Welcome to our Healthy Hair Blog! You’ve come to the right place for the best hair advice. We share professional salon tips for all hair types. From dry hair to fine hair or grey hair, from frizzy hair to damaged or bleached, coloured and afro hair.
First, lets find out if your hair unfortunately falls into our unhealthy hair category:
Hair feels smooth and slippery in texture. Take a strand of hair and gently hold it at the roots (this avoids any tension at your roots). With your other hand, slide your thumb and forefinger down the strand of hair. If it’s healthy, it should feel silky smooth without split ends.
Shiny hair is healthy hair. When hair shines, it’s because the cuticle is smooth (see above). The cuticle, the hair’s outer layer, comprises tiny scales. When your hair is dry, the scales lift. When your hair is well hydrated, the scales lay flat, and the smooth surface of the cuticle reflects light, making it shiny.
You lose less hair. Hair naturally sheds every day. It’s part of the phases of hair growth. You grow new hair and shed old hair. However, when hair retains moisture, we lose less hair.
Hair is easier to style. It’s easier and quicker to style. You may feel the frustration of hair that won’t sit flat or hold shape. There are plenty of things you can do to improve manageability.
Less breakage. Healthy hair has elasticity, making it less prone to breakage. You can check the elasticity of your hair at home. When it’s damp, take a strand of hair. Hold it at the roots to avoid tension and gently stretch the hair. If your hair stretches and returns to its original length without any breakage, you have good elasticity.
Natural body and movement. When it’s well-hydrated, the individual strands are thicker. That gives your hair a feeling of fullness.
Hair can cope with humidity. When hair has normal porosity, it retains moisture. That means it’s less prone to becoming frizzy hair in humid or damp environments.
We focus on How to Get Healthy Hair, sharing tips to help you on your healthy hair journey. We talk about the best hair care routines and offer advice on healthy hair products. Our blogs draw on the expert advice of our knowledgeable and experienced team. If you want to know how to have healthy hair, this is the place to start.
What are the best foods for Healthy hair?
We believe in taking a holistic approach to promote hair growth. We believe in 3 essentials for healthy hair growth:
A healthy balanced diet; choose foods for hair growth and a healthy scalp.
Take good care of your scalp. Keep it clean and free of build-up.
Drink Water. Stay hydrated to promote hair growth.
Choose the Best Foods for Hair Growth
It’s true what they say; you really are what you eat. Your hair is made up of the same protein as your skin, keratin. A healthy balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and proteins is not only food for healthy skin, but it also shows in your hair too.
So here’s our list of favourite foods for hair growth.
Choose leafy greens, such as follicle-boosting spinach to up the iron levels in your diet. Iron is very important to healthy, strong hair as it supports our red blood cells in carrying oxygen around the body for growth and repair. It’s vital to include it in your foods for hair growth.
Spinach also contains Vitamins A and C. Vitamin A helps the follicles produce sebum. Sebum moisturises the scalp and is important when thinking about how to promote hair growth. Vitamin C helps the body absorb the iron, helping you to grow healthy hair.
Spinach leaves are a great addition to a salad. Try them with a lemon and olive oil dressing. Lemon provides an additional dose of vitamin C to help your body absorb the iron.
Apricots, another food that comes loaded with nutrients for hair growth. For starters, they have vitamin A. Normal levels of vitamin A in the body are associated with better blood circulation and good circulation helps the scalp to produce healthy hair.
Apricots contain vitamin C and magnesium. Along with Iron, Magnesium is another follicle-friendly mineral. It supports the health of the follicle. Maintaining the scalp and follicles in good health is the foundation of healthy hair.
Avocados are a nutrition powerhouse. They contain potassium, magnesium, vitamins C and D, E and vitamin B6. Vitamin E plays an important role as an antioxidant, helping to reduce stress and free radicals that can impact the scalp. But there is more.
Avocados are rich in essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are a vital component in building our cells. Our bodies can’t produce them so it’s important to make sure we include foods with fatty acids as part of a balanced diet.
Avocado is not just for eating. It can also be used topically for the hair. Avocado oil is a key ingredient in our conditioners and our best hair masks. The fatty acids in the oil are combined with pro-vitamin b5 and other emollients to add moisture to the hair.
