Can Dehydration Cause Hair Loss?
Dehydration can creep up on anyone at any time. Whether it's the dog days of summer distracting us with thoughts of an alfresco frosé or two, or a rushed morning workout before a far-too-busy day, drinking water can drop down the priority list quickly. And while we all know that a healthy human body thrives off proper hydration, there are some signs of dehydration that you might not be as aware of.
You have approximately 100,000 hairs on your head, and it's natural to shed between 50-100 strands a day. However, if you experience excessive shedding and thinning hair, something is amiss. While there are many reasons why you could experience excessive hair fall, read on to find out if staying hydrated is an essential step to achieving hair wellness.
The Importance of Water
Water is essential for cell growth in the body. It helps deliver nutrients to the cells and keeps the body functioning by removing waste. So while you might feel like coffee or tasty fruit juices are the elixir of life, it's water that's key to your overall health: Up to 60% of the human adult body is made up of water.
On average, sedentary humans tend to lose approximately 8 to 12 cups of water every day. If the water loss isn't replenished, it can quickly lead to mild dehydration, and the body will begin to struggle. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than are taken in. Chronic dehydration can result in death in extreme cases.
An inadequate intake of water can also affect your capacity to think clearly. Based in London, England, Yannis Giantzides, director of the Harley Street Hair Transplant Clinic, said, "A study was conducted regarding dehydration and cognitive function that found: 'Despite variability among studies, dehydration impairs cognitive performance, particularly for tasks involving attention, executive function and motor coordination when water deficits exceed 2% BML.'"
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Signs of Dehydration
Generally, how much water someone should drink in a day tends to differ, considering size, gender and weight — but one thing's clear, drinking enough water can ease a dehydration problem quickly.
Some of the early warning signs of a dehydrated body are:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Extreme thirst
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
You might also notice that you need to use the restroom less when you're dehydrated and your eyes become dry. When you aren't getting enough water, your peepers aren't properly lubricated. This can lead to blurred vision and eye irritation — especially if you're staring at a screen all day.
See: 9 Vegan Foods with Biotin for Healthy Hair
Dehydration Hair Loss Links
It's also possible that dehydration and hair loss are linked. Water makes up one-quarter of each hair strand on your head. And your hair follicles need an adequate amount of water to thrive and encourage new hair growth. A healthy water intake helps vital vitamins reach the hair root, ensuring the entire strand stays hydrated from the inside out. H2O is the primary energy source for the hair cells that help generate healthy hair and new hair growth.
Your hair's health also benefits from water because it helps clear the body from unwanted pollutants, which can trigger hair loss. If you don't drink water regularly, you may develop split ends and dry, lifeless locks.
Prioritize Hair Wellness
A 360˚ approach to wellness is one of the best methods you can take to get healthier looking hair. Rather than solely focusing on your hair, taking a careful look at what you eat, how you sleep, where your attention lies (with a phone screen?) and how stressed you are will help keep your hair healthy. It's also important you nourish your hair with products support healthy looking hair. To help promote visibly thicker, stronger, fuller looking hair, the GRO More Kit is a great place to start.
The three products in the kit feature completely vegan ingredients that won't dry already dehydrated hair out more. The bestselling GRO Hair Serum helps strengthen strands, while GRO Biotin Gummies gives you a boost of hair-healthy nutrients. 
Though the studies surrounding hair fall and dehydration are few and far between, Giantzides suggests, "Because a large percentage of our bodies (including our hair) is made up of water, if we starve the hair of water for a prolonged period of time, the results would be that the hair becomes thinner, more brittle, more prone to breaking and can fall out easier."
Related: 16 Best Foods for Hair Growth
Diet, Dehydration and Hair Loss
To keep your hair and body healthy, you need to stay hydrated and enjoy proper nutrition. If you feel like lost fluids are starting to affect your hair, skin and internal organs, you can fight dehydration by eating plenty of water-rich foods.
A diet full of juicy, water-drenched foods could include:
- Cucumber: This humble salad snack has only eight calories and is made up of 95% water.
- Peaches: A juicy fruit with high fiber content and 85% water to help you avoid short-term dehydration.
- Zucchini: Just one cup of zucchini contains 90% water and 1g of filling fiber.
- Watermelon: This gorgeous summertime treat has approximately 92% water and a ton of nutrients and antioxidants.
- Celery: A single cup of celery can contain 115g of water, making it a seriously hydrating option.
- Tomatoes: One cup of sliced, juicy tomatoes can contain 170g of water, making them a rich source of H2O.
- Lettuce: Raw lettuce is made up of 95% water to keep you feeling fresh and alert.
To complement a water-rich diet and help restore your hair and body to their best, supplement a nutritious diet with the GRO Biotin Gummies. Each strawberry-flavored gummy contains a combination of vitamins and minerals that help beautify strands, nourish the scalp and support healthy-looking hair. Vitamins A, C and E help neutralize follicle damaging free radicals, and biotin and folic acids help support your body's production of keratin and collagen.
Stay Hydrated
While drinking water doesn't always feel like the most exciting refreshment option, it's the one thing that will do wonders for your hair and body. Hair sheds for several reasons, but if you notice hair thinning and falling at a dramatic rate, take a close look at your daily habits and talk to a health care professional for expert advice. And if you're spending a lot of time in the sun or enjoying physical activity, have a bottle of H2O handy to sip on to help keep you hydrated.
While research still needs to be done to determine whether dehydration makes strands fall out directly from the hair roots, most experts agree that not drinking enough water will impact the look and feel of your hair. So, drink up, eat water-rich foods and confidently swish your gorgeous, glossy head of hair.
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