We’re skin people. Waking up to soft, glowing skin is what we’re about. So we think of our hair as a picture frame for our nourished faces.
It’s said that one can accomplish far more on a so-called “good hair day.” Those days where you wake up and your follicles are like an obedient classroom following your every order. It’s as if you went to the salon in your sleep. You feel like making eye contact with strangers. You ask your barista out on a date. Good things happen.
And why can’t that be everyday? Check our list of tips and tricks to keep your tresses growing strong.
1. Protein
If you don’t give your body the correct components, it won’t be able to give you beautiful hair. Your hair is mostly protein, so make sure to get enough, especially if you avoid animal products.
Add beans or lentils to your diet if they aren’t already there. We recently posted a recipe for Moroccan Lentil Stew that is perfect for warming you during the winter months and giving you the protein you need to grow beautiful hair.
2. Horsetail
Did you know this plant converts inorganic silica to a form that we can use? This makes it one the best sources of silica on the planet! Silica is abundant in living creatures; without it, our bones would be brittle and slow to heal. It gives our hair luster and our skin softness.
You shouldn’t consume raw, whole horsetail. It’s too abrasive. Use horsetail juice, tincture, or herbal tea to keep your hair (and nails) growing strong. You can even brew a strong pot and add it to your bath or use it as a hair rinse (more on hair rinses in a second).
3. Troubleshoot
If you color your hair regularly, heat style often, and avoid regular hair cuts, you are probably aware of what ails your hair. But there are other, less obvious causes of dry, brittle, dull hair.
Consider mental and physical health as well
Eastern medicine associates hair health with the strength of the kidneys and the blood. In Beauty by Nature by Brigitte Mars, she says that negative emotions such as envy and hatred can also diminish your hair health. Consider your overall mental and physical wellness when investigating how to grow longer and more beautiful hair.
4. Let it all hang out
Tying your hair back with elastic bands can create tension on your scalp. The ones with metal pieces on them can irritate the hair and promote breakage.
Try wearing your hair down more often to ease the pressure or use claw hair clips to put hair back without causing breakage.
5. Choose your tools wisely
Use a brush with natural bristles that will absorb oils and thus help to evenly distribute them throughout your hair.
Natural bristles and handles
Boar bristle brushes are popular, but for those who avoid using animal products, these simply won’t do. Be aware that often a product that claims to have “natural bristles” could be made with animal hair.
Wood brushes are good alternatives, reducing static and helping to distribute those oils throughout your hair. You’ll also be avoiding adding more plastic to the world. Beechwood and bamboo are common natural hair brush options.
6. Take your vitamins
Make sure to include lots of biotin in your diet. This B vitamin keeps hair growing beautifully. Grab some peanuts, sweet potato, eggs, or oats to get your fix.
7. Oil it
We like our facial oils, that’s for certain. We also love oils in our hair! Create your arsenal by choosing essential oils that help you achieve your hair goals. Massage a couple drops into the ends of your hair, add a couple drops to your shampoo or conditioner, add a couple drops to your hairbrush, or mix with a carrier oil and use it as a treatment.
Oiling for your hair type
- To brighten dull hair, use chamomile, lemongrass, or lemon oil.
- Nourish dry hair with carrot seed oil, lavender, or thyme oil.
- Oily hair benefits from basil, clary sage, or grapefruit oil.
- To heal damaged hair, use rosemary, sandalwood, or geranium oil.
8. Rinse wisely
Many hair routines are finished after the conditioner is rinsed off, but you can work even more natural benefits into your routine. You can make a simple hair rinse by brewing a strong cup of tea (about ½ cup herbs to 1 cup of water) and storing the strained liquid in a bottle in your fridge. After rinsing out your conditioner, pour a cup or so of your rinse over your hair, and leave it in.
DIY Rinses
Horsetail is a good choice for a hair rinse for most hair types. Chamomile is a great option if you have dry hair or want to add light highlights to your hair (this will be very subtle and requires many rinses!). Try lemon balm if your hair is oily. Rosemary is a great herb for stimulating hair growth, which brings us to our next tip…
9. Tone
Our Rosemary Toning Mist is loved by those with oily skin as a great way to soften while lessing clogged pores. Did you know that it’s also a great treatment for the hair? Rosemary stimulates, so a couple spritzes of this mist a day can help get you closer to mermaid hair.
10. Get the blood flowing
Many hair growth treatments work by stimulating blood flow to the head. There’s a really simple way to do this… be upside down! If you’re a yogi or a gymnast, do a headstand or handstand each day to get blood flowing. Alternatively, lay on a slanted surface with your head below the rest of your body to get the blood moving in that direction.
11. Keep it natural
Of course, we advocate for natural hair care in addition to natural skin care. You can’t expect your hair to thrive when you’re feeding it chemicals.
Here’s a recipe for natural hair conditioner from Brigitte Mars’ Beauty by Nature:
Natural banana conditioner:
1 cup of hot water
1 ripe banana
½ cup dried chamomile or rosemary
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tablespoon honey
Directions: Combine in a blender and apply to hair for 10 minutes or more, then rinse well.
We hope you love these tips and how your tresses benefit from them!
Read Next:
The following post 11 Ways to Grow Long, Beautiful Hair… Fast! was first published on Annmarie Skin Care.
No comments:
Post a Comment