How To Get Healthy Hair Naturally At Home

Everyone wants beautiful, shiny hair that is easy to style. Most of us have some kind of hair problem that makes it hard to get the hair results we want. Your hair type, strength, and volume are all affected by your genes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get healthy hair at home.

Limit Damage From Using Too Much Heat When Styling

A study from 2011 said that you should hold the blow dryer about 6 inches away from the surface of your hair and move it around so that it doesn’t focus on one spot.

“Hair dryers are commonly used and can cause hair damage such as roughness, dryness and loss of hair color. It is important to understand the best way to dry hair without causing damage“, According to the NCBI.

Don’t use heat on your hair more than two or three times a week. This will give your hair time to recover between each session.

Blow dryers, straightening irons, hot curlers, and other heated styling tools can be hard on your hair, especially if it is thin, dry, or easily breaks. Too much heat can make your hair weak, which can lead to broken or frizzy strands.

Also consider loosing those tight hairstyles, like ponytails, etc. which use restrictive hair ties. Wrapping your hair up in a tight ponytail using a rubber band can create split-ends right where the rubber band is placed. Instead try using a protective styles like a crochet twist.

Reduce the chance of hair damage by turning down the heat on your dryer and other heated styling tools. You could also use a heat protectant on your hair to keep it from getting too damaged.

How To Protect Hair From Damage?

Hair Needs Vitamins And Minerals To Be Healthy

“For patients with nutritional deficiencies, it is clear that those deficiencies should be corrected. Further research is required to determine whether any benefit exists for nutrient supplementation in the absence of documented deficiency. At this time, patients must be informed that such research is lacking and that in fact, some supplements carry the risk of worsening hair loss or the risk of toxicity“, According to the NCBI.

Nutritional deficiency may impact both hair structure and hair growth. Taking vitamins might help your healthy strands grow faster but don’t look to be Rapunzel overnight with voluminous hair and robust growth just by popping a few vitamins.

Your hair needs vitamins and minerals, just like the rest of your body, to be healthy and strong. Researchers have found that hair loss may be caused by not getting enough of certain nutrients.

These may be the most important vitamins and minerals for hair growth:

1. Vitamin A is found in sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, spinach, milk, eggs, and yogurt.
2. Egg yolk, liver, salmon, avocados, nuts and seeds, and dairy products all have B vitamins, especially biotin.
3. Citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers are all good sources of vitamin C.
4. Vitamin D can be found in fatty fish, egg yolks, and foods like milk and orange juice that have been added to them.
5. Sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, and avocados are all good places to get vitamin E.
6. Oysters, clams, eggs, red meat, lentils, and spinach are all good sources of iron.
7. Oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and lentils are all good sources of zinc.

If it’s hard for you to get all the vitamins and minerals, you need from the food you eat, you might want to take a multivitamin.

But before you take any supplements, especially biotin, you should talk to your doctor or nurse. Taking too much biotin can change the results of lab tests, like those used to find heart attacks.

More on biotin from NCBI

Protein Is Important For Hair Growth

“Patients with hair loss often inquire whether nutritional supplements can help restore hair growth or prevent further hair loss. In fact, many will start dietary supplements without consultation in the hope that the supplements will help.”

Protein is the main part of hair follicles, so getting enough protein in your diet is important for hair growth. Research shows that not getting enough protein in your diet can make your hair thin and even cause you to lose it.

Foods that are high in protein and may help improve hair health are:

1. Eggs 
2. Nuts 
3. Seeds 
4. Fish like mackerel and salmon
5. Lean meats
6. Beans and legumes
7. Spinach and kale

Shampooing Too Much Is Not Good For Your Hair

When to wash your hair is a quest question and depends on factors like if your hair is oily or your scalp is oily. The American Academy of Dermatology provided a great guide. 

Click here for: Shampoo guidelines according to AAD.

It’s important to keep your hair clean. But most shampoos use chemicals that take away your hair’s natural oils in order to make your hair less oily and get rid of dirt. Also did you know chlorinated water is not that is great for your hair either.

Unless your hair is very oily, you probably don’t need to wash it with shampoo every day. Instead, you might only need to do it two or three times a week. If you wash your hair too often, it can get dry and weaken the hair shaft.

What Really Happens When You Don’t Wash Your Hair?

Try An Egg Yolk Hair Mask

“Foods rich in biotin are egg yolk.”

The proteins in egg yolk are the same ones that are in a strong hair follicle. And a study from 2018 says that the peptides in egg yolk might help hair grow.

The egg yolk also has vitamins A and D, biotin, and folate, all of which have been linked to healthy hair and hair that grows well. Egg provide moisture to dull hair using natural methods. I consider an egg hair mask to be a quick hack for beautiful luscious hair.

