The Impact of Hormones on Hair Hair Growth: What You Need To Know

Your hair is an essential aspect of your physical appearance and can play a significant role in your self-confidence. However, various hormones in your body can affect the health of your scalp and growth of your hair.

Hair growth is a complex process involves a delicate balance of various factors. Understanding the hair growth cycle and how hormones affect it can help you combat hair loss and choose the right products for your hair care routine. In this blog post, we'll explore the different stages of hair growth, how hormones affect hair health, and how you can help treat hair loss and promote healthy hair growth.

The Root of The Matter: Understanding The Hair Growth Cycle

Hair growth is a natural process that occurs in cycles. Each hair follicle undergoes a series of phases, namely the anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting) phases. During the anagen phase, which lasts for several years, hair grows actively. During the catagen phase, which lasts for a few weeks, the hair follicle begins to shrink and detach from the dermal papilla, which supplies blood and nutrients to the hair. Finally, during the telogen phase, which lasts for several months, the hair rests and eventually falls out, making way for a new hair to grow.

The duration of each phase varies depending on various factors, including genetics, age, and hormonal fluctuations. Hormones play a crucial role in regulating the hair growth cycle. Hormones such as androgens, estrogens, endocrines, and thyroid hormones can disrupt the hair growth in both men and women by affecting the duration of each phase.

The Hormonal Hair Equation: The Science Behind Hair Growth

Hair loss is a common problem that affects many people, and it can be caused by a variety of factors, including hormonal imbalances. Now let's explore how five hormones – cortisol, DHT, estrogen, thyroid, testosterone, and insulin – can impact your hair.

1. Cortisol:

Cortisol is a hormone that is released in response to stress. It is known as the "stress hormone." It plays an important role in the body's stress response and helps regulate blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and immune function. 

Elevated cortisol levels can cause hair follicles to prematurely enter the telogen phase, leading to increased hair shedding and thinning. Additionally, cortisol can reduce the production of estrogen and testosterone, which are hormones that play a crucial role in hair growth.

2. DHT:

DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is a derivative of testosterone that is produced in the hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and adrenal glands.  

DHT affects the hair growth cycle by shortening the anagen phase and lengthening the telogen phase. DHT can cause hair loss by binding to hair follicles and shrinking them. This causes the hair follicle to produce shorter, thinner hair, and eventually, the hair stops growing altogether. DHT also causes inflammation, which can damage the hair follicle and further contribute to hair loss.

3. Estrogen:

Estrogen is a hormone that is primarily associated with female development. However, both men and women have estrogen in their bodies. 

While estrogen can promote hair growth, it can also contribute to hair loss in certain situations. When estrogen levels are high, such as during pregnancy or while taking hormonal birth control, the hair growth cycle is prolonged, which can result in thicker and fuller hair. However, when estrogen levels drop, such as after giving birth or stopping hormonal birth control, the hair growth cycle can be disrupted, resulting in hair loss.

Estrogen can also contribute to hair loss during menopause. As women age, their estrogen levels naturally decrease, which can result in thinning hair and hair loss. This is because estrogen helps to protect hair follicles from the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can damage hair follicles and lead to hair loss.

4. Thyroid:

The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. When the thyroid gland is overactive or under-active, it can lead to hair loss. This is because the hair growth cycle is directly linked to the body's metabolic rate. 

Thyroid hormones affect hair growth in several ways. Firstly, they control the rate at which hair follicles grow and the quality of the hair produced. An imbalance in thyroid hormone levels can lead to abnormal hair growth, such as thinning, hair loss, or even excessive hair growth.

Secondly, thyroid hormones also affect the hair growth cycle. Thyroid hormones play a vital role in regulating the duration of each phase of the hair growth cycle. An imbalance in thyroid hormone levels can lead to disruptions in the hair growth cycle, resulting in hair loss or reduced hair growth.

Finally, thyroid hormones also affect the structure and texture of hair. Thyroid hormones regulate the production of keratin, which is the primary protein that makes up hair. An imbalance in thyroid hormone levels can lead to changes in the quality of hair produced, such as dry, brittle hair or hair that is overly soft and fragile.

5. Testosterone:

Hormones, particularly androgens like testosterone, can impact hair growth by stimulating hair follicles and promoting hair growth (primarily associated with male development). However, both men and women have testosterone in their bodies. Over production of testosterone can affect hair growth by shortening the anagen phase and prolonging the telogen phase. This can result in hair loss and thinning, particularly in individuals with a genetic predisposition to androgenetic alopecia, also known as "male-pattern baldness." However, as we have already discussed, testosterone can also be converted to DHT. 

DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink, resulting in shorter and thinner hair strands. Over time, the hair follicles can become so small that they stop producing hair altogether.

6. Insulin:

Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels in the body. When the body becomes resistant to insulin, it can lead to a condition called insulin resistance. 

Insulin resistance can disrupt this growth cycle by prolonging the anagen phase and delaying the onset of the resting phase (catagen phase). This can result in an overproduction of hair, which can be seen in conditions like hirsutism (excessive hair growth) or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). 

Insulin resistance also can cause hair loss by reducing the amount of blood flow to the hair follicles. This can starve the hair follicles of nutrients and oxygen, leading to hair loss.

Hair Resurrection

Fortunately, there are ways to treat hair loss and promote healthy hair growth. One effective solution is House of Dear's Resurrecting Wash and Rinse, a clean haircare system designed to restore hair health and promote growth.

The Resurrecting Wash shampoo contains ingredients like aloe vera, a natural exfoliant, which brings thousands of antioxidants to the scalp helping with inflammation and blood circulation. Additionally, aloe vera soothes the hair and the scalp to deeply clean and reduce inflammation.

Then the Rose of Jericho provides intense hydration, while work together with sunflower seed extract that serves as a natural UV protectant, SPF, and thermal protection to protect the the scalp from the sun and other external irritants.

The Resurrecting Rinse conditioner also contains ingredients such as aloe vera, Rose of Jericho and sunflower seed extract, but also hydrolyzed lupine protein that serves as a natural strengthening agent, and prickly pear which helps volumize hair and enhance shine.

The House of Dear Resurrecting Wash and Rinse were designed to work perfectly together to target and treat your scalp. What makes this combination different and effective, is that both the Wash and the Rinse can be applied directly to the scalp in comparison to competitors that only target the ends of the strand when it comes to hydration.

By using House of Dear's Resurrecting Wash and Rinse, you can help to restore your hair's health and promote growth, while also protecting against damage and breakage. So if you're looking for a solution to hair loss or just want to promote healthy hair growth, give House of Dear's Resurrecting Wash and Rinse a try.