Let’s chat about healthy hair. It’s the first thing people notice about you, and it can make or break your confidence when you step out. Luscious, healthy hair makes you feel on top of the world.
But when bad hair days creep in and start ruining your vibe, it indicates that it’s time to switch up your routine and make little tweaks to boost your hair’s health.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to get healthy hair, this comprehensive guide on healthy hair tips is for you. You’ll discover what healthy hair looks like, signs of damaged hair, the must-have vitamins for healthy hair, and the best practices to maintain a healthy hair routine.
What Does Healthy Hair Look Like?
What healthy hair looks like for you will depend on your hair type and your predisposed genetics. Defining healthy hair can’t be generalised, but as a guide, here are the top signs of healthy hair.
- It’s soft to touch, isn’t overly dry and holds moisture
- You don’t end up with a plug-hole full of hair as it’s shedding (more than usual)
- It doesn’t break when you wash, brush or run your fingers through it
- There are no signs of dandruff
- Light bounces off it, with a noticeable sheen and lustre
What Are the Signs that You Have Damaged Hair?
Most of us know when our hair feels damaged. It’s what leads us to those bad hair days we dread. Deciding whether your hair is damaged or typical for your hair type can be tricky, so here’s a general guide to the signs of damaged hair.
- Your hair is dry or brittle, and the strands tend to break in the middle (leaving short fly-away hairs)
- It’s impossible to comb your hair due to it being a tangled mess
- You start to discover visible bald patches due to clumps of hair falling out
- You have lots of split ends
- There’s no shininess with it lacking lustre
Which Vitamins Are Good for Healthy Hair?
Although various factors determine your hair’s health, a lack of vitamins may contribute to damaged hair. To prevent hair shedding or thinning, here’s a list of vitamins for healthy hair.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B is needed for your metabolism and nervous system. With the correct levels of Vitamin B, your hair will be strengthened and remain in a healthy condition. The great news is that a balanced diet including whole grains, meat or fish, eggs, nuts and avocados will provide you with enough Vitamin B without needing supplements.
Biotin
Biotin (Vitamin B7) works to carry oxygen and nutrients to your scalp and hair, along with being involved in keratin production to offer outstanding hair growth benefits. To increase your biotin levels, include milk, eggs, bananas, salmon, almonds and sweet potatoes in your diet plan. If you lack Biotin, it’s best to ask your doctor what supplement to take.
Iron
Iron is a vitamin good for hair growth as it boosts circulation to move oxygen to your hair cells. If you have an iron deficiency, one of the first signs you may notice is hair loss. Iron is naturally found in red meat, spinach and lentils. If you feel you don’t get enough iron in your diet, many iron supplements are available that will boost your iron levels.
Keratin
Your body naturally produces Keratin, a protein that makes up your hair, skin and nails. With a high-protein diet including eggs, beans, fish and meat, you should consume enough Keratin to keep your hair healthy. It’s not recommended to supplement Keratin (unless on medical advice) as excess protein can be harmful to your body.
Best Practices to Keep Your Hair Healthy
To keep your hair healthy, you must give it the TLC it deserves. This includes not overprocessing it with dyes, avoiding regular hair drying or straightening, brushing it gently, sleeping on a silk pillowcase, having regular haircuts, and choosing hair care products suitable for your hair type.
Let’s look at the top best practices you can start today to maintain your hair health.
Understand Your Hair Type
You would have noticed that hair care products are very specific and cater to various hair types. To choose the right product, you need to understand your hair type. Do you have an oily or dry scalp (i.e. does your hair often look greasy)? Is your hair colour-treated (professionally or at home)? Have you got dandruff (an itchy scalp that flakes)? Or would you consider you have normal hair? If you’re unsure what hair type you have, chat with your hairdresser on your next visit.
Choose the Right Shampoo and Conditioner
Once you know your hair type, you can choose the right shampoo and conditioner to suit. If your hair is damaged, opt for nourishing products or leave-in conditioners to help it retain some moisture and prevent it from drying out further. Many people question whether it’s healthy to condition your hair every day. This depends on your hair type, but if you have dry, coarse, curly or coloured hair, conditioning daily adds extra moisture to keep your hair healthy.
Free Hair Consultation at Transitions Hair
As you’ve discovered, healthy hair has multiple factors – genetics, health (vitamin deficiencies), products used, styling and hair type. With a bit of TLC each day, you can transition your hair from damaged to healthy by making a few easy tweaks to your routine.
Eat a balanced diet with vitamins for healthy hair, choose the correct shampoo and conditioner for your hair type, and avoid excess drying and styling.
At Transitions Hair, we’re experts in maintaining healthy hair and finding solutions for dry/damaged hair or hair loss. We also have a range of hair care products for healthy male and female hair.
Get in touch with our team today for a free consultation to boost the health of your hair.
