All Natural Conditioner - 360ml

HAIR HEALTH

Providing your body with the right nutrients and making the right lifestyle changes can slow and even halt hair loss...

The condition of our hair is often a great sign of the underlying health of our entire body, and you really are what you eat. Often our hair and nails are the first parts of us to show nutrient deficiencies and signs of illness. Although a number of products can be applied to the hair to improve its appearance, true hair health comes from the inside, out. Soft, shiny, and smooth hair is a sign of good health, and a loss of these characteristics can indicate underlying imbalances in the body.

Hair Growth
In the same way that all of the cells in our bodies are replaced over time, our hair goes through similar life cycles. Although hair is not alive itself, it is a substance produced by living hair follicle cells in our skin. Hair grows at a rate of about ½ to ¾ of an inch each month. In order for our body to produce this growth, it requires the nutritional building blocks to do so. The major building blocks of hair are: protein, fat, water, and trace minerals. The final component of hair is the pigment molecules, which give each person’s hair its distinctive colour.

Hair Concerns
There are a number of conditions that can affect hair growth and quality. When hair is dry and fragile, it is important to nourish it with oil to promote increased strength. This can be particularly beneficial in those with insufficient sebum production from their skin (those with dry skin). Trimming hair regularly to remove split ends early in their development can help to prevent them from traveling up the hair and further reducing its strength.


WAYS TO SUPPORT HEALTHY HAIR GROWTH

Although much of the quality and texture of your hair is determined by genetics, there are a number of things that you can do to get the most out of what you were born with.

Diet
It is imperative to eat a diet that is rich in the nutrients that the body needs to properly produce hair. Because protein is the main component of hair, it is essential to get sufficient protein in the diet. As listed below, a diet with sufficient sources of healthy protein, fat, and minerals is essential to healthy hair production. Some excellent food sources of these are: fish, dark green vegetables, carrots, beans and legumes, nuts, and eggs.

Be sure to drink plenty of water to keep the body and the hair well hydrated. It is important to note that low-calorie and low-fat diets often restrict the nutrients required for healthy hair growth. Because of this, crash diets or restrictive dietary plans can often cause hair loss.

Lifestyle
How you take care of your hair can have a significant impact on its luster and life. The body naturally coats each strand of hair with sebum to help protect it from the elements, and shampooing too frequently can strip the hair of this protection. This causes dull, brittle, dry and frizzy hair. Using chemical-based products and processes, such as chemical hair dyes, perms and styling products can also strip this protective layer. Styling with heat can dry out the hair and reduce its water content, which also makes it more brittle and likely to break. Keeping the fat and water content of hair are both great ways to keep it shiny, smooth and strong. Shampooing on alternate days, or using more gentle and natural hair cleansers that contain moisturizing oils, are great ways to protect the oil content of the hair. Air drying the hair as often as possible, and avoiding the use of hair dryers and straighteners can also help to preserve the hair. Avoid violently combing or brushing hair, particularly when it is wet, as this will increase the likelihood of breaking hair strands. Managing stress and hormone levels are also extremely important for maintaining healthy hair growth.

Speeding Up Hair Growth
If you are looking to grow your hair faster, there has been some research into the stimulatory ability of scalp massage to promoting an increased rate of hair growth. This is likely because of increased blood flow to the hair follicles. As we always mention, exercising, and getting adequate sleep also help the body to manage stress and to promote the “rest and repair” time to allow for body processes such as hair growth.

Supplements for Hair Growth
There are a number of supplements that can help to support healthy hair growth. A deficiency in any vitamin or mineral in the body can result in hair loss. Checking in with your healthcare provider and doing simple blood work can help to determine if you are deficient in any key nutrients. Iron, Zinc and Selenium deficiencies can all cause hair loss, and supplementation can prevent and remedy these deficiencies. Vitamin C is required for collagen production in the body, and thus supplementation can help to provide the body with building blocks for better hair growth. Having sufficient Vitamin D in the body is also essential to hair growth, which can be produced by getting sufficient sunlight during the summer, while supplementation may be required in the winter months. The B Vitamins work together to help the body to manage stress and prevent stress-related hair loss. One of the B vitamins known as Biotin helps the body to metabolize the protein consumed so that it can be used to make new hair. Vitamin E helps to improve circulation to the scalp, which can help to promote healthy hair growth. Vitamin A is a precursor to retinoids in the body, which are substances that stimulate the hair follicle to produce new hair.