Want Healthy Hair? Helpful Information to Point You in The Right Direction

Some of the external things that we cannot control, when it comes to maintaining healthy hair are genetics and pollution. However, there are other things that we can control in ensuring we maintain a healthy mane throughout our years. 

For some, their crowning glory makes up an important part of their personality and if you do not look after things, as you age, your hair will tend to fall out or change in structure, and it may be too late to do anything about it.

From things you should eat to a lifestyle, you should keep, below we discuss a few ways that you can start to implement today to have healthy hair for a lifetime. But first, let’s look at the background of our hair.

How Your Hair Changes as You Get older

Your hair has a fundamental role in protecting your body. It also helps to maintain the temperature of your person steady. As you age, however, changes happen to it. From its color to its density and more. Below are some of the things that will inevitably change, some more than others, as you get older.

 Hair Color Changes

One of the most obvious signs of aging is in your hair. As you get older its color changes, and this is one of the more obvious tell-tale signs. The color of our hair is a result of a substance called ‘melanin’. This is produced by the hair follicles in the dermis layer, themselves as well as help our hair to grow. 

As we get older, the melanin produced by these hair follicles starts to lessen, which is why the majority of people, both men, and women, start getting gray hair. For some, it starts as early as in their 30’s. The color of the hair starts to get lighter and eventually after a few weeks or months it goes gray or white. 

Facial hair and the hair on your body also start to turn gray. However, with these parts, it is a slower process than the hair on your head, which for some starts to gray at the temples and gradually moves to the top, back, and sides of the scalp. Places such as the armpits, pubic area, and chest could turn gray over time, but this is not the case with everyone.  

By default, the change in the color of your hair and the results thereof are dependent on genetics. Those who are of Asian descent tend to gray later in their years, while those who have a white heritage gray earlier.    

Hair Thickness and Density

This is not all that changes, but the density or thickness of your hair will also change over time. Did you know that a single strand of human hair has a lifespan of between 3 to 7 years? When it comes to the thickness of the hair; aging affects this in that it starts to change the hair into a thinner and finer structure. Most of the follicles also stop producing new strands of hair.

A Few Facts About Human Hair

1. The hair on your head goes through three phases:

– The anagen phase

– Catagen phase

– Telogen phase

1. Those who think cutting their hair will result in faster growth, may be wrong.
2. Every month, the average person has hair growth of up to 1centimetre at a time.
3. An average person will have anywhere between 100 000 to 150,000 strands of hair on their head.
4. The protein known as ‘Keratin’ makes up the majority of your hair. 
5. The normal amount of hair you lose a day, from your scalp, is between 50 to 100 strands
6. The body produces two main types of hair, namely:

– Androgenic or Terminal hair

– Vellus hair

1. The hair found on top of your hair is considered ‘dead hair’ because the only part that is ‘living’ is in the follicle, below the scalp.

Baldness in Men and Women

The majority of men start to grow bald by the time they reach 30 years, and at the age of 60 years, the average would be completely bald. This is normal; however, some things tend to exacerbate the process and lend a hand to a faster rate of hair loss. These include things such as stress, medication, hormonal imbalances, hair products, and more. 

Hair starts to fall out from the top of the head and the temples and this is known as hormone testosterone is called male-pattern baldness and is a result of the lack of the hormone ‘testosterone.’

This however is not restricted to men only but can happen to women as well. Female-pattern baldness is a very common thing. The way women go bald may not be the same as men but their hair can become less dense, in which case, the scalp is more noticeable. For both, hair on their face and body is also affected. 

Finding A Solution to Age-related Hair Changes

1. Vitamins and Supplements

So, the question remains, what can you do to maintain healthy hair for as long as possible? We look at a few solutions below. We start with the nutrients you need and then discuss other daily or lifestyle changes that can help you out.

Protein

You may have heard it a million times before – protein is good for you. The reason is that it is. Not only is protein good for your bones and repairing muscles, but it also helps to make several hormones and enzymes that the body needs to function properly. And yet, another reason we need protein is to feed our hair. 

The good news is that you can help your hair both on the inside and the outside using protein. Not only do you get it in edible formats such as protein powders, supplements, bars, and cereals but you can also use specific protein treatments on your hair such as hair masks/masques, shampoos, conditioners, and those products that have an active ingredient of protein in them. 

To ensure you get enough of it in your daily diet, make sure you consume at least 40 to 45 gms of protein daily.

If you’re not sure what sources of food can help with that, the list below is a good start:

• Poultry 
• Fish
• Beans and legumes
• Eggs 
• Low-fat dairy products
• Lean meats

When you do not get enough protein not only does it affect your hair but it also makes your nails brittle and weak and your hair color changes, as well as causes hair loss.

