS also impacts the induction of oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is an imbalance in our body: free radicals (unstable molecules that attack the body) increase, while antioxidants (the body’s natural shield that neutralize these free radicals) decrease. This then damages cells and tissues, including those of the scalp and hair follicles.
Increase in hair loss
Cortisol, the main stress hormone in humans, is generally secreted during the day in stressful everyday situations. However, an abnormally high level of this hormone at night disrupts sleep.
In addition, a high level of cortisol disrupts the hair growth cycle. Growth is then slowed and hair loss increased.
It is also during sleep that the body repairs and regenerates the cells of the scalp and hair follicles. However, insufficient sleep slows blood circulation to the scalp, which limits the supply of oxygen and nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
How to care for my hair
The first step to regaining beautiful hair is to sleep well. But since it’s not always easy to control the quality of your sleep, here are the right steps to take to limit the effects of fatigue on your hair when you lack rest.
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. As previously mentioned, lack of sleep slows blood circulation to the scalp, which can harm its balance.
To remedy this, opt for stimulating brushes. Our N.04 massaging brush offers a revitalizing and relaxing massage to the scalp thanks to its vegan nylon bristles. Blood circulation is thus stimulated and the growth of healthy hair encouraged.
In addition, this hairbrush is used on wet hair, making it ideal for applying treatments and helping them penetrate the hair fiber. It is perfect for fine curly hair. If you have thick, frizzy, or textured hair, go for the N.07 stimulating brush.
For sensitive scalps, THE ESSENTIAL N.03 hairbrush is best. Its blend of boar bristles and nylon bristles with small rounded tips makes it gentle on your scalp. It still provides a revitalizing massage, perfect for stimulating microcirculation. Moreover, its boar bristles, rich in keratin, help envelop the hair fiber and seal the cuticles for stronger and protected hair. Finally, it collects the scalp’s natural oils and distributes them to the ends to hydrate your hair.
To find the hairbrush that suits your needs, take the La Bonne Brosse hair diagnosis.