Are you struggling with hair loss and have lost your confidence?
How many times have you looked in the mirror to check your confidence?
I know the questions sound strange, but my point is that when you look in the mirror and see what you like, you are more confident and have greater self-worth.
On the other hand, if you look in the mirror and your hair is not appealing to you, and you are having a "bad hair day," this adversely affects your confidence and self-esteem and can hamper your ability to conquer life goals or even daily tasks.
Don’t believe me?
A Yale University study of the psychology of bad hair days found that your self-esteem is negatively affected; you feel inadequate, self-conscious, and less likely to socialize with others when you disapprove of your hairstyle.
When experiencing hair loss both men and women may experience a lack of emotional stability, depression, and lack of motivation, leading to a low quality of life or a lack of happiness.
In this article, I will give you a new perspective on hair loss and how to regain your self-esteem and empower you to "Live Out Loud with Confidence and Purpose" using my "Be Positive" formula.
Here are my top ten tips for overcoming bad hair days that will put you in the right direction when you need it.
1: Be Optimistic
Hair is a hard pill to swallow and is justifiably the cause of depression, anxiety, and social phobia. Excessive worrying, being harmful and talking down to yourself will not help the situation.
Stress, depression, and anxiety have been linked to disrupting the hair’s growth cycle and causing severe hair loss. Stress can cause telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, and alopecia areata. These forms of alopecia can be permanent or temporary forms of hair loss.
Don’t be a pessimist!
On the contrary, when faced with a difficult situation, I have found that you must look at your case through a positive lens to seek solutions. It may be difficult but being hopeful of prevailing over a traumatic experience or change is essential.
2: Evaluate
There is so much information on the internet that it can be overwhelming. This can leave people with more questions than answers and clarity.
When experiencing hair loss, you may deem external factors to be the initial cause. This might be true if you experienced significant hair loss after a chemical service, hair styling that caused excessive pulling on the hair follicle, or a reaction to a hair care product.
However, you might be surprised to know that more important than the external cause is the internal health of your body. Even if the reason is shallow you must create a healthy internal environment and a proper external routine to maximize success.
I will briefly outline the steps you should take to evaluate your condition and seek a solution.
Visit a dermatologist that specializes in hair disorders. This is critical because not all dermatologists keep up with the latest developments in hair and scalp disorders.
If you visit a dermatologist who does not give you an accurate diagnosis, it could affect the outcome of your hair loss journey. When searching for a dermatologist, look for one that also does non-surgical and surgical hair restoration. Doctors who see many people with hair loss have had more training in diagnosing and treating your condition.
Doctors and Trichologists use The Norwood Hamilton scale, which consists of 7 stages, for male pattern baldness. For female pattern baldness, there are two scales, Ludwig and Savin.
The Savin scale is the most popular as it identifies the most common types of female pattern hair loss and determines degrees of hair thinning. Both of these tools can help decide the proper treatment.
Take an allergy and food intolerance test. Why is this important?
When you are allergic to something, your immune system reacts by sending antibodies and can inflame your skin, sinuses, airways, or digestive system. When your immune system is compromised, it can lead to hormonal imbalances, fatigue, skin reactions, and much more.
An allergy can also prevent the body's ability to absorb certain nutrients. For example, if a person with celiac disease eats gluten, an immune reaction causes damage to the surface of the small intestine, which leads to a lack of absorption of certain nutrients.
Nutritional deficiencies can cause mild to severe hair loss due to the hair needing adequate nutrients from the blood to grow. However, proper nutrition can restore temporary hair loss in some patients.
When you are intolerant or sensitive to certain foods, your body has difficulty processing them or breaking them down. Studies have shown that intolerance or sensitivities can negatively affect the whole body, including acting on the central nervous system and mental health.
Since the overall health of the body can reflect the look and feel of the hair, skin, and nails, receiving an allergy and intolerance test and working with a dietician can assist in improving the severity of alopecia. According to Trichology.com, avoiding allergens enhances the success rate in patients experiencing allergies and sensitivities.
Get an evaluation or consult from a registered dietitian to maximize your overall health and immune system. Diets should consist of protein, fruits, vegetables, an appropriate amount of fat, and water (electrolytes for skin and hair hydration). This is especially important for those with autoimmune diseases such as Alopecia Areata, Lupus, Hashimoto’s, Graves, Psoriasis, Crohn’s Disease, and IBS.