Zinc

Not getting enough zinc? This is one of the things that the lack of, can contribute to hair loss. Eating lots of nuts and seeds can help with this. A few ideas to start with include:

• Cashew nuts
• Walnuts
• Pecan nuts
• Almonds
• Brazil nuts

Foods you can include in your diet include:

• Leafy green leaves like salads
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• And filtered water

As a last resort, you can also take supplements that will provide you with enough zinc to help things out. 

Vitamin A

The cells in our body need Vitamin A to aid in growth. Things that help grow include our hair, which is the fastest growing tissue in our bodies. It also helps to produce ‘sebum’ in our skin, which means it helps keep our head moisturized and our scalp healthy. People who do not get enough Vitamin A tend to have issues of dry scalp, and hair loss.

However, a caveat in this suggestion is to make sure not to take too much of it. As great as it is for our bodies, too much of it can also contribute to the loss of hair. To find out how much to take, always read the instruction labels on the supplement you are planning on taking.

To ensure you’re sticking to the right amount, go the natural way. Great natural sources of vitamin A include:

• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Spinach
• Pumpkins
• Milk
• Yogurt 
• Beta-carotene supplements
• Eggs 

Omega-3

There are three types of mega oils namely 3, 6, and 9. Out of these, omega-3 can help you with your hair. The omega-3 fatty acids included in some foods and supplements have been known to stimulate both the sebaceous glands and the follicles of the hair. This can help improve hair growth by enhancing the health of your scalp. 

Three main omega-3 fatty acids include:

1. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
2. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
3. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)

Natural food sources that contain the highest acids in them include:

• Flaxseed
• Canola and plant oils like soybean
• Chia seeds
• Yogurt 
• Fish – sardines, salmon, herring, tuna, mackerel

Other vitamins we could do that will help the hair on your head include Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B’s like B12 and Iron. These are not only great for maintaining the health of your hair but are also good for producing oxygen in the body, and cell growth, preventing oxidative stress from external pollutants, helping with skin health, eye health, and more.

2. Daily Habits To Keep Tabs On

Eating the right diet is unfortunately not enough to keep your hair healthy. You must also ensure you’re using the right products and your daily habits support the idea rather than hinder it. When using the right products make sure you:

Use the Right Shampoo

Many people go for the wrong products because their packaging looks fancy or they come cheap. Using the wrong products, as many may already know, harms your hair and can damage it to an irreversible extent.

Choosing those products that are specifically for your type of hair is a lot better than those who label themselves as ‘for all hair types’ or ‘one size fits all.’ Also go towards those that target specific issues such as dandruff, or damaged hair, where you can purchase an anti-dandruff product or a product like a moisturizing shampoo. 

Always take notice of the ingredients in shampoo bottles. Things such as sodium lauryl sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulfate should be avoided. Other chemicals to be aware of include:

• Sodium Chloride
• Formaldehyde
• Parabens
• Retinyl Palmitate
• Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA)
• Polyethylene Glycols (PEG)
• Alcohol
• Synthetic fragrances
• Synthetic colors
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine
• Dimethicone
• Triclosan

Also, keep in mind that a more expensive product does not necessarily mean a better product. Always read the labels carefully and choose one that fits your type for a more specific and useful outcome.

Use Conditioner

The same goes with the conditioner you use. Firstly, always use conditioner if you have dry or damaged hair, and secondly, you do not necessarily have to use a separate shampoo and conditioner but can also opt for a combined shampoo and conditioner product.

Find the one that suits your hair type and don’t overdo it, but see how well your hair feels after using a specific one. some products do not need to be used frequently but rather once every few washes. You can enhance this by using a hair masque as well.

Brushing Your Hair 

The way you brush your hair and the brush you use will also make a significant difference to the texture and health of your hair. Always treat your hair gently and don’t be rough on tangles (this is where conditioner can help). 

Some brushes have a wider comb, while others have very narrow ones. The majority of hairdressers would recommend a wide-toothed brush or comb, and when using it start from the bottom of your hair and make your way to the top as opposed to the other way around.

Also, never brush wet hair. Wait till it is significantly dry, as it is much weaker when it is wet and will cause breakage easier than when it is dry.

Things to Avoid That Can Damage Your Hair

As good as the above habits can be, some are bad for us, and our hair, as well as other aspects that may affect the quality of your hair. Things such as:

• Overconsumption of alcoholic beverages
• Taking blood thinners
• Crash diets and lower nutrient and caloric diets
• Lower levels of thyroid hormone in your body
• Drugs to treat arthritis, high blood pressure, and depression
• Too much stress

With the above few tips, you should be off to a good start when it comes to looking after your crowning glory – your hair.