How Stress Affects Your Hair & Skin
​by Kerri Lee-Young
 
In our latest article, How Stress Affects Your Body, we took you on a head-to-toe journey and shared with you just how damaging stress can be on your overall health. We also shared what the three different types of stress are and how to overcome them in your life. To show you how stress affects you on the outside, we’re going to breakdown what it can do to your skin and hair if you don’t address and resolve what’s stressing you out.
 
How Stress Affects Your Skin
When you become stressed, there’s this hormone that gets released into your body called cortisol. This is an adrenal hormone that (along with epinephrine) primarily aids in “fight or flight” situations. When you become stressed, and when stress goes from acute to chronic, cortisol levels rise and go from being helpful to dangerous.
 
When you’re under an insurmountable level of stress, your skin becomes more sensitive and vulnerable. It also has a harder time healing. When the body signals the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, it causes your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. If you already have oily skin, then you experience an increase in acne and breakouts. And to make matters worse, it can also trigger a breakout in hives, rashes and fever blisters no matter what your skin type is. If you are already suffering from Psoriasis, Rosacea or Eczema, then your already severe condition is going to worsen. Having a skin condition is a stressful situation, and as your skin worsens, it can lead to feelings of embarrassment and isolation.
 
To reduce the effects of stress on your skin, we recommend the following:

• Meditate & Relax: You don’t need to don a pair of yoga pants (unless you’re always living in your activewear) and be sitting in a Zen temple to meditate. You just need a quiet space and a place to relax.
• Stretch: Stress takes a toll on your body, and one of the reactions to stress is your muscles get tight and tense. By engaging in some quick stretching exercises, you can loosen up the tension and get the blood circulating. This will help lower the cortisol levels.
• Skin Care: Don’t neglect your already established routine, especially if your stress has anything to do with time management (or lack of).
• Eat Right: Make sure you’re eating healthy and not ingesting foods that are high in trans fat. Better yet, get into the habit of eating healthy snacks. We don’t mean go eat your feelings or binge on a bowl of ice cream. We mean go make a healthy snack or take five minutes to eat one that you may have packed and taken with you before you left the house. When your blood sugar drops and hunger sets in, you become cranky, and when you get cranky you get stressed.

How Stress Affects Your Hair
We’ve all endured a level of stress that has made us scream, “This is making me pull my hair out!” But the sad reality of it all is that you don’t really need to pull any of your hair out when you’re stressed since it’s going to fall out anyways. That’s one of the main marks stress makes on your hair—hair loss. There’s actually three different types of hair loss:

• Telogen Effluvium: This is when hair follicles go “to sleep” or go into a resting phase and actually stop hair from growing. Over the course of time, the hair attached to those napping follicles actually falls out in larger than normal volume. It’s the most common of stress-related hair loss that we all experience or have experienced at one time in our lives.
• Alopecia Areata: This is a bit more serious of a condition due to the fact that the immune system goes into panic mode and causes hair to fall out in large chunks. Now, we do need to point out that there are other factors involved with this type of hair loss and it is not just isolated to stress. But, it is important to point out that stress does play a serious role.
• Trichotillomania: This is on a very serious level, because it is an actual behavior and not a mere reaction to hormones spiking or follicles resting. Trichotillomania is when a person compulsively pulls out their own hair, and this condition often develops as a coping method when someone is under severe duress, stress, anxiety, boredom or depression.

We also must point out that experiencing hair loss is not only stress-related and can sometimes be attributed to other medical conditions like Hypothyroidism and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). If you are experiencing hair loss, we do recommend you see a medical expert first and foremost.
 
Many people say that stress causes gray hair, but there’s some myth (and actually a little truth) surrounding that statement. Gray hair is genetic, not stress-induced, BUT…if you are predisposed to getting gray hair, then stress will speed up this process and make these white strands appear sooner.
 