Consult with a Trichologist or Master Cosmetologist that can suggest holistic treatments such as Low-Level Light therapy, Acupuncture, PRP, Micro-needling, High Frequency, etc. They can also tell you how to style your hair to avoid further damage and get the best results.
3: Process
Finding the underlying cause of your hair loss will be a process.
First, a review of your medical history, nutritional status, medications, diet restrictions, and hair styling habits will be necessary to create the proper protocol. Getting the test results and speaking with the appropriate doctors may take a few weeks or months.
Take a deep breath, relax, and process all the information you have obtained.
4: Overstand
Refrain from researching information on hair loss until you have received a diagnosis for your situation. This technique will help to eliminate spending money on expensive shampoos, conditioners, and hair products that may or may not be suitable for you.
It helps if you truly understand your unique condition and are confident in improving your overall health, which will help with hair growth. Organizations and health professionals have resources to help you through your experience.
5: Stay Connected
Remember, some people love and care about you. Reach out to friends and family you trust to talk to and let them know you need their support.
If you are experiencing depression or do not want to be social, it may be beneficial to speak with a counselor or psychologist to lessen the burden of stress on your body.
6: Indulge in Pampering Yourself
While working through this process, it is helpful to do things externally that will give you an instant boost in confidence. Refresh your wardrobe and find a new way to style your hair.
A new hairstyle can give you a new attitude. With the help of your hair stylist, choose styles that will complement your facial shape and enhance your beauty. Wigs can be a way to achieve the desired tone or quick look.
Remember to discuss different types of lace and cranial wig caps to choose one that does not restrict oxygen and blood flow to the hair and scalp.
7: Take Action
Take the time to reprogram how you see yourself. Your hair may not look the same or feel the same, but you are the same unique individual. Nothing happens overnight, and you must be patient and trust the process.
Considering the cycles of hair growth, it takes six months to a year to reverse the effects of hair loss. Consistency is critical, even if results are not seen right away. In the same way, character and determination are needed to lose weight; the same enthusiasm is required to achieve and maintain healthy hair.
Start moving and adopting a good exercise routine today!
Exercising increases oxygen and blood flow all over the body, increasing the scalp’s nutrients. In addition, when you sweat, toxins are released from the body and the scalp.
This helps to unclog follicles to produce a healthy environment for growing hair. Another advantage of exercising is reducing stress and releasing endorphins (the happy hormone) to help you relax.
8: Visualize Your Success
If you believe in the Law of Attraction, visualizing yourself with healthy hair may contribute to your manifestation.
To do this, focus on the positive aspects of the process and do things that keep you blissful. You can do this by meditating and repeating positive statements about how you want your hair to look and how long you want it to be.
9: Invest
Taking care of yourself is an investment. The products and services that work can be expensive.
Save your coins and spend them wisely. Instead of a costly handbag or dinner, purchase good supplements or devices that will assist in your feeling healthier inside out. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The first wealth is health.”
10: Enjoy Life’s Journey
Often, people live so much in the past that the present is rarely noticed or enjoyed. One way to embrace the present is to set aside a time during the day, preferably in the evening to reflect on the past and acknowledge how far you have come.
Learn from the past with the understanding that it is gone. As you begin to enjoy life more, you will create a healthy mind, and a healthy mind will resist excessive stress. Stress can cause hair loss and other illnesses in the body.
These ten tips are a great tool to schedule and plan your course of action. Don’t delay or put off seeking help; it will only worsen hair loss and create more stress. Remember, “Good planning without good working is nothing.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower.
If you plan and follow the plan, you will see a difference in your overall health and increase your chances of having healthy hair, skin, and nails.
About the Writer ~ Lyric Elise
Lyric Elise is a licensed Master Cosmetologist specializing in hair growth with a bachelor’s degree in Business. Lyric combines her gifts and talents, practical work experience, and spiritual heritage of teaching to encourage others to Live Out Loud with Confidence and Purpose! Two words define Lyric’s soul, which is expressive and heartfelt.
Lyric is also the author of the book, More Than Hair Deep.