We’ll let you in on a secret: Stress management isn’t about eliminating stress altogether. It’s about learning how to control it, gently and consistently, so it doesn’t consume your whole life. That’s why, in our 90-Day Hair Wellness® Reset, stress management is framed as a practice — something to work on daily until it starts to stick.
The Reset is designed to guide you through 90 days of small-but-impactful shifts that support stronger, healthier-looking hair over time. No rules. No all-or-nothing mindset. No perfection. Just simple, practical habits that help your body and your hair function best.
It’s impossible for hair to thrive when your body is constantly under stress. We’re here to explain why that is, and what to do about it so you can keep calm while your strands reach their full potential.
How Stress Affects Hair Growth
We can’t talk about the stress-hair connection without talking about the growth cycle. To put it simply, your strands go through four different phases: the growth phase (anagen); the transition phase (catagen); the resting phase (telogen); and finally, the shedding phase (exogen). With that said, many different factors can disrupt the hair growth cycle, and chronic stress is a prime culprit.
Case in point: When stress is ongoing, the body releases elevated levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. And when it’s prolonged, this can cause the body to shift its focus away from “nonessential” functions, including hair growth.
Over time, chronic stress may:
- Push more hairs into the shedding phase at once
- Prolong the shedding cycle
- Disrupt the signals that support healthy regrowth
The result? Increased shedding, slower growth and hair that looks thinner over time. That’s why stress management plays such a crucial role in Hair Wellness®. It all comes down to forming healthier habits that fit into your life.
Habits > Hype
When stress enters the conversation, it’s easy to think in extremes: elaborate morning routines, long meditation sessions or even quitting your job. But the thing is, lasting Hair Wellness® doesn’t come from overhauling your life. It happens when you make small, intentional changes that add up over time.
During The Reset, progress always beats perfection. This means missing a day doesn’t undo your efforts, and starting small doesn’t mean you’re behind. Consistency, however imperfect it may be, is what ultimately leads to long-term results.
Stress management is no exception. The goal isn’t to “be calm” all the time. It’s to build simple, realistic practices that help you reduce stress as much as possible.
Micro-Habits That Support Calm
Think of micro-habits as tools, not a checklist. These are gentle ways to signal safety to your nervous system throughout the day. Choose one to start, and then build from there.
- 🧘 Take slow, steady breaths. Even one minute of intentional breathing can help lower cortisol and bring your body out of fight-or-flight mode.
- 🚶🏻Go on a phone-free walk. Disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with nature is a great way to hit reset.
- 📝 Focus on one task at a time. Multitasking can lead to mental overload, while doing one thing at a time helps the brain settle down.
- 🙆🏻 Release tension in your shoulders. Stress often lives in the body. Pausing to do a few shoulder roll stretches can make a noticeable difference.
- 🎶 Listen to calming music. Sound influences the nervous system more than we realize, so use it to your advantage.
- 🙅🏻 Practice saying “no” more. Whether it’s at work or at home, boundaries are a form of stress management. Less overextension = more recovery.
Remember: You don’t need to do all of these. Pick one or two that feel doable, and go from there.
Turn Your GRO Routine Into a Calming Ritual
Your Hair Wellness® routine can be about more than just maintenance. It can serve as a moment to unwind, relax and relieve stress after a long day. As you use your preferred GRO routine, we recommend:
- Dimming the lights to create a soothing ambiance
- Putting on your favorite relaxing playlist
- Slowing down your movements rather than rushing
- Taking a few intentional breaths before you begin
This isn’t about adding more time to your routine. It’s about changing the quality of the moment, which helps reinforce the habit because you actually look forward to it every day.
The 7-Day Reset Challenge
Now that you know all about how stress impacts hair and what to do about it, we invite you to commit to a 7-Day Reset Challenge. For the next week, try sticking to just one stress-reducing habit and track how you feel. Choose one of these three:
- Slow, steady breaths
- A phone-free walk
- Turning your routine into a calming ritual
Want a routine that’ll boost your progress? Look no further than our GRO Reset Systems. These simple, effective rituals are specifically designed to work alongside our Practices to help Hair Wellness® feel feasible.
1. Hoover, Ezra, et al. “Physiology, Hair.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 30 July 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/.
2. Lau, Jessica . “How Chronic Stress Leads to Hair Loss.” Harvard.edu, 2021, www.hsci.harvard.edu/news/how-chronic-stress-leads-to-hair-loss.