Follow these steps to make your own egg yolk mask:

1. Use three egg yolks and three to four tablespoons of warm coconut oil making a smooth paste.
2. Blend well together.
3. When the ingredients are well-mixed, put them on your scalp and roots. (Apply on damp hair for best results)
4. After placing the mixture on your head, put on a shower cap.
5. Give it 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Use cool water to rinse.

Try A Hot Oil Treatment

“Coconut oil was the only oil found to reduce the protein loss remarkably for both undamaged and damaged hair when used as a pre-wash and post-wash grooming product.“

A treatment with coconut oil and avocado oil might be especially helpful. A study from 2003 found that coconut oil can help both damaged and healthy hair lose less protein.

Hot oil treatments are often used to help dry, frizzy, or damaged hair get back to its moisture.

Avocado oil has essential fatty acids and vitamins A, B-5, and E, just like coconut oil.

Follow these steps to make your own hot oil treatment:

1. Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of room-temperature virgin coconut oil and 1 to 2 tablespoons of avocado oil. Depending on how long your hair is, you can use more or less, but keep the amount of each oil about the same.
2. Put the oil mixture in a glass jar and slowly lower it into a pot of hot water.
3. Give the oil about 2 minutes to melt together and warm up in the jar. You don’t want the oil to be too hot, just a little warm.
4. Check how hot or cold it is on the back of your wrist. It shouldn’t be too hot or too cold. If the oil looks like it might be hot, don’t touch it. Let it cool down first.
5. Once the oil mixture has reached a safe temperature, put it on your scalp, hair roots, and ends. Put the oil on the rest of your hair and work it in.
6. Put on a shower cap and wait 20 minutes for the oil to soak into your hair.
7. Use lukewarm water to rinse.

In addition to regular hot oil treatments some recommend using Rosemary oil, Jojoba oil, Castor oil or Olive oil. Mainly is used because it’s natural products, contains healthy fats, often mentioned in many home remedies and natural remedies. And it great if you suffer from flyaway hair. If you would like to try here is the how to apply.

Olive oil usage:

• Oil should be heated to body temperature.
• Warm oil should be massaged into your hair and scalp.
• Let it work in your hair for around 30 to 45 minutes.
• Clean with a gentle shampoo.

Aloe Vera Is Rich In Vitamins And Helps With Cell Growth

“Aloe Vera contains 75 potentially active constituents: vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids and amino acids.”

Vitamins A, C, and E are in abundance in aloe vera. These vitamins may help your cells, like the cells in your hair, grow in a healthy way. Aloe vera also has vitamin B-12 and folic acid, both of which may help hair grow and stay healthy.

I have found applying Aloe Vera can help with flaky scalp. The flaky scalp I am talking about is not to be confused with dandruff. If you have dandruff and are looking for a home remedy try tea tree oil. Tea tree oil can help in treating dandruff, reducing itchiness, and improving greasiness. You can add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular shampoo and rinse your hair with it.

You can put the gel from the aloe plant directly on your hair and scalp, or you can look for hair products that have aloe vera in them. For extra conditioning, you can also make your own aloe vera hair mask.

How to Keep Dry Hair Moisturized?

Cotton Towels Cause Friction And Split Ends

According to our Chief Product Analyst, Meesh, “When you rub your wet hair with a terry-cloth towel after you wash it, the friction between the towel and your hair can damage and break your hair.”

You can use a microfiber towel, or you can use a simple cotton T-shirt, which is easier and costs less.

How To Sleep After A Keratin Treatment

When drying, the smooth T-shirt fabric will cause less damage and frizz because there will be less friction. Follow these steps to use a tee on your hair:

1. After you’ve washed and rinsed your hair, gently squeeze small sections to get out as much water as you can.
2. Make a turban with the T-shirt by bending your head forward and wrapping it around your head.
3. Wrap your wet hair in the shirt for 5–10 minutes, and then take it off.
4. Gently squeeze the T-shirt around any wet spots in your hair, then dry and style your hair as usual.

According to our Hair Research Analyst, Stacey, “Consider using a silk pillow case in place of your regular cotton pillow case. Just think about it, your hair is resting for 8 hours or so on a cotton pillowcase.” The course fibers in cotton catch your hair and pull on it, causing split ends. The best way to avoid this is to sleep on a silk pillow case.

Split Ends

Cool Water Helps Close And Seal Hair Cuticles

If the water in your shower is too hot, it could damage your hair at the root and on the cuticle. The steam in the shower can open up your hair’s cuticles, which can make your hair dry, frizzy, and more likely to break.

Soap up with lukewarm water to protect your hair. Then, finish your shower by spraying your hair and scalp with cool water. This could help seal the cuticle of your hair, making it easier for your hair to hold on to water.

