A woman’s hair is her glory and beauty and for centuries women have always desired and cherished long hair.
It plays a role in the personality, perception and self-esteem of a female. Hair loss and scanty hair are very devastating to women and most of them don’t know that there are safe natural ways to fix this.
We will be looking at natural ways to boost hair growth and prevent hair loss and breakage. These strategies include nutrition and every day handling of the hair.
Herbs that boosts hair growth
Aloe vera
This wonderful plant contains enzymes and phytochemicals that help to dissolve sebum and dead skin cells that can clog the follicles of the hair.
The gel of Aloe vera is an excellent moisturizer with a molecular structure that is similar to keratin which is a protein that makes up the hair and skin.
It promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss and breakage. Apply the gel to the scalp of your hair regularly; you can also use hair care products and hair creams that contain aloe vera gel.
Hibiscus flower
This flower contains vitamins and minerals that aids healthy hair and prevents scalp problems. Add fresh or dried hibiscus flower to coconut oil and grind it into a fine paste.
Apply this mixture to your hair regularly, it will increase hair growth, fight dandruff and prevent premature greying. Allow it to soak into your scalp, let it sit for two hours then wash it off.
Rosemary
This is one of the most popular and effective herbs that treat scalp and hair problems and it also boosts hair growth. Massage a good quantity of rosemary oil on your scalp daily.
Fenugreek
This vitamin C rich herb helps to improve circulation of blood in the scalp and stimulates hair growth. To use this for hair growth; soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight and ground it into a fine paste.
Mix this paste with yogurt because the lactic acid in yogurt is good for the hair. Apply this mixture to your hair scalp and let it sit for 30 minutes then you rinse your hair with clean water.
Basil
This plant is very rich in Magnesium, an essential mineral for many cellular functions; frequent application of this herb to the scalp strengthens hair, prevents breakage and improves circulation in the hair follicles which helps to stimulate hair growth.
Flaxseeds
This herb is filled with fatty acids and anti-oxidants which help in removing toxins and dead cells from the scalp which will boost hair growth. To use flaxseeds for the hair, boil the seed in water till it forms a soothing gel.
Apply this gel to your hair and scalp, it will act as a hair moisturizer, it will stimulate hair growth and improve the strength of your existing hair to prevent breakage.
Indian Gooseberry
Also known as Amla, this plant has plenty anti-oxidants and high content of vitamin C which is necessary for the production of collagen, a protein that is found in the hair, it increases the strength of new hair strands.
It also helps premature greying of hair; use Amla oil for your hair or you can mix the powder with a moisturizer like coconut oil and massage this mixture into the scalp of your hair daily.
Ginger root
You can use ginger essential oil which is gotten from ginger root on your hair; it will improve blood circulation in hair follicles, it promotes stronger and faster hair growth.
It is a wonderful moisturizer that helps in clearing dandruffs and treating other hair and skin conditions which interferes with healthy hair growth.
Lavender
Lavender oils stimulates blood circulation in the scalp, it strengthens new hair growth and helps in balancing the natural oil production of the scalp.
Lavender oil is also a natural insect repellent; it keeps lice, fleas, ticks and mosquitoes away from the hair.
Peppermint
This stimulates hair growth by boosting circulation and stimulating the follicles of the hair; its anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory actions treat and heal scalp problems.
Nutrition
What we eat can actually affect the growth of our hair; there are nutrients that can help to boost hair growth. Taking them regularly by eating the right foods will help with fast hair growth.
Proteins
Our hair is made up of a protein keratin; Keratin is used by the body to make hair strands. Taking lots of protein helps your body to make more keratin which will boosts hair growth.
A deficiency in protein leads to less keratin in the body and this ultimately leads to poor hair growth. Eat foods rich in protein like beans, legumes, soybeans, chicken, beef and dark green vegetables.
Fish oil
This oil is rich is many varieties of fatty acids including omega-3 fatty acid which nourish the hair, supports thickening of hair, stimulates hair growth and fight inflammation which leads to hair loss and other hair problems.
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are oily fishes, white fish, salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, egg yolks, Natto, hemp seeds and walnuts.
You can also take fish oil supplement if you don’t have access to most of these foods, but do not take fish oil supplements if you are blood thinning medications.
Vitamin C
Many experimental studies have proved that oxidative stress plays a major role in the process of aging, free radical damage cellular structural membranes, lipids, proteins and DNA.
Vitamin C is a natural anti-oxidant that fights free radicals and prevents oxidative stress which contributes to hair wilting, loss and greying. Take lots of vitamin C rich foods like red peppers, oranges, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, grape fruits, kiwi, and kale.
Vitamin D
Hair follicles are very sensitive to hormones and vitamin D is a hormone and also a vitamin that plays important roles in many cellular functions and cell growth differentiation.
Studies have made it known that people with hair loss are deficient in vitamin D. Expose yourself to sunlight, eats lots of eggs, poultry, salmons, mackerel, mushrooms and other oily fishes.
Zinc
This is a mineral that helps in fighting hair loss and makes the follicles of the hair healthy and also stimulates healthy hair growth.
It helps with important functional activities in the hair follicles; it inhibits regression of hair follicles and accelerates the recovery of hair follicles.
Some studies have proved that people with chronic hair loss are deficient in zinc. Rich natural sources of zinc are cereals, poultry, and sea foods, organic dairy and dark green vegetables.
Iron
Many studies have linked different types of hair loss like alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, Telogen effluvium, and diffuse hair loss to iron deficiency.
Rich sources of iron are spinach, black and navy beans, Swiss chard, eggs, collard greens and dark green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin B5 and Biotin
These are potent natural treatments for hair loss; they reduce hair shingles that have been damaged by chemical filled shampoo, blow drying and ironing. Vitamin B5 supports adrenal gland which helps in stimulating hair growth.
A major sign of biotin deficiency is hair loss; eat foods rich in these vitamins, foods like beef, eggs, avocados, chicken, nuts, potatoes and legumes.
Hair care routine
- Reduce hair washing: This may sound good but everyday hair washing damages the hair especially when the shampoo s full of harmful chemicals, it will strip the hair of its natural oil and this will slow hair growth.
- Regularly trim your hair: Regular trimming of split ends helps to make hair grow and it also improves the appearance of the hair.
- Reduce stress: Stress has the ability to disrupt hair growth; the more you are stressed the slower your hair will grow. Relax and sleep more, practice meditation and deep breathing.
- Don’t comb the hair when wet: This will damage your hair; it will break and pull out some hair. If you must comb your hair after shampooing, add a little quantity of conditioner then you use a wide-toothed comb to comb your hair.
- Use natural hair product: Natural products helps to boost hair growth, prevent hair breakage and loss while chemical hair products do the opposite. Read the labels well before buying.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking reduces the level of biotin and other nutrients that boost hair growth in the body.
- Avoid heat: Frequent blow-drying, stretching, and other forms of heat application to the hair damage it and reduce growth.
