It’s time to shine! Get great hair naturally with the best vitamins, oils and treatments for you and the environment
by kate daley
- Looking for a good excuse to indulge in some dark chocolate? Too little fat and not enough nutrients can leave your hair lackluster, so load up on Omega-3 fatty acids to treat a dry, flaky scalp and to promote lustrous locks. Try a conditioning treatment that combines hemp seed oil with Omega-3s to repair dry hair.
- An iron deficiency can lead to hair loss, so check your levels and include plenty of red meats, chickpeas, tofu and fortified products in your diet or try an iron supplement. Look for hair care products with amino acids to prevent hair loss.
- Henna-based hair dyes are a great way to amp up your colour without toxic chemicals. Try kits that mix henna with other ingredients such as cocoa butter to help it cling to the hair.
There are also dyes that are free of formaldehydes and have low peroxide levels to reduce your chemical exposure while still fixing your roots.
- Your hair needs a detox just as much as your body. If you’re constantly spritzing on hairspray, slathering on gel, or swimming in chlorine, your strands will gather buildup, making hair look dull. Try a deep cleanser with tea tree oil or vinegar and make sure your styling products are plant based. Look for hair sprays with organic quinoa protein to hold style naturally.
- Try and wash your hair every other day to keep the natural oils in your hair and control oil production. If you want to wait in between washes, look for products with natural cornstarch to absorb oil before you brush it out.
- Treat wet hair with care. Strands are most vulnerable when wet so use a wide-tooth comb and apply a nourishing oil. Massage rosemary, olive or argan oil into strands or an all-natural, leave-in conditioner and let your hair air dry at least halfway before blow drying.
- We all know we should take our vitamins and eat our veggies to stay healthy, yet did you know certain vitamins can help give you healthy hair? Vitamins A, C, E and biotin all help your hair create healthy oils and even increase scalp circulation. Load up on whole eggs, liver, rice, milk or try a supplement for good sources of biotin.
- Get back to basics – choose shampoos and conditioners free of parabens, phosphates, sulphates, artificial colour or fragrance – your hair (and the environment) will thank you for it!
Vitamins for Healthy Hair
Vitamin A: An antioxidant that aids in the making of healthy sebum in the scalp. Food sources rich in Vitamin A are fish liver oil, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, apricots and peaches
Vitamin C: Works toward maintaining hair health. Sources of Vitamin C are citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapple, tomatoes and dark green vegetables
Vitamin E: Helps in improving scalp circulation. Food sources rich in vitamin E are vegetable oils, wheat germ oil, soybeans, raw seeds and nuts, dried beans, and leafy green vegetables
Biotin: Works as an anti-aging agent by preventing graying of hair and hair loss. Sources of biotin are whole grains, egg yolks, liver, rice and milk
Inositol: Helps in keeping hair follicles healthy. Rich food sources include whole grains, liver and citrus fruits
Niacin (Vitamin B3): Aids in promoting scalp circulation. Rich food sources include wheat germ, fish, chicken, turkey and meat
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): Helps in preventing graying and hair loss. Rich food sources include whole grain cereals, organ meats and egg yolks
Vitamin B6: Prevents hair loss. Food sources include brewer’s yeast, liver, whole grain cereals, vegetables, organ meats and egg yolk
Vitamin B12: Prevents hair loss. Rich food sources include chicken, fish, eggs and milk
