How to Improve the Health of your Hair
/Let’s face it: Whether we want to admit it or not, we care a lot about our hair!
The good news is that when we nurture ourselves, we can have fuller, shinier, healthier hair. Here are some tips for maximum hair health:
1/ Build strong hair from the inside out:
Have a healthy diet (including fruit, vegetables, and whole grains) that provides the biotin, vitamin A, B, C, and Iron your hair needs.
Make sure to get plenty of Omega 3s (if you’re not a big fan of fish or shellfish, you can get Omega 3s from a quality supplement).
Eat protein-rich foods from a variety of foods like eggs, beans, lentils, pumpkin seeds, cheese, yogurt, tofu, tempeh, fish, and meats. Hair is made of protein; not consuming enough protein may cause your hair to become dry, brittle, and weak.
2/ Nurture your scalp:
Give yourself a regular (daily if possible) scalp massage, or have your partner give you one! Scalp massage optimizes your body’s natural healing abilities (so it benefits much more than just the hair and scalp), removes dead skin cells and scalp buildup (which can clog the hair follicles), improves circulation, stimulates growth, and may even lead to thicker hair. Never use your nails. Be gentle. Add a few drops of our Elixir Hair Serum and leave on for an hour or overnight for extra benefits. It contains soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients that can also help with itchy scalp.
3/ Increase blood flow to the scalp:
Exercise. It improves overall blood flow, balances hormones (which can be sometimes the cause of hair loss).
Do a headstand, a handstand, or hang upside down (think inversion table or aerial yoga) to increase blood flow to the scalp.
At the end of your shower, turn the water temperature to the coldest you can handle and let it run over your scalp for 1 or 2 minutes.
4/ Protect your hair from the sun, sea salt, and chlorine:
Wear a hat.
Apply a protective oil (like our Elixir hair Serum) before going to the beach.
Rinse out the saltwater after surfing or swimming in the ocean and the chlorine after being at the pool.
5/ Process it less often:
Do not shampoo more than twice a week.
Be gentle when detangling long hair. I like to apply conditioner and gently comb it through with a wide-toothed comb. That way when I rinse it off, my hair is already almost tangle-free. Wrap it in a towel, but do not rub it with the towel.
Do not blow dry your hair all the way if you can. Just like when you put your laundry in the dryer, the most damaging part is the last few minutes when there is no moisture left and it just bakes. Whenever possible, let your hair air dry.
6/ Try to avoid chemicals on your hair like:
Sulfates [sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), laureth sulfate]
Parabens [Propyl, Methyl, and Butyl]. They are preservatives that can interfere with your hormones, especially estrogen, and can potentially cause scalp irritation and hair loss.
Propylene Glycol. Even though it makes your hair look smooth and shiny, it can also irritate your scalp and cause hair loss.
Formaldehyde [found in some hair-smoothing treatments]. It is a known carcinogen.
Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA). Used to balance the pH of hair care products, they can cause damage and hair loss.
