Top Tips for Healthy Hair

Most of us spend time on our beauty regime but then drag a brush through our hair without taking much time to consider the health of our crowning glory. There is no point having a beautiful hair do but unhealthy hair so why not try some of these tips for a healthy head of hair?:

• Brush your hair before washing it. This way you’ll remove any dirt from your hair.
  
• Massage your scalp. Gentle massage will boost your circulation.
  
• Try to use the right shampoo for your type of hair and wash it only when you feel it is dirty.
  
• Condition your hair and preferably not with a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner.
  
• Rinse your hair from time to time to remove shampoo deposits and make your hair shine. Apple vinegar works very well.
  
• When washing your hair, try not to use water that is too hot and if you can stand it, make the final rinse in cold water as this will allow the cuticles to lie flat.
  
• It’s very tempting to turn to the hairdryer, curlers and straighteners, but Ideally you should let your hair dry naturally. Squeeze the water, and then use a towel to blot your hair. This way you’ll have a moisturised, healthy hair.
  
• Do not use a hairbrush until your hair is dry; wet hair can be easily damaged.
  
• Season, age, sex, food, drink and tobacco all have a big influence on hair growth. Lead a healthy life and you’ll have healthy hair too.

The tradition of Ayurveda, the 5,000-year old healing tradition that originated in India, has tips for healthy hair too, many of which coincide with what you have just read, but there are few extra points to note:

• Like everything else about true, lasting beauty, healthy hair begins within your body. What you eat counts - include lots of green leafy vegetables and sweet juicy fruits. Dairy products such as milk and fresh yogurt will help and fresh coconut is also considered excellent ‘hair food’.
  
• Stress can be fairly hard on the long-term health and colour of hair. Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation. Relaxing or uplifting music can be therapeutic. Get a good night’s sleep to help the natural process of rejuvenation.
  
• Certain Ayurvedic herbs can help hair health including Eclipta alba and Gotu Kola. They help balance the mind and nourish the hair and scalp. Synergistic Ayurvedic herbal preparations for hair can also include herbs such as Country Mallow, which is supposed to strengthen the physiology, and Winter Cherry, which aids resistance to stress.
  
• Only use gentle, natural cleansers and conditioners, especially if you wash your hair more than three times a week.
  
• A warm oil scalp massage two or three times a week will help stimulate and moisturise the scalp. Leave on overnightvif you can, if not, leave on for at least an hour or two, then shampoo your hair. The scalp massage helps you relax and aids sound sleep as well.
  
• Regular brushing makes for healthy hair! In case you thought it was just a myth to brush your hair a hundred times before bed, it seems it is not.Well, maybe not a hundred times, but you will have shinier, smoother hair if you brush regularly in long sweeping movements from scalp to tip.
  

Did you know?

• the average number of hair on a head is 100,000
• we shed between 80 and 100 old hairs every day
  
• 90% of scalp hairs are growing and 10% are resting
  
• You must lose over 50% of your scalp hairs before it is apparent to anyone
  
• Female hair grows more slowly than male hair
  
• Lifespan of hair: 2 to 7 years
  
• Hair grows faster in warm weather
  

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