The 10 Healthy Hair Habits You Should Start Now

1. Review your diet

Is it well balanced? Are you drinking enough water? A healthy body, hair, skin, it really does start from what you are consuming. Nourish your body with the good stuff. Evaluate your diet to ensure that you are including foods rich in antioxidants, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc. These nutrients are not only great for your hair, they’re great for your overall health

2. Cleanse your scalp and hair consistently

Identify a wash day routine that fits your lifestyle and hair type. Your scalp collects sebum mixed with dust, product residue, sweat every day. Washing your scalp ensures that you don’t suffer the negative impacts of scalp buildup

3. Focus on your scalp on your wash day

Shampoo is for your scalp and then you can use of the lather developed to clean the rest of your hair. Don’t use your fingernails to wash your scalp, use your fingertips, or even better, a shampoo brush which will gently but thoroughly clean your scalp. Bonus tip, cleanse your scalp twice. The first wash helps to lift the dirt (you’ll notice it won’t lather as much) the second wash ensures your scalp is perfectly clean.

4. Massage your scalp

Your hair follicle is the only 'alive' part of your hair strand which lives under your scalp. The gentle pressure you apply during a scalp massage can facilitate good blood circulation. This activates oxygenation, detoxification, and metabolism in the follicle and dilates blood vessels surrounding them. A study by researchers in Japan analyzed the effect of scalp massages on hair and it was found that daily 4-minute scalp massages over a period of 24 weeks increased the thickness of hair.

5. Use a scalp oil

Look for a scalp oil that is formulated with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, like our Scalp Elixir. Our Scalp Elixir is also formulated with a high, and safe, inclusion of terpenes (found in rosemary and thyme essential oil) which serves as a penetration enhancer so all our ingredients are able to penetrate the scalp to help create visibly stronger hair from the roots.

6. Protect your hair if you’re using heat

Use a heat protectant any time you are blowdrying your hair or using a hot tool (straighteners/curling irons). Daily use of hot toolsis damaging to your hair. Give your hair a break sometimes. The reason why heat styling makes your hair smooth is because it breaks the existing structure of your hair to create a new structure. This “new” structure is causing damage to your hair as it’s aggressively manipulating your natural pattern.

We believe your hair is your form of expression, so we have no right to tell you that you should never use hot tools. But daily use should be avoided. And when you do use a hot tool use a heat protectant before to protect your strands.

7. Use silk or satin

You should be sleeping on silk or satin pillowcases or wear a silk or satin bonnet when you sleep. And whenever possible, opt for a silk or satin scrunchies too. This material is extremely gentle on the hair and non-absorbent, a tiny change that will make a big difference

8. Apply a hair oil to your ends

The ends of your hair is the oldest hair that you have. Protect it by applying a hair oil, like our Nourishing Hair Oil, every night before you sleep. This prevents dry ends and split ends.

9. Remove stress on your scalp

This means avoiding tight ponytails, tight braids. If your scalp feels pulled or if your edges hurt, your hairstyle is too tight. Loosen it. In the same realm, switch up your hairstyles every now then to prevent strain on one area of your scalp.

10. Consistency

Nothing will be achieved in one day, or one week. You cannot expect to apply a scalp oil one time and have hair sprouting the next day. If it were that easy, everyone would do it. I cannot stress enough that the key is consistency and being mindful of your habits every day.

References
Koyama, T., Kobayashi, K., Hama, T., Murakami, K., & Ogawa, R. (2016). Standardized Scalp Massage Results in Increased Hair Thickness by Inducing Stretching Forces to Dermal Papilla Cells in the Subcutaneous Tissue. Eplasty, 16, e8.