You’ve all seen the ads of the woman with long luxurious locks blowing in the wind or the man with silky smooth hair being caressed by a supermodel. Usually these ads are promoting some sort of chemical-laden shampoo that promises to give you that glorious hair, but the reality is healthy tresses start from the inside.
Whether you want healthier, shinier hair or are looking to prevent hair loss, it all starts with what you eat. While genetics, hormone imbalances and nutritional deficiencies do play a role, there are certainly steps you can take to make your hair as healthy as possible.
The first, and probably most important, factor in having a marvelous mane is what you eat. Essential fatty acids are key and you can get plenty of them from avocado, walnuts and flaxseeds. These fats keep all of your cells healthy and your body functioning properly.
Keep your collagen strong by getting an ample amount of Vitamin C. Collagen surrounds the hair strands but can weaken as we age making it much more susceptible to breakage. Pile on the citrus fruits, strawberries and red peppers to pack in your Vitamin C and boost that collagen! Strengthen the inside of your strands with Vitamin E which can be found in spinach, olives and sunflower seeds.
Hormones play a huge part in hair health. Keep your thyroid in check with sea vegetables like nori, kelp and dulse which are loaded with iodine. The thyroid depends on iodine to make the hormones necessary for healthy hair, without it you could be facing some serious hair loss.
Scalp circulation can also effect the health and growth rate (or loss) of your hair. Making sure your blood flow is bringing all the goodness and nutrition to your scalp is an important step in this gorgeous hair how-to. Some simple steps include exercising, scalp massage, adding rosemary oil to your shampoo and getting a little dose of cayenne pepper each day. All of these will keep your blood flowing and bringing nourishment to your scalp to keep your hair happy and beautiful.
Once you have your insides taken care of and you’re doing all the right things to get that ad-worthy hair, don’t go and ruin it all by using damaging toxic shampoos which can strip your hair of all the goodness you’ve been feeding it. Be sure to avoid anything with sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. Good rule of thumb – if you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not good for you! Look for all natural formulas with organic and raw ingredients – or even make your own!
Morrocco Method makes some of my favorite natural shampoos on the market. They are made with 100% natural whole-food ingredients and are completely vegan and raw. Without any sodium lauryl sulfate or added toxic chemicals, they are totally nourishing for your scalp and follicles. Give their products a try and I think you’ll fall head over heels like I did!
Hope this helps get you on your way to a beautiful bouncy full head of hair! I’d love to hear some of your natural hair tips in the comments below as well!
