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Hair quite often
makes the first impression, so to many of us, the way our hair looks is
extremely important. We spend extra time in the morning styling,
fussing, brushing, curling, and controlling our locks to ensure that our
hair makes that first impression a good one.
We all know there is no shortage of hair care products, whether for hair
loss, color, texture, or shine…whatever you want to change, some
product claims it can. I don’t know about you, but I am overwhelmed
by hair care product isles – dyes, mousse, hair spray, styling gel,
straightening formulas, home perms, spritzers, moisturizers, glitter sprays! The
list goes on and on.
But what about healthy hair – I know there are a million products
to control my hair style, but what about products that will protect
and maintain my hair from the inside out?
First and foremost, your diet affects your entire body, including your
hair. Foods rich in lean protein like vegetables, grains, legumes,
plus moderate amounts of cheese and eggs are important for good skin,
nails, bones, connective tissue, and hair. However, animal fats,
animal proteins, and salt may contribute to hair loss. So be wary
of where you get your dose of protein.
Foods rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals feed the hair through
the root at the scalp. Fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids that
may provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth. Foods
high in Biotin promote healthy hair and skin, and may even prevent hair
loss in men. Good sources of Biotin include Brewer’s yeast,
walnuts, sunflower seeds, oats, soybeans, lentils, bulgur, brown rice,
and green peas. Avoid crash diets and diets that neglect any of the
food groups, these can cause deficiencies in the nutrients that are detrimental
to your hair.
Secondly, what you put on your hair makes a difference too. All those
hair “care” products listed above often contain more chemicals
that are bad for your hair than ingredients that are beneficial. Just
like a garden, your head needs to be nurtured and fed to maintain a healthy
crop. So aside from a healthy diet, natural
hair care products containing lavender, aloe, lemongrass, clary sage,
chamomile, lemon verbena, tee tree oil, bilberry, basil, geranium, and
sandalwood promote shiny, full hair. Make sure you read the ingredients
label along with the front of the bottle though. Many products that
claim to contain natural ingredients, such as aloe, often times have such
a small amount, that it serves no purpose.
References:
Allison, Nancy. (2003, November/December). Hair Repair. Herbs
for Heatlh, 14.
Berk, Brian. (2003, August.) The Mane Facts on Natural Hair
Care. Health Products, 27.
Zand, Janet, Spreen, Allan N., & LaValle, James B. (Eds.).
(1999) Smart Medicine for Healthier Living. New York:
Avery Publishing Group. Hair Loss. 312-315.
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