11 Ways to Get Strong, Beautiful Hair

Bad hair days happen to the best of us, but they don’t have to be a daily occurrence. While genetics plays a role in color and texture, there are quite a few things we can still do to manage the health and appearance of our hair. If you’re not a natural Rapunzel, or just want a little help getting your hair to cooperate before you leave for your day in the morning, here are 10 tips that will help add luster and length to your locks.

Hair and skin are a reflection of our overall health.  Learn how to incorporate simple, healthy habits that will transform how you look and feel.  Download From Hot Mess to Hot Mom in 10 Easy Steps.

Let’s get started!

1. Replace your daily washes with dry shampoo. Daily shampoos remove the natural oils that are essential to protecting your hair and keeping it healthy. Getting hair dried and ready for the day using heat tools, including blow dryers, curling irons, etc., has the potential to cause damage and breakage, making hair appear shorter and more brittle. Opt for a natural DIY dry shampoo using organic cornstarch, or equal parts organic cornstarch + organic cocoa powder for darker hair tones.  Don’t have time for DIY?  Check out this option.
2. Apply hair masks. Honey and oats are two ingredients will help give your hair the moisture it needs to avoid the dry winter air. Including coconut or olive oils in the masks will add additional nutrients. Oats moisturize the hair with B-vitamins that draw water in and get deep within the hair shaft to repair from the inside out. Honey is a secret shine weapon, full of antioxidants and humectants to lock in moisture and heal brittle, damaged hair. The oils in the mask – olive & coconut – also add tons of moisture. Plus, they actually promote hair growth by stimulating the scalp and preventing breakage.
3. Protect your hair from heat. Allowing your hair to dry naturally is always the best option, but if that’s not a practical solution, protect your hair using nourishing ingredients found right in your kitchen, such as grapeseed oil, to add shine and an extra layer of protection. Add a small amount to a spray bottle and keep on-hand in whenever you need to dry your hair.
4. Distribute natural oils and stimulate your scalp by brushing hair before bed. Invest in a brush with boar bristles, or another non-synthetic bristle. Starting at your scalp, brush your hair down to distribute your hair’s natural healthy oils. This also works to stimulate your scalp, which encourages hair growth. It only takes 5 minutes and couldn’t be easier!
5. Moisturize and prevent breakage using natural oils. Argan and coconut oils, when applied to hair, naturally moisturize the hair shaft, prevent split ends and breakage, and add shine. Rub a quarter-sized amount of coconut oil or a dime-sized amount of Argan oil into your palm and gently massage into hair before bed for a natural overnight moisturizing hair mask.
6. Eat foods your hair will love. Strong, healthy hair isn’t just a reflection of how we treat ourselves on the outside, but also how we nourish our bodies on the inside. Avoid fast, processed and sugar-laden foods. Instead, feed your body what it needs, including plenty of healthy fats, including those with omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, walnuts, flax seeds and flax seed oil.  Learn more about healthy fats and their benefits.
7. Avoid tight buns or wearing the same style every day. If you’ve ever noticed patches of hair that are prone to flyaways, frizz, and breakage, the issue may be your hairstyle! Wearing tight buns or a ponytail in the same spot causes hair to break more easily, appearing shorter or contributing to frizz. If you must wear your hair up, change the location of your ponytail or wear a looser style to prevent unwanted breakage.
8. Gently brush out hair using a wide-tooth comb or wet brush. Our hair is the most vulnerable when wet. Yanking and pulling with a brush can contribute to broken strands and thinner locks. Instead, be gentle with your hair when wet, and use only a wide-tooth comb or a brush specially designed to glide through wet hair.  You can find a wet brush here.
9. Rinse with cold water. Even though it may come as a shock to your system, rinsing your hair with cold water before leaving the shower closes the hair cuticle, adding shine and making your hair look smoother. Using cold water also helps seal in the moisture from your daily conditioner, which can help strengthen and add length to your hair.
10. Don’t fall for the myth that trims will make your hair grow faster. You heard it here – there’s no connection between the ends of your hair and your scalp. But trims do help hair appear healthier by removing the brittle dead ends caused by breakage. If you want to avoid unwanted trims and cuts, take care of your hair and use the tips above to prevent breakage. Your hair will appreciate the time to grow and your budget will enjoy the downtime, too!
11. Use essential oils.  Add essential oils to your shampoo and hair masks for a powerful boost.  Essential oils have been reported to sooth the scalp, heal dry skin and hair, stimulate hair growth, treat dandruff and dry scalp, slow the graying process, and decrease overall skin/scalp inflammation.  Lavender, peppermint, and rosemary essential oils are especially helpful for hair health and growth.
12. Include Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides in your diet! Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and the building block of healthy hair. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides work from the inside out to help strengthen your hair, making it thicker and restore your hair’s moisture levels. Collagen plays a huge part in cell renewal and the maintenance of the strength and elasticity of your hair. By adding peptides into your daily routine, you replenish the building blocks needed for strong and long locks.

Beauty starts from the inside.  Learn more tips and healthy habits that will transform how you look and feel.  Download From Hot Mess to Hot Mom in 10 Easy Steps.