If you are like many women, your bathroom is littered with shampoos, conditioners, hair moisturizers and styling products, but did you know that your diet and the weather have a lot to do with having a good hair day?
- Green tea, walnuts, and salmon. The polyphenols and omega-3s in these foods are good for more than your heart and brain. They also help make your hair shiny. (If you’re fighting dandruff, try rinsing with green tea, which help prevent dandruff-causing fungus.)
- Fruit. Brightly colored fruit, such as peaches, strawberries, mango, kiwi, and tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, which is essential for making collagen that gives structure to hair. Vitamin C firms skin, too.
- Beans, whole grains, and other healthful B-rich foods. B vitamins ensure a good supply of blood and oxygen to your hair follicles, which encourages growth and may slow hair loss. Other B-rich foods include beans, peas, carrots, cauliflower, soybeans, nuts, and eggs.
- Dark green veggies. Spinach, broccoli, and Swiss chard are great sources of vitamins A and C, which help produce sebum, the scalp oil that’s a natural hair conditioner.
- Dark sesame seeds. The Chinese swear this keeps a man’s hair darker longer.
- Say yes to avocados. Avocados and avocado oil may prevent dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which kills hair follicles, from getting where it needs to go.
What food should you skip for healthy hair? Pass on animal fat (the kind in red meat), especially if you’re losing hair. Animal fat can lead to more DHT production and hair-follicle damage. DHT shrinks hair follicles in men who are genetically predisposed to hair loss.
Keeping your hair under wraps when you’re outside is your first line of defense against elements, especially the harsh sun, but make sure your favorite sombrero is lined to ensure a smooth finish or opt for a scarf.
Give your hair a break from blowouts and embrace summer’s casual braids, ponytails, and buns. “The best thing about the summertime is you can wear your hair natural and play with accessories,” says Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy celeb stylist Jen Atkin “I love doing a low fishtail braid and adding a Jennifer Behr headband in lime green or coral.”
Even an undone style will still look chic if hair appears shiny and healthy, says Atkin, who recommends substituting your styling cream with a conditioner to smooth hair and hydrate (see more on hydration below).
If your hair is kinky curly and completely unruly and you just can’t go with out drying it, invest in a great hair drier! To speed up drying time, use a drier with a “turbo” setting, like Remington Style Solutions Fast Finish Drier ($30.00).
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Hydration. After rinsing out your conditioner, apply a few drops of a product like Ojon Damage Reverse Instant Restoration Hair Serum ($25.00).
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Weather guard. Styling products are getting smarter at protecting your hair from the elements. TRESemme Climate Control Mousse ($6.00) shields against everything from UV rays to wind.
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Prevent green hair with an anti-chlorine shampoo and conditioner if your summer plans include a lot of pool time. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner a few times a week to combat any dryness caused by daily exposure to the sun.
Do you have more Healthy Hair Tips for Summer? We would love to hear them.
Photo credits: Brent Gambrell, Amazon, Ojon, TRESemme
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