Tuesday

We hope your week is off to a great start! Today, we're taking a look at:

• Is it harmful to spray perfume in your hair?

• The relationship between stress and hair health

• The importance of staying hydrated

• If hair-washing frequency can impact hair loss

Is It Harmful to Spray Perfume in Your Hair?

If you want your hair to smell extra nice, you may think a spritz of perfume will do just the trick.

However, it turns out this seemingly harmless action may actually damage your strands.

Many cosmetic products — including perfume and body sprays — contain alcohol (specifically ethyl alcohol), which is drying. This can lead to a host of issues, including:

• Scalp flakiness

• Itching

• Irritation

• Dry strands and scalp

• Split ends and breakage

So — how do you help your hair smell nice without the potential damage of perfumes and other products containing alcohol?

Some alternatives include:

• Hair perfumes, which are specifically formulated so as not to dry out the hair

• Dry shampoo, which can help reduce the appearance of oily hair and freshen strands if you’re trying to stretch wash days

• Hair oils, which can not only have nourishing and moisturizing properties but often smell amazing

The Relationship Between Stress and Hair Health

You’ve likely heard that stress can cause gray hair — which has some truth to it.

But stress can impact our hair health in many other ways.

When our bodies and minds are under stress, we can experience a condition called telogen effluvium. This is a form of temporary hair loss that may occur a couple of months after periods of stress.

The reason this happens a few months after a stress trigger is because of the hair’s natural cycle and growth phases.

This hair loss can be scary, but it often goes away and is only temporary. If it’s chronic, it may last longer than six months. It generally impacts hair on the top of the head but can cause hair loss in other parts of your body.

Others may experience what’s called trichotillomania, an urge to pull hair from the scalp, eyebrows, and other areas.

In some cases, a healthcare professional may prescribe medications, supplements, or other treatments to help with hair loss.

Ensuring you’re nourishing your body, caring for your hair in other ways, and taking steps to practice self-care, reduce stress, and encourage well-being can all help with hair loss from stress.

Hydration, Simplified

Keeping hydrated in the summer heat shouldn't be a hassle – that's where NativePath Hydrate comes in. Unlike other commercial hydration products, Native Hydrate contains high-quality amino acids that are proven to be the optimal way to hydrate, along with subtle yet effective amounts of electrolytes.

Most other hydration products contain way more sodium than you need, unless you’re working out for multiple hours every day. Native Hydrate contains the equivalent of a quarter teaspoon of salt for optimal hydration delivery without disrupting your health. It doesn’t undergo massive processing like most hydration supplements do, or have any added sugars.

With its unique blend of essential amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, electrolytes, and additional nutrients (like Calcium Carbonate, Choline Bitartrate, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, Folate, B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Choline, and Zinc) Native Hydrate makes getting proper hydration easy and enjoyable all year long.

Stock up now and make hydration your top priority this year.

Thank you to NativePath for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Can Not Washing Your Hair Enough Cause Hair Loss?

We all have stretched our hair washing a day or two (… or more) from time to time. However, while there is a lot of hype around hair training and stretching our washing frequencies, it’s important to be aware of all the potential impacts.

For example, experts told Healthline that when you wash your hair less frequently, there may be a build-up of products, oils, and pollutants. This can cause inflammation, irritation, flaking, and more, which can contribute to hair loss.

Stylist Rosi Fernandez, director of Ananda Ferdi, told Vogue that washing less than once a week may cause clogged hair follicles and dry strands.

Furthermore, it can make it hard for your hair to oxygenate, and pollutants can cause inflammation and other reactions that cause hair loss, Vogue reported.

While it’s not harmful to stretch your wash days — and the frequency you’ll want to cleanse your scalp and strands will vary based on a number of factors, including your hair type — it’s important to know all the impacts it can have.

When in doubt, give your hair a thorough cleanse to promote healthy strands!

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ True or False: True, crash dieting can cause hair loss. When our bodies are undernourished and under stress, it can impact our hair.

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Find one way to show your hair some love today!

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!