What Your Hair Says About Your Health

For many people, hair plays an important part in overall style. An edgy cut can show how you love to push the boundaries of fashion, while following hair trends can be a sign that you always keep your finger on the pulse. But hair isn't just a part of our identity and self-expression — it can also reveal some important truths about our health. To find out exactly what our locks can indicate, we reached out to Dr. Patrick Davis, a Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon who offers a range of hair restoration treatments.

"Scalp health is highly related to body health," he tells Glam exclusively, adding that a poor diet, dehydration, and even vitamin deficiencies can be obvious through the scalp and hair. "The more stress that is in your life certainly affects oil production which leads to dry, dull hair, but also the scalp itself can become dry and flaky." Meanwhile, hair that is visibly thinning or falling out could point to an underlying health condition, such as thyroid disease, anemia, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the latter of which affects 1 in 10 women (via WebMD). If you notice unusual symptoms in your hair, such as increased hair fall or a dry and flaky scalp, it's worth checking in with a healthcare professional to rule out any hidden health conditions. Below, Dr. Davis shares what to look for in healthy and unhealthy tresses so you can identify the warning signs of a potential health problem.

Knowing how your hair should look when it's healthy and not trying to signal any underlying issues is vital. Dr. Patrick Davis reveals in an exclusive conversation with Glam that hair should be shiny without being greasy, since persistently greasy hair can (sometimes, not often) point to a hormone imbalance or a hyperglycemic diet that raises the blood sugar too quickly. "There should be a nice, natural sheen to the hair that reflects a healthy amount of natural oil produced by the scalp," he says, going on to explain that if your scalp is successfully able to nourish your hair, there theoretically won't be many split ends.

However, it's important to keep in mind that several factors that don't have anything to do with your overall health can affect what your hair looks like. For example, bleaching your hair can lead to damage and split ends, as can washing it too frequently, which can dry it out. Hair that's constantly greasy can come down to not washing out products properly or even under-washing your hair. "Scalp health is often difficult to maintain or even assess, as stress and diet play a large role, as well as the amount of times we shampoo the hair itself," Dr. Davis notes. "This is compounded by the fact that everyone can have different hair types (i.e. thick or thin, rough or soft)." Since some hair types typically get greasier than others (straight, fine hair is notorious for looking oily), it's important to take this information into account before you start worrying about symptoms like oily locks.

On the flip side, you'll know that your hair is trying to tell you something if it has split ends (which, unfortunately, can't be repaired) and a brittle texture. If your hair isn't looking its best, the first thing to do is check in with a medical professional. If there are no underlying health conditions going on, the most likely cause of unhealthy-looking tresses is poor scalp health, which can be heavily affected by your lifestyle. So, it's a better time than ever to focus on some TLC. 

Dr. Patrick Davis tells Glam exclusively that staying on top of a healthy diet is one of the best ways to boost scalp health, in addition to keeping hydrated and making sure that you're getting enough essential vitamins, like biotin. "I always recommend NutraFol as a vitamin supplement to my patients if anyone is concerned that their diet is not adequate," he says. Along with biotin, deficiencies in iron, vitamins D and B12, and riboflavin can also lead to poor hair health. A well-rounded diet that promotes a healthy scalp will include sources of these vitamins, plus plenty of protein, antioxidants, collagen, healthy fats, and zinc. "Overall," Dr. Davis goes on, "a balanced diet, good sleep practices, and stress reduction strategies will go a long way in improving scalp health, which in turn promotes healthy, thick hair."