Give Yourself A Scalp Massage To Stimulate Blood Flow

“Standardized scalp massage results in increased hair thickness by inducing stretching forces to dermal papilla cells in the subcutaneous tissue.”

A small study from 2016 suggests that a 4-minute scalp massage every day may be able to make hair thicker and stronger over time.

By making your scalp’s blood flow, you may improve its health and condition and send more blood to the hair follicles.

You can massage your own head by pressing on it with your fingertips in a circular motion for a few minutes. You can do this with dry hair or with wet hair right before shampooing.

Common Hair Mistakes

How Can I Get Healthy Hair Naturally?

Conditioning Your Hair

Unless your hair is very long hair, the size of a nickel is enough conditioner for most hair types and lengths. Put conditioner on the middle of your hair and the ends, and then work your way up to the scalp. last. It’s also important to make sure that your scalp stays moist. Leave it on for one minute before washing it out. 

Take Care With Wet Hair

Your hair is more likely to break when it’s wet, so always brush out knots when your hair is dry. One more benefit is that brushing your dry hair spreads the natural oils from your scalp to the ends. Another benefit is that it’s already smooth and ready to style after you shower.

Ingredients Are Key

As you choose your products, look for ones that have ingredients that will strengthen your hair and nourish it. You should add coconut oil, argan oil (my favorite), aloe, or spirulina to your hair care routine.

Hair Masks Are Great

Use a deep conditioner or moisturizing hair mask at least once a week, and more often if you use hot tools often.

Lower The Temperature Of Your Shower

Taking a super hot shower every day can irritate your scalp and possibly make your hair weaker as it grows. A hot steamy shower can be relaxing, but taking a super hot shower every day can be bad for your hair. Keep the water warm, and at the end of your shower, give your hair a quick rinse with cooler water to close the cuticles, add shine, and keep your hair healthy.

Eat Well-rounded Meals

You know that what you eat makes you who you are. And did you know most of your hair is made of protein? So it’s important to eat a healthy diet full of protein-rich foods. Be sure to put these on your list:

1. Fish
2. Meat
3. Eggs
4. Beans

Other good foods for hair are berries, spinach, avocados, and anything else high in vitamins C and E. These vitamins help the body make more collagen, which makes hair stronger.

Block The Sun

UV rays don’t just hurt your skin. And did you know pollution does the same thing? Use a leave-in styler to protect your hair when you style. Leave-in conditioners are full of antioxidants and protect against a lot of things in the environment as well.

Scalp Care

A healthy scalp is the first step to healthy hair. This will affect your hair if your scalp is dry, itchy, or has other problems.

Reduce Stress

Did you know your hair grows from your body? If you are stressed, your skin will be stressed, and that includes your scalp.

Protect Your Hair Cuticle From Split Ends

Change your cotton pillowcase for a silk one to get the most out of your sleep. It protects your hair’s cuticle by making it less likely that your hair will rub against cotton fabric.

Sleep with your hair in a loose topknot, secured with a silk scrunchie, or try a low loose braid if you have thick or textured hair. This will give you more control over your hair while you sleep.

Regular Haircuts

You need to get your hair cut often so that it stays healthy and the ends don’t break off. If you don’t want to lose a lot of length, ask your stylist for a light trim in which only the tips are cut. This gets rid of damaged ends while keeping the length. Brook says you should go every two months, but if you have a short or sharp cut, you may need to go in sooner.

Professional Tools

To keep heat styling from doing too much damage to your hair, buy professional hot tools with ionic technology. This will add moisture to your hair as you style. Also, choose a curling iron or straightener that is made of ceramic and not just coated with ceramic. This will spread the heat evenly over your hair, locking in your style quickly so you don’t have to keep using the iron to get the look you want.

How to use hot tools smartly:

1. If you don’t do anything else, use a heat protectant spray on your hair before you use heat to protect it from damage. Brook likes the Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Primer the most.
2. Let as much of the air dry your hair as you can before you use a blow dryer. If your hair is curly or wavy, pull it back into a tight bun on day one. On day two, shape it with an iron.
3. Change how you use your hot tools: After you wash your hair, blow it dry. On day two, use a curling iron or straightener. On day three, smooth your hair back so you don’t have to use heat tools. Then wash and do it again.

Also consider using a boar bristle paddle brush. Boar brushes are popular because they bring many great benefits when brushing your hair. One of the biggest benefits over nylon brushes is being able to be really good at conditioning your hair naturally without the use of any special conditioning products. A boar brush takes your hair’s natural oils and spreads them from the roots to the tips everything you brush. In return you get naturally conditioned hair with reduced frizz. Continue reading Popular Boar Bristle Brushes Why Use One?

What is the #1 wide-toothed comb to use in the shower? Read more here: Is It Bad To Comb Your Hair In The Shower?

Conclusion To Getting Healthy Hair At Home

To get hair that is strong and healthy, you have to work on all fronts.

