The start of your vegan journey

Recently, many of us have become more health and environment conscious when it comes to our daily habits and practices. There's been a surge in individuals beginning or returning to a vegan lifestyle.

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet. It is often in association with a philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals.

Veganism has great benefits for your body and your general physical and mental well being. But as with most things in life, these benefits are contingent on you doing the proper research to make sure that your journey won’t have adverse effects on your health. Don’t be fooled by all the shiny plusses of incorporating a vegan lifestyle into your daily routine. It’s important to consider the drawbacks that you’ll need to prevent or resolve.

What going vegan means for your hair

When people go vegan there is typically an increase in their intake of vegetables and plant based foods and a decrease in their intake of meat and other animal products. This oftentimes leads to a decrease in their intake of nutrients not found in most vegetables and plant based foods. A vegan diet can result in rapid weight loss, hormonal changes, and nutrient deficiency if done improperly. All of these can have an adverse effect on your hair.

A vegan diet can cause your hair to weaken and/or fallout. Your hair is made of water and protein. A diet that significantly reduces your intake of protein is very likely to compromise your hairs integrity. Many vegan people experience weakened and brittle hair strands due to this decrease in protein intake.

If you have recently transitioned into a vegan diet, we may notice a rapid loss of weight. This is typical for many who have started the lifestyle due to the fact that you are abstaining from the foods that heavily contributed to your fat intake. For those of us trying to lose weight this may seemingly be a good thing, however your body may be confused. Rapid and extreme weight loss introduces stress to your body. It confuses your body and can cause it to go into a “survival mode” that stops some of your body's natural processes, inducing hair loss.

At this point, it is important to understand that when your body goes through a drastic change quickly, it cuts its losses. One of the first processes your body will reduce or stop altogether is hair growth. Your body does this in order to provide adequate energy to other bodily functions in this state of presumed “danger”. Basically if you don’t take the proper precautions to transition into veganism slowly and healthily without starving your body of nutrients like protein, vitamins, iron, and imino acids etc. you may be risking weakened coil at least and hair loss at most.

Worry not, veganism does not have to be a death sentence for your hair. If you are considering a vegan lifestyle, here are some steps that will help prevent adverse effects on your curls and coils:

Transition slowly. It’s best if you incorporate plant-based meals to your diet slowly to avoid an extreme and rapid change to your body. Focus on introducing vegan friendly items to your diet rather than cutting out meat.
Plan for protein. Because your lifestyle will aim to cut all animal products from your daily use, it is important to make sure that you account for any deficits in your diet, particularly a decrease in protein levels. Be sure to prioritize protein rich foods like beans, nuts and whole grains etc. for your meals.
Consult a physician. The most important step in considering veganism is consulting a medical professional. All of our bodies are different, and it is important to understand your body's specific needs when considering a lifestyle change.

Be sure to research cruelty-free and vegan products for your hair care needs as well. Cruelty Free means the product is not tested on animals and vegan means that the product has no animal products in it. Some of our favorite brands under these categories are As I Am and Shea Moisture. Do your own research to find what will work best for you. We hope your journey to veganism is successful for both your body, mind and curls!

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