Must do’s for your hair

There are a number of Daily Must Do’s and hair care tips in order to maximize your hair potential for being healthy and looking beautiful.

Eat Breakfast!

Breakfast is one of the most important hair care tips and meal of the day for your body, and also for your hair. Energy to form hair cells is lowest first thing in the morning (or when you wake up!) Eat a balanced and nutritious breakfast of proteins and complex carbohydrates to give your hair a nutritional boost.

Hydrate

Drink approximately 1.5-2 litres of water a day depending on your activity level and climate. Your scalp, just like your skin, can become dehydrated.

Add milk to your tea

Research has shown that drinking black tea can increase the likelihood of anaemia. This is because the tannin in tea is left free to bind with iron in your body and can therefore reduce your iron stores. The solution: Add a splash of skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.

Limit your salt intake

Try not to eat too much salt. It can cause water retention, especially in your scalp.

Healthy Snacking

The energy to form hair cells drops 4 hours after eating a meal. Snack on a complex carbohydrate, such as wholemeal bread, wholemeal crackers, fruit or vegetables, between meals to sustain energy levels to your follicles.

Eat enough protein

Your hair is composed primarily of protein, so including adequate amounts in your diet is vital to hair growth. We suggest having at least 120g of a lean animal protein with breakfast and lunch. If you are vegan/vegetarian, more than 120g of plant protein should to be included with these meals. Examples of plant based sources of protein are beans, quinoa, tofu, seitan, legumes and nuts.

Eat Adequate Iron

Ferritin (stored iron) levels are extremely important in terms of hair growth. To help promote healthy iron levels, try to eat red meat at least twice a week, especially if you are menstruating.

VItamin C Crush

Iron can only be absorbed effectively if you are eating it alongside vitamin C! Have a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, or one of your favourite fruits/vegetables to help with iron uptake.

Be wary of Dairy

Dairy products are a great source of Calcium. However, if you are prone to dandruff, excema or psoriasis, dairy can exacerbate or trigger the condition. Try drinking skimmed milk or substituting with soy or almond milk if necessary.

Varied Eating

Try not to choose the same meals/foods every day. Eating a varied diet will help ensure you are getting a wide-range of essential vitamins and minerals.