Let’s face it: those people with long, luxurious, thick locks of hair generally have genetics to thank for their good fortune. But if you’ve always wanted healthier hair, there are actually a lot of ways for you to achieve it. By understanding your hair and what it needs, you might be surprised by the difference just a few changes can make.
Nutrition
Your hair, skin, and nails are all impacted directly by what you put on your body but are also impacted by what you put in it as well. Your diet can have a massive impact on how healthy your hair is. For example, a diet deficient in iron can cause hair loss and thinning.
Protein is extremely important for healthy hair growth, as well as biotin. Eggs are rich in both, and adding an extra egg to your diet is easy. Other great foods for hair health are sweet potatoes (beta-carotene), fatty fish (Omega-3), and a variety of berries, which pack a nutritious punch of vitamins and minerals. If you know your diet is less than ideal, adding some nutritious foods into your day can make a big difference in how your hair looks and feels.
Hair Products
Once upon a time, if you went to the store to get shampoo, you only had a few different options to choose from. Maybe you grew up using watermelon-scented kids shampoo and now you don’t know where to start. Choosing the right hair products, from shampoo and conditioner to hair oils and masks, starts with understanding your hair type. Many people who suffer from oily hair between washes believe that they have an oily scalp.
But it’s possible that your scalp is producing excess oil because your products are too drying, and you actually need to be looking for moisturizing products. If your hair is damaged from excessive heat or repeated dyeing, you could benefit from a product that repairs hair disulfide bonds. Some people need to wash their hair multiple times a week, while others can go a full seven days between washes. Get to know your hair and try a few different products before settling on one, and don’t be afraid to ask your hair-dresser for advice!
Care Routine
Whatever products you choose, they won’t be much help unless you establish an effective routine along with them. A minimal routine might be what’s best for your hair, with the occasional shampoo and conditioning and maybe an added hair mask once in a while. Or your hair might be fussier and need a little more help from oils or scalp massages.
You might realize that your current shampoo is more effective if you let it sit in your hair before a rinse and that a double wash might be necessary. Whatever your hair needs, it can feel like a lot to do all that in one hair-wash cycle. But once you’ve got your routine down, the steps become automatic and easier with each wash.
Reduced Damage
If you keep your hair up in a tight bun or ponytail all day, or like to routinely blow-dry and heat curl your hair, it might be a good idea to start cutting back on those habits. Hair can easily be broken by tight updos, and heat can cause dryness and damage that’s hard to repair. Investing in hair ties that are more gentle on your hair can help reduce those annoying flyaways around your face.
If blow-drying your hair is a must, there are less damaging options that diffuse cooler heat to avoid direct damage to your hair. And tons of curling methods exist today that use little to no heat. If you’re dedicated to having healthier hair, reducing the damage it takes every day will make a big difference. Your hair will thank you for implementing these changes by looking healthier every day. You’re one step closer to having shiny, thick, supermodel hair.