As far as ways to combat stress and to prevent experiencing hair loss, thinning and premature graying, we recommend you follow some of the strategies we’ve already mentioned above and recommend you practice a few more like these. Sometimes, all it takes is five minutes to help feel less stressed. Surely you can find five minutes in your day to protect your health for a lifetime.
 
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There’s help for those who are experiencing hair loss. … You no doubt have heard of the two FDA-approved medications — Propecia and Rogaine — that are designed to help combat hereditary hair loss, but you don’t know which one is the most effective or best suited for you.

Propeciavs. Rogaine: Which Works Better?

Minoxidil is a medication that's commonly marketed under the name Rogaine, and finasteride is marketed under the label Propecia. You might use either Rogaine or Propecia to help treat hair loss. Talk with your physician before you use these medications for hair loss, because they both pose certain health risks, drug interactions and side effects.

Function
Rogaine and Propecia both inhibit hair loss while promoting hair growth, explains the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Rogaine is an over-the-counter treatment used primarily for treating androgenetic alopecia, also called male- and female-pattern baldness, and alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease. Rogaine appears to make hair shafts thicker and increase the number of hair follicles, notes the University of Michigan Health System.

Propecia requires a prescription. It is used to treat androgenetic alopecia specifically in men. It affects male hormones that cause hair loss by blocking testosterone's conversion into dihydrotestosterone, or DHT.

Applications
Rogaine is a topical treatment that comes in the form of a foam, lotion or liquid spray. It is available in a 2 or 5 percent concentration solution that you apply to your scalp twice each day.

Propecia is a pill taken by mouth once daily or as directed by your doctor.

Timeframe
Rogaine topical solutions can take up to four months of daily use to show maximum effect, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. If you don't see a significant change in hair loss or growth after six months of use, you might want to try a different remedy. Unlike Propecia, Rogaine might generate new hair growth that's much thinner and shorter than your regular hair.

Noticeable results from taking Propecia can occur in as little as three months or up to one year. If you stop using Rogaine or taking Propecia, your hair loss will likely resume, and new hair growth will stop, because these treatments don't usually have any effects beyond active use, the Mayo Clinic points out.
 
Side Effects
Both Propecia and Rogaine can cause some side effects. Rogaine can cause itching, dandruff and skin irritation, cautions the University of Michigan Health System. Also, women who use Rogaine could grow unwanted facial hair. Propecia can cause erectile dysfunction, low sex drive and other sexual-function problems in men. Propecia might also cause drug interactions, so talk with your doctor about any other medications that you're taking.

Warnings
Propecia poses serious health risks to women and children. Pregnant or breastfeeding women shouldn't take or even handle Propecia pills, and men taking Propecia should use birth control with their partners to prevent pregnancy while on the medication, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Propecia could cause serious birth defects. Women using Rogaine who also take estrogen-containing medications like oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy could experience enhanced hair growth, notes the University of Michigan Health System. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you should ask your doctor before using Rogaine.

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Here are some other links I found very informative.

Propecia vs. Rogaine: Which Works Better?

Male Pattern Baldness Treatments

Propecia Side Effects

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Curly girls are special people with special hair, and sometimes those crazy curls need some extra TLC! No, we can’t just shower and go. Yes, we sometimes wish we could. Trust me, as someone who has lived with curly hair all my life, I know the struggles. But I also know how beautiful curly hair can be! Don’t be discouraged ladies with curly hair, there are ways to hack your luscious locks. Try any of these brilliant tricks to keep your hair manageable, frizz-free, and looking fabulous.
 
Invest in a Wide Tooth Comb
I know that we’re taught that if we have curly hair, we’re not supposed to comb our curls. But, luckily, there is a time and a tool to comb those curls!
 
Right when you get out of the shower, put product in your hair and comb it all the way through, even to the roots. This will distribute product without you putting oil directly on your roots, and a thicker comb will be less likely to snap in thicker hair.
 
Try Plopping Your Hair
Drying curling hair with a regular towel is A BIG NO. The fibers in regular towels will mess up your hair, only causing frizz.
 
