Battling brittle hair? What you need to know
Are you struggling with dry, damaged, breakable and brittle hair? While it might not be quite as concerning as hair loss, brittle hair is a sign that something needs to change for your hair’s sake. After all, hair is not just about vanity – it’s an indicator of your internal health too!
So if you feel like you’ve done everything to tackle your hair with no results, it’s time to understand what might be happening underneath.
What is brittle hair?
While we hear this term regularly, you may not be aware of what it entails. So first, let’s touch on what brittle hair is (so you know whether it’s a concern for you!)
When we talk about brittle hair, it is hair that is dry and/or damaged. It has a lack of moisture, so your hair appears dull, dry and frizzy. There’s no shine, no soft silkiness, just rough hair that tends to break easily.
What drives brittle hair?
Hair dryness and damage can both occur for many reasons. But assuming you’ve ruled out problems such as excess heat use on the hair, friction or use of harsh chemicals? It could be an internal concern.
Some common drivers I see in my clients include:
Thyroid function – of course! Any form of thyroid dysfunction can lead to brittle hair developing. But it tends to be more common in Graves’ and hyperthyroid clients.
Other autoimmune conditions – autoimmunity can cause many issues with hair health. Lupus, IBD and type 1 diabetes are just a couple of examples of conditions that could lead to brittle hair as a side effect of the disease process. On top of that, immunosuppressants can also lead to hair loss, breakage and dryness.
Lack of essential fatty acids – we don’t often think of fats as hydrating and nourishing, but they are, particularly when it comes to hair health. And of course, they protect against inflammation, which can drive health issues like thyroid dysfunction.
Impaired digestive function – like any other part of the body, the hair relies on specific nutrients to thrive. And for us to get those nutrients in, we need to consume and digest them. But many experience poor gut health, which can lead to issues such as fat malabsorption, reduced stomach acid (which means less protein, iron and zinc can be absorbed) and increased inflammation. All of these can feed into the process behind brittle hair.
Steps to nourish your brittle hair naturally
Now that you know why you might be experiencing hair concerns, what can be done? The good news is that we have control over many of the factors that contribute to brittle hair. So here are some simple steps to get you started.
Increase your protein intake
Low protein intake is a common issue with hair concerns. Without enough protein, your hair follicles cannot produce enough keratin, leaving your hair vulnerable and easy to damage.
It may be that you’re simply not consuming enough for your hair to get what it needs, or that you’re not digesting what you’re consuming. If you feel heavy after a protein-rich meal, it might be the latter that is the issue (so skip to step #2)
PS - Don’t get this confused with protein overload in hair issues, which is about using protein-containing products directly on the hair!
Optimise your gut function
To get the nutrients you need for healthy hair, the gut is always the most important focus! There are many ways that poor gut function can lead to hair issues, as we touched on earlier.
Need some guidance on how to nurture your gut? Start with these tips.
Don’t neglect your nutrients
If a client comes to me with hair symptoms, I always assess their intake and levels of specific nutrients. Depending on the individual’s case, these can include:
Essential fatty acids including omega 3s
Vitamin D
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
B vitamins
Zinc
Iron
Not sure if you’re low in these key nutrients? Make sure you seek support from a qualified health practitioner.
Choose hair care products designed for brittle hair
While your haircare products may not be able to reverse the internal effects, they can support future healthy hair growth. And of course, the right options will also avoid damaging ingredients that increase your risk of brittle hair!
I’ll have more about using both internal and external hair care options in a future article, so stay tuned for my recommendations.
NOTICED brittle, thinning HAIR, BREAKAGE OR HAIR LOSS DUE TO YOUR THYROID STRUGGLES?
This can be an incredibly stressful group of symptoms and significantly impact your self-esteem & mental wellbeing.
But there are steps you can take to improve your hair health. That's why I've created a new FREE resource for you: Thyroid Hair Loss!