I've been pregnant a time or six and had the wonderful thick hair that comes with it. Next comes postpartum hair loss. I've been dealing with hair loss for years thyroid problems. These events led me to research how to naturally promote hair growth and hair health.
Some shedding after pregnancy is hormonal and inevitable, but there are natural ways to improve damaged hair and thinning hair. Here's what I discovered on my journey to healthy hair.
How to have healthy hair
The condition of our hair is a good indicator of what is going on inside our body. It is important to address the body as a whole to improve hair health in the long term. This includes a healthy diet and reducing stress.
I wonder if these tips help grow baby hair in the womb. My kids have all come with lots of hair, especially my daughter (her hair is in the picture above and she was three when it was taken!). Her hair has always been thick, curly and easy to work with. In fact, she was born with almost two centimeters.
These natural tips benefit the body in other ways too, so there's not much to lose!
1. Eat enough protein
Protein is essential for hair growth. Make sure that get enough protein (most of us aren't!) to ensure the body has the necessary building blocks for hair. Complete protein sources such as meat and fish are most beneficial for hair growth. Many meats also contain iron, which is also essential for healthy hair.
Foods like meat, fish, eggs and especially bone broth are great for hair growth. These foods also have essential fatty acids to promote healthy hormones and scalp health.
2. Take vitamins
Certain vitamins help promote hair growth, especially vitamin C and biotin. The body needs vitamin C to produce collagen, which is necessary for healthy hair and skin. Vitamin C also helps absorb iron, which promotes hair growth (plus it's an immune booster!). Since the body cannot produce vitamin C, it is a vitamin that must be obtained from food or supplements. Foods such as citrus fruits, broccoli, bell peppers and spinach are good sources.
biotin (and other B vitamins) can also promote faster, stronger hair growth. Plus, it's also great for skin care. biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that our bodies use to break down fats and sugars. Eggs, nuts, berries, fish and some vegetables all provide biotin in small quantities. Sometimes a supplement can be helpful to boost levels.
Other nutrients play a role in conditions such as alopecia, hair loss and premature graying of hair. Zinc deficiency is thought to contribute to hair loss. A 2013 study found that those early gray hairs can be caused by a lack of calcium, ferritin and vitamin D3. Other factors include low selenium, B12 and folate.
Eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods healthy sun exposure (no sunscreen!) are essential to making hair look its best.
3. On gelatin
I have posted before about many the benefits of gelatin and why it's great for healthy hair, skin and nails. Gelatin is something I eat every day in one form or another bone broth OR gelatin powder (or both). From a previous post:
“Gelatin it's made up mostly of the amino acids glycine and proline, which many people don't get enough of since they're found in bones, fibrous tissue, and animal organs, and as a population, we don't consume these parts as much anymore. These amino acids are needed not only for the proper growth of skin, hair and nails, but also for optimal immune function and weight regulation.”
Glycine, which makes up about 1/3 of the amino acids in gelatin powder it is anti-inflammatory. Evidence shows that glycine can even speed up wound healing. Here are some of my favorite ways to do it incorporate gelatin.
4. Hormone balance
Hormones and gut bacteria play a bigger role in health than people realize. Even if you have the best diet and supplements, hormone imbalances can wreak havoc on your health. Some studies even show how certain hormonal reactions help heal brain trauma.
Hormones are often the main cause of hair loss or poor hair growth. Unfortunately, there can be many causes of hormonal imbalance. This is also the reason for hair loss after pregnancy. We can take steps to improve our hair while working to balance hormones (here are my top tips for natural balancing hormones).
Stress and lack of sleep are two major contributors to hormonal imbalance. These factors can also cause dandruff. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Robinson, high stress levels can lead to high cortisol. When these stress hormones rise, it causes inflammation, accumulation of oily hair and scalp. This oily buildup can then lead to dandruff.
5. Use the right products
Although the main causes of poor hair quality and growth are internal, external treatments can help improve existing hair and prevent breakage. From castor oil to gelatin, I've tried a lot of DIY hair treatments, most of which I absolutely love! Here I wrote about some of my favorites:
Things like bleaching your hair and using regular hair color at the local stylist are not good for your hair and scalp health. Not to mention all the toxins in conventional hair care products! However, natural hair products can also cause problems.
Conventional shampoos and products have their problems (like being linked to cancer), but natural ones are often not pH balanced for the scalp and strip away important natural oils. This is one reason I decided to create my own line healthy hair care products! They are great for different hair types, such as curly hair or dry hair
Another option is a natural clay-based shampoo like this one. I have tried it myself had excellent results. They don't lather like traditional shampoos, but they clean my hair, nourish my scalp and are pH balanced.
6. Avoid damaging the styling
Eating all the right foods and using healthy shampoos will only get you so far if you have an unhealthy hair care routine. Things like tight hairstyles damage the hair follicles and can lead to hair loss. Drying wet hair on high heat and using heat styling tools can cause hair damage and split ends.
Excessive use of heat tools can cause hair to dry out and break. An easy way to avoid this is to use a lower heat setting and avoid excessive use of curling irons, flat irons and blow dryers. Heatless curls are a popular and less damaging way to get volume without heat.
Do you find yourself reaching for products like conditioners to help detangle your locks? A silk pillowcase or hair cover can help prevent tossing and tossing and turning during sleep.
Experiment and see what works for you!
How do you keep your hair healthy? Share your tips below!
