So you wash and condition your hair just like everyone else. Then how come some girls seem to have effortlessly long, eternally glossy, annoyingly moisturized hair that never has a bad day? Unfair right?
Hair health and hair growth are linked to many factors: genetics, nutrition, stress, lifestyle habits, and aesthetic hair care.
What if you knew a few hacks to fool mother nature, genetics, diet and whatever else to getting fabulous hair? Read on….
- Oils aren't just for salads!
You’ve probably heard and seen the viral social media videos about coconut oil, castor oil, jojoba oil et al? Well, they actually work. Lipids play a very important role in making our hair look and feel healthy. They not only help maintain the shine and gloss of hair but also helps strengthen the hair shaft, especially in case of frizzy and dry hair.
Massage a few drops of your oil of choice [our faves are almond oil, coconut oil, castor oil or olive oil] through your hair and scalp a few hours before you shampoo. Better still, leave in overnight leave in your hair overnight and shampoo out in the morning. You might need a couple of shampoo applications and make sure to place a towel over your pillow before you go to bed.
- A scalp massage - with a happy ending
You come across gadgets and gizmos you never thought you needed - every single day, someone, somewhere invents a beauty didgeridoo that will turn you into Kim Khadashian.
A scalp massage brush is different - it exfoliates, loosens debris and dandruff, and increases follicle circulation when used in gentle circular motions on your scalp. Scalp massagers have the added benefit of being a relaxation tool but more excitingly, they can help with hair growth.
There’s been a couple of scientific studies [in 2016 and 2019] to back up hair growth claims. In the 2016 study, Participants massaged their scalps for about four minutes per day over a 24-week period resulting in the growth of thicker, stronger hair.
The 2019 study had 340 participants; each massaged twice per day to improve hair loss, and approximately 69% of participants said the massages improved their alopecia, reducing hair loss and encouraging the growth of new hair.
Enhance your scalp massages by adding a hair serum / oil, applying before bedtime and in the morning.
3. Hello Aloe Vera!
So you thought Aloe Vera was for sunburns ….how wrong were you? Its for hair growth.
Personal opinion, Aloe Vera is hair fertilizer!
That’s our personal opinion. Get the real stuff though - 100% pure and organic. if its diluted with other crap, you may not feel the full force of this little magical plant.
Traditionally used to treat skin problems like wounds, acne, and burns or inflammatory bowel diseases, there is admittedly very few scientific studies about its effects on hair. Just raving testimonials from Social Media users.
Aloe vera contains vitamins A, C, and E. All three of these vitamins contribute to cell turnover, promoting healthy cell growth and shiny hair. Along with the many active ingredients, minerals, Vitamin B12, folic and amