Healthy and Shiny Hair

Nothing reflects inner health, vitality and wellbeing quite like a clear complexion, sparkling eyes and – your crowning glory – glossy hair. Beauty comes from within, and if you have an unhealthy diet and lifestyle, your hair – like your skin – will suffer. Tiredness and stress will also wreak havoc on your hair, so modern hair care must be holistic and take into account all aspects of your lifestyle. When you are tense, your scalp tightens and the blood capillaries contract, reducing the quantities of oxygen and nutrients that reach the hair follicles, the production of swear increases, causing a greasy scalp; and, over prolonged periods of time, stress may even lead to hair loss. A good, relaxing scalp massage can help maintain a healthy head of hair, relieving tension and increasing blood flow, which will, in turn, nourish the root and hair follicle.

Clean, shiny hair is a joy to have and head-turning to watch. Yet how often have we been told that our hair is dead, that it is just a build-up of deceased protein cells, strands of keratin which feel no pain when they’re cut? This much is true. But hair is also organic in the same way as leather or wood is organic. Just think of how a favourite pair of shoes responds to a good polish, or how a wooden surface shines after a little elbow grease and beeswax. Nourish and condition them and they will shine, “breathe” and last for years. With the same love and attention, so will your hair. Taking care of your locks is a threefold affair, providing nourishment, treating it with care and using the right products. The simple routines, tips and advice that follow will ensure that you have great salon-style hair every day.

Food for Thought:
The bottom line is that you can’t expect to have healthy hair if you eat unhealthy. Whatever products you put onto your tresses, the only real solution is a long-term one that comes from within – a varied diet full of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Your scalp – where the root and follicle are formed and where ‘live’ hair grows and develops – forms part of your skin, the largest organ of the body but the last in the queue to receive nourishment from the food we eat [hence the number of skin creams that deliver vitamins and minerals typically]. A poor diet means impoverished skin and scalp if you know your diet is not balanced and you don’t want to compromise the health of your hair, then supplement it with a vitamin B complex, antioxidants [including vitamins C, E and beta-carotene], gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), fish oil, linseed oil and the minerals selenium and zinc. Many pharmacies sell a good all-round hair and skin supplement.

Gently Does it:
We wouldn’t dream of tugging our favorite little black dress on over our head without undoing the zip, or putting our new silk undies in the tumble dryer for 30 minutes on a facial hair removal for women. So why do we think nothing of committing similar crimes to our hair? Imagine your hair to be as precious as a cashmere twinset, treat it accordingly and you will reap the rewards. Brushwork is all-important, poor quality brushes and combs will scratch the scalp and damage the hair shaft, so don’t stint on these. Hair is elastic to some extent, but too much pulling will overstretch and ultimately snap it, causing split ends.

No Products, No Style:
Using the right products on your hair could make bad-hair days a thing of the past. The plethora on sale in any pharmacy, supermarket or salon makes choosing the ones appropriate for your hair type confusing. Slick advertising and packaging makes it even more difficult to get it right. Do you want to go herbal, organic, scientific, fruity or unscented? Will it make your hair bigger, softer, fuller, blonder or seal your spilt ends? The claims can often be overwhelming – and you just want your hair to look great. The first thing to do is to determine your hair type, once you have got that right, then you can think about extras like the permanent hair removal at home.