Discover the Secret to Luscious Locks: My Hair Strengthening Tips

JUNE 2022

I was born with a full head of hair. By the time I was 2 years old, it was down to my shoulders, and by the time I was in JK, it was down to my lower back. Truth be told, I used to hate having such thick hair and would feel extremely annoyed by the added weight and heat. Over the years, I’ve grown to love my hair and consider it part of my identity and definitely one of my favourite things to experiment with.

Although based on the above it may seem like I’ve been genetically blessed with effortlessly long and voluminous hair, I know now that it is LARGELY influenced by my lifestyle (except for in the very early days - I do think that was all genetic). In this blog, I will discuss my rules for maintaining strong, smooth, and healthy hair. These go beyond the basics of a balanced diet with plenty of healthy fats, protein, iron, vitamins, etc. Also, these rules are MY hair rules. If they don’t work for you the same way, that’s because, well, you’re not me. As far as hair supplements go, always ask your health care practitioner before starting anything.

1. TREAT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCALP THE SAME AS THE TOP OF THE SCALP

Oftentimes, we neglect the base of our scalp and only focus on the crown. Think of how you shampoo your hair – what area do you focus on? Likely only the top of your scalp. When I brush my hair, I start at the top and brush back for a second (to tame any immediate knots and gather the hair), brush through the ends, flip my head over and thoroughly brush the back, and then finish off with the crown. Considering the health of the entire scalp is what will more likely lead to thriving hair.

 2. BRUSH-THROUGH ANY OILS USED ON THE FACE

I’m a big oil-cleanser, oil-moisturizer, and oil-makeup-remover…this means that a lot of oil is getting into my hairline. So, I always make sure to brush through the rest of my hair every single time I use an oil - i.e. everyday. This helps soften the hair and decrease buildup along the hairline, maintaining freshness.

The face oil that I use for cleansing and moisturizing.

3. ROTATE-IN HAIR TREATMENTS

Sometimes this will be a pre-wash mask or oil, other times it’s a post-shower treatment to lock in moisturize and tame frizz. Just as I am a huge fan of oils for my face, I love using them for my hair. I have experimented with coconut, jojoba, avocado, almond, olive, and this Cold-Processed one; I concentrate these on the midsection and ends of my hair. For my scalp, my top pick is Act + Acre’s targeted scalp oil (which, by the way, completely got rid of my dandruff). I will also mix in this mask and have recently started using this on damp hair and before heat styling. Lastly, in the past I’ve enjoyed using an apple cider vinegar rinse instead of conditioner!

P.S. This is not a paid partnership with Act + Acre :)

The hair mask that I like.

4. INCORPORATE SPIRULINA  

I actually discovered spirulina – a blue-green algae powder known for its detoxifying properties – when I started working to heal my skin. While it did not repair my skin entirely, I did notice my ponytail feeling fuller.

Since then, I have made it a regular part of my diet for hair strengthening. (I later discovered that it is also known for its high mineral content which might be why it works wonders on my hair.) The best way to use spirulina is in smoothies because the taste can be easily disguised this way - it’s not particularly appetizing on its own. When I brush my hair once I’ve added it after a break, I pretty much immediately notice less shedding and breakage.

Note: if you have an autoimmune condition, speak with your healthcare specialist before starting spirulina.

The exact spirulina that I have used for years.

5. MEDITATE + MANAGE STRESS

This one is HUGE. At one of the most stressful times in my life, I noticed that I was losing a lot of hair.

As is the case with anything else health-related, when it comes to hair loss, you have to know your normal. My doctor said that shedding 50-100 strands of hair a day was fine, but I knew that what I was seeing on the brush was too much. Meditation and my stress-relieving practices have undoubtedly helped me maintain luscious locks. During said timeframe, I took Ashwagandha, a potent adaptogenic herb that can help the body deal with the effects of stress. It was effective, and taught me exactly how strong the impact of emotional and mental stress is on the physical body. I no longer take any supplements for stress and instead focus my efforts on my meditation and daily movement.

Some tools that I use to deepen my meditation practice, including an eye mask and lavender oil.

Have you ever tried to strengthen your hair? What has your experience been? Tell me in the comments below!

This blog does not contain medical advice.