Our hair is the crowning glory of our looks, both literally and figuratively. Long, gorgeous, and healthy tresses are every girl’s dream, but most of us end up hating our dull and lifeless hair. Owing to our hectic, modern lifestyle, which includes everyday stress and pollution, long hair can be difficult to achieve.
A thick head of hair can boost your self-esteem and is one of the most desired beauty traits for both men and women. The concept of good and bad hair days signifies the importance of hair in daily life. But try as you may, everyone is bound to have their fair share of both good and bad hair days, some more than others.
Only some people are blessed with naturally soft, shiny, and silky hair. Most have to work tirelessly to maintain the health and appearance of their tresses.
Even those people who are born with amazing hair cannot take them for granted. Haircare is a must, especially since there is no escaping the daily hair damage induced by environmental pollutants as well as aging. I
t requires a proper and dedicated hair care regimen that is easy to follow. If you’re dreaming of long locks like Rapunzel’s, here are a few tips you must follow.
Hydrate Your Hair
The importance of drinking enough water throughout the day cannot be stressed enough. The human body needs around 2-3 liters of water per day. If this requirement is not met, dehydration can set in, and hair growth will be directly affected.
Just like your body, your hair needs hydration to stay healthy. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that suits your hair type to keep your locks soft, smooth, and manageable. Deep-conditioning treatments once a week can also provide extra nourishment.
The shortage of water takes away the shine from your hair, leaving them rough, lifeless, and highly prone to damage. Dry hair is also increasingly susceptible to split ends.
Thus, you must try to maintain an optimal fluid intake throughout the day to keep your hair cells healthy and well functioning.
Protect from Heat and Sun
Heat styling tools and prolonged sun exposure can wreak havoc on your hair. Always apply a heat protectant before styling and use hats or scarves to shield your hair from the harmful effects of UV rays during outdoor activities.
Maintain a Balanced Diet
A wholesome, well-balanced diet fulfilling all the nutrient requirements of your body is an essential prerequisite for healthy hair. Cosmetic hair treatments can lead to short-term improvement in terms of hair growth and quality, but a nutrient-rich diet helps nourish your hair from within and produce enduring effects.
Besides, you cannot expect any hair treatment to produce sustainable results unless it is supported by healthy eating habits. Make it a point to include essential minerals, vitamins, and proteins in your diet.
Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients and are needed in minuscule quantities. Nonetheless, their deficiency can have negative implications for hair growth and texture.
For instance, not getting enough vitamin E and zinc can accelerate hair thinning and hair fall, while a lack of iron and biotin can result in brittle and dull hair. Therefore, incorporating foods rich in these nutrients such as leafy greens, nuts, eggs, and whole grains is crucial for maintaining healthy hair.
Moreover, protein is the building block of our hair strands. A diet lacking in protein will lead to weak and fragile hair that is prone to breakage.
Including protein sources like lean meats, fish, beans, and legumes will not only promote healthy hair growth but also add shine and volume to your locks.
Avoid Overwashing
Washing your hair too often can strip it of its natural oils, leaving it dry and prone to breakage. Limit your hair washes to two or three times a week and use sulfate-free products to retain its moisture.
If you really have to wash your hair more frequently due to an oily scalp or heavy product use, try using dry shampoo in between washes. This will absorb excess oil and keep your hair looking fresh without stripping its natural oils.
Massaging the Scalp
There is nothing more relaxing than a gentle head massage, which can work in favor of improved hair growth as well. Stress is a primary trigger for temporary hair loss.
Massaging your scalp can help offset this stress-induced hair loss by aiding relaxation. Not just that, gentle kneading helps warm the scalp skin and dilate the blood vessels underneath. This kind of physical stimulation, thus, improves the blood circulation in the targeted area.
As the blood vessels expand, a greater amount of blood reaches the hair follicles, therefore increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients.
This enhanced blood flow in and around the hair root leads to easier and greater nutrient absorption by the hair follicles, thereby reviving hair health.
Avoid Stress Triggers
Stress is a major detriment to your mental, emotional, and physical health and should be treated as such. The hectic lifestyle patterns that have become the norm today have contributed significantly to the global disease burden by triggering several health issues.
Aside from health complications, stress can affect the texture, appearance, and quality of your hair. Increased stress prematurely initiates the resting phase of your hair follicles and keeps your hair from growing long and strong.
People who take a lot of stress or go through some extreme trauma often experience excessive shedding of hair, and the only way to counter this hair loss is to bring the stress levels under control.
Thus, even though living with stress seems like an inescapable reality, you must make concerted efforts to minimize it in the interest of your hair health and general health.
Trim Regularly
Regular trimming of hairs every eight to ten weeks ensures fast hair growth. What happens is that due to excessive dirt and sun, the end of the hair usually gets damaged and rough, inducing split ends.
When you regularly trim your hair, those split ends get cut off, leaving your hair to breathe and grow without any hurdle. Snipping your hair more often helps in faster hair growth and removes split ends.
Regular styling and pollution make your hair prone to split ends and damaged cuticles. Trimming the lower portion of your hair every six to eight weeks is always advisable as it ensures that the damage is minimum, and this promotes the growth of healthy hair.
Coconut Oil
This is as traditional as it gets. Coconut oil is sworn by every granny. The only trouble is that you need to be patient and consistent with this method.
All you need to do is massage this into your scalp and leave it overnight before you wash. Over a period of time, your hair will most definitely look stronger and feel healthier.
But, make sure not to leave your hair too oily with coconut oil like most women do. This can make your hair look flat and gross, and the excess oil will absorb all the dust it comes in contact with and does more damage than good.
Final Words
Achieving faster and healthier hair growth naturally requires commitment, consistency, and the right techniques.
By incorporating methods such as regular scalp massages with oils like coconut oil, maintaining a balanced diet, and avoiding overuse of harsh chemical products, you can support your hair’s natural growth process.
Remember to stay patient, as results take time, and focus on nurturing your hair from the inside out. With these simple yet effective natural practices, you can pave the way to stronger, shinier, and longer hair in a safe and sustainable manner.