According to our surveys, chemical treatments are the number one cause of hair damage. The second most cause of hair damage is too much heat.

Also, what you put in your body is important. Eating a balanced diet with a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and protein sources can help your hair and scalp stay healthy.

And remember, there is no magical treatment that will give you healthy hair over night. 

Does Damaged Hair Grow Back Healthy?

If you notice that your hair is breaking more often or that you are losing more hair than usual, you should talk to your doctor about it. You may have an underlying health condition. Many men and women lose hair on a regular basis, but hair loss can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health problem.

References and Definitions

Hair transplantation – Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that removes hair follicles from one part of the body, called the ‘donor site’, to a bald or balding part of the body known as the ‘recipient site’. The technique is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. Wikipedia

Androgenetic Alopecia – androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women. In men, hair is usually lost in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples and is usually referred to as male-pattern baldness. Over time, the hairline recedes to form a characteristic ‘M’ shape. Hair also thins near the top of the head. NIH.gov

Alopecia areata – alopecia areata also known as spot baldness, is a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body. Often, it results in a few bald spots on the scalp, each about the size of a coin. Psychological stress and illness are possible factors in bringing on alopecia areata in individuals at risk, but in most cases there is no obvious trigger. Wikipedia

Ethnopharmacological survey – Aim of the study: This study aimed to collect, analyze and evaluate the rich ethnopharmacologic knowledge on medicinal plants in Rangamati and attempted to identify the important species used in traditional medicine. NIH.gov

Topical minoxidil – Minoxidil, sold under the brand name Rogaine among others, is a medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure and pattern hair loss. It is an antihypertensive vasodilator. It is available as a generic medication by prescription in oral tablet form and over the counter as a topical liquid or foam. Wikipedia

Keratin treatment – Keratin makes hair less frizzy, more fashionable, and straighter. Keratin works by smoothing down the cells that overlap each other along the hair shaft. Keratin is a topical treatment that makes your hair very smooth, manageable, full-looking, and shiny. Keratin treatments can last up to 2 months. After having a Keratin treatment, use sulfate-free shampoos to make your treatment last longer. What Does Keratin Do To Your Hair?

Board-certified dermatologist – A board-certified dermatologist is a physician who is an expert in diagnosing and treating conditions of the skin, hair, and nails, and is a core aesthetic doctor.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Production – Vascular endothelial growth factor, originally known as vascular permeability factor, is a signal protein produced by many cells that stimulates the formation of blood vessels. To be specific, VEGF is a sub-family of growth factors, the platelet-derived growth factor family of cystine-knot growth factors.Wikipedia

Autoimmune diseases – An autoimmune disease is a condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a functioning body part. At least 80 types of autoimmune diseases have been identified, with some evidence suggesting that there may be more than 100 types. Nearly any body part can be involved. Common symptoms can be transient and generally include low grade fever and feeling tired.Wikipedia

Lauric acid – Lauric acid, systematically dodecanoic acid, is a saturated fatty acid with a 12-carbon atom chain, thus having many properties of medium-chain fatty acids. It is a bright white, powdery solid with a faint odor of bay oil or soap. The salts and esters of lauric acid are known as laurates. More at Wikipedia

Lemon essential oil – Lemon oil is extracted from the skin of the lemon. The essential oil can be diluted and applied directly to the skin or diffused into the air and inhaled. It is a common ingredient in various skin and hair products.

Chamomile tea – Reduce Dandruff: Appearance of dandruff in your hairs causes a lot of discomforts. Chamomile tea contains antibacterial and anti fungal properties that help to eliminate dandruff from your hair. Also Apply a few drops of chamomile tea to your hair before you shampoo (chamomile shampoo to lighten hair).

Borage oil – Borage seed oil is derived from the seeds of the plant, Borago officinalis. Borage seed oil has one of the highest amounts of γ-linolenic acid of seed oils — higher than blackcurrant seed oil or evening primrose oil, to which it is considered similar. GLA typically comprises about 24% of the oil. More at Wikipedia

Amla powder – Amla powder, often referred to as gooseberry powder, is marketed as a dietary supplement that can be used as a tablet or mixed with yogurt, milk, and smoothies. It includes healthy substances found in amla fruit, including essential oils, anti-inflammatory triterpenoids, and polyphenols with high antioxidant content.

Telogen effluvium – Telogen effluvium is a scalp disorder characterized by the thinning or shedding of hair resulting from the early entry of hair in the telogen phase. It is in this phase that telogen hairs begin to shed at an increased rate, where normally the approximate rate of hair loss is 125 hairs per day. Wikipedia

Geranium oil – Geranium oil is widely used as an ingredient in perfumes and cosmetics. The essential oil is also used in aromatherapy to treat a number of health conditions.