12 Ways to Keep Your Hair in Tip-Top Condition

Having a healthy head of hair can mean a lot more than just looking good. A good, glossy mane is one sign that our bodies are getting enough vitamins and minerals to keep things running as they should.

When you have been sick you might have noticed that not only your mood and body feel under the weather and lackluster, but your hair loses its shine and volume, too. Limp, lank hair to match how you are feeling.

Dry, frizzy, and broken hair can also be a sign that you have certain nutrients lacking in your diet. But, rest assured that this is usually a simple fix and can involve just a tweak in the foods you are eating or the products that you are using on your hair.

These OGP articles help guide you toward having a super healthy head of hair that is as full of life as you are.

1. Eco-Friendly Hair Products

Eco-friendly hair products have become increasingly popular in recent years as more and more people are becoming conscious of the impact their choices have on the planet. This trend has been further amplified by celebrities who have not only been using and choosing vegan hair products but have also launched their own product lines. Learn more about Haircare for a Better World: The Surging Popularity of Eco-Friendly Hair Products.

2. Superfood Help

One of the neatest things about eating a healthy diet is your nails, hair, and skin are often the first things to change for the better when your diet improves. A plant-based diet provides all the nutrients your nails, hair, and skin need to look their best. Some foods, however, do contain more nutritional properties that support their growth and overall health than others do. Here are five of the best to offer up some of the most overall nutritional components to provide amazing nails, hair, and skin quickly. Take a look at these 5 Everyday Superfoods For Your Nails, Hair, and Skin.

3. No Poo

For many, the idea of ditching shampoo sounds disgusting, a recipe for greasy hair full of gunk and perhaps a funky smell to go along with it. To others, however, the “no poo” lifestyle has become a real deal thing. And, the latter group might have some ideas worth considering. How does your hair get clean? Are we using shampoo for a reason? Does your hair stink? What about removing my styling products? It seems questionable at best. Click here, if you are curious about Ditching Shampoo for the “No Poo” Lifestyle: Less Chemicals, Less Trash, Healthier Hair.

4. DIY Hair Sprays, Mousses, and Gels

Your internal organs have several ways of eliminating toxins from harming your body like your liver and excess fat reserves. However, chemicals that are applied to the skin and hair have almost no barrier from entering the bloodstream, making them very dangerous. Instead of subjecting yourself to loads of chemicals, try any (or all) of these DIY alternatives to conventional hair care products. You’ll get the style you want without the gross chemicals or carcinogens. Here is a great list of 5 DIY Alternatives to Conventional Hair Sprays, Mousses, and Gels.

5. Hair Mask

If warm weather fun has already left your hair drier than you’d like, try this easy coconut banana cream “pie” hair mask. The banana’s potassium will repair some of that fun-in-the-sun hair damage, and the coconut will add needed moisture. What’s more: it smells divine, and you can even eat the leftovers if you want! Masks like this are easy to make and save you money — and you’ll avoid needless exposure to the chemicals found in store-bought hair mask mixtures too. Why not try making this DIY Coconut Banana Cream Pie Hair Mask that sounds as much like dessert as it does a hair-care treatment?

6. Hair Perfume

Making your own natural, non-toxic hair perfume is a great way to create a signature scent without exposing your hair to harsh chemicals. It’s also a great way to save money! @bottegazerowaste shared a simple tutorial that only requires 2-ingredients! First, you’ll need a carrier oil such as jojoba, almond, or coconut oil. Now, add a few drops of your essential oils to the carrier oil. Here is a tutorial and video on how to make a DIY Natural, Non-Toxic Hair Perfume.

7. Green Tea for Your Hair

Green tea has long been famed and admired for its incredible health benefits. Green tea, like black tea, comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Green Tea, however, is picked and dried without being fermented or going through oxidization. As a result, it contains a higher concentration of antioxidants. Aside from drinking a simple cup of green tea, possibly the best way to consume it, there are lots of products on the market and recipes to be made that contain green tea. These, of course, focus on the health benefits of actually consuming green tea. However, there is research that suggests that using green tea topically can have beneficial effects on your skin and hair, too. Read on to learn How to Use Green Tea Topically for Your Skin and Hair.

