Pump up the Volume! 6 Ways to Thicker, Healthier Hair
By Hazel Scott
Thinning hair, brittle hair and hair loss can happen to us all at some time in our lives, and there are many causes - a bad hair treatment, sudden weight loss, a change in hormones from having a baby or hitting menopause, common scalp disorders or hereditary factors. But help is at hand! If a glossy mane of strong and healthy hair is on your wishlist, we have some great tips for helping you rescue, repair and restore.
1. NOURISH FROM WITHIN
A balanced diet is essential. Our bodies need hair-growth foods which include a range of nutrients including vitamins, minerals and proteins - these are essential for maintaining great hair. Easy to incorporate into your meal plans, examples include dark green leafy veggies like kale and spinach, to help maintain a healthy scalp and keep hair moisturized so it’s less likely to break. Maintain shine with the beta carotene you find in orange foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe and mangoes. Oily fish like salmon, mackerel or sardines are packed with omega-3 fatty acids which our bodies need to grow and maintain healthy, strong hair.
Next, think supplements: our holi (mane) is a best seller for a reason - it gets results. This exclusive product combines two daily powerhouse super foods: marine collagen for thicker looking hair and pearl powder for softer, silkier hair. It also has over 30 trace minerals, including silica, magnesium, calcium and potassium that support the appearance of optimal hair, skin and nail health. It’s so simple to include a daily dose in your routine - just add it to your morning matcha, coffee or smoothie.
In the evenings we’d recommend our calm (beauty) spermidine & taurine daily supplement. This summer’s runaway success, our cherry-flavored elixir has had rave reviews and repeat after repeat purchase. It not only helps you feel more relaxed so you get a deeper, better quality sleep, but it delivers on radiant skin, and healthy hair too, whilst reducing inflammation - all at a cellular level. With its potent concentrations of the highest quality, clinically trialed vitamins, minerals, and amino acids it actually reverses thinning hair and skin damage.
And don’t forget to stay hydrated with your daily water intake - that helps too.
2. STIMULATE YOUR SCALP - GUA SHA STYLE
Hair follicles need a steady supply of blood to function well. They undergo a growth or active phase, sometimes called the anagen phase, where the cells in the root of the hair divide rapidly forming more new hair - and the longer this phase lasts each cycle, the better. So increasing blood flow to the scalp ensures a longer period of new hair production. One way to increase the flow is to give yourself a scalp gua sha treatment.
Our stainless steel gua sha scalp comb is a luxurious massage tool that stimulates circulation and hair growth when used consistently every day. Combine it with our growth promoting hair serum holi (locks). Just coat the comb with the serum and massage your scalp for five minutes, then leave the serum in your hair overnight. It strengthens, detangles and smooths hair strands to reduce breakage and hair loss.
3. RED LIGHT LED THERAPY
Another home treatment for your scalp is red light therapy. It’s a non-invasive way of nourishing hair follicles and stimulating them to enter the growth phase, using red or near-infrared light to boost hair growth.
The treatment involves exposing the scalp to light emitted by laser devices. As light penetrates the scalp, it increases blood flow to hair follicles to rejuvenate both scalp and roots. Research suggests a further benefit may be a reduction in inflammation which in turn improves hair follicle function. There are many devices on the market but the one we love is the Celluma Restore Hair Therapy system.
4. WATER DAMAGE
We all know that the chlorine in the pool and too much dipping in the ocean isn’t good for our hair, but did you realize that the water in your bathroom could also be causing unnecessary damage? Nearly all domestic water in the US these days contains chlorine, heavy metals and other contaminants. So a shower filter is a great investment - and will protect your hair, skin and lungs (as you breathe in steam) from those harmful elements that lurk in the water. Filtered shower water can reduce any irritation to your scalp and skin and also helps to protect the longevity of colored or highlighted hair (especially for blondes!). Our choice for improved scalp and hair health is the Jolie Filtered Showerhead.
5. GENTLY DOES IT
This one might seem obvious, but brushing your hair gently is so important. Taking time to do it properly, even if you’re in a rush will help to prevent damage and will stimulate your scalp too. If you’ve just washed your hair and it’s wet and tangled after a towel dry, take extra care so you don’t pull, stretch or break hairs unnecessarily as hair is more fragile when it’s wet. Work from the bottom up - you can use your fingers to gently untangle any little knots, then brush through in sections using small strokes. Get into the habit of using a leave-in conditioner on a regular basis, or a hair oil or serum like our hair (silk) peptides soft hydrating hair serum. Rich in hydrolyzed silk proteins to repair broken keratin bonds, it strengthens, hydrates, and repairs hair while creating a soft, shiny finish, working overtime to help strengthen and condition from root to tip, sealing frayed cuticles. It even provides antioxidant protection from environmental stressors.
6. SILK TO THE RESCUE
From its origins in ancient China, silk has always been celebrated for its softness, sheen and natural qualities. So if you choose silk pillowcases to sleep on, your hair and your face will thank you. Why? You’ll get fewer split ends, less breakage, plus of course no more bed-head! You’ll also find that your hair feels more hydrated and moisturized - the smooth texture of the fabric helps reduce tangles, frizziness, and breakages and because the fabric absorbs less moisture than some other pillowcase fabrics, your skin and hair are less likely to lose moisture overnight. The same reasoning can be applied to hair accessories - use silk scrunchies when you tie back your hair instead of traditional elastics that not only hurt to use, but can rip and break the hair. And vintage silk scarves make great hairbands.
Restoring the condition of your hair isn’t an overnight miracle. Allow time for the changes you make to start working. But by taking these steps to nourish every inch of your hair, from follicle to tip, you’ll gradually get back to stronger, healthier hair.
*** THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR REGULATED BY THE FDA. WE ARE NOT DOCTORS, THEREFORE ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESEARCHING FURTHER IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS SUBJECT***