How to live your healthiest hair life

A healthy balanced diet coupled with the help of some specific nutrients and herbs can help not only with healthy hair, but also the condition of your skin and nails.

Biotin supports healthy hair

Biotin is a really great nutrient to ensure you’re getting enough of to help you on your way to your healthy hair goals. If you aren’t getting enough from your diet, it can help to reduce your hair loss. It’s also a good one for supporting the health of the skin and nails, so if you’re after some assistance in that department then it really is the nutrient to look for.

Biotin is one of the B-complex group of vitamins, specifically vitamin B7, and is founds in many common foods such as almonds, eggs, sweet potato and spinach. Be sure to include these as a part of your healthy hair diet. (Read on to discover more dietary tips below!)
 

Zinc for healthy hair, skin and nails

Like biotin, zinc is an important nutrient for supporting healthy and strong hair and nails. Zinc can also help with both the health and repair of the skin so it’s definitely a nutrient you’ll want to make sure you’re getting enough of every day.

You can find zinc in animal-based foods such as chicken, red meat or oysters, and plant-based foods including legumes and pumpkin seeds, so try to incorporate some of these into your diet on a regular basis.

If you’re looking for extra support, consider a supplement containing zinc glycinate, which is a more readily absorbed form of zinc than some other forms including zinc sulfate.

Vitamin C and silica to the rescue

Vitamin C and silica are used by the body alongside zinc to help to form a substance called collagen. As well as being a trendy ingredient used in smoothies, collagen is one of the substances that supports the structure of the hair follicles, which are responsible for anchoring each individual hair into the scalp.

Look out for vitamin C-rich foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, papaya, sweet potato and tomato. Silica is found in bananas, brown rice, mangos, spinach and wholegrains, so try to mix these into your healthy and balanced diet on a regular basis.

Traditional Chinese medicine and hair health

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the blood nourishes the hair, skin and nails. Dong quai is a herb traditionally used in TCM as a blood tonic that promotes hair health, strengthens the nails and relieves skin dryness to enhance skin health.
 

More tips and tricks for healthy hair

• Balance it out – Make sure you include high-quality protein, fresh fruit and vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids (by eating regular servings of oily fish, nuts and seeds) as part of a healthy balanced diet for luscious locks
• Go easy – Use mild shampoos, conditioners and styling products, and try to keep bleaching and dyeing of your hair to a minimum
• Can’t take the heat – Keep away from hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons and rollers, and let your hair dry naturally
• Cut it out – Keep your hair trimmed on a regular basis to reduce tangles and split ends, and keep it in tip top shape
• Slow it down – these dietary and lifestyle changes can take time to have an effect on new hair growth (which happens on average at 3cm a month) so be patient, your changes will pay off!