How To Nourish Your Hair The Right Way - With Simple & Quick Tips

Updated on 2023-10-12 12:00:22 53 0

Reviewed by ExpertDr. Lata Ganji (PhD, Pharmaceutical Science)

Image: Shutterstock

Do you desire soft, shiny and bouncy hair? We understand, as everyone of us wants nourished tresses that are problem-free and easy-to-manage. Achieving this is very much possible with the right products and by providing enough nutrients to your hair.

We have compiled a list of all the ways in which you can get nourished and healthy hair - from seasonal care to DIY home treatments and ingredients you should seek in your hair products. Keep reading.

What Is Nourishment For Hair?

Healthy and nourished hair is the reflection of a healthy body. Nourishment is providing the essential nutrients to your hair both internally and externally with the help of food and hair products. When your hair is nourished, it has lesser chances of breakage. Thus, nourished hair is thick, soft, shiny, bouncy and strong.

Deep conditioning treatments, your lifestyle, stress levels, the number of hours you sleep, and supplements you take also determine how healthy or damaged your hair will be. An unhealthy diet, less hours of sleep, illnesses and a stressful or sedentary lifestyle may be affecting the quality of your hair. Also, if you use too many heating products or chemicals for styling, your hair will be malnourished and damaged.

How To Nourish Your Hair?

1. Choose The Right Products

It is important to purchase products that will suit your hair. So check whether it is dry, frizzy, straight, oily or normal. If you’re unsure, the SkinKraft Hair Quiz can help you know your hair better. Based on your hair type, you can choose the following products:

a) Hair Oil

One of the best methods to provide nourishment to your hair is with hair oil. While olive oil or pure coconut oil is recommended for normal or slightly oily hair, use rosemary or jojoba oil if your hair is very oily. A diluted essential oil can provide nourishment, and rosemary oil has antibacterial properties. For dry hair, look for herbal hair oils with ingredients such as brahmi, almond, gooseberry, arnica and hibiscus.

How to use

Warm a few spoons of oil and apply it to your scalp and massage it in. This nourishes the hair roots and follicles, stimulates the scalp and improves blood circulation. You can also cover your hair with a shower cap after massaging the oil, which opens up the pores and improves oil absorption.

b) Shampoo

Normal hair

needs the least amount of fuss. All you need is a shampoo that has nourishing ingredients like avocado, gooseberry, aloe vera and surfactants to clean your hair.

For oily hair

your shampoo should contain ingredients like ginseng [1], acai berries [2], chamomile, green tea [3] or tea tree oil [4] and marshmallow root. Additional ingredients like ketoconazole, salicylic acid and selenium sulphide prevent fungal infections and keep the scalp clean. Oily hair also needs a shampoo with a pH level higher than 6.7, which is the maximum pH level of normal shampoos.

Dry hair

or hair damaged due to heat, bleaching or colouring, needs moisturising and hydrating ingredients in the shampoo. This is because dry or coloured hair tends to be more porous. Look for ingredients like argan oil [5], biotin, shea or baobab [6] oils. Baobab oil also helps to prevent dandruff.

c) Conditioner

A good conditioner should leave your hair soft and shiny without weighing it down or making it greasy.

Normal hair

needs a conditioner that contains ingredients like beetroot extract, milk protein and herbal extracts to give it shine and strength.

Oily hair

needs a lighter conditioner, which will not make it greasier. This needs to be applied only to the ends and the middle of the hair, if your hair is very long. Look for ingredients like lemongrass, bhringraj, Vitamin C and shea butter .You can even make an infusion of chamomile tea and apply it as a last rinse to minimise dandruff.

Dry hair needs a conditioner that contains keratin, coconut or avocado oil and biotin, which can undo damage caused by the sun and the environment. It can also hydrate your hair.

2. Hair Treatments At Home

You can use several ingredients from your kitchen to give your hair some additional nourishment. Pick from one of the following:

· Honey, lemon juice, eggs, yoghurt etc. can be applied to the hair and left on for half an hour before washing off. These nourish the hair, and their healing properties undo any damage.

· If you have oily hair, blend egg white and lemon juice and apply as a mask. You can even make a mask by mixing lemon juice, aloe vera gel and a spoon of apple cider vinegar. This balances the hair and reduces oiliness.

· For dry hair, honey mixed with water can be a last rinse as a moisturiser. You can even blend some hibiscus flowers and leaves and apply it like a mask for hair that is soft and shiny.

· For dull and fine hair, mix an egg with yoghurt and apply it like a hair mask for bounce and shine.

3. Opt For Additional Treatments

Regardless of whether you colour your hair or not, it is important to use a clarifying shampoo at least once a month to detox your hair of all the product buildup. Even styling products like mousses and hair gels can cause buildup, besides your shampoo and conditioner. Many salons and brands offer deep conditioning hair masks and treatments, which can be opted for.

There are several ready-to-use hair masks and deep conditioning treatments available according to hair types. Find one that is suitable for your hair and apply once a week for best results. If you plan to deep condition your hair at home, opt for hair masks that contain wheat protein or plant and fruit extracts like virgin coconut oil, avocado, sweet almond, castor, jojoba, olive or argan oils.

4. Nourishment for Problems Related to Hair/Scalp

· If you have dandruff or an itchy scalp, it could be due to seborrheic dermatitis [7], a fungal infection, or eczema. You need to see a dermatologist to confirm the condition and prescribe the right treatment.

· If you have hair loss along your hairline, it could be that you are tying your hair too tightly. Leave your hair loose or tie it in a plait without pulling it back too much. Also use an anti-hair loss shampoo.

· For hair that is always frizzy regardless of the season, it could be that you are not drinking enough water. Alternatively, your diet may be lacking fatty acids or you may be using the wrong shampoo. Drink more water and include fatty acids listed below in your diet. Choose the right shampoo after determining your hair type.

5.The Right Nutrition for Hair Nourishment

There are certain foods you must include in your diet to ensure nourishment for your hair from within. In fact, studies show that a lack of protein [8] in your diet can lead to hair loss.

1. Eggs

These are a rich source of zinc, protein, biotin [9] and selenium. Biotin is needed for the production of keratin, a hair protein that makes hair stronger. Studies show that a balanced diet and adequate amounts of biotin can lead to healthy hair.

2. Berries

Loaded with antioxidants and Vitamin C, berries like strawberries, blueberries and cranberries undo damage caused by free radicals in the body and in the environment. Vitamin C [10] assists in the production of collagen, which makes hair stronger and prevents breakage.

3. Spinach

It contains iron, folate and Vitamin A [11], which strengthens the hair and prevents hair fall. Vitamin A also helps in the production of sebum in the skin, which keeps your scalp moisturised and gives you healthy hair.

4. Omega-3 Rich Foods

Salmon, mackerel and avocado are rich in fatty acids and Omega-3, which the body needs to promote hair growth. Studies show that consuming Vitamin E supplements [12] improved hair growth for those with hair fall. Salmon is a good source of Vitamin D and selenium.

5. Vitamin Rich Foods

Seeds, nuts, and sweet potatoes are rich in the vitamins that your body needs to provide nourishment for your hair. Nuts like walnuts and almonds are a source of zinc and Vitamin B, that reduces hair loss.

6. Sweet Peppers

Vitamin C helps produce collagen and make your hair stronger. It is abundant in sweet or coloured peppers. A lack of Vitamin C can lead to premature grey hair due to oxidative stress and Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant.

6. Hair Nourishment According To Seasons

How you nourish your hair in summer is different from how you look after it in winter. Even the temperature of the water you wash your hair with can affect its texture and condition. Here are a few tips:

Winter Care

For normal hair

· keep your hair and scalp clean by washing it twice a week in lukewarm water. Also, oil it regularly to keep it healthy. You can use a leave-in serum to prevent frizz.

For oily hair

· wash hair at least thrice a week to prevent it from getting extra greasy. But do not wash it everyday as the scalp will become dry and produce extra oil to compensate for the dryness. Avoid brushing your hair for too long.

For dry hair

· apply an extra rich moisturiser to keep your hair nourished. Dry hair usually tends to become frizzy in winter accompanied with scalp flakes. Apply shampoo only once each time you wash your hair. Massage with warm almond oil and leave on overnight to prevent it from drying out further.

Summer Care

For normal hair

use a mild shampoo that has moisturising properties. Use a light conditioner especially on the ends of your hair.

For oily hair

you might be tempted to wash it more frequently in summer due to heat and sweat. As this will dry out your scalp, use only the mildest shampoo for daily use, and apply the shampoo only once. This will minimise the chance of a dry scalp.

For dry hair

you need a rich moisturising shampoo and conditioner. This will give your hair the hydration it needs as the summer sun can dry out your hair further.

For coloured hair

always opt for shampoos and conditioners that protect the colour from fading out. Keep your hair hydrated as the summer sun can damage and dry out your hair.

· Drink plenty of fluids to hydrate your body from within. Protect your hair from the environment by using a sunscreen for the hair, tying it loosely into a plait or a bun or by wearing a hat or a scarf around your hair. The UV rays of the sun can damage hair too.

· If you swim regularly in summer, avoid washing your hair before you go for a swim as the chlorinated water will dry out your hair. Apply a leave-on hair serum before you wear your swimming cap and dive into the pool.

Benefits Of Nourished Hair

Once you’ve taken all the steps to ensure healthy hair, you can reap the benefits of nourishing it from the outside and the inside. When your hair is healthy, you will enjoy:

1. Smooth, Soft and Shiny Hair

The right oil massages, and keeping your hair clean and hydrated, will leave it smooth and soft to touch. Hair that receives nutrition from within shines, which shows its good health.

2. No Dandruff

A clean scalp with adequate nourishment to the hair roots and follicles implies that you have no dandruff.

3. Minimum Hair Fall and no split ends

If your hair is healthy, you will lose only the normal amount of strands, i.e. 80-100 strands a day. You won’t find hair on your pillow or your back every time you check. Also, you won't experience split ends or breakage of hair.

Wrapping Up

Healthy hair is not an impossible goal to attain. You can give your hair the nourishment it needs and take care of it with the right products and food habits. You will have hair that is smooth, strong and problem-free if you nourish it regularly with hair masks, oils, deep conditioning treatments and a good diet.

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