Discover how your nervous system impacts hair growth. Heal from the inside out while nurturing outside in with Rooted Trēes natural rituals and science-backed care.
The Day My Hair Started Falling — and What No One Told Me
I still remember the morning I found more hair than usual on my brush.
At first, I blamed the shampoo. I mean — I formulate my own hair products from scratch using natural ingredients, so I thought, maybe the pH was off… maybe I reacted to an ingredient
Then I blamed the water.
Then the weather.
Then my genetics.
But the deeper I went, the more I realized — my hair loss had very little to do with what was in my shower, and everything to do with what was happening inside of me.
That was the beginning of Rooted Trēes: the understanding that healthy hair doesn’t start with a bottle — it starts with your nervous system.
When your body is stuck in survival mode, your scalp knows it.
When you’re under constant stress, your follicles listen.
And when your inner world feels unsafe, your hair often pays the price.
Let’s talk about why.
Hair Care Begins in the Nervous System
Your scalp is not just skin. It’s a living ecosystem connected to your autonomic nervous
system — the network that manages stress, rest, and repair.
When you’re constantly in fight-or-flight, blood flow is redirected away from the scalp toward vital organs like the heart and muscles. The result?
- Reduced nutrient delivery to hair follicles
- Hormonal imbalance (especially cortisol and adrenaline spikes)
- Inflammation in the scalp
- Shortened hair growth cycles (the anagen phase ends early)
The Science Behind Stress and Hair Loss
Research published in Nature (2021) revealed that chronic stress inhibits the activation of hair follicle stem cells by elevating corticosterone (the stress hormone in mice, similar to cortisol in humans).
When those stem cells stay “off,” hair growth simply pauses.
In another study from JAMA Dermatology, researchers found that people experiencing telogen effluvium (a type of stress-related shedding) often have measurable changes in cortisol and scalp microcirculation.
In simple terms: stress doesn’t just make you feel tired — it literally switches off your hair growth.
Internal Roots: Why Hair Health Is an Inside-Out Journey
Most people treat hair loss from the outside only.
They switch shampoos, try expensive treatments, or massage in serums (which do help — but only if your body is ready to receive their nutrients).
The truth is: your scalp health is a mirror of your inner state. Your internal roots — hormones, nervous system, and nutritional balance — determine how well your external rootsgrow.
The Inside-Out and Outside-In Ritual
At Rooted Trēes, we believe in rituals that nurture both directions: from the inside out, and the outside in.
Here’s how:
From the Inside Out (Internal Ritual):
- Ceremonial Matcha: Matcha has become incredibly popular in the past few years — social media turned it into a trend, and many people drink it just because they saw it in a TikTok video, without really knowing why it’s good for them.
But matcha is so much more than a trend. It’s rooted in centuries of tradition and backed by modern science.
Matcha is rich in L-theanine, chlorophyll, and potent catechins like EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) — and EGCG plays a direct role in hair health.
- It stimulates the dermal papilla cells inside hair follicles, the very cells responsible for controlling hair growth.
- Research shows EGCG can prolong the anagen (growth) phase, slow down hair thinning, and even inhibit DHT, the hormone linked to hormonal and genetic hair loss.
- Matcha also helps reduce inflammatory cytokines on the scalp, which are often associated with dandruff, autoimmune-related shedding, and irritation. A calmer, less inflamed scalp creates a healthier environment for hair to regrow and strengthen.
From the Outside In (Topical Ritual):
- Rosemary Oil: clinically shown to stimulate hair follicles and improve thickness (comparable to minoxidil in studies).
- Castor Oil: increases blood flow and strengthens the scalp barrier.
- Argan Oil: rich in vitamin E and fatty acids that repair the hair shaft.
- Jasmine Oil: regulates sebum, adds shine, and relaxes the senses — linking emotional well-being with scalp relaxation.
- Green Tea Extract: acts as a DHT blocker on the scalp surface, reducing hair miniaturization.
This is why our “Food for the Scalp” Hair Serum and Matcha Ritual were created to work together — one calming your inner system, the other feeding your external roots.
Stress, Cortisol, and the Hair Cycle
To understand how stress affects your hair, let’s simplify the science.
The hair growth cycle has three main phases:
- Anagen (Growth) – lasts 2–7 years; follicles actively produce hair.
- Catagen (Transition) – lasts a few weeks; follicles shrink.
- Telogen (Rest/Shedding) – lasts about 3 months; old hair falls out.
Chronic stress shortens the anagen phase and lengthens telogen, meaning:
- You grow less new hair.
- You shed more old hair.
- Your follicles stay “dormant” longer.
When cortisol stays high for long periods, it interferes with the normal cycling of follicles. Your body prioritizes survival, not beauty.
That’s why you can’t “fix” hair loss by switching shampoos alone — you have to calm your nervous system first.
The Mind-Scalp Connection: Healing Through Ritual
In many traditional systems — from Ayurveda to Japanese herbalism — hair is considered a reflection of life force and inner balance.
Modern science agrees: the vagus nerve, a key part of your parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) system, plays a role in inflammation and blood flow regulation, both of which affect hair growth.
Activating your vagus nerve through slow rituals can help restore that inner balance.
Try this Rooted Trēes-inspired 3-Step Slow Ritual:
1. Brew Your Matcha Mindfully 🍵
- Whisk ceremonial-grade matcha slowly.
- Inhale the aroma; exhale stress.
- Sip while focusing on calm, rhythmic breathing.
2. Warm Your Scalp Serum 🌿
- Mix 3–5 drops of our Food for the Scalp Serum (with rosemary, castor, argan, ginseng, and jasmine).
- Warm between your palms and massage your scalp for 3–5 minutes.
- Focus on gentle pressure — it stimulates the parasympathetic response.
3. Affirm and Release ✨
- Repeat softly: “I am nourishing my roots — inside and out.”
- Let this be more than a beauty act. Let it be a ritual of regulation.
When your ritual slows your breath, your nervous system signals safety.
When your body feels safe, your hair begins to grow again.
Rooted Trēes: The Science of Ritual
At Rooted Trēes, we call this philosophy “Internal Roots.”
It’s not just about what you apply.
It’s about how you feel when you apply it.
Our Slow Ritual Kit combines:
- 🌿 Ceremonial Matcha — your daily nervous system nourishment
- 🪶 Food for the Scalp Serum — your botanical growth elixir
Together, they support your hair from both sides:
→ inside-out (through antioxidants, adaptogens, and calm)
→ outside-in (through scalp stimulation and nourishment)
If your hair care routine has become another rushed task, it’s time to slow it down. Explore our Slow Ritual Collection — where your nervous system and your roots finally meet in balance.
Join the Rooted Trēes Ritual — a mindful journey with ceremonial matcha and our botanical scalp serum. Heal your nervous system, nourish your roots, and watch your hair come back stronger than ever.