The ultimate guide on how to achieve the healthiest hair of your life. This round up includes everything from essential nutrient consumption to home made DIY packs.
Healthy hair is not an overnight process. It's a journey that can sometimes take weeks or months to show results. It's a true test of diligence but if you're loyal to a healthy hair care routine, the results will show.
Nutrition
Just like abs, strong, glossy locks are made in the kitchen. How fast your hair grows and how healthy it is depends heavily on your diet and nutrient consumption. Vitamins and minerals from food have a direct role to play in the hair follicle growth cycle as riboflavin, biotin, folate, iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Eating well starts with a hearty breakfast that must include eggs, a great source of protein and biotin-nutrients essential for healthy hair. Take a cue from Popeye and make sure to consume spinach which is loaded with folate, iron, and vitamins A and C. While vitamin A helps with mane growth, iron is essential for oxygen circulation within your body and thus, repair.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked with healthy hair growth across several studies and can be found in fish such as salmon, herring, and mackerel. For vegetarians, nuts are a great source of essential fatty acids along with a variety of B vitamins and zinc.
A surprising kitchen ingredient most experts swear by for glossy locks? Sweet potatoes. This root vegetable is stuffed with an antioxidant called beta carotene which aids the glands in your scalp with producing sebum, thereby preventing your tresses from drying out. You can also find this nutrient in carrots, cantaloupes or everyone's favourite mango!
Healthy Hair Care Routine
The most essential part of maintaining healthy locks is identifying your hair type and finding a suitable routine-including a shampoo, conditioner and aftercare serum. For instance, most Indian women have wavy or curly hair and it is recommended that they use sulphate free products. To keep your mane at its healthiest, after using a suitable shampoo and conditioner, it is integral to invest in aftercare. The Anti Frizz Serum is suited to all hair types and is incredibly effective in keeping the flyaways at bay.
One of our top healthy hair tips for natural hair is DIY masks-treatments you can apply to your roots and tresses once every two weeks for that additional boost of moisture and protection. Our knight in shining armour? A 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1 tsp of cinnamon concoction that serves to strengthen your roots and promotes hair growth. The cinnamon stimulates blood circulation while the coconut oil provides intense moisture which helps prevent split ends, dullness and breakage.
If you have coloured hair, opt for a honey (2 tablespoons), banana (1 peeled banana) and coconut oil (3 tablespoons) mask. The easily available kitchen ingredients are hair heroes in disguise as they bring moisture and shine to your locks without affecting the artificial colour. Leave the mask in for 20 minutes before you rinse.
