Poor diet is intrinsically linked to hair loss and numerous hair and scalp health concerns. The connection between fasting and hair loss is not just a myth – it's a reality that many people experience when they restrict their eating patterns.
Hair is non-essential tissue. When your body is under nutritional stress – whether from intermittent fasting, skipping meals, or prolonged calorie restriction – it prioritises vital organs over hair growth. Energy levels drop, and the hair growth cycle can be disrupted as a result.
Why Fasting Affects Hair
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day if you're experiencing or trying to combat excessive hair shedding. Due to overnight fasting, energy levels are down first thing in the morning. As hair needs optimal energy levels to develop, a healthy energy boost at the start of the day is key.
Ideally, throughout the day you should eat energy boosts every 4 hours in the form of nutritious, healthy food items that can be converted to offer the right kind of support for hair growth. Extended periods without food can push hair follicles from the growth phase (anagen) into the resting phase (telogen), leading to a condition known as Telogen Effluvium – excessive shedding that typically becomes noticeable 3–4 months after the nutritional stress began.
What You Can Do
If you are considering fasting for health reasons, or if you're already experiencing hair loss that may be linked to your diet, it's worth speaking with a qualified trichologist. They can help you understand whether your eating patterns are contributing to your hair concerns and advise on how to support healthy hair growth while respecting your dietary choices.
A Trichologist can evaluate your hair cycle, identify any nutritional imbalances, and provide personalised advice on how to nourish your hair without compromising your overall health goals. If you're suffering from hair loss or are concerned that your hair is not as healthy as it should be, there's a possibility that a nutritional imbalance or underlying health concern may be contributing to your hair worries.