Sleep is the body’s natural restoration period, the time when it rejuvenates and repairs itself. When this suffers, our hair can too. Without enough shut-eye, our tresses simply won’t grow as thick or as fast, and they will often lose their shine and bounce. Worse than lackluster beard is not being able to grow one it altogether. According to a leading hair loss clinic in Britain, The Belgravia Centre, a lack of sleep has been shown to affect the body’s immune function, hormone secretion, and physical and mental stamina. Hair is very sensitive to changes within the body, and hair loss is nearly always the consequence of an internal disturbance. That internal disturbance is often stress — something that goes hand and hand with sleep deprivation. While some people can get enough sleep in just a few hours each night, others need a full eight or nine hours to feel fully rested. Either way, if the normal sleep pattern is disrupted, it can trigger emotional and physical stress

Even if you manage to cover the dark circles under your eyes and get the red out, your hair may be a dead giveaway that you’ve been burning the midnight oil. Sleep plays an important role in allowing the body to repair and regenerate, and promote hair growth. Insomnia may disrupt your physical and emotional health. The hair is very sensitive to changes in the body, and hair loss will occur with such changes. While there are several pills, therapies and hair care products to reduce hair loss, it’s critical to identify the root cause of hair loss before any treatment and check whether healthy lifestyle changes would work. In many cases, one of the chief causes of hair loss is lack of sleep.

Hair growth can also be influenced by other factors such as trauma, stress and anxiety, family history, hormonal changes and use of certain medications. If left untreated or unchecked, insomnia can result in a very serious disorder that can prove fatal. Your body gets weak without enough sleep and it fails to absorb nutrients to maintain health, resulting in a weakened immune system, loss of hair volume and sheen, diffused hair across the scalp and receding hairline.

Suggested Habits for Better Sleep Patterns:

Sleep at a fixed time and wake up at the same time every day and make it a routine

Exercise daily and involve in physical activities such as gardening

Choose comfortable mattresses and pillows to sleep

Evaluate your bedroom and make sure there won’t be any noise or light that disturbs your sleep

Avoid sleeping in the afternoon if you can’t fall asleep at bedtime

Limit intake of caffeine and nicotine

Avoid alcohol before bed as it interferes with your sleep cycle

Reduce consumption of sugary foods and refined carbs

Don’t eat too late in the evening

Try not to drink any liquids before going to bed

Manage your stress with yoga or meditation

Stop using mobile phones on the bed as it may interrupt your sleep

Avoid using sleep medicines as they may have side effects

The importance of sleep cannot be understated, and there is evidence to suggest that the lack of sleep may play a role in hair loss or thinning hair with the primary mechanism being the build up of stress. Sleep and stress only play a very small role in hair loss though. While more research is required to fully understand the role sleep plays in the growth of hair, the studies suggest that numerous consequences of the lack of sleep may lead to hair that does not grow properly. There are many ways to address the lack of sleep, including making changes to your diet and consulting a medical professional to determine the causes of poor sleep.