curly haired couple asleep

Sleep is a blissful peace that I cannot seem to find enough of. I vaguely remember the days when sleep was easy to get and most of the time I was not looking for it. Now, I am hunting it down like a starved vulture. I jest but there is real harm that befalls a person who neglects getting enough sleep. For one thing, the sleep will win in the end even if you are fighting it off. You might win the battle but you never win the war. Our bodies need sleep. Your body requires its senses  and motor activity to be suspended in order to properly function. There is total or partial unconsciousness and our voluntary muscles are in a state of inactivity. Sleep is our body’s rest cycle.

Here is a list of our daily sleep requirement via Medical News Today:

  • Newborn baby – up to 18 hours
  • 1 to 12 months of age – 14 to 18 hours
  • 1 to 3 years of age – 12 to 15 hours. A study found that midday naps boost learning in preschoolers.
  • 3 to 5 years of age – 11 to 13 hours
  • 5 to 12 years of age – 9 to 11 hours
  • Teenagers – 9 to 10 hours
  • Adults – 7 to 8+ hours
  • Women during pregnancy – at least 8 hours

Sleep and Hair Loss

Sleep is essential to the body because it allows the body to recharge itself with the electrolytes to rebuild our energy and heal. When we cut our sleep short, we place our body’s immune system at risk for disarray and it becomes weak. This can lead to the body failing to absorb the necessary nutrients to stay healthy, which then causes  the roots of the hair to weaken. What can you expect when the hair loss occurs? Well, it may seem like hair loss itself, but it is more complex when sleep deprivation is involved; your hair will have a loss of shine and volume with diffused hair across the scalp. Some receding hairlines may occur and it can damage the hair follicles. Getting a proper amount is sleep is crucial to your health and the health of your hair.

Sleep and Hair Growth

Since a lack of sleep can lead to hair loss, can a full night’s rest lead to actual hair growth? Well, sleep is when the body does most of its repair work since growth hormones are secreted during sleep. Sleep is a restorative process, and to fully benefit from it means to get as much as your body truly needs. We need those six to seven hours (or more”> so try your best to get them and there are some tips that can make those hours even more advantageous. Frank Barbosa, a hairdresser for IT&LY Hairfashion, suggests a simple tip that will make all the difference in the world. “Gently stimulate your scalp with your fingertips before bed. This moves blood flow to the scalp, leading to healthy growth patterns and dispersing natural, moisturizing oils throughout your hair.”

Did you know that sleep deprivation affects your hair growth?

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