There are many steps you can take to start on your journey to your best, healthiest hair. You can choose the right products, reduce heat styling, and have regular trims to promote new growth. All of these should be backed up with the foundation of a good diet, though. Hair is mostly made of keratin, which needs good nutrition to grow and maintain. The cells in your scalp and hair follicles change quickly, too; they have one of the fastest regenerations in your body, so they need a constant stream of nutrients to keep up. Your body needs access to the right nutrients to grow strong, shiny hair, and lacking certain minerals and nutrients can lead to thinning hair prone to breakage. This is because if you’re deficient in nutrients, your body will focus on essential organ function instead of hair growth and maintenance.

How to Get the Right Vitamins for Great Hair Health

Once you prioritize good nutrition, you should see positive changes in your nails and skin, too. If you commit to a varied healthy diet, you should see a difference within a few months without having to turn to expensive supplements.

Healthy fats help protect your hair cuticles so they can lock in moisture. Omega-3 fatty acids also help in ensuring your scalp stays hydrated and able to grow new follicles. Focusing on healthy nuts and seeds, such as chia seeds and walnuts, can be a good source of omega-3, and good fat sources are olive oil and avocados.

The keratin your hair is made of is largely protein, so a portion of your daily food should be a protein source. There are recommended goals based on weight and sex, so make sure you know yours and hit them. Healthy sources of protein are lean meat, seafood, and fish such as salmon. If you’re a vegetarian, eggs are packed with protein. If you’re vegan, tofu or other soy products are healthy protein sources and also contain omega-3.

Being low in iron means there’s less oxygen getting to your scalp for hair growth, so it’s a common cause of hair loss. Focus on lean red meat, green leafy vegetables, and lentils to boost your iron stores. Lentils will help you hit your protein goals, too.

Vitamin A helps the production of sebum to keep your scalp nourished. Vegetables such as sweet potatoes and kale are great sources of this. Vitamin C helps your body produce collagen, which can strengthen your hair, and citrus fruits are the best source for this. B vitamins are another common deficiency, especially among vegans and vegetarians, and they can prevent thinning hair. Good sources other than meat are Greek yoghurt and other dairy products, bananas, and spinach.

Don’t Forget Hydration

We all rely on caffeine these days, and we can neglect our water intake. For hair health, it’s vital though, as it carries those nutrients to your follicles, prevents a dry flaky scalp, and improves the cuticles, giving your hair a natural shine. Try for 8 glasses of water a day and include moisture-rich foods such as cucumbers and watermelons.

At Indulge Salon, we can’t make you drink water, but we can provide incredible deep conditioning treatments, which are great for hair health.

We all have our favorite season, but did you know each one can bring its own stresses to your hair? Winter brings dry air and heating, which can cause damage due to lost moisture. The sudden increase in humidity in spring could lead to your hair producing more oil, causing greasy roots. Summer brings fun but also more UV rays, which can cause damage, as well as chlorine or salt exposure from swimming, which can dry out your hair. Autumn then brings another drop in humidity, which can lead to moisture loss and hair shedding.

We all lose 50-100 hairs each day as part of the normal cycle of hair growth. If you find you’re losing a lot more than that, you’ve noticed a dry or oily scalp, or you’re dealing with frizz and split ends, it’s likely you need to change up your hair care for the season.

Tips for Healthy Hair no Matter the Month

The best tip for healthy, shiny hair all year is to focus on hydration. In colder months, you’ll need intensive hydration, so look for shampoos with moisturizing components like argan oil or shea butter and apply a weekly intensive leave-in mask. Bringing in oils as a final step after conditioning can help lock the moisture in for long-lasting results. In warmer months, you’ll still need good hydration, but it’s best to stick to light-weight options like water-based conditioners and serums.

Heat styling can dry out your hair, making seasonal changes more apparent. Use heat protection and set the tools to the lowest temperature you can. To protect against UV damage in warmer months, consider a leave-in conditioner with SPF protection and/or wear hats. Air drying is easier in warmer months, too, reducing the need for heat. Hats in winter can also protect against the cold.