8. Nutrients for Healthy Hair

We can help to protect our hair by washing, drying, and combing it gently. Treat it nicely! If you have long hair, wear it down as much as you can, as ties can cause damage. Also, go easy on chemical dyes and intense heat treatment from curling irons, straighteners, or dryers. Try wearing a hat to save your hair from harsh weather conditions. That said, the are also some foods that you can enjoy that will certainly give your do a boost! A lot of it is making sure you get the right nutrients to keep your scalp healthy, and having a generally well-balanced and varied diet can help to ensure that. Take a look at this list of 5 Nutrients Essential for Healthy Hair.

9. Herbal Hair Rinses

Herbs have long been used for hair to treat everything from an oily or dry scalp to lank or greasy hair. Some herbs can even darken or lighten your hair. We can buy shampoos and other hair care products that tout herbal and botanical ingredients. However, there is a simple, cheap, and package-free way to introduce herbs to your haircare regime without having to buy any products. You can use fresh herbs from your herb garden or dried herbs from your kitchen cabinet to make simple hair rinses. Remember that if you are using dried herbs, you will need to use a lot less as dried herbs are more concentrated. If you are interested, read on to learn How to Make Herbal Hair Rinses.

10. Hair Oils

Hair oiling. It may be a new trend to hit the West, but hair oiling has deep roots in India as a ritual practice to both enhance the health of your hair and as a cultural way of connectivity. Plus, hair oiling is used in Ayurvedic medicine and relies on Ayurvedic oils. So, what is hair oiling? Simply put, it’s the practice of “pouring oil onto hair and massaging it into the scalp to increase moisture, luster, and shine.” Yet, it’s not all about looks. Hair oiling has also been found to “provide vitamins and minerals that get stripped from frequent washing,” and may even help reduce hair loss. If this seems like something you could be interested in, check out these 10 Chemical-Free, Ayurvedic Hair Oils for Healthy Hair.

11. Hot Oil Treatment

While you may have tried store-bought hot oil treatments before, you can make your own at home and save yourself some money – and from needless chemicals that can be found in the store-bought stuff. Plus, you can make this treatment easily with ingredients and tools you probably already have at home, and this treatment is so natural and easy, you can repeat it again and again until your hair shines like a mirror (if that’s what you’re going for!). Have a go at making this Easy, Inexpensive DIY Hot Oil Hair Treatment.

12. Plant-Based Recipes for Healthy Hair

There’s a saying that says our nails, hair, and skin often tell us how healthy we are, and are signs of how healthy our diet is. Foods that inflame our cells, cause a breakdown and end up tearing apart the collagen, keratin, and elastin that provide supple skin, strong and silky hair, and strong, fast-growing nails. Toxic overload, stress, and poor diet all contribute to lackluster skin, dry and brittle hair, and brittle nails that never seem to grow. There are 5 Everyday Superfoods For Your Nails, Hair, and Skin and those are oats, almonds, raw organic pumpkin seeds, orange root veggies, and greens. Here are 10 Plant-Based Recipes For Healthier Hair, Skin, and Nails!

These articles are for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Seek advice from a medical professional if you have any concerns. 

Related Content:

• DIY Coconut Banana Cream Pie Hair Mask
• 15 Plant-Based Cold Weather Recipes For Dry Hair
• 10 Plant-Based Collagen Supplements for Skin, Hair, and Nail Health
• Are Women’s Relationships with Their Body Hair Getting Better?
• Afro Hair Comb Inventor Hopes to Inspire Young Black Women
• Jennifer Aniston Releases New Vegan and Cruelty-Free Haircare Line

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