In fact, berries, in general, are a great addition to your healthy hair diet. They may be small but they pack a big punch of Vitamin C. We’ve mentioned that vitamin C helps your body absorb iron for strong hair, but it also helps your body produce collagen. Collagen is important for 2 reasons. It acts as an antioxidant, helping to reduce damage to the follicles, plus it plays in helping us to produce healthy hair.
Adding berries to your breakfast is an easy (and delicious!) way of making sure you get this nutrient-rich boost.
You’ve probably heard about the benefits of vitamin B12 for hair. B12 is found in dairy products, meat and fish and it’s a supplement that is often recommended for hair loss. But there are some lesser known B vitamins that are definitely worth considering when it comes to taking care of your hair.
B vitamins convert food to energy to promote healthy hair growth and skin.
There are eight B vitamins in total that help convert food into energy that in turn supports healthy skin and hair. Vitamin B6, for example, increases the flow of oxygenated blood to the hair follicle and scalp. Increasing blood flow helps with healthy hair growth. Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B2 also known as riboflavin help with hair growth.
Adding nuts and seeds to your diet is easy to do. Whether you sprinkle them on your breakfast or choose them as a healthy snack, they provide plenty of nutrients to promote hair growth. Take the pumpkin seeds sprinkled on this delicious sweet potato soup (sweet potato is packed with vitamin c); they contain iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Zinc is important as it supports the oil glands around the follicle.
Selenium protects the body from free radicals, another important nutrient for a healthy scalp.
When it comes to food for hair growth, protein and iron are essential. As we mentioned at the beginning, hair is made from a protein called keratin. In order to grow, hair needs a regular supply of protein. Without an adequate source of protein, hair can become dry and brittle. Eggs are a good source of protein. If you are vegan you can get your protein from nuts and other plant sources such as beans and lentils.
For healthy hair, we recommend a balanced diet with a mixture of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and proteins.
The foods above are some of our favourites. Our key message is that to promote hair growth and a healthy scalp, choosing a balanced diet with lots of nutrients will give you the best foundation for healthy and shiny hair.
As we mentioned at the beginning, keeping your body well-hydrated is essential for a healthy scalp and hair. Dehydration can prevent hair growth.
And finally, keep your scalp and follicles free of build-up to promote hair growth. Choose a gentle, cleansing shampoo that won’t strip the oils from your hair.
Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
Why use a deep conditioning hair mask?
Do you apply conditioner every time you wash your hair? If you do, you may be wondering why you need to use a deep conditioning hair mask.
The answer is that hair needs hydration. We put our hair through a lot. From styling, to environmental factors such as sun, wind, and pollution they can all leave hair depleted and lacking moisture. The best way to replenish hair is with a weekly deep conditioning treatment.
Regular conditioning supported by a weekly deep conditioner hair mask gives your hair added moisture and helps to combat the environmental factors that conspire to make our hair dry.
The key to good hair care is to think about your hair in the same way as your skin.
We cleanse and moisturise our skin regularly.
Your hair requires the same treatment and more!
Why?
Because hair and skin have the same structure.
Both are made up of keratin, and both need moisture.
But the point here is that we tend to be more gentle with our skin.
We don’t apply heat to our skin, we don’t apply colour-treatments, and it’s unlikely that we pull and tug at our skin the way we do with our hair.
We love the Hydration Moroccan Oil mask to use once a week for an injection of hydrating and nourishment.
That’s why a deep conditioning hair mask is vital for maintaining the condition of your hair.
It’s fair to say that our hair is subject to a lot more things that can make it dry. Our skin gets an easy ride by comparison.
Investing in a good quality deep conditioning hair mask and getting into a routine of weekly treatments is the most effective way of combating dry hair. Just spend that extra time on yourself, caring and loving your hair.
With over 35 years in the salon business, I have worked with every type of hair and my hair mask treatment can benefit all hair types.
I like to keep things simple, and I had that in mind when I developed my deep conditioning treatment, Restore and Shine Hair Masque.
How to have healthy Curls:
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate your hair every day.
Whether you love your curls and want to learn how to enhance them. Maybe you are yet to fall in love with your curls or just want advice on how to take care of curly hair. Whatever your reason for searching out how to care for curly hair, you’ve come to the right place. We've been working with curly hair for years.
Understanding how to look after curly hair starts with understanding your curl type.
Curl type is particularly important for cutting the hair. Getting the right shape and cut for your curl type is the difference between hair that looks ordinary and hair that looks wow! I think of the curl type as the personality of your hair and letting it shine through is what a good hair cut is all about.
