How to Overcome Thyroid Imbalance And Grow Long Hair

You’ve started your natural hair journey with high hopes that you could one day have long, healthy hair. Although this is very possible, there are roadblocks that may present themselves along your path.

For a lot of people, this can be discouraging, causing them to question their journey and eventually go back to chemical treatments and processing. If you are one of the many people who are suffering from stunted hair growth, it could very well be due to an imbalanced thyroid.

What does my thyroid have to do with my hair?

Some of you may already be familiar with thyroid problems being linked to hair thinning and balding. But how exactly does your thyroid affect your hair growth?

According to scientists, your hair grows in cycles. During this cycle some of your hair is at rest, while the remainder continues to grow. This cycle can be affected when your thyroid hormones are thrown out of whack.

When this occurs, your cycle malfunctions, which causes too much hair to go into resting period, which causes hair fall.

There are two types of thyroid conditions — hypothyroidism (underactive) and hyperthyroidism (overactive). The growth of your hair depends on your thyroid glands functioning properly. For instance, when your thyroid is overactive, it is producing too much hormone, which can cause your hair to become fine, and thinning occurs everywhere on your head.

However, when you have an underactive thyroid that produces too little hormones, it can lead to actual hair loss on your head and other areas of your body.

How can I tell if I have thyroid problems?

Just because you have hair thinning or balding doesn’t mean you have thyroid issues. There are other symptoms that are commonly associated with thyroid disease, including the following:

Mood changes, like irritability, anxiety and nervousness
Insomnia, lethargy and oversleeping
Changes in weight — gain or loss
Inability to tolerate cold or hot temperatures
Abnormal menstruation
Weakness or pain in your muscles
Hair or skin that is dry
Impairment cognitively, such as inability to remember, pay attention or concentrate

The best way to determine if you truly have thyroid disease is to have a blood test done by your doctor.