Get Thicker, Healthier Hair: My Holistic Hair Care Routine
Healthy, long, thick and soft hair is something I always took for granted... until I decided to chop 10 inches off and my hair suddenly became dry, frizzy, split and wasn't growing back! Since then, I've been on a mission to get my hair back, and as quickly as possible.
To give you a quick background; I only wash and tend my mane with natural, sulphate-free products, rarely blow dry and heat style, take a host of supplements, eat a healthy diet rich in a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins, whole grains, nuts and seeds, drink 3-4 litres of filtered alkaline water, exercise, get 8 hours of sleep every night... you get the picture. I'm a health nut and I take care of my body. But my hair was still dry, damaged and not growing! I was extremely frustrated and discouraged.
Why was my hair like this, after spending countless dollars and hours on what I thought was maintaining my overall health? Well, I realized that I was neglecting two key, foundational components that are ESSENTIAL for healthy hair.
1. Detoxification. I had never done a thorough parasite cleanse. I now believe this is one of the most important, foundational steps for healthy hair that grows! Cleansing out parasites and pollutants that overburden and cause inflammation in our bodies inhibits our nutrient absorption and therefore greatly affects our hair. Your skin and hair is a reflection of what is going on in the INSIDE, so just like 1 + 1 = 2, focusing on your internal and not just your external is the key to success. For guidance on parasite cleansing, check out my blog post here and YouTube video here.
2. Hormone Balance. This is KEY for healthy hair. Unbalanced hormones = dry, easily damaged hair. Take a look at your stress levels and how much you are sleeping every night. These are two things I didn't really take into consideration, especially stress, and I realized they were making a big impact on my health and hair! Other recommendations would be to get your estrogen, progesterone and thyroid hormone levels checked by your doctor, taking a look at your diet ( are you consuming a lot of dairy and animal products, especially non-organic? ), and completing step one, a parasite cleanse. Too much xenoestrogens, also known as chemicals and pollutants, will cause unbalanced hormones and greatly affect your hair!
After I did a parasite cleanse, took a look at my hormones by managing my stress and sleep schedule, and getting an accurate view of my estrogen, progesterone and thyroid hormone levels at my doctor, my hair has started to grow and has been much healthier! I started adding in some specific foods and supplements into my diet for hair growth, switched up my hair products, and started going to my hairdresser every four months for trims. I also like to do a hair mask once a week with an egg, the Body Oil, honey, rosemary and peppermint essential oils, regularly massage my scalp to stimulate circulation, shower with cooler water and use the Serum after showers to repair my damaged ends. Just incorporating these simple tips have significantly improved my hair!
I give a complete breakdown of the foods, supplements and products I am currently eating, taking and using for hair health and growth in my YouTube video below:
Have you tried anything and had success growing healthy hair? Let me know in the comments!
Shelby Red (Ondrus) is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and is the creator of Shelby Naturals, a clean, luxury line of skin essentials for your everyday. Struggling with persistent acne, sensitive skin and premature aging led Shelby to take a holistic approach to her life. She believes in a simple philosophy: beauty starts on the inside, out and what you put on your skin truly matters. Shelby is dedicated to creating products that are as pure as they are effective for a healthy, glowing and youthful complexion, and strives to help her clients and customers achieve their goals for a healthy, balanced body.