If you’re struggling to maintain healthy hair, you’re definitely not alone! While having healthy hair can help to boost our confidence levels, supporting hair health can have benefits beyond just our looks. The hair on our bodies has got a few different important purposes. Let’s dive into its roles and what you can do to support your hair from the inside out.
Getting familiar with your hair
Hair is a filament that grows from a tunnel-shaped structure called a hair follicle in the outer layer of our skin. It’s mainly composed of a protein called keratin. Our bodies are covered with hair follicles, except for a few areas like our lips, palms, and the soles of our feet. Inside the follicle, you’ll find the root of your hair. All hair grows from the root, which is an area under our skin where cells bond together to make keratin. As hair begins to grow, it pushes up from the root and out of the follicle, through the skin where we can see it.
Why do we need hair?
While having a head full of hair or thick, luscious eyebrows can be a great accessory, the reason behind why humans have hair is a little deeper than that! Every part of our body that has hair has a specific purpose. For example, our eyelashes and the hairs inside our nostrils help keep foreign objects or any germs from entering our eyes and noses. Additionally, eyebrows prevent sweat from getting into our eyes. The hair on our heads keeps the head warm and also provides cushioning for the skull.
The link between nutritional deficiencies and hair
When it comes to keeping your locks healthy, shiny, and strong, the foods you eat have a huge impact. Let’s backtrack a bit to understand why this is. We know that hair grows from follicles. These hair follicles are actually highly active and sensitive to the outside environment.
On top of that, hair follicle cells rapidly divide within our bodies. What does this mean? Well, rapidly dividing cells typically need more energy and nutrients to continue to do their jobs effectively. So, it’s no surprise that not eating enough nutritious foods and having nutritional deficiencies can impact hair growth.
Here are a few nutrient deficiencies that are known to interfere with hair growth:
Iron deficiency
This is the most common deficiency that can lead to hair loss. When your body doesn’t have enough iron, it can’t produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is responsible for the growth and repair of cells, including those that stimulate hair growth.
Zinc deficiency
Zinc is a very versatile mineral that supports immune function, protein synthesis, cell division, and more. It’s also important for hair follicle function and helps protect against hair follicle shrinkage and slow hair growth. Studies show that people with hair loss conditions like alopecia areata, male pattern hair loss, female pattern hair loss, and telogen effluvium, tend to have a deficiency in this mineral.
Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D is known to play a major role in supporting the health of hair follicles. Studies have shown that not having enough vitamin D within the body can be linked to hair loss conditions like female pattern hair loss and alopecia areata.
How can you naturally support healthy hair?
Although genetics does play a role in the wellbeing of your hair, factors like your diet and hair care routine can make the world of a difference in keeping your hair as healthy as it can be!
Loading up on hair-loving nutrients
Since our hair mostly consists of the protein keratin, eating plenty of high-protein foods can help to nourish your hair. Think foods like lean meat, poultry, fish, beans, and eggs. It’s also important to make sure that your body has enough iron, zinc, and vitamin D levels. Foods rich in these nutrients include
oysters, beef, lentils, and milk.
Sometimes, diet alone may not be enough to get all the nutrients our hair needs. This calls for reinforcements! Taking a good quality iron, zinc, or vitamin D supplement can be very beneficial in supporting your hair. Additionally, reaching for a supplement that’s designed to promote healthy hair like Hair Bliss can help take haircare to the next level. Hair Bliss is a plant-based blend featuring gluten-free millet seed and wheat extracts, biotin, zinc, and vitamin B6. This formula is clinically proven to improve the health and quality of hair, decrease hair loss and improve scalp dryness in just 6 weeks.
Nailing down your perfect hair hygiene
If you’re eating all the right vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, then the next step is to get to know your hair on a deeper level. Here are a couple of hair hygiene tips to get you started:
- Know your hair type and texture. Is your hair thin or thick? Do you have dry hair or oily hair? This can help you determine what shampoo is best for your hair and how often you need to wash your hair.
- Avoid over washing your hair. When we wash our hair more than once a day or too frequently for our hair type, it can increase the chances of hair loss and hair damage.
- When you’re brushing your hair, try to detangle the ends first before working your way up to the roots. This can reduce the amount of pulling and tugging, which can increase hair loss.
- If you’re using any products that have heat such as straighteners, curlers or blow dryers, try to start at a lower setting and gradually increase heat if needed. Make sure to avoid straightening and curling your hair when it’s still wet to minimize any damage.
Remember that healthy hair can be a sign that your body has many of the nutrients it needs to achieve optimal health. So, here’s your official sign to start supporting your hair naturally!
Sources:
Human Hair – An Evolutionary Relic?
Your Hair
10.5 Hair
What is the structure of hair and how does it grow?
Iron Deficiency and Hair Loss
How Diet Affects Hair Loss
9 Tricks for Healthier, Fuller-Looking Hair