Good hair care starts with the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type.
Choose shampoos that add volume to your hair. Curls need hydration but it’s vital not to overload the hair when it’s fine. Fine hair is more prone to tangles so choose lightweight, detangling, conditioners. If you find your hair is very dry due to colour treatments or heated styling, you can choose a more hydrating conditioner to complement your volume-boosting shampoo.
Make sure you focus on the ends and mid-lengths and avoid the root area when applying conditioner. I recommend warming conditioners up in your palms before you apply to the hair. That will give you a better spread of product on the hair and prevent build-up in any single area. And don’t forget the importance of a deep hair conditioner, give your curls that essential moisture boost.
Avoid products that contain silicone as they weigh heavily on fine curly hair. They coat the hair to give it the appearance of a smooth shiny finish but they can make your hair drier over time. Your curls and waves are your secret weapon for body and volume and the last thing you want to do is leave them flat.
Once hair is prepped with the right shampoo and conditioner, its time to put those curls and waves to work! Work with your natural curls and waves to give hair more body and movement. When drying hair with a hairdryer focus on the roots where hair may be flatter. I encourage my curly haired clients to ditch the brush and use fingers to gently lift the roots as they dry the hair.
Choose lightweight styling products for volume to give your hair some help. You can use short blasts of heat as you gently lift the roots. Turn your head upside down for extra lift and volume. The key is not to over dry the hair as this can leave it flat. Switch the hairdryer off when hair is around 80% dry and leave the hair to dry naturally.
If you are using a hairdryer to dry your fine curls I recommend a diffuser. A diffuser attachment on your hairdryer disperses the air and prevents the heat from roughing up the cuticle. It reduces frizz and keeps your curls intact. Alternatively, you can air dry your hair or dry your hair with the hairdryer on it’s coolest setting.
Choosing a silk or satin pillow is the best way of caring for your hair overnight. They reduce the friction on hair as you move your head overnight, helping to protect against split ends. For those of us with curls and waves, they also help to retain the definition of hair. If you are frustrated with flat hair in the mornings you can also try a satin bonnet to prevent tangles and frizz.
If you want more in-depth information how to activate and reestablish your curl, you can always book an appointment with us where our curl specialists can consult you, giving you the best advice on maintaining your curl.
Taking Care of Bleached Hair
A good starting point in understanding how to take care of bleached hair is to consider the impact of styling or colouring treatments. My philosophy is that for your hair to look its best, it’s vital to put back what you take out.
What do I mean by that? Well, the process of chemical treatments is drying for your hair. That means if we are reducing the moisture levels by bleaching hair, this is taking out moisture from your hair. In this instance, putting back is about restoring moisture to your hair. That’s why a deep conditioner is essential for bleached hair.
When you add heated styling into the mix, it exacerbates dry hair and causes further problems with dryness and breakage.
7 tips to avoid breakage and bleach damaged hair.
Get your hair bleached by a professional. You may save some money by bleaching your own hair, but it’s easy for it to go wrong.
Excessive heat such as styling and sun can be too much for bleached hair. I’m not saying you have to ditch the hairdryer. Keep it on a cooler setting. Straighteners, on the other hand, are a big no-no for bleached hair. The hair is already vulnerable, so my advice is to keep heated styling to a minimum.
Choose a shampoo for colour-treated hair. They are designed to be gentle on colour or bleaching and add moisture to the hair.
Be gentle when you wash and condition your hair. A firm but gentle pressure applied to the scalp works best. Handle your hair like it’s a piece of silk.
Bleached hair needs moisture in between hair mask treatments, so remember regular conditioning is essential, and you should always follow shampoo with conditioner.
Try a leave-in conditioner to give hair an injection of moisture and some protection during styling.
Get regular trims to keep on top of dry ends. No matter how dedicated you are to your weekly hair conditioning treatment, bleached hair will inevitably get dry at the ends. Allowing them to linger will lead to split ends and breakage if you don’t keep them in check.
How do you keep your Scalp Healthy?
The scalp is a sensitive area. For some, it’s more sensitive than others. The scalp is like a delicate ecosystem, and taking good care of it will give you the best foundation for healthy hair growth.
1. Do keep your scalp clean.
It’s vital to get rid of dead skin cells and other dirt that can build up. For some, that means washing the hair 2 to 3 times a week with a gentle shampoo. For others, it may be once a week and for those with an excessively oily scalp this can mean every day. The important thing is that you take note of how your scalp feels and adjust accordingly.
