So... you want great looking, healthy, long hair.
What do you do first?
Browse the counters for the perfect product that stimulates/ promotes hair growth? How about something to fix / mend your split ends? Dr. So & so said this product will tingle your scalp so good your hair will grow in no time. Protein treatments. Protective style here, no heat there... still seeing no results?
Thats because these are things to do when the hair is already on the outside of the body. As we all know once hair emerges from the scalp, it's dead, so its impossible to give life to or nourish something thats already dead.
Being that hair is dead, we still want to make sure that it is treated delicately in order to preserve it and keep it in tact. But what about when its still alive within the body? That's when it would make more sense to feed, nourish and care for it more so, because thats where we can actually do something about the health, look, length, and feel of our hair.
Exercise, healthy habits & diets play a vital role in the health of our hair.
Foods high in fatty acids such as salmon. Its loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, this high-quality protein source is also filled with vitamin B-12 and iron. If you're a vegetarian you can just opt to include one or two tablespoons of ground flaxseed in your daily diet for some plant-based omega-3 fats instead.
• Dark green veggies such as spinach, broccoli and Swiss chard, are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. The oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles. Think of it as the body's natural hair conditioner.
• Beans like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet. They're not only chock full of protein which promotes hair growth, they provide an ample amount of iron, zinc, and biotin. A biotin deficiency (which is very rare) can result in brittle hair.
• Nuts such as walnuts, cashews, pecans, and almonds are a great source of zinc. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure nuts are a regular part your healthy hair diet, if you're not allergic to them of course.
• Proteins that are found in meats like chicken & turkey, and even eggs (which also provide biotin and b-12) help produce, and to add strength to hair. Think of it as an internal protein treatment. If you are a vegetarian or are vegan there are many other ways to get these proteins such as green leafy veggies, legumes, tofu, barley, lentils, macadamia nuts, avacado, potato w/ its skin. There are also proteins in powder form that you can make shakes or smoothies with.
An additional way to insure that you have all the healthy hair minerals and vitamins is to take a good healthy hair, nails and skin supplement that include silica, MSM, biotin, and horsetail. These, in addition to the major vitamins, help to keep the hair in the growth phase longer. Just check with your doctor, if you're on any medications, or have any pre-existing health conditions, before taking anything.
Drink plenty of water to keep your skin, organs and body hydrated. This cleanses your system by flushing it of toxins and waste, which allows all of the body's cycles to stay in sync.
Regular vigorous exercise gets the heart rate up which gets blood flowing, oxygen distributed, and rids the body of toxins. Exercise also gets you breathing, inhaling brings in oxygen and exhaling pushes out carbon dioxide. The more healthy circulation you get going, the better oxygen distribution, the heathier production of cells you'll have, the better and happier your skin, hair, and over all health will be.
The more vigorous the work out the more you sweat, while yes sweating is the body's natural cool down mechanism, it is also a way to excrete toxins through the pores and allows the skin to breathe. Which is why its a good idea to cleanse and exfoliate after a good workout, to wash away those impurities before they settle back into the skin, leading to clogged pores, which can inhibit hair growth and cause blackheads, and acne.
Reduce or stop your cigarette and/or alcohol use. Nicotine and other toxic ingredients in cigarettes constrict blood vessels which strains the heart to work harder to pump blood through out your body leading to heart issues and/or failure. The less circulation the body gets the less able it is to produce healthy cells that reform vital organs, and form healthy hair, skin and nails. It also slows down the regeneration process our bodies naturally have, leading to a plethora of other harmful, fatal effects which include but aren't limited to respiratory issues, lung cancer, enphasyma, and COPD.
Drug abuse and excessive use of alcohol are associated with depression and only makes it worse. Depression is a serious issue and one of the leading causes of death, so you may want to talk to a doctor and see if your drug abuse or drinking is due to you're feeling depressed. Just keep in mind there's nothing to be ashamed of. You may need actual medication to correct it and help you feel like you again. Alcohol, like cigarette smoke, also constricts vessels. It's known to dehydrate your body, slowing or even stopping the regeneration process, inhibits cell regrowth which is the exact opposite of what we need for healthy hair growth, and more importantly can lead to serious health issues such as liver and kidney failure.
So there you have it, a healthy diet, dietary supplements and healthier habits are the key to actually making your hair reach its fullest potential. What you put into your body, is what you'll get out of it. Cherish your body and you will reap great benefits. Then once it starts growing we can get all product junky with it.
