You might be thinking, why would hair need sleep at all? The truth is, your hair’s health depends very strongly on how much sleep you get. Long term exposure to stress and lack of sleep can affect your hair too, not just your body.

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We all know that adults need at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Anything less than this for more than a week can seriously damage your hair. Here’s how:

More Oil and Sebum

If you don’t sleep enough, your body’s blood pressure will rise, and your body will go into overdrive. A hormone called adrenaline will be released in order to sustain your body under sleep deprivation. Adrenaline will cause the body’s metabolism to go into overdrive, which means the production of oil and sebum in your hair will increase too.

Increased oil and sebum will leave your hair feeling heavy and lifeless. Plus it encourages the growth of fungi and bacteria which can lead to dandruff, scalp pimples or other problems.

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Loss of Hair

When you sleep, your body produces enzymes and hormones that cause hair growth. If you cut short your sleep sessions, these rapid hair growth sessions stop short too. This may lead to increased hair fall. If your lack of sleep continues for long periods, you can even develop a bald spot from the hair loss.

What Can You Do?

If you suffer from insomnia often, it may be time to discuss your condition with a doctor. He or she can then determine if your sleeplessness is due to physical or psychological reasons and advice on a suitable treatment.

Always try to sleep at a fixed schedule, and avoid drinking coffee after dinner. Try and set your priorities so that you can sleep enough, not just for your hair, but for your overall health.