2. Don’t overstimulate the scalp.
You’ve probably heard of sebum, the oil that the scalp produces to add moisture to the hair. Whilst, sebum is vital for moisture, if you overwork the scalp by vigorous scrubbing when you wash your hair, it’s possible to overstimulate the sebaceous glands that produce the sebum. That can lead to an oily scalp. The oily scalp attracts more dirt. Plus, it’s harder to keep your hair and scalp clean.
3. Do gently massage your scalp.
Good scalp circulation is good for hair growth. A great time to massage your scalp to improve circulation is when you wash your hair. Avoid vigorous scrubbing; firm but gentle pressure with circular movements as you wash is ideal.
4. Do work up the shampoo, in between your palms, before applying to your scalp.
That prevents the over-application of shampoo in one area of the scalp. If you squeeze shampoo into your hand and place it directly on the top of your head, it’s not uncommon to get product build-up in that area. Work it up into a lather before applying for an even spread.
5. Do eat your greens.
Greens such as spinach contain Vitamins A & C. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron for healthy hair growth. Vitamin A helps the follicles produce sebum for a hydrated scalp and hair.
6. Don’t overheat your scalp.
Hot water can dehydrate the scalp. One of the most common problems for scalp health is a dry scalp. A dry, itchy scalp is not only uncomfortable, but the build-up of flakes and sebum can also combine to clog up the follicles and prevent hair growth.
Wash your hair in lukewarm water and avoid getting too much heat on the scalp from heated styling appliances. Turn down the heat on the hairdryer and use short blasts of heat when drying the hair.
If none of the above is working and your actively making improvements on your regime. Your hair is beyond repairable alone, we suggest booking an appointment for Keratin. This will reset your hairs condition, rebuild broken hair, allowing you to repeat the above steps from the beginning.
A List to avoid if you want healthy hair:
Shop for silicone free shampoos and conditioners. Silcone-free means that the formula that doesn't contain silicones in any way. Silicone is a synthetic ingredient made up of silica that can be found in many hair care products. Using multiple products that contain silicones – shampoos, conditioners, and styling products – can result in serious buildup. Used in excess, silicones may cause your hair to become heavy and greasy, rather than bouncy and smooth. Silicone buildup can also clog your follicles, which can lead to hair thinning and loss.
Shop for paragon free products. Parabens are a family of related chemicals that are commonly used as preservatives in cosmetic products. Preservatives may be used in cosmetics to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and mold, in order to protect both the products and consumers.
Protect hair when swimming. Protect your hair from the damaging effects of chlorine by wetting and conditioning your hair before swimming. Wear a tight-fitting swim cap and use a specially formulated swimmers shampoo and deep conditioner after swimming to replace lost moisture.
Brushing your hair while it is wet. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:
Do you have straight hair? Let your hair dry a bit before you gently comb it with a wide-tooth comb.
Do you have textured hair or tight curls? Always comb your hair while it is damp, using a wide-tooth comb.
Using a blow dryer, hot comb, or curling iron. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:
Let your hair air dry when possible.
Use the lowest heat setting.
Limit the time a hot comb or curling iron touches your hair.
Use these tools less frequently, aiming for once a week — or even less often.
Pulling your hair back tightly, such as in a ponytail, bun, or cornrows. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:
Wear hair loosely pulled back.
Use covered rubber bands made especially for styling hair.
Try a different hairstyle that does not pull on your hair.
Wearing a weave or hair extensions. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:
Wear weaves and extensions that are light, so they do not pull.
Get weaves and hair extensions at a salon that specializes in these services.
Wear a professional weave or hair extension for 2 or 3 months at most.
Keep up your scalp hygiene when wearing a weave or hair extension.
Switch hairstyles, so you don’t always wear a weave or hair extensions.
Coloring, perming, or relaxing your hair. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:
Try to add more time between touch-ups, especially when the air is dry. In the winter, try to stretch the time between touch-ups to every 8 to 10 weeks or longer.
Have only one service — a coloring, relaxer, or perm. If you want more than one service, perm or relax your hair first, and do it 2 weeks before you color your hair.
Use conditioner after each shampoo.
When in the sun, protect your hair by using a leave-in conditioner that contains zinc oxide or wearing a wide-brimmed hat.