What your hair says about you

Dull and lifeless hair

If you’re not well, your hair is likely to suffer – it can become dull and lifeless because you’re not getting enough nutrients. So the state of your hair can be an early warning sign that something is wrong. A lack of vitamin A can lead to limp, dull hair – add more eggs and dairy foods to your diet.

Stress can also take its toll on your tresses. Try eating foods rich in B vitamins (oily fish, wholegrain cereals, peas, eggs and milk), as stress depletes your body (and your hair) of these.

But don’t forget that hair problems can also be due to overexposure to chemicals or heat from styling appliances.

Let your hair dry naturally, or stop using products and dyes for a while to see if that makes a difference.

Hair loss

Losing your hair may indicate greater problems than issues with your hair or scalp – it may be a sign of a condition that is affecting your general health.

Hair loss is quite common during and after pregnancy, as a result of hormonal fluctuations. It can also be due to anaemia and problems with your blood circulation.

Problems with your hair can be a clue that your thyroid isn’t working properly. If your thyroid is overactive, it can produce too much of the hormone thyroxine and this can cause your hair to fall out. An underactive thyroid can result in coarse, thinning hair.

Stress can also contribute to hair loss and is believed to be one of the causes of alopecia, a hair-loss condition that can leave you with bald patches or even complete hair loss.