If you don’t want to avoid toweling off all together, dry your hair off with a t-shirt. The microfibers of a tee are much more gentle on curly hair. This technique, called plopping, is the best way to dry your hair without ruining the curls.
 
Avoid Triangle Head
The worst nightmare of curly girls everywhere: the dreaded triangle head. This conundrum happens when the bottom of your hair poofs out and the top stays flat – resulting in an unflattering triangle shape. The trick to avoid it?  Layers upon layers upon layers.
 
Figure Out What Curls You Have 
The best way to address your curls? 
Figure out what kind of curls you have! Use this helpful chart to figure out where your curls fall.
 
Deep Condition Your Hair
Once a week, you should deep condition your hair. If you’re not sure where to start on the road to deep conditioning, start with this coconut hair mask! It’s easy to make and will treat your hair to a spa-like treatment your curls will soak right up.
 
Use Hefty Hair Clips
Do you shower at night? That can make styling your curls for the next day difficult. Don’t just sleep on wet curls, pin them with these hefty clips. Twist each piece of hair before clipping and the morning you’ll have dry, full curls to work with!
 
Pineapple Your Hair
Speaking of nighttime routines, try a technique called “pineappling” with your dry curls. Flip your curls  upside down and secure so that your hair won’t get mussed up on the pillow.
 
Purification Shower Head
If you think water purification is just for drinking water, you couldn’t be more wrong! This special shower head purifies water and balances your pH, keeping your hair healthy and strong,
 
Grow Your Hair Out 
Curly girls can grow out their hair, too. You just have to figure out HOW to grow out your particular type of curls. Use this helpful infograph to figure how you should grow out your hair.
 
How To Style Curly Hair
This is the ultimate technique – I use it myself!
 
When you get out of the shower, put product on the bottom 3/4 of your hair and brush it through with a comb. Then flip your hair, loosen your curls, and scrunch. When the curls are starting to form, put a diffuser on your blow dryer and dry your hair upside down. When the curls start to dry correctly, flip your hair up and dry curl with the diffuser into the style you want. The result? Lovely, frizz-free curls.
 
Avoid Heat 
At all costs, avoid intense heat on your curls! Embrace your natural texture (it’s beautiful, we promise) and nix using straightening irons, curling irons, and even blow dryers, too frequently.
 
Do you have any tricks to keep your curls looking amazing?  Share them with me the next time you’re in the salon.

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If you've dyed your hair at least once, then you're well acquainted with the whole new world of hair care you have to submit to in order to keep your locks looking healthy and undamaged. But there are still some things you should do when you color your hair that your stylist wish you knew, ensuring that your next hair appointment won't be derailed with them trying to bring your dry, fried hair back to life. Or worse, trying to fix an accidental color that was so not what you envisioned.
 
While we might use our best efforts to deep condition and shower with purple or red shampoos at home, beauty care is sometimes rough — and expensive. But there are simple steps and measures you can take before coming to the salon that will ensure your coloring process goes as smoothly and stress-free as possible. You don't have to keep your fingers crossed underneath the hair cloak that your hair actually turns out blonde and not brassy, or brown and not ashy. If you follow the steps below, you'll leave the salon looking just how you imagined. Ahead are tips straight from stylists and colorists on what to do when you color your hair at a salon.
 
1. Get A Water Filter For Your Bathroom 
While many of us obsess with getting color treated shampoos to keep our hair healthy and primed for color, we might overlook the actual water running out of our taps. But according to Meredith Morris, stylist, colorist, and owner of MAVEN Beverly Hill, that's a huge oversight.
 
"Before you do anything, invest in a water filter for your shower. The water from the shower contains many minerals and it can deposit onto your hair. These minerals cause buildup and can discolor your hair, so purifying your shower experience is an absolute must," she says.
 
2. Wash With A Detoxifying Shampoo
In order to get the cleanest color, you have to make sure you don't have any buildup in your hair before you sit in your stylist's chair. "A few days prior to your hair color appointment, clarify your hair with a detoxifying shampoo. This will clean and rid your hair of any buildup from both the environment and products," Morris shares.
 
