I’ve been pregnant once or twice and had nice thick hair along with it. Then comes postpartum hair loss. Over the years I have also dealt with hair loss due to thyroid issues. These events led me to look for ways to naturally promote hair growth and hair health.
Although some hair loss after pregnancy is hormonal and unavoidable, there are natural ways to improve damaged and thinning hair. Here’s what I discovered on my journey to healthy hair.
How to get healthy hair
The condition of our hair is a good indicator of what is going on inside our body. To improve hair health in the long term, it’s important to address your entire body. This includes eating a healthy diet and reducing stress.
I’m also wondering if these tips will help my baby’s hair grow in utero? All my children have grown a lot of hair. Especially my daughter. (Her hair is pictured above and she was three at the time of filming!) Her hair has always been naturally thick, curly and manageable. In fact, she was born almost 2 inches long.
These natural tips benefit your body in other ways too, so you don’t have much to lose!
1. Consume enough protein
Protein is essential for hair growth. Eat enough protein to ensure your body has the building blocks your hair needs (most of us don’t!). Complete protein sources, such as meat and fish, are most beneficial for hair growth. Many meats also contain iron, which is essential for healthy hair.
Foods like meat, fish, eggs, and especially bone broth are excellent for hair growth. These foods also contain healthy hormones and fatty acids needed to promote scalp health.
2. Take vitamins
Some vitamins, especially vitamin C and biotin, help promote hair growth. Your body needs vitamin C to produce collagen, which is needed for healthy hair and skin. Vitamin C also helps with iron absorption, which promotes hair growth (it’s also an immune booster!). The body cannot make vitamin C, so it is one of the vitamins that must be obtained through food or supplements. Foods like citrus fruits, broccoli, bell peppers, and spinach are good sources.
Biotin (and other B vitamins) may also promote faster and stronger hair growth. Plus, it’s good for skin care. Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that our bodies use to digest fats and sugars. Eggs, nuts, berries, fish, and some vegetables all provide small amounts of biotin. Sometimes supplements can help increase levels.
Other nutrients play an important role in conditions such as alopecia, hair damage, and premature graying. Zinc deficiency is thought to cause hair loss. A 2013 study found that early gray hair may be caused by deficiencies in calcium, ferritin, and vitamin D3. Other factors include low selenium, B12, and folate.
Eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods and getting healthy sunlight exposure (without sunscreen!) are essential to keeping your hair looking its best.
3. Top with gelatin
We’ve previously posted about the many benefits of gelatin and why it’s good for healthy hair, skin, and nails. Gelatin is one of the things I eat every day, whether in bone broth or gelatin powder (or both). From a previous post:
“Gelatin is composed primarily of the amino acids glycine and proline, which are found in the bones, fibrous tissues and organs of animals, so many people do not consume these substances in adequate amounts, nor do populations as a whole consume these substances. No more bulky parts. These amino acids are necessary for proper skin, hair and nail growth, as well as optimal immune function and weight control.”
Glycine, which makes up about one-third of the amino acids in gelatin powder, is anti-inflammatory. Evidence suggests that glycine may also speed wound healing. Here are my favorite ways to add gelatin:
4. Hormonal balance
Hormones and gut bacteria play a bigger role in your health than people realize. Even with the best diet and supplements, hormonal imbalances can harm your health. Some studies even show how certain hormonal responses can help treat brain trauma.
Hormones are often the main cause of hair loss or poor hair growth. Unfortunately, the causes of hormonal imbalances can vary. This is also a cause of hair loss after pregnancy. You can take steps to improve your hair while balancing your hormones. Here are our top tips for balancing your hormones naturally:
Stress and lack of sleep are two major causes of hormonal imbalance. These factors can also cause dandruff. According to Dr. Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist, high stress levels can increase cortisol levels. An increase in these stress hormones causes inflammation, oily hair, and build-up on the scalp. This buildup of oil can cause dandruff.
5. Use the right products
Although the main causes of hair loss and growth are internal, external treatments can help improve existing hair and prevent breakage. From castor oil to gelatin, I’ve tried many DIY hair treatments and I’ve loved most of them! Here’s where I write about some of my favorite things:
Things like bleaching your hair or using a generic hair color from your local stylist are not good for the health of your hair and scalp. Not to mention all the toxins in conventional hair care products! But even natural hair products can cause problems.
While conventional shampoos and products have their own problems (such as being linked to cancer), natural products often have an unbalanced pH for the scalp and strip it of important natural oils. That’s one of the reasons I decided to create my own line of healthy hair care products! Suitable for a variety of hair types, including curly or dry hair.
Another option is a natural clay-based shampoo like this one. I tried it myself and got good results. It doesn’t foam like a traditional shampoo, but it cleans the hair, nourishes the scalp, and maintains pH balance.
6. Prevent styling damage
Eating all the right foods and using healthy shampoos will only help you if you have an unhealthy hair care routine. Tight hairstyles can damage hair follicles and lead to hair loss. Drying wet hair with high heat or using heat styling tools can damage hair and cause split ends.
Excessive use of heat tools can cause hair to become dry and breakage. A simple way to prevent this is to use lower heat settings and avoid excessive use of curlers, curling irons, or hair dryers. Heat-free curls are a popular and less damaging way to achieve volume without applying heat.
Are you looking for a product like a leave-in conditioner to help loosen your locks? Using a silk pillowcase or hair bonnet can help prevent frizz and tangles while you sleep.
Experiment and see what works for you!
How to keep your hair healthy? Share your tips below!
