Hair Loss Linked to Marital Status

“As soon as a client asks me if their hair is thinning, my next question is to ask what’s going on with them,” says Natasha Sunshine of L.A.’s Byu Ti Salon. “Nine times out of ten, there is something pretty big happening.”

Sunshine’s first recommendation is to combat the stress with breathing techniques and practices like yoga to target the cause of the hair loss, and to take supplements rich in biotin, folic acid and amino acids to help give hair the nutrients it needs to grow back healthy and full.

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And the older a woman gets, the more susceptible she is to hair loss tied to emotional trauma, says New York salon owner Angelo David—who specializes in extensions, and sees a continuous stream of thinning hair clients daily. “I have definitely seen how tragic moments can affect not only women’s hair, but also their overall sense of wellbeing,” says David.

But before you hang on to a bad relationship for the sake of your hair, know that evidence also exists that says leaving a rocky relationship can be vital to your health.

In one study, researchers outfitted 42 couples with tiny suction devices that caused small blisters on their arms. Fighting couples experienced a 40 percent slower healing rate than the amicable partners, which meant two extra days needed to heal.

The body’s slower ability to regenerate under duress could also help explain why other studies have shown that women in hostile relationships who get a divorce live longer on average than those who choose to stay.

QUIZ: How Healthy is Your Hair?