Alexa Mullane, founder of Potion London, tells you how to get your best hair yet, from the inside & from the outside.
Thick, healthy and glossy hair is the holy grail. Don’t you agree? It’s the first thing you notice about someone – if you’re asked to describe someone then the first thing you recall is their hair – the colour, length and style. When you have a good hair day it just makes everything else slot into place – and I’m not just being superficial here – great hair can improve your confidence and your mood and make you feel better about yourself. Because hair is our most noticeable asset, I’ve created this definitive guide to achieving (and keeping) healthy and shiny hair.
- Feed your hair from the inside.
You are what you eat. The old saying is a well-worn one but for a good reason – it’s true. Your skin and hair is a good indicator of your overall health. If you have skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, or brittle and thinning hair, chances are that you have an underlying health condition. Does your diet contain enough nutrients? Is your gut absorbing those nutrients correctly? Do you have a food allergy or intolerance that you’re unaware of?
Changing the condition of your hair is not a quick process, as the hair that you see is already dead. The live hair is under the scalp, being produced in the hair follicles. This is the crucial stage that decides what colour and condition your hair will be. It is at this stage that your body needs specific nutrients to create the best possible hair. If your body doesn’t have those nutrients then your hair won’t be at its optimum best – it’s as simple as that. The good news is that hair grows quickly, and the work you put in now will come through within a few weeks and continue to improve the look of your hair. So here are just a few of the important vitamins and minerals required to feed your hair from the inside, and what foods you can find them in.
B vitamins are essential for healthy hair, especially biotin and pantothenic acid, which have been found to help reduce hair loss and greying, and give hair its flexibility, strength and shine. B vitamins are found in whole grains and cereals (such as oats, brown rice, wheatgerm), eggs, nuts and salmon.
Essential omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish, prevent a dry scalp and dull hair colour.
Dark green vegetables contain high amounts of vitamins A and C, which help with production of sebum and provide a natural hair conditioner.
Zinc can help to prevent hair loss and is found in foods like spinach, pumpkin seeds and oysters.
Collagen is essential for strong and healthy hair (as well as youthful, plump and glowing skin while we’re on the subject). Vitamin C is essential for collagen production and is a powerful antioxidant which protects the cells in the hair follicles. Good sources of vitamin C include red peppers and dark green leafy veg like spinach. Collagen, on the other hand, is harder to get from food. Bone broth and oily fish are sources but they only contain small amounts, so a collagen supplement is always a good idea, like The Collagen Boost from Potion London. Link: https://www.potionlondon.com/shop/the-collagen
On the subject of supplements, it is always best to try and get as many nutrients from food as possible. But if you have a varied diet and healthy lifestyle, and feel that you need a little extra help to get optimum nutrition levels, a food supplement can be a great idea. The Beauty Formula from Potion London contains 19 essential nutrients in the optimum ratios for proper absorption, for strong and healthy hair, skin and nails. Link: https://www.potionlondon.com/shop/the-beauty-formula
- Give yourself a weekly treat
Not only will this make your hair beautifully soft and smooth but it’s also a relaxing treat and a bit of precious ‘me-time’.
Use an oil which is developed specifically for hair. Alchemy oils protect hair from breakage and stimulate hair growth, and they smell amazing too, for a wonderfully relaxing treatment. And what’s more, they are made from all-natural ingredients with no nasty chemicals, and they are part of PETA’s ‘beauty without bunnies’ cruelty free beauty campaign; so using these oils is good for you, good for the environment and good for the bunnies! Link: https://alchemyoils.co.uk/product/happiness-positivity/
For a de-stressing treatment, run yourself a bath with a lovely smelling bath oil or foam. While the bath is running, sprinkle a few drops of the hair oil onto your scalp and massage with your fingertips. Massaging all over the scalp will also stimulate the bloodflow which will help to stimulate hair growth. When the oil is evenly distributed over your scalp, run your fingers through your hair to coat every strand, adding more oil as you go if you need it. Then pile your hair up on your head and have a lovely relaxing soak in the bath. The steam from the bath will also open up the hair follicles to allow the oil to penetrate deeper. Wash hair as normal after, or leave it in overnight for an extra indulgent treat.
- Look at your lifestyle
Stress, medication and smoking can all affect hair growth. When the body is under undue stress it goes into red-alert mode and directs nutrients, blood and energy to the internal organs which need it most. This means that our skin and hair, which is less essential for keeping us alive, suffers.
Taking steps to improve general health and stress levels will have a positive effect on the condition of hair. There are lots of tools to help us do this, like using a mindfulness app such as Headspace to help you cope with the stresses of everyday life. Link: https://www.headspace.com
- Go gentle on your hair
If you put your hair up a lot, which let’s face it most of us do – at the gym, in the shower, on a non-hairwash day… then you are putting a lot of undue stress on your sensitive hair. Be nicer to it and invest in some gentle hair ties like these cute ones from Hip & Healthy Link: https://shop.hipandhealthy.com/collections/hair-ties
And instead of dragging a hairbrush through your hair every morning, use a Tangle Teezer and never suffer a broken hair again.
- Use a styling product with heat and UV protection
One of the main enemies of our hair is heat styling and damage from the elements. If you’ve taken the time to eat for your hair and given it regular oil treatments, you don’t want to un-do all of your good work with one styling session.
I’m not going to advise against using hair dryers, straighteners or tongs – sorry, I’m too addicted to mine to go cold turkey. Instead, just be prepared and use a protective product on your hair before blasting with the hairdryer – look for both heat and UV protection so it continues to look after your hair after leaving the house.
Happy good hair days!
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