Improving nutrition and hair care are easy habits to adopt to strengthen hair. Eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals will help make them more shiny and resilient. Avoid harmful habits and choose products with moisturizing properties.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Maintain Proper Nutrition
Step 1. Take a biotin supplement or enrich your diet with foods that are rich in biotin
Biotin belongs to the vitamin B complex. It helps the body to produce keratin, which is the protein that makes up the hair. Take a 2500mg biotin supplement daily to strengthen your hair. You can also take smaller doses by eating foods such as:
- Egg;
- Dried fruits and seeds;
- Avocado;
- Sweet potatoes;
- Salmon;
- Liver.
Step 2. Get more calcium and vitamin D
Calcium plays a vital role in keeping hair healthy, while vitamin D helps the body absorb it. Try to drink milk every day or consume dairy products like yogurt and cheese to fill up on calcium. Vitamin D is found in fortified fish, grains, and orange juices.
You can also ask your doctor if he can prescribe vitamin D and calcium supplements
Step 3. Make sure you eat a high protein diet
Protein is important to prevent hair from becoming dry and brittle. Introduce them into your meals and snacks every day to keep your hair strong and healthy. Choose protein-rich foods such as:
- Meat, poultry and fish;
- Egg;
- Milk and derivatives;
- Legumes and dried fruit;
- Smoothies with whey proteins.
Step 4. Monitor iron values to prevent hair loss
Having low iron can limit the flow of nutrients to the follicles, hindering hair growth. If you are concerned about getting high, get tested and ask your doctor to recommend iron supplements that suit your needs. You should also try to eat foods that are rich in it every day. Here are some of them:
- Red meats;
- Chicken;
- Fish;
- Lentils;
- Spinach;
- Broccoli;
- Black cabbage.
Step 5. Get more vitamin C to stimulate collagen production
Collagen strengthens the shaft, thus making the hair healthier. Vitamin C helps the body to produce this substance, not to mention that it also offers other benefits, such as promoting the absorption of iron. To consume it, eat at least one or two servings a day of foods such as:
- Oranges
- Blueberries;
- Blackcurrant;
- Strawberries;
- Sweet potatoes;
- Broccoli;
- Kiwi;
- Guava.
Step 6. Eat foods rich in silicon, a mineral that makes hair thicker
The silicon strengthens them making them more resistant and preventing them from breaking. Eat foods that are rich in it, such as bananas, raisins, and oats several times a week. Silicon is also found in grains used to make beer.
Men should not drink more than two beers a day, while women should drink no more than one
Step 7. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration
Dehydration can make hair dry and dull, increasing the risk of it breaking or falling out. To hydrate yourself, drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day, roughly one and a half or two liters. Can't drink a lot of water? Try consuming herbal teas and juices as well to get this amount.
You can also stay hydrated by eating water-rich foods, such as watermelon or cucumbers
Method 2 of 3: Preventing Hair Damage
Step 1. Avoid washing them more than three or four times a week
Shampooing every day can excessively drain the sebum, increasing the risk of hair breaking. Try to wash them every other day to keep them healthy. If you notice dull or greasy hair between washes, try using a dry shampoo to absorb sweat and oil from your scalp.
How to apply dry shampoo? Take the bottle and spray it about 20-25cm away from the scalp
Step 2. Don't blow your hair twice a week
Using hair dryers, irons and straighteners can cause hair to break and dry, weakening it. Dab them as much as possible before using the hair dryer and style them so that they are exposed to heat for less time. When it's hot, let them air dry and bring them natural.
- Apply a heat shield to damage them less during styling.
- If possible, do not style them for a few months in order to regenerate them.
Step 3. Dry your hair with an old shirt instead of a towel
Using a towel can cause knots and frizz, especially if you have to rub them vigorously. Instead, use a cotton T-shirt to gently pat them dry when wet. Absorb as much of the excess water as possible and let them air dry.
- Do you prefer to pat them dry with a towel? Then choose a microfiber one.
- The cotton shirt is perfect for curly hair, as it helps to keep frizz in check.
Step 4. Detangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush
Brushing knotted or matted hair can cause it to break and weaken. Instead, detangle them with a wide-toothed comb to gently remove the knots. Start from the lower area of the hair to facilitate the process, then treat the knots that are near the upper area.
- For curly or wavy hair it is especially important to use a wide-toothed comb.
- For stubborn knots, apply conditioner before attempting to comb your hair.
Step 5. Stop smoking, to prevent hair loss
Smoking can compress the blood vessels that carry nutrients to the scalp, weakening the hair. Ask your doctor for the best options to help you quit. Nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medications, and behavioral therapy are all effective ways to break the habit.
Medicines in the form of chewing gum, patches, inhalers, sprays or lozenges are prescribed to do nicotine replacement therapy
Method 3 of 3: Using the Right Products
Step 1. Wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo to protect the natural sebum
Sulfate-free shampoos contain fewer harsh surfactants than regular ones, which can cause dryness. In order to keep your hair strong and thick, read the shampoo label before buying it to make sure it is sulfate-free. You can also search for organic and chemical-free products in herbal shops or on the internet.
Using a smaller amount of shampoo when washing will also help you fight dryness. Be sure to focus the application on the scalp and roots, while concentrating the application of the conditioner on the lengths and ends
Step 2. Buy a peppermint or eucalyptus shampoo to stimulate hair growth
Peppermint and eucalyptus oil can improve the direct blood flow to the follicles, stimulating hair growth. While shampooing, massage the product directly into your hair for 30 seconds. You should feel a tingling sensation, which is indicative of the effectiveness of the product.
Alternatively, add a drop or two of peppermint or eucalyptus oil to a dollop of regular shampoo and mix with your hands
Step 3. Buy hair products containing shea butter, olive oil, argan or coconut
Dry hair should be treated with moisturizing ingredients. Purchase shampoos and conditioners that contain natural fortifying ingredients to regain hydration. Shea butter, olive, argan or coconut oil are some of the most used to coat and strengthen the follicles, preventing the hair from breaking.
Argan and coconut oil also offer another benefit, which is that they perfume the hair. They can be applied to dry hair to discipline and polish it
Step 4. Use avocado oil to make a mask, instead of conditioner or to massage the scalp
Avocado oil has excellent moisturizing properties, effective for preventing the scalp from drying out and for polishing the hair. Buy it online, at an herbalist's shop or at the supermarket. Apply it to your hair once a week by doing one of these procedures:
- Pour a few drops of oil on your fingertips and massage it into your scalp;
- Use it instead of conditioner after shampooing. A few drops are enough;
- Mix one tablespoon (15ml) of oil with one tablespoon (15ml) of honey and one egg yolk to make a hair mask. Make sure you rinse it off with cold water, or the egg will literally cook on your hair.
- Buy a nourishing conditioner that contains avocado oil.
Advice
- Start taking a multivitamin to get a good portion of the essential vitamins and minerals you need for healthy hair.
- Prenatal vitamins have additional benefits for skin, hair and nails.
- Avoid products that contain alcohol and silicone, as they drain the sebum and dry out the hair.
