Travel and lifestyle writing is a passion of mine, on the other hand, what some of you may not know about me is, I moonlight as a hairstylist. Or, is it the other way around – a hairstylist moonlighting as a writer? However you look at it, I love both! A maven by nature, trading stories and experiences with my clients provide me with inspiration and ideas. Fuel, if you will, for my creative thinking process. All of which drives me to solve some of life’s little mysteries.
The blog’s beauty and fashion category are tailored to share my beauty regime expertise with readers and followers as if you’re sitting in my hair chair getting coiffed.
So with that said, I’ll get right to the root of the topic. Hair matters. Hair matters because it can be the difference between a good day or…a bad day. Most importantly though, it matters because your hair absolutely reflects the health of your body – internally and externally. There’s nothing better than a good hair day. So when we’re healthy inside and out, a glow naturally shines through in our hair and through our skin tone. All this healthy living channels self-confidence.
As much as most of us would like to deny it, the health of our hair is a direct indication of how well we take care of ourselves regarding nutrition, stress and our mental wellbeing.
What influences healthy hair growth? Actually, multiple factors have a direct impact on the health of your hair and hair growth. Unhealthy hair or hair loss is related to several reasons: chemically over-processed hair, stress, sudden or prolonged health issues, poor nutrition, genetics, surgery, pregnancy, poor maintenance, and/or over styling with heat tools.
This article highlights internal nutrition. Believe it or not, the scientific study of nutrition and how it affects our health has only come to light within the last century. Even more unbelievable is how scientific studies have only recently begun to realize the relationship between hair and nutrition.
It seems as though common sense would guide us to realize the health of our body goes hand in hand with the health of our hair. However, people generally believe they are stuck with the hair they were born with, and in some cases, yes, this is true. In many cases though, simply changing a few poor nutrition habits can set you on the right course.
Beginning in the early twentieth century, scientists determined protein, good fats, and healthy carbohydrates are essential for a well-conditioned body.
And, only recently have scientific studies established hair thrives with a plentiful supply of specific nutrients from certain types of vitamins and minerals. For example, Biotin and Omega-3 fatty fish oils immensely improve the health of hair and nails. Biotin is simply a form of vitamin B7. Biotin and Omega-3 fatty fish oils are available at most drug stores, including Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
If your diet lacks these specific nutrients, as a beauty expert, my suggestion is to take the recommended dose of Biotin along with a multi-B-complex and an Omega-3. If you have extenuating circumstances, consult your doctor first before beginning any new supplement regime.
Best to take vitamins in the evening after dinner, before bedtime. A good practice is right before brushing your teeth. So vitamins in the bathroom you ask? Yep! The glass is already there, water is readily available, and you’ll be reminded because they’ll live near your toothbrush.
Why take vitamins at night you’re wondering – how can that make a difference? Fact – vitamins react directly with the foods you eat, and, as we all know, our bodies repair at night while we sleep. So why not give your body, hair, and nails the optimal benefit of all the nutrients consumed throughout the day? With this new information, as you can see, it’s easy to advance your body’s nightly rejuvenation. Note to self, when beginning a new vitamin B program you may want to adjust your daily caffeine intake.
Of course, beauty is only skin deep, but healthy hair begins from within, so why not start now?
Feedback from clients:
Lydia, “After my surgery, I began losing hair rapidly. A daily handful was not uncommon. I didn’t know what to do. My hairstylist recommended I take biotin to increase my hair’s growth and strength while decreasing the fall out rate. It took about three months for me to really notice a difference. During that time, the fall out decreased immensely, and my hair began to grow again.”
Julie, “My hair has been thin and fine my entire life. I started taking biotin on the recommendation of my stylist, and within 6 months my ponytail is twice the size it used to be. The density of my hair has increased but each individual strand is still fine, but that is way better than what I had to work with my entire life. I’m thrilled!”
The next article discusses how to make simple changes in your daily routine for the external health of your hair. Why? Because hair matters. And, we all want good hair days!
Feel free to comment or contact me at lookbycourtneypaige.com for any of your hair health questions.
Living Drinks – Photo by Courtney Paige
