Do We Really Need Beauty Sleep? How Good Rest Impacts Hair Health

Can a Lack of Quality Sleep Cause a Bad Hair Day? 

Good sleep is important for a multitude of reasons. But can we really blame a bad night's sleep for our hair not cooperating? 

The body relies on sleep to repair, maintain, grow, and resolve a multitude of functions. From brain health and memory creation to reducing stress responses in the body to building muscle -- you're doing a lot while you're doing "nothing". Hair, skin, and other attributes that fall under "beauty" are certainly impacted by this process as well. 

We can understand sleep as a time the body runs it's "housekeeping" functions. And like a home that hasn't seen cleaning in a week-- things can get a bit chaotic when those functions can't work property. 

What Happens to Your Skin When You Skip Sleep?

Cells converse, repair, and renew themselves during your sleep cycle. Skipping out on good sleep decreases the growth hormone somatotropin which is responsible for repairing damaged skin cells and creating that elasticity we associate with a youthful appearance. 

Adding insult to injury-- your body will also release inflammatory cytokines instead which could lead to skin issues like acne, rashes, or other skin aggravation issues. This is lose-lose in our opinion. 

Those tell-tale dark circles under your eyes? Those can be the impact of blood flow disturbance and a lack of collagen production in those areas that usually happens during sleep. 

What Happens to Your Hair When You Don't Get Enough Rest?

Similar to your skin, your hair relies on the restorative period of rest to develop essential elements of your hair health. A lack of melatonin production can lead to dull, limp hair and over the long-term it is also associated with thinning or hair loss.

Chronic sleep deprivation means your body also can't synthesize protein keratin as well which is how hair grows from the scalp. 

The Stress of Not Sleeping

Have you ever laid awake stressing how tired you'd be tomorrow? We know the feeling. Often the stress of not sleeping has the most damaging impact. Stress raises cortisol levels, the hormone that is most commonly associated with "fight or flight". 

Increased cortisol is associated with more acne and greasy hair. Two things we do not want in our beauty routine. 

So, What Can We Do About It? 

If you're struggling with insomnia or a bout of poor sleep there are several things you can try to get better rest. 

1. Build in time to decompress

If your work has you busy around the clock, school schedules have you frazzled, or life events have caused you a great deal of stress-- take time to care for yourself and "unplug". Winding down in the evenings can set you up for a good nights sleep, so guard that zone in the hours before your bedtime and don't let life creep in to disrupt your relaxation. 

2. Try a Self-Care Routine

Studies show meditation, stretching, and muscle relaxation techniques can all help you unwind after a busy day. Maybe journaling helps you process your day and leave stress behind, or if you're into a gratitude journal try that! 

3. Ask a Professional for Help

If you've been struggling to get a good night's sleep for more than three months, it's recommended you see a specialist to get to the root of your sleep issues. If it's impacting your waking life, home life, or ability to work-- this step is essential to regaining balance.