What Your Hair is Telling You About Your Body

Your hair sends signals.

It reflects what’s happening beneath the surface — your stress load, your nutrient status, your hormone rhythm, your sleep, even your state of mind. It’s living tissue, and living tissue responds to the internal environment it’s given.

Long before we had lab panels and wearable devices and endless health podcasts, people understood that the condition of the hair reflected something about the condition of the body. Thickness, shine, resilience, growth — these weren’t just cosmetic traits. They were indicators of nourishment, rest, hormone balance, and overall vitality.

When hair shifts, it’s rarely isolated. Texture changes. Growth slows. Shedding increases. The scalp becomes irritated or inflamed. Sometimes it happens gradually over years. Sometimes it becomes noticeable all at once. Either way, those shifts usually trace back to something deeper than the products you’re using. Hair is living tissue. It responds to stress. It responds to nutrient availability. It responds to inflammation. It responds to how safe or strained your nervous system feels.

That doesn’t mean something catastrophic is happening. But it does mean the body may be asking for attention in a specific area. And instead of seeing those changes as purely cosmetic problems to solve, it’s often more helpful to see them as information — clues about the internal environment your hair is growing from.

Shedding: Often a Stress Echo

Hair shedding often lags behind stress by a couple of months. Illness, under-nourishing, hormone shifts, emotional strain, running on adrenaline — the body remembers.

By the time you see it in the shower drain, the trigger likely happened weeks ago.

Common contributors include low iron storage (ferritin), thyroid sluggishness, unstable blood sugar, and chronic cortisol elevation. But here’s something I’ve seen repeatedly: poor digestion plays a quiet role. You can eat nutrient-dense food and still not absorb what you need if your gut lining is inflamed or stomach acid is low.

Hair follicles require protein, iron, zinc, B vitamins, and adequate fat. If those aren’t consistently available, the growth phase shortens.

Thinning at the Crown: A Metabolic Clue

When thinning concentrates at the crown, it often connects to hormone signaling and insulin sensitivity.

This doesn’t mean “it’s genetic and you’re doomed.”

Genetics load the gun. Epigenetics pulls the trigger.

Your genes express based on environment: stress load, nutrient density, toxin exposure, sleep quality, blood sugar patterns.

Insulin resistance, elevated androgens, chronic stress, and liver congestion can all influence hair patterns. Your liver processes hormones. If it’s overwhelmed by processed foods, chemical exposure, and chronic stress, hormone balance shifts subtly over time.

Hair simply reflects that shift.

Dry, Brittle Hair: Internal Depletion

When hair feels dry no matter what you apply to it, look internally before buying another product.

Low essential fats. Mineral depletion. Chronic dehydration. Thyroid imbalance. Years of harsh surfactants and synthetic fragrance stripping the scalp barrier.

Modern haircare evolved aggressively over the last several decades. Foaming detergents, heavy fragrance, silicones that coat but don’t nourish, dry shampoos loaded with propellants. These products make hair look smoother temporarily, but over time they disrupt the scalp microbiome and weaken the natural oil balance.

Your scalp is living tissue. It has a microbiome just like your gut does.

When we constantly strip it, we create imbalance.

Itchy or Inflamed Scalp: A Gut and Inflammation Signal

An irritated scalp is rarely just “bad shampoo.”

It often reflects systemic inflammation, blood sugar instability, gut dysbiosis, or candida overgrowth.

The skin mirrors the gut.

If your internal environment is inflamed, your scalp often shows it first.

Lowering sugar intake, stabilizing blood glucose, supporting digestion, and reducing chemical irritants can calm the scalp more effectively than medicated products alone.

Rebuilding Hair From the Inside: The Nutrients Most People Are Missing

Hair is made of keratin, which is built from amino acids. But that’s only part of the story. Hair follicles are metabolically active tissue. They divide quickly. They require oxygen, iron, trace minerals, B vitamins, essential fatty acids, and stable blood sugar to stay in their growth phase.

When those inputs are inconsistent, the follicle shifts into conservation mode.

That’s why topical solutions only go so far. You can stimulate the scalp, but if the raw materials aren’t present internally, growth will be limited.

Here are a few deeper supports that can make sense when hair health is part of a bigger rebuilding process.

Beef Organ Capsules: Nutrient Density in Its Original Form

For most of human history, organ meats were considered the most valuable parts of the animal. Liver in particular is rich in:

• Bioavailable iron

• Vitamin A (retinol, not beta-carotene)

• B12

• Folate

• Copper

• Zinc

• Choline

  
  

All of those play direct roles in hair growth cycles and hormone signaling.

Iron helps deliver oxygen to follicles. B vitamins support cellular energy production. Copper plays a role in pigmentation and connective tissue integrity. Retinol supports epithelial tissue health, including the scalp.

If someone has low ferritin, thinning hair, fatigue, or pale skin, organ meats can be one of the most efficient ways to restore foundational nutrients — especially for people who don’t regularly eat liver.