3. Wash Your Hair The Day Of The Appointment
"It's best to go to the salon appointment with your hair as your normally style it day to day. This will help tremendously in the consultation portion of your appointment. Your stylist/colorist will be able to better accommodate your needs when seeing what and how you do your hair on a daily basis," Morris points out.
 
In fact, coming in with dirty hair will throw your colorist off her evaluation. "Dirty hair is stinky and the excess oils can dull and visually darken the natural color of the hair preventing the stylist from being able to make a proper assessment of the situation," Morris stresses.
 
4. Be Honest About Your Hair Coloring History
This isn't the '50s anymore and we shouldn't be embarrassed for being bottle blondes, red heads, or what ever color you chose. Because of that, be upfront with your colorist when they ask about your salon past.
 
"It is a very common misconception that once you can no longer see colour visually, it means that the colour is gone completely. Color does not dissappear, but fades or is covered with the truth laying underneath," Jaymi Van Horne, a hairstylist at Toronto's Good Day Hairshop explains in an email interview with Bustle. "I frequently hear clients say 'it’s all my natural' when in fact they coloured it 4 years ago and I will come across it about 10-15” down. It is imperative that you mention any and all color or relaxer services that have been performed in the past to ensure the best outcome," Van Horne stresses. That way different sections of your hair won't turn a different shade because they absorbed the color incorrectly.
 
5. Brush Your Hair Out
It can be tempting to throw your hair into a ponytail and leave for your day of pampering, but be sure you brush it out properly before you go. "Sometimes I spend 20 minutes just brushing out a messy bun when I really should be focusing on my formulation," Van Horne says. "Services are based on time and adding steps like straightening or brushing can intervene with how much time is spent actually doing your colour." Be courteous to your stylist and do that little step!
 
6. Come With Plenty Of Research Ready 
While not many of us say "do whatever you want" when sitting in the chair, trying to describe the color with your words is just as vague. Instead, do yourself and the colorist a favor by coming in ready with pictures.
 
"Since no color can be exactly recreated (as everyone’s hair varies in texture and thickness — and we’re artists, not robots) I like to tell a client that we will personalize their look based on the three they have shown me. A customized combination that suits their look and lifestyle," Van Horne explains. This way, you'll be able to get the color you've been daydreaming about in your head.
 
7. Chill On The Softness
If you're a serial hair dyer, chances are you're diligent with treatments and masks to keep it soft. But, Van Horne points out, there is such a thing as overkill.
 
"People often come to me with overly hydrated hair — that is, their hair is breaking and won't roundbrush because the hair is so bogged down with moisture. Like skin, too much of a good thing in your hair can cause inflammation and leave you with the exact opposite of what you were trying to achieve. Just because it’s colored, doesn't mean it needs a moisturizing treatment seven days a week," Van Horne shares. Instead, stick to a hair mask about once a week and let your hair breathe.
 
8. Stay Still 
While it might be tempting to look around the salon or down at your phone during a long color job, fight the urge. "You don't have to be a statue, but nothing is worse than trying not to overlap (and over-process) bleach while your client is looking in every direction. We know it’s hard to sit there for hours on end, but asking if you can grab your coffee before actually doing it can make the difference between bleeding tiger stripes and the sun-kissed (healthy) blonde of your dreams," Van Horne points out. Try to stay in one spot.
 
9. Pay Attention To Your Hair Texture After The Appointment
Everyone's hair reacts differently to color, so keep an eye on your texture to see what your locks need after the process. "If your hair is feeling limp like an overcooked spaghetti, you need protein. If it's dry and and flakes off when you brush it, you need moisture. Look for products that support each role for ideal results," Van Horne explains. That way you keep your hair looking healthy for longer.
 
Keep these simple tips top of mind next time you book your next color appointment — your hairstylist will love you for it!