Adjusting your styling based on the season can help prevent breakage, too. In summer, it’s the perfect time to let your natural hair flow free in gentle curls; they’re called beachy waves after all. This style will require minimal heat, and it’s easy to quickly rinse off and apply some leave-in conditioner after a dip in the pool. In the winter, a bun or braid helps hide a lot of your hair from the cold air. This hairstyle can also help you go longer between washes. You should avoid washing too often all year, but this is particularly important in winter, so you preserve your hair’s natural oils, working against dryness. When the months turn dry, using silk accessories such as pillowcases can also help prevent breakage.

Finally, no matter the time of year, you should have regular trims at your salon. This helps to remove split ends so energy can be put into new hair growth instead.

The Importance of Avoiding Harsh Products

When choosing your seasonal products, it’s best to avoid ingredients such as synthetic fragrances and parabens, which are common allergens. Harsh chemicals like these can cause scalp irritation and disrupt the natural balance of your oils, making seasonal changes worse. Sticking to natural products that contain ingredients like tea tree oil or aloe vera encourages healthy growth and balances your scalp.

At Indulge Salon, we use great products and help you to your best hair all year round. Find out more about our French haircuts that are sure to flatter you.

Hair porosity refers to how easily your hair can absorb and keep moisture. Your hair strands are built up of layers, with the outer ones called the cuticle, and their condition determines the porosity. If the cells are close together, this means low porosity hair. This type struggles to absorb moisture to begin with, but retains it well. If the cuticle cells have more space between them, your porosity will be normal, which means it will both absorb and retain moisture easily. If the cuticle cells have large spaces between each layer, that’s high porosity. This type absorbs moisture the easiest of all three types, but also loses that moisture easily.

Low porosity hair is generally genetic. High porosity hair is typically normal porosity that’s been damaged. This can be through bleaching, too much high heat use, or environmental damage from the sun and pollution. Knowing your porosity can help you style your hair more easily and reverse damage where possible.

How to Discover Your Hair Porosity

If your hair is frizzy, particularly when it’s humid, and is dull rather than shiny, you probably have high porosity hair. If you’re not sure, there is a simple test you can do to check. Take a few strands of hair, you can collect the ones you lose naturally rather than pulling any out. Drop the strands in a glass of water and leave them for a couple of minutes. If the strands are floating, you probably have low porosity hair. If they’ve made it to the middle of the glass or are sinking slowly, you likely have normal porosity hair. If they’ve sunk to the bottom, you probably have high porosity hair.

The best way to check your porosity and overall hair health is to have a detailed consultation at your salon. They can also tell you how damaged your hair is and give you the best repair tips.

Choosing the Right Hair Care Products and Steps

If you have low porosity hair, it’s best to stick to light-weight products as your hair will struggle to absorb them, so it’s easily weighed down. Doing a scalp scrub once a week will help break down product buildup, as this can make absorption even harder. If you want to do a deep conditioning treatment, using mild heat such as steam or hot towels with them can open the cuticles for better absorption.

Normal porosity hair is the easiest to look after. To avoid damage, focus on products that offer hydration and strengthening, or swap between the two regularly. Ensure you always use heat and UV protection to prevent damage and steer clear of frequent bleaching. If you want fun colors, speak to your salon about the best options to preserve your hair health.

High porosity hair is the one that needs the most attention. It’s best not to wash every day as you’ll risk further breakage, and when you do wash your hair, use gentle shampoos. Introducing oils into your routine can be a game-changer. Apply other forms of hydration first like a creamy conditioner and/or a mist then the oil can help seal that moisture into the cuticle. Look for quality products containing proteins and amino acids that can start to rebuild your damaged strands.

At Indulge Salon, we can work with all hair types and porosities to help you look and feel your best. Find out more about our conditioning treatments to help you lock in moisture.