Capsules simply make it more accessible.

Colostrum: Supporting the Gut Barrier

If digestion has been compromised — years of antibiotics, chronic stress, processed food, gut infections — nutrient absorption suffers.

You can eat well and still not absorb well.

Colostrum contains immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and growth factors that help strengthen the gut lining. When the gut barrier improves, inflammation often decreases and nutrient uptake improves.

Hair depends on absorption.

If the gut is leaky or inflamed, the body diverts resources toward immune defense. When the terrain stabilizes, more energy can be directed toward growth.

Colostrum is not a hair supplement. It’s a terrain support supplement. And hair often benefits indirectly.

Quality Fish Oil: Inflammation and Cell Membrane Health

Every hair follicle is surrounded by living tissue. Chronic low-grade inflammation constricts blood flow and shortens growth phases.

Omega-3 fatty acids help regulate inflammatory signaling. They influence:

• Scalp health

• Sebum production

• Cell membrane integrity

• Hormone balance

• Insulin sensitivity

Low omega-3 intake often shows up as dry, brittle texture or inflamed scalp.

Not all fish oil is equal. Oxidized oils can worsen inflammation. That’s why sourcing matters. Third-party testing, freshness, and purity are not details — they’re everything.

Beef Gelatin or Collagen: Structural Support

Hair shafts require glycine, proline, and other amino acids for strength and resilience.

Gelatin and collagen provide those building blocks. They don’t force hair to grow faster, but they can support stronger strands and connective tissue integrity over time.

Bone broth, gelatin in coffee or tea, or a clean collagen powder are simple additions that support the structural side of hair health.

Minerals: The Quiet Deficiency

Hair health often stalls when trace minerals are low.

Iron gets attention. Zinc and copper deserve it too.

Zinc plays a role in tissue repair and immune balance. Copper influences pigmentation and connective tissue. Magnesium supports stress regulation and nervous system tone.

Modern soil depletion and processed food intake have quietly lowered mineral density in many diets.

Sometimes the issue isn’t calories. It’s trace elements.

My “Hearth and Hair ” Cocoa Recipe

(A simple rebuilding ritual for hair, gut, and nervous system support)

If you’re trying to rebuild hair health, you don’t need a complicated protocol. You need consistent raw materials.

This is one of the easiest ways to add structural protein, gut support, and healthy fats into your day without feeling like you’re stacking supplements on the counter.

It’s warm. It’s simple. And can replace a sugary drink with so much goodness.

Ingredients

• 2 scoops chocolate multi collagen protein powder

• 1 teaspoon beef gelatin powder

• 1 scoop high-quality colostrum powder

• A splash of maple syrup or raw honey (optional)

• Whole milk or full-fat coconut milk (optional, for creaminess)

• Hot water

• A dash of cinnamon

  
  

You can gently heat the milk and use that as your base, or just add a splash of milk for creaminess and fill the rest with hot water.

Blend with a stick frother until smooth and lightly foamy. Gelatin dissolves best in hot liquid, so make sure the water is properly warm before blending.

Why This Isn’t About Genetics Alone

It’s easy to assume thinning or graying is “just genetic.”

But genes are blueprints. They are not destiny.

Epigenetics determines how those genes express. Nutrient availability, toxin exposure, stress load, blood sugar stability, sleep — these all influence gene expression.

You cannot change your genes.

But you can change the environment they live in.

Hair often reflects that environment.

A Note on Chemical Exposure

Over the past several decades, haircare has become increasingly synthetic.

Foaming agents strip natural oils. Silicones coat the shaft without repairing it. Fragrance blends often contain endocrine-disrupting compounds. Most dry shampoos rely on propellants and starches that accumulate on the scalp. Primally pure, Beauty By Earth, Just Ingredients, and Acure make some great non-toxic alternatives!

Repeated stripping disrupts the scalp microbiome. Chronic exposure to certain chemicals can influence hormone signaling over time.

Less is often more.

Gentle cleansers. Fewer products. Oils the scalp recognizes — jojoba, small amounts of castor oil, diluted rosemary.

Top 3 Chemicals to Look Out for in Hair Care

1. Synthetic Fragrance (“Fragrance” or “Parfum”)

That single word can represent dozens of undisclosed chemicals.

Many fragrance blends contain phthalates, which can disrupt hormone signaling. Hormones influence hair growth cycles, and fragrance can also irritate the scalp and disrupt the microbiome.

If lowering toxic load is the goal, this is the first place to start.

2. Harsh Sulfates (SLS & SLES)

Watch for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate.

They create that big lather, but they also strip natural oils and can disrupt the scalp barrier over time. Chronic irritation increases inflammation, and inflammation can shorten the hair growth phase.

3. Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives

Ingredients like DMDM Hydantoin and Quaternium-15 slowly release formaldehyde to prevent spoilage.

Repeated exposure can contribute to scalp irritation, especially if you’re already dealing with itching or shedding.

