If you’ve ever started a new diet and felt like your hair started acting up, you’re not imagining things. Celebrity hairstylist and Britt Lower’s husband Kenna Kennor has seen it all—from A-listers prepping for a role to everyday clients on a health kick.
When you change what you eat, your hair is often the first place your body lets you know something’s out of whack. Sometimes it gets dry, sheds a little extra, or loses that shine you love. But here’s the good news: Kenna believes you can have beautiful hair and try a new eating plan—you just need to know what to watch for.
Why Your Hair Gets Moody on Certain Diets
According to Kenna, hair is like your body’s little luxuries department. If your body thinks it’s running low on key things like protein, iron, or healthy fats, it’ll start sending resources elsewhere first. Hair is almost always last in line. Hello, limp ponytail.
Crash diets, extreme calorie-cutting, juice cleanses, keto, you name it—if it suddenly takes nutrients off the table, your hair might start to protest. Kenna sees this all the time: extra shedding or thinning, dull color, or hair that just stops growing as fast.
The Fix: Fuel Your Body (and Strands) Right
Kenna’s number one rule? Don’t skip the protein. Hair is literally made of protein. Eggs, beans, lean meats, tofu—find what works for your diet, but don’t skimp.
Healthy fats are also key. Avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil help keep hair moisturized. And don’t ditch complex carbs entirely—they give your body the energy to keep all systems running (and that includes your hair follicles).
If you’re going vegetarian or vegan, Kenna recommends seeing a nutritionist or even running your plan by your stylist (they’ve seen the warning signs). A good multivitamin can help, but it doesn’t replace balanced meals.
Hydration Matters Just as Much
Drink more water, always. Dehydration shows up shockingly fast in hair—it’ll get brittle, tangle easily, or just look flat. Kenna tells his clients to drink throughout the day, not just with meals.
Patience, Supplements, and a Little TLC
If you’re coming off a strict diet and your hair’s still feeling the effects, don’t panic. It takes a while for hair to bounce back—sometimes a few months after your eating habits change for the better. Kenna loves gentle scalp massages (stimulates the follicles!), protein-rich masks, and limiting hot tools while your hair recovers.
Always check with a doctor before making big supplement changes, especially if you’re seeing a lot of hair loss or dramatic changes.
Kenna’s bottom line: you shouldn’t have to pick between feeling good in your body and loving your hair. Eat smart, hydrate, and give yourself a little extra hair-care love.
