Tips for Healthier Hair Growth
While genetics play a role in how your hair grows, the way you care for it plays an even bigger part!
Here's how you can improve your relationship with your hair and have better hair growth and healthier length retention!
Tip #1 - Scalp Massage
Massages may feel great on the body but your scalp could use one too.
Scalp massages are not only relaxing but they have other benefits too, such as improving blood flow. This increases circulation and the pay off is stronger hair.
To do a scalp massage, a little slip is good to reduce friction on your hair. You can use coconut oil, a hair serum or a deep conditioning hair mask!
Do give your scalp a little attention a couple of times a week. It works even better before bed to improve your sleep cycle which promotes healthy hair growth.
Tip #2 - Have a Healthy Diet
Our hair skin and nails are made up of a protein called Keratin. Our bodies need sufficient protein to reproduce healthy Keratin in our bodies. When those substances become damaged or weakened, they become brittle and the structure is compromised.
The proteins can be found in food such as:
plants
beans and legumes
tofu
nuts and seeds
lean meats
poultry
fish
lean beef
dairy
eggs
Expert Kathryn Watson says "Zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding. Nuts like brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, and almonds can help."
In my own personal experience with this, I had severe hair loss and shedding. I was under a lot of stress ( that I didn't even recognize at the time), and eating a very restrictive diet. I was more than likely missing quite a few nutrients. My hair was thin, breaking and in poor health. Every time I would wash my hair, I would have severe shedding and the trash would be full of hair. It scared me and I knew something had to change.
I started taking in more healthy, quality calories and drinking more water. I try my best to control my stress and control my thoughts as not to raise my cortisol levels.
Tip #3 - Omega Fatty Acids
Increasing your Omega 3's can stimulate hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and improve scalp health.
These fats can be found in food like flaxseeds, yogurt, and cottage cheese. It can be also found cold water fish like salmon, sardines, and herring. Omega 3 supplements such as krill oil can make up for what you can't find in food.
Tip #4 - Use The Right Products for Your Hair
Know what products work for your hair.
While many may have different opinion on how often the hair needs to be shampooed, it all comes down to personal preference and your hair needs.
If your hair is oily, daily or every other day may be best. While those with a drier hair type may require less washing and perhaps more moisturizing and conditioning.
Tip #5 - Get Regular Trims
Getting regular trims (or as I like to say, "dust your ends") is as important as taking vitamins, washing and conditioning your hair.
Combing, brushing, and general wear and tear eventually leads to tangling, split ends and breakage.
These abrasions lead to frazzled ends and limp, thin-looking hair.
Ideally, it would be better to get a trim every 3-4 months. More if you manipulate your hair a lot or use heat more often, then you would increase it to every 6-8 weeks.
Trimming hair regularly has many benefits:
Such as preventing excessive breakage from manipulation
Helping to have healthier length retention because your hair won't be thin and broken. Not
all long hair is healthy hair. If it's thin and broken and looks likes its been attacked by a weed-whacker, its time to get rid of it.
A fresh trim makes hair look full and thick.
Curls have more pop and spring to them, giving you that bounce you've been searching for.
A trim can give any style and any hair type a clean, polished look.
Styling and detangling becomes a heck of a lot easier.
Tip #6 - Reduce Heat Application
Stacey Ciceron, heat damage is what happens when using too high of a temperature on your hair comprises its natural texture. “Heat damage can occur on a single application and the effects are permanent,” Ciceron said.
Make sure when using heat, you adjust the heat temperature for your hair type and reduce excessive use.
Allow your hair to air dry sometimes. Use a deep conditioner regularly to keep hair moisturized, doing so will allow for your scalps natural oils to regenerate and redistribute. As a result, you will find your hair to be softer and more manageable.
Continued commitment to leaving heat alone in as little as a months time will result in stronger hair and you will notice your curls will have more definition .
Final Thoughts...
With all of this now new found knowledge, we have learned all of the factors that can affect our hair, outside of genetics. Our hair is not unyielding to all of the abuse and neglect that it sometimes endures.
When your show your hair love through what's done on the inside as well as outside, your hair will repay you ten-fold. Everyone notices the person with the healthy hair because it is undeniable and receives so much admiration for its beauty.
Put this knowledge to use on your healthy hair journey.