Simple Nervous System Support That Actually Helps Hair

You don’t need a perfect routine. You need repeatable signals of safety.

Here are a few that work because they’re doable:

1) Eat like you have time.Chew slowly. Put your phone down. Don’t eat standing at the counter. Digestion starts with a calm state. Better digestion means better absorption, and better absorption supports hair.

2) Stop drinking caffeine on an empty stomach. If your first “meal” is caffeine, you’re forcing cortisol up before your body has anything to work with. Pair caffeine with protein and fat, or delay it until after you eat.

3) Ten minutes of daylight in your eyes early in the day.This helps anchor circadian rhythm, which helps hormone rhythm. Better sleep and steadier cortisol patterns show up in hair over time.

4) A nightly “downshift” that is non-negotiable. Not a whole spa routine. Just one consistent cue: dim lights, warm shower, magnesium lotion, a short walk, a cup of herbal tea, prayer, reading. The goal is to signal: the day is over, you are safe to repair.

5) Scalp massage as nervous system work, not just hair work.When you massage the scalp, you’re increasing circulation, but you’re also releasing tension stored in the head and jaw. Five minutes a few times a week is enough to matter.

The Root & Restore Scalp Oil

(A simple, deeply nourishing blend for circulation, barrier support, and calm growth)

Before there were serums and sprays and propellants, hair was supported with oils the scalp recognized.

The goal of a good scalp oil isn’t to force growth. It’s to improve circulation, calm inflammation, support the microbiome, and reduce tension in the head and jaw.

When those things improve, follicles tend to function better.

This blend is simple, balanced, and steady.

Base Oils (2 tablespoons total)

• 1 tablespoon organic jojoba oil• 1 tablespoon organic castor oil

Why these?

Jojoba closely mimics the scalp’s natural sebum. It helps regulate oil production instead of stripping it.

Castor oil is thicker and rich in ricinoleic acid, which supports circulation and scalp hydration. It also helps lock moisture in without synthetic coating agents.

If someone has a very sensitive scalp, they can use all jojoba.

Essential Oil Support (Total 8–10 drops)

• 5 drops rosemary essential oil• 2 drops lavender essential oil• 1–2 drops peppermint essential oil

Why these?

Rosemary has been studied for improving circulation to the scalp and supporting hair density over time.

Lavender helps calm inflammation and irritation. It also supports nervous system downshifting — and tension in the scalp absolutely affects blood flow.

Peppermint increases microcirculation. It should be used lightly. More is not better.

Always dilute properly. Always patch test.

Optional Add-In (For Deeper Nourishment)

• 5–10 drops vitamin E oil

This helps stabilize the blend and provides antioxidant support to the scalp.

How to Use It

Warm a small amount between your fingers.

Massage gently into the scalp for five to seven minutes. Focus on the crown, temples, and along the hairline — areas that often hold tension.

Leave on for 30–60 minutes before washing.

You can do this once or twice per week.

This is not something you need daily. Over-oiling can overwhelm the scalp.

The Point

Hair health isn’t only about what you put on your head. It’s also about whether your body feels safe enough to grow.

When the nervous system calms down, digestion improves. Sleep deepens. Blood sugar stabilizes. Inflammation lowers. Hormones become more predictable. And follicles tend to stay in their growth phase longer.

That’s why nervous system regulation isn’t “extra credit.” It’s foundational. Reframing Symptoms as Signals

Hair thinning is not your body failing.

It’s your body adapting.

It’s asking:

Are we nourished? Are we inflamed? Are we overloaded? Are we safe?

When you answer those questions honestly, you shift from panic to partnership.

That’s where healing begins.

Where This Connects to Deeper Work

If hair has been part of what led you here, it’s usually not the only thing going on.

Often there’s fatigue in the background. Hormone shifts that feel unfamiliar. Digestive changes. Higher stress than you want to admit. A sense that your body isn’t responding the way it used to.

Hair just happens to be the visible clue.

That’s why I created the 30-Day Glow Up Reset. It’s a structured, daily reset that walks you through rebuilding foundational rhythms in a realistic way — stabilizing blood sugar, increasing protein and mineral intake, lowering inflammatory inputs, improving digestion, and regulating the nervous system. It includes short daily guidance and practical steps so you’re not left guessing what to do next. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s steady input for thirty days so your body can start responding differently.

And then there’s The Lost Art of Healing Program and Community. That’s where we go deeper. Inside that program and community, we look at the bigger terrain — gut restoration, seasonal living, hormone rhythm, detox support, reducing toxic load in the home, rebuilding resilience over time. It’s not a quick fix. It’s a return to foundational principles that support the whole person.

Because hair isn’t fixed with a serum.

It reflects your internal environment.

When digestion improves, when stress lowers, when minerals are replenished, when hormone signaling stabilizes — hair often follows.

Not instantly.

But consistently.

And if you’re willing to support the whole system instead of chasing surface solutions, that’s when lasting change begins.

Love, Lea