Why is hair health so important? Why do we feel healthier and more confident when our hair looks good? Why are we so attracted to healthy hair? Well, the truth actually lies in our evolutionary primal instincts. We are attracted to healthy hair because it speaks of our overall health and being the animals that we are, we are biologically attracted to a mate that is healthy and vital.
You see, when we absorb nutrients from our food our body then distributes those nutrients in order of importance. Our vital organs are the first to receive nourishment because they are vital to sustain life. Our hair along with our fingernails, however, are not vital for life, in fact they are more like adornments on the body and so they are the last to receive nutrition. If we are deficient or lacking nutrients in any way our hair and nails are the first to suffer. If any of you have ever seen an Ayurvedic doctor or a Naturopath, one of the things they look at are your nails. Why? because they tell an enormous amount about what is happening inside of your body and your overall health.
Let's talk about some of the most common culprits of brittle, weak, unhealthy locks, even hair loss and what we can do about it!
Stress is an enormous contributor to unhealthy hair as well as hair loss. I myself had some hair loss when I was experiencing an extremely stressful time in my life. Hair loss can be very traumatic for anyone, but we are not powerless. There are steps we can take to prevent and even reverse hair damage and loss. When we are under stress the body can become depleted of crucial nutrients, particularly, Iron, Magnesium, B vitamins and Vitamin C. This has a huge effect on our hair. One of the first steps we need to take is to clean up our diet, specifically from processed foods, sugar and alcohol, which all can deplete our bodies of nutrients. Then we need to load up on foods such as eggs, spinach, fatty fish, sweet potatoes, nuts and seeds and avocados. Supplementing with a great multivitamin can also be very helpful. A biotin supplement, also known as B7, can also go a long way to help hair health and growth. Biotin stimulates keratin production and can increase the rate of follicle growth. B7 is not stored in the body for long so we must replenish through our foods and supplementation. I can recommend some specific brands that I like and use if you are interested. Just reach out and ask :)
De-stressing practices, such as yoga, meditation, cardio exercise are all wonderful ways to support healthy hair.
The next thing I would say to revive and strengthen your hair is to look at what products you are putting on your head everyday. My motto is: less is more. The fewer products you use the less you are exposing yourself to potentially harmful chemicals. There are so many great non-toxic hair products now, I encourage you to look for products free of parabens and sulphates (there are lists of ingredients to avoid in hair products, too long to list here, which you can easily google) and you can even go an extra step to use a vegan cruelty free brand.
One of my favorite little secrets to grow long, healthy hair is nettle tea. Nettle leaves are rich in sulphur and silica which make hair shinier and healthier as well as vitamins, zinc and selenium, all important for hair growth. You can buy dried nettle tea leaves and brew your own tea. You can also use a nettle hair wash topically. I enjoy a few cups of home brewed nettle tea daily.
I hope these hair care tips are useful and take comfort, as you are not powerless when it comes to your hair health. Everything we see externally: skin, hair, teeth and nails, are direct reflections of our internal well being. Remember inner health equals outer beauty.
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