Tips for Getting Healthy Hair

Many of us dream of having the healthy, shiny hair we see on commercials and in movies. However, healthy hair isn't something that just happens. Healthy hair requires nutrients, vitamins and protection from everyday abuse.

Just because healthy hair requires a little work, however, it doesn't mean the average person can't obtain it. By following a few tips, your hair can be the envy of others in no time!

Healthy Hair Foods

While styling products can superficially enhance your hair, making it appear shinier, fuller and more manageable, truly healthy hair comes from the foods we put in our bodies. To make your hair healthy and strong, try incorporating the following into your diet:

• Minerals: Your hair needs a number of minerals in order to stay healthy and vibrant. For example, iron helps provide much-needed oxygen to the hair follicles. To get iron, eat lean red meats and dark green vegetables, such as spinach. In addition to iron, your hair needs zinc to stave off hair loss and copper to enhance color. Meat and seafood are good sources or zinc, while vegetables and nuts are good sources of copper.
• Protein: Hair is comprised mainly of protein. Therefore, to keep your hair healthy and strong, you'll need to eat a diet that features protein-rich foods. Try incorporating fish, lean meats and poultry and dairy products into your diet.
• Vitamins: Vitamins are important for hair growth and hair color and are also vital to scalp health. To make sure you're getting all the vitamins necessary for hair health, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
• Water: Staying hydrated will help keep your hair flexible, soft and shiny. Most experts recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water each day. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink, as thirst is a sign of dehydration.

By eating a diet rich in these foods, you could see healthier, stronger hair in as little as three weeks.

In addition to eating a balanced diet, you should also try to exercise on a regular basis to ensure hair health. Exercise will improve blood flow to the scalp and will contribute to hair growth. Try to get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week. Aerobic exercise includes running, jogging, walking, swimming and more.

Healthy Hair: Hair Care Tips

Of course, healthy hair is about more than just diet and exercise. Styling products, blow dryers and curling irons can damage even the healthiest hair. To keep your healthy hair at its best, keep the following in mind:

• Avoid Over-Processing: Coloring, perming or chemically straightening your hair too frequently can dissolve hair strands, leading to hair loss and breakage.
• Choose the Right Shampoo and Conditioner: Good shampoos and conditioners should cleanse your hair while replacing vital nutrients and moisture. Shampoo gently and always follow with a conditioner.
• Invest in Good Tools: The wrong tools can cause hair breakage. Look for combs with rounded teeth and brushes with all-natural bristles.
• Show Care for Your Hair: Styling and brushing can cause excessive hair damage. To prevent damage, gently blot your hair with a towel after shampooing. Also, untangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb rather than a brush. To keep hair from breaking, always use your hair dryer on the medium or low setting.
• Stay in the Shade: Sunlight can break down the protein structure of the hair, leading to breakage. Sun can hurt you — you already wear sunglasses. If you'll be spending a lot of time in the sun, try to wear a hat or scarf over your hair. Also, consider buying styling products that contain sunscreen.

Resources

iloveindia.com (n.d.) Healthy Hair. Retrieved October 30, 2007, from the iloveindia.com Web site: http://beauty.iloveindia.com/hair/healthy-hair.html.

Keresey, Maggie (updated August 8, 2005). Help Your Hair Stay Healthy. Retrieved October 30, 2007, from the RD.com Web site: http://www.rd.com/content/help-your-hair-stay-healthy.