Get Pretty: How To Grow Healthy Hair

Photos via Pinterest.

This is a guest post from Petite Physique. See their total body hiking workout HERE.

Your "don't hold back" attitude is great when it comes to making memories...not so great when it comes to having a thick, shiny hair. Constant exposure to cold, heat and sun can cause hair to become thin and brittle.

Hair grows about half an inch per month, and speeding up the process is almost impossible. However, it is possible to get longer, stronger and more luxurious hair. The secret isn't found just on the bathroom shelf—it's hiding in your kitchen, too!

Start by nourishing your hair from the inside out.

Add amino acids to your diet.
Including a triple omega vitamin to your diet can do wonders. With this dietary supplement, you get omegas 3, 6, and 9—the same omega fatty acids that are found in fish, flaxseed, safflower and olive oils. You can also add flaxseed to oatmeal, use olive oil in place of salad dressing or add some chia seeds to your water for an extra boost of amino acids.

Try taking more biotin.
Biotin is very important for building healthy hair, skin and nails. It may even prevent some hair loss in men. The best hair vitamins should have at least 200 mcgs+ in the daily dose (but any more and you'll just pee it out).


Take iron supplements.
Ever wonder why pregnant women have such great hair? It's due in part to prenatal vitamins. Adding iron will help with your hair's health, but be careful because too much iron can lead to constipation. We recommend adding just 7mgs a day.

Pick the right proteins and carbs.
Soy protein has been shown to encourage hair growth, while whole grains contain zinc, which can help repair damaged hair and reduce dandruff.

Go nuts for butternut squash.
Some swear by butternut squash's numinous ability to thicken hair and keep scalp follicles healthy. The sweet veggie delivers nutritious, hair-strengthening vitamins because it's packed with vitamins A and C and some of the most essential nutrients for a healthy and hydrated scalp.

Then nourish on the outside.

Try coconut oil.
For dry and damaged hair, work some of this oil into your scalp half an hour before showering (warm it up in your hands first, as coconut oil is solid at room temperature). For glossy locks post-shower, rub a small amount between palms and smooth over your hair.

Make an avocado mask.
Mash up an avocado into a paste and massage the puree into your scalp. Wrap hair into a hot, steaming towel, then sit back and relax. After roughly ten minutes, rinse clean in the shower and wash normally.

Do an oil soak.
There are plenty of great oils that nourish hair, like argon, almond, castor, coconut, flaxseed, jojoba, olive and sunflower oils. Comb two tablespoons of oil to damp hair, then let sit for about 20 minutes. Once you're ready to rinse, wash oil aways with tepid water to seal in the shine.

Put on a pumpkin mask.
Have some canned pumpkin left from the holidays? Crack it open and pour the contents straight onto you head for a split-end remedy. Wear a shower cap to prevent a mess. After ten minutes, rinse head clean as per usual. Coconut oil makes a great mix-in with pumpkin pulp!

Have a hair-related question? Ask me on Twitter @dirtbagdarling.