Want healthier, glossier, better looking strands? You’re not alone! Your hair can be your crowning glory, but it takes some work to keep it that way. We’re here to help, with the expert approved tips you need to help your hair thrive. Let’s go to the tips directly.
Eat a hair healthy diet
You are what you eat, as the old saying goes —a nd that’s definitely true when it comes to hair health. An unbalanced diet high in processed food and empty calories can create nutritional deficiencies that leave your hair fragile, brittle, and more prone to shedding and breakage.
Make your diet more hair health friendly by prioritizing healthy sources of protein such as legumes and whole grains, as well as eggs, chicken, and fish—which is also a source of hair health essential omega 3 fatty acids. Try to eat the rainbow of fruits and veggies each day, and incorporate high in zinc foods like Brazil nuts into your diet to give your strands an extra boost.
Minimize your stress
High stress levels can be a major contributor to hair loss. In fact, if you expose your hair to long term stress, you may end up shedding large amounts of strands as your scalp goes through telogen effluvium—or stress induced hair loss.
A certain amount of stress is inevitable, but try to keep calm and carry on. And stress reducing practices are you hair’s bff. Try adding meditation to your daily routine, starting a gratitude journal, or simply unplugging and going for a regular evening walk. These little tweaks will lower your cortisol levels and keep your scalp in check.
Rethink your hair care
The products you use on your strands can make a huge difference in the overall health and wellness of your hair. Unfortunately, many of the standard issue hair products you’ll find in an ordinary drugstore are packed with sulfates, parabens, harsh chemicals, and artificial fragrances—all of which can damage the long term healthiness and appearance of your hair. Instead, try switching to a brand like VEGAMOUR, which pairs gentle ingredients with hair health promoting plant sourced bioactives.
To figure out the products your strands crave, we recommend taking a hair quiz designed to help you create your custom routine. Or to make things even easier, you can simply stock up on this comprehensive hair health essentials kit. With wash day must haves, strand health boosting serum, and so much more, it’s got everything your hair needs to flourish.
Keep your blood pumping
Your hair growth thrives when your scalp is at its healthiest. Preserving blood flow ensures a steady supply of oxygenated, nutrient dense blood to your scalp and hair follicles, supporting the growth of healthier, stronger strands. And as we all know, there’s nothing like a regular exercise routine to nap the heart pumping and blood flowing.
A regular exercise routine is great for your whole body wellness, and it doesn’t need to be complicated. Try adding in a morning yoga practice, or a brisk after lunch stroll around your neighborhood. Hiking with friends on the weekends is a healthy and fun way to boost blood flow. Try to find a routine that works for your schedule and energy levels and stick with it—we promise your strands will thank you.
Get regular trims
It might sound counterintuitive, but one of the best things you can do for your hair is cut it. When your hair goes too long without a trim, split ends can creep higher up the hair shaft, leaving strands damaged and weak.
Scheduling a regular consultation with a hair health professional puts an end to split ends, and helps maintain the integrity of your strands. It’s also a great way to check in with an expert about your progress towards your hair health goals and make sure you’re on the right track.
Read: HOW TO LIGHTEN HAIR WITHOUT DAMAGE NATURALLY
Nix hair harming habits
Last but not least, a big part of supporting hair health is making sure you aren’t inadvertently damaging your strands. Try not to over consume alcohol, and keep dieting to a minimum. Wash your hair only a few times a week—and make sure you stay away from those at strand damaging drugstore shampoos when you do.
Heat styling and harsh chemical styling treatments such as straightening or perms should be reserved for special occasions. If you do dye your hair, try to stay within three tones of your natural shade to make the process less harsh. And try to reduce your use of high stress hairstyles like tight braids, buns, or ponytails.
By avoiding these hair stressors, you’re eliminating many of the worst sources of physical damage.
So there you have it—the inside scoop on the hair healthy habits your strands need to thrive. By incorporating these healthy lifestyle choices your daily routine, you’ll be setting your strands up for success!
References:
On eating a healthy diet for hair health:
- Guo, E.L., Katta, R. “Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use.” Dermatology practical & conceptual vol. 7,1 (2017): 1-10. doi:10.5826/dpc.0701a01
- Rasheed, H., Mahgoub, D., Hegazy, R., El-Komy, M., Abdel Hay, R., Hamid, M. et al. “Serum ferritin and vitamin d in female hair loss: do they play a role?” Skin pharmacology and physiology vol. 26,2 (2013): 101-7. doi:10.1159/000346698
On reducing stress for hair health:
- Arck, P.C., Handjiski, B., Hagen, E., Joachim, R., Klapp, B.F., Paus, R. “Indications for a ‘brain-hair follicle axis (BHA)’: inhibition of keratinocyte apoptosis in vitro by stress-induced neuropeptides.” The FASEB Journal vol. 15,9 (2001): 2536-8. doi:10.1096/fj.01-0345fje
- Van den bergh, B.R., Van den Wijngaard, R.M., “Stress and the hair follicle: Exploring the connections.” General and comparative endocrinology vol. 222 (2015): 41-7. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.12.001
On using gentle, natural hair products:
- Draelos, Z.D. “Shampoos, conditioners and camouflage techniques.” Dermatologic clinics vol. 31,1 (2013): 173-8. doi:10.1016/j.det.2012.08.013
- D’Souza, P., Rathi, S.K. “Shampoo and conditioners: What a dermatologist should know?” Indian dermatology online journal vol. 6,5 (2015): 413-8. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.164414
On getting regular trims:
- Park, H.Y., Ji, H.J., Kim, Y.K., Kim, B.J. “Effect of regular dry sauna bathing on body composition and hair breakpoint.” International journal of hyperthermia vol. 36,1 (2019): 39-45. doi:10.1080/02656736.2018.1513231
- Trueb, R.M. “Systematic approach to hair loss in women.” Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG vol. 8,4 (2010): 284-97. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2010.07391
