How to improve your
hair health
It might sound a little dramatic, but a bad hair day has the potential to impact our confidence and how we feel about ourselves. We’ve all experienced those mornings when misbehaving hair has had us questioning whether we should leave the house. And we’re all familiar with that feeling when our hair looks and feels great – it makes us feel great.
Damage, dullness, thinning, dryness, dandruff, excessive frizz – we all have hair issues that consume us. But what can we do to get healthier, stronger hair? Here are some simple tips:
Eat a balanced diet
Start by eating a well-balanced diet. We hear it all the time – you are what you eat, and it’s true. Nutrients from the foods we eat provide the building blocks of every cell in our body, from our skin and hair to our muscles, bones, digestive and immune systems. We may not feel it, but we’re continually repairing, healing and rebuilding our body.
Your hair is mostly made from protein, so eating a diet rich in protein is essential to your hair’s overall health. A lack of protein can lead to weak, brittle locks and in some cases a loss of hair colour and the hair itself.
Including the right quantity of fish, meat, eggs and beans into your diet will help you make sure you’re getting a healthy dose of protein. If these foods aren’t to your taste other good sources of hair-boosting foods, include berries, spinach, and avocados, along with anything else rich in vitamins C and E which will help boost collagen production, resulting in stronger strands.
GET A TRIM
Getting regular haircuts will help your strands stay healthy and prevent split ends. Experts recommend having a trim every two months and having a shorter do, every six weeks.
If you’re worried about losing length (we’ve all had a hairdresser that’s a little scissor happy), ask for a ‘dusting’ where just your tips get a trim.
TURN THE TEMPERATURE DOWN
There’s nothing better than a long hot shower, but scalding hot water doesn’t do your hair any favours. Hot water can dry your hair out and if your hair is coloured, washes out colour faster than cold water. We’re not insisting you have an ice bath every day, just turning the temperate dial gauge down a few notches, so the water is lukewarm will do your hair a world of good.
RELAX
Stress can seriously affect your hair and scalp’s health and, in some extreme cases, can cause hair loss.
If you feel yourself getting stressed, perhaps try some meditation and give yourself some time to sit silently and pay attention to thoughts. As you spend time practising mindfulness, you may find yourself feeling less stressed, calmer, and more patient.
Get to know your hair
It might sound a bit silly, but getting to know your hair better can do miracles. Your hair is unique, and your hair type and texture will tell you a lot about what your hair needs. For example, if your hair is on the oily side, you may need to shampoo every day, while dry hair may need to be shampooed less frequently.
STOP TOUCHING YOUR HAIR
We can all be guilty of fiddling and fussing over our locks a little too much from time to time. Constantly pulling and tugging on your follicles can slowly damage and traumatize your hair – fast forward a few years and you might start to notice bald patches and parts of your hairline receding.
Picking at your split ends isn’t good either – it’s best to leave your hair alone and let a hairdresser fix your split ends. Avoid styling your hair in tight ponytails and overusing hair extensions that put pressure on your follicles and can lead to breakage and irreversible damage.
GIVE YOUR HAIR A REST
It can be tempting to wash and style your hair every day, layering up the products and treatments. But this intensive over maintenance can damage your hair. Whenever possible, try and allow your hair to air dry. If you’re heading to a meeting and waltzing in with dripping locks isn’t appropriate, try drying your hair on a lower setting to prevent heat damage.
Always remember to treat your hair gently when it’s wet — it’s three times more vulnerable to damage and breakage.
Choose the right shampoo
The shampoo you’re using could be drastically affecting the health of your hair. Before you choose shampoo, it’s essential to know what shampoo does and how that relates to your hair and scalp type. Shampoo is meant to clean your hair and scalp of dirt, oil, and styling products. So before choosing a shampoo its essential to know your hair. Your hairdresser will be able to point you in the right direction if you’re unsure of what product suits your hair type.
Certain hair products are better for different seasons. Your products should be moisturizing and hydrating in the winter, but you can probably switch to something lighter that won’t weigh hair down in the heat and humidity in the summer.
So before choosing a shampoo its essential to know your hair.
WEAR HATS
Though we rarely get to see it living here in the UK, like your skin, the sun can damage your hair and dry it out. Wearing a hat can protect your scalp from burning and your hair from dehydrating.
CUT IT OUT
Harsh shampoo, hair treatments, styling products, and excessive brushing contribute to poor hair health. However, according to Healthline, other culprits of hair damage can include:
- Overconsumption of alcohol
- Low-calorie and crash diets
- Decreased thyroid hormone
- Excessive stress
- Blood thinners
- Some prescription drugs for heart problems, depression, high blood pressure, and arthritis
TREAT YOUR LOCKS
One healthy hair habit both dermatologists and hairstylists agree on is incorporating a dose of TLC into your hair care routine. This could be a weekly deep conditioner or moisturizing hair mask, or a hair nourishment IV; a powerful IV nutritional supplement formulated to assist those with brittle nails and hair issues including hair loss, brittleness and thinning.
Our Hair Nourishment IV contains a high-dose lysine infusion. Lysine is an amino acid which is essential for healthy hair and promotes hair growth. The IV also contains Biotin, a B vitamin often recommended for hair health. Take a look at our Hair Nourishment IV page to find out more about the benefits of a hair nourishment drip.
