Dehydration has a significant impact on our body as being hydrated is the key to the overall health of our hair and skin. Hair tends to get dry, frizzy, develop split ends and break easily due to dehydration. Let us understand how water has a significant impact on hair’s health and how dehydration triggers hair loss.
How dehydration occurs?
Dehydration is caused because of the inadequate intake of fluids. Other factors can include:
- climate
- physical activity
- diet
People who don’t drink a lot of water or fluids are at higher risk like older people, along with people who have diabetes or someone who suffers from alcoholism. The amount of water that reaches the hair root when a person suffers from dehydration is very minimal as the body tries to supply more water to vital parts of the body like the brain and heart. This leads to excessive shedding of hair as the hair is dying from thirst. The hair growth will slow down because the roots aren’t moisturized enough to stimulate new hair growth, thus leading to dehydration.
Also Read: How to Use Olive Oil for Hair Growth
On average, we lose some amount of water each day, and if this water loss is not replenished, it results in dehydration. One needs to take daily intake of 2-3 litres of water as it is the primary source of energy for hair cells to induce new hair growth. It also helps to keep away the pollutants that cause hair loss. Concerning hair, when not hydrated enough, it tends to become dry and brittle, leading to split ends and breakages.
These tips will help you from preventing hair fall caused by dehydration
Have fruits and vegetables that are rich in water
Our body consists of 60% water. Hence, it is essential to stay hydrated for a healthy and functioning body. As long as you’re eating plenty of water-rich foods like:
- muskmelon
- watermelon
- oranges
- grapes
- strawberries
- peaches
- tomato
Always keep a bottle of water handy
It is proven that whenever we have a bottle of water with us, we tend to drink water more often. So always ensure to keep at least one litre of water near you as it will be a constant reminder for you to have water at regular intervals.
Use bottles with markings/measures on them
One must set specific targets daily to reach their hydration goals. Use bottles which have markings on them. You can read these markings each time you drink water and track the amount of water you drink every day.
Use Health/Fitness Apps
It is challenging to keep a track on our water consumption daily. Technology has made our lives easier. We have health and fitness applications which we can install on our mobile phones. These apps help us monitor our water intake by measuring each time we consume water and also sends us reminders to drink water more often.
Hydrated You! Happy & Healthy, your Hair!
(With inputs from Dr Apoorva Shah, Pioneer of Trichology in India and founder of RichFeel)
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