Everyone desires strong, shiny, and easy-to-manage hair. However, getting there can be difficult. Most of us have some kind of hair problem that prevents us from having a healthy head of hair. When it comes to your hair type, strength, and volume, your genes do play a role. However, this does not imply that you have no control over your hair.
Increase your vitamin intake
Your hair, like the rest of your body, requires specific vitamins and minerals to be healthy and strong. According to research, nutritional deficiencies may be linked to hair loss.
The following vitamins and minerals may be particularly beneficial to hair growth:
- Vitamin A: found in sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, spinach, milk, eggs, and yogurt
- B vitamins, especially biotin: found in egg yolk, liver, salmon, avocados, nuts and seeds, and dairy products
- Vitamin C: good sources include citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers
- Vitamin D: found in fatty fish, egg yolk, and fortified foods like milk and orange juice
- Vitamin E: good sources include sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, and avocados
- Iron: found in oysters, clams, eggs, red meat, lentils, and spinach
- Zinc: good sources include oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and lentils
If you are having difficulty getting the necessary nutrients from your diet, you may want to consider taking a multivitamin that contains these vitamins and minerals.
However, before taking any supplements, especially biotin, consult with your healthcare provider. According to research, excessive biotin consumption can affect laboratory test results, such as tests designed to detect heart attacks.
Silicone can help thicken thin hair
Thin, lifeless hair is a common complaint, but few women are aware of the best treatment. Heavy conditioners only make your hair limp. Products containing silicone, such as dimethicone or cyclomethicone, are a better bet. These coat the strands with a thin film, resulting in fuller, less greasy hair. Even after rinsing, the silicone remains in place.
Avoid using high-powered blow dryers
Blow dryers, straightening irons, hot curlers, and other heated styling tools can be damaging to your hair, particularly if it is fine, dry, or prone to breakage. Too much heat can weaken your hair, resulting in damaged or frizzy strands.
Researchers who conducted a 2011 study recommend holding the blow dryer about 6 inches away from the surface of your hair and keeping the dryer moving and not concentrated on one spot to limit hair drying damage.
Limit your blow-drying and other heated styling sessions to two or three times per week to allow your hair to recover between sessions.
Reduce the risk of hair damage by using a lower heat setting on your dryer and other heated styling tools. You should also consider using a heat protectant product on your hair to prevent damage.
A powerful blow dryer might be expected to shave a few minutes off your styling routine. However, in a comparison of blow dryers, Consumer Reports discovered that they all dried hair in roughly the same amount of time. However, some are much noisier than others. The group discovered that the most expensive dryers were the quietest, while the loudest were as loud as a lawn mower.
Frequent blow-drying is damaging to your hair and can result in hair loss. Turn down the heat when blow drying. Finer hair is especially vulnerable to heat damage, but even thick manes require some tender loving care. Use a conditioner or a heat styling product to protect your hair before styling.
Fish and nuts for healthy hair
The same nutritious foods that are good for your body are also good for your hair. Consume plenty of salmon and nuts! Their protein and omega-3 fatty acids contribute to a healthier scalp. Leafy vegetables, beans, and carrots are also beneficial to your hair. Be wary of fad diets that promise quick weight loss. They can deprive your body of essential nutrients, resulting in brittle hair or hair loss.
Use lukewarm water to protect your shiny hair
Hot water has the potential to remove the protective oils that act as a natural conditioner. And your hair's natural radiance may fade. This does not imply that you must endure cold showers in order to avoid dull hair. Instead, wash your hair with lukewarm water. Massage the scalp while shampooing to pamper it.
Increase the protein in your diet
If you frequently use hot tools to style your hair, or if you color, bleach, or perm it, you can damage the protective outer layer of your hair. As a result, there are "split ends." Fortunately, there are hair products available to help repair the damage. Look for protein-rich conditioners. They penetrate the hair shaft and help to repair split ends. Because the fix only lasts until the next shampoo, you'll need to use them on a regular basis.
Getting enough protein in your diet is essential for hair growth because hair follicles are mostly made of protein. According to research, a lack of protein in the diet can cause hair thinning and loss.
Protein-rich foods that may be beneficial to hair health include:
- beans and legumes
- nuts and seeds
- fish, like mackerel and salmon
- spinach and kale
- lean meats
- eggs
Get your redhead bounce on
Your hair's fullness is inherited, as is your styling technique. Natural redheads have thicker hair, whereas blondes have the thinnest but most hairs. Fortunately, you can increase the volume regardless of the color. Dry the root area first with a leave-in conditioner or mousse. To add volume, flip your hair upside down while drying. If you have fine hair, use low heat with any hot tool.
Don't use oils to treat dandruff
Despite the white flakes that float down to your shoulders, dandruff is not a type of dry skin. A minor scalp skin disorder is to blame. Rubbing oil into the scalp may aggravate the condition. Shampoos containing medication are the best solution - from a drugstore or a dermatologist. Allow the shampoo to soak into your scalp for 5 minutes. Make sure to thoroughly rinse.
Consider a hot oil treatment
Hot oil treatments are popular for restoring moisture to dry, frizzy, or damaged hair.
A treatment with coconut and avocado oil may be especially beneficial. Coconut oil has the ability to reduce protein loss in both damaged and undamaged hair, according to a 2003 study.
Avocado oil, like coconut oil, contains essential fatty acids as well as vitamins A, B-5, and E.
Follow these steps to make your own hot oil treatment:
- Combine 1-2 tbsp. room temperature virgin coconut oil and 1-2 tbsp. avocado oil. Depending on the length of your hair, you can use more or less, but keep the ratio of both oils roughly equal.
- Place the oil mixture in a glass jar and carefully place it in a pot of hot water.
- Allow the oil to melt and warm for about 2 minutes inside the jar. The oil should be slightly warm and well-mixed, not too hot.
- On the back of your wrist, check the temperature. It should be lukewarm rather than hot. Don't touch the oil if it appears to be hot. Wait for it to cool.
- Once the oil mixture has reached a safe temperature, apply it to your scalp, hair roots, and ends. Massage the remaining oil into your hair.
- Put on a shower cap and let the oil soak into your hair for 20 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Take it easy with the shampoo
It is critical to keep your hair clean. However, most shampoos contain ingredients that strip your hair of its natural oils in an attempt to reduce oiliness and remove dirt.
Unless your hair is extremely oily, you can probably reduce your shampoo usage to two to three times per week instead of daily. Washing your hair too frequently can cause it to dry out and weaken the hair shaft.
Also, avoid using too much shampoo. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a quarter-sized amount of shampoo, applied mostly to your scalp, is all you need to clean your hair.
Brush your hair less frequently to prevent hair loss.
Don't buy into the myth of 100 brush strokes per day. Too much brushing will cause hairs to fall out. Normal hair loss is 50 to 100 hairs per day for most people. These have ceased to grow and have entered a dormant state. Use a brush with ball-tipped bristles to prevent excessive hair loss. And never brush wet hair; instead, use a comb.
Curly hair is more prone to breaking and becoming dry and brittle. Using a pick gently instead of combing or brushing keeps curls looking better. Conditioners containing polymers can smooth hair and make it more manageable. Look for polyvinylpyrrolidone on the label. Avoid overusing flat irons and relaxers, which can cause hair damage.
Take special care of tightly wound hair
Ponytails and braids are excellent ways to express your individuality. They can, however, break off hair and damage the roots if they are too tight. Wearing a tight style all day can cause your hair to fall out. Every night, let your hair down! Leave hair a little loose at the scalp for braided styles that will last months. Give your hair a three-month break if you wear heavy extensions.
Don't let brands empty your pockets
What exactly do you get for the extra money you spend on specialty products? Consumer Reports tested 1,700 ponytail samples and discovered that expensive shampoos were no better than cheaper ones. What should you purchase? Select shampoos and conditioners that are formulated for your hair type, such as those for oily, fine, or color-treated hair.
Avoid drastic color changes
Hair not only changes color as we age, but it also becomes weaker and grows more slowly. As a result, damaged hair will not be snipped off as quickly by haircuts. To avoid damage, chemicals used on "mature" hair should be weaker.
Perhaps you've always wanted to be a blonde, or you're a blonde who wants to go darker. With more drastic color changes, you run the risk of damaging your hair. Some dermatologists advise staying three shades darker than your natural skin tone.
Calm frizz in winter
Humidity is often blamed for frizzy hair. However, static electricity is more prevalent when the air is dry. This implies that frizz flies in the winter and in the arid climes of the Southwest. To eliminate static electricity, use a conditioner. pH-balanced shampoos can also help to reduce frizz in chemically relaxed or colored hair.
Protect hair from the sun
The sun is as harsh on your hair as it is on your skin. Sun exposure can cause hair to dry out, especially if it is color-treated. When the sun is at its hottest, use a light hair spray with broad-spectrum sun protection, or wear a hat. Summer trims can help keep your ends looking healthy.
Take a shower before going swimming
Avoid chlorine damage by rinsing your hair or wearing a swim cap before entering the pool. If your hair is already wet, it will not absorb as much from the chemical-laden pool. To further protect your hair, use a pH-balancing hair product.
Take a time out from styling
The best thing you can do for better hair days is - nothing. All of the yanking, combing, brushing, drying, and chemical treatment of hair harms the shafts. Even vigorous towel-drying can cause hair damage. Blot wet hair gently with a towel. Take a break from styling if you have damaged hair. The new growth will be healthy as the damaged hair grows out.
Sudden changes in your hair, such as brittleness or hair loss, can be a sign of a health problem in rare cases. Some medications can also cause hair loss. Consult a dermatologist if you notice significant changes in your hair.
Massage your scalp
Increasing blood flow to your hair follicles by increasing blood circulation in your scalp may help improve the health and condition of your scalp.
A 4-minute daily scalp massage may have the ability to increase hair thickness and strength over time, according to a small 2016 study.
You can massage your own scalp for several minutes by applying pressure in circular motions with your fingertips. You can do this on dry hair or wet hair right before applying shampoo.
A scalp massager can also be purchased. These brush-like handheld devices stimulate your scalp.
Make an egg yolk mask
The proteins found in egg yolk are the same ones found in a healthy hair follicle. Furthermore, peptides found in egg yolk may help stimulate hair growth, according to a 2018 study.
The yolk of an egg also contains several essential nutrients that have been linked to hair growth and healthy hair, such as vitamins A and D, biotin, and folate.
Follow these steps to make your own egg yolk mask:
- Use 3 egg yolks and 3–4 tbsp. of slightly warm coconut oil.
- Combine the two ingredients thoroughly.
- Apply the mixture to your scalp and roots after it has been thoroughly blended.
- After applying the mixture, cover your head with a shower cap.
- Allow it to sit on your head for about 10-15 minutes.
- Cool water should be used to rinse it out.
Make use of a cool rinse
Hot water in the shower can cause heat damage to your hair, both at the root and on the cuticle. Steam in the shower can cause your hair's cuticles to open, resulting in dry, frizzy, and brittle hair.
Lather up with lukewarm water to protect your hair. Finish your shower with a cool water spray on your hair and scalp. This may help seal the cuticle of your hair, making it easier for it to retain moisture.
Apply aloe vera to your hair and scalp
Vitamins A, C, and E are abundant in aloe vera. These vitamins may aid in the growth of healthy cells, including those in your hair. Furthermore, aloe vera contains vitamin B-12 and folic acid, both of which may aid in the promotion of healthy hair.
However, it is unknown whether these beneficial vitamins actually penetrate the scalp when aloe vera is applied topically.
You can apply aloe vera gel directly to your hair and scalp, or look for aloe vera-infused hair products. For added conditioning, make your own aloe vera hair mask.
Replace your towel with a T-shirt
According to hair care professionals, rubbing wet hair with a terry-cloth towel after washing can cause hair damage and breakage due to the friction created between the towel and your hair.
You can use a microfiber towel, but a cotton T-shirt is a simpler and less expensive option.
The smooth T-shirt fabric will cause less friction while drying, resulting in less damage and frizz. Follow these steps to apply a tee to your hair:
After washing and rinsing your hair, gently squeeze sections to remove as much water as possible.
Bend your head forward and turban-style wrap the T-shirt around your head.
Wrap your damp hair in the shirt for 5-10 minutes before unwrapping.
Squeeze the T-shirt gently around any damp sections of hair, then dry and style as usual.
To get strong, healthy hair, you must work on all fronts
While avoiding heat damage and overwashing is crucial, what you put into your body is as important. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein sources will help improve the health of your hair and scalp.
If you discover that your hair is becoming more prone to breaking or that you are losing more hair than normal, consult your doctor. Hair loss is common in both men and women, but it can occasionally signal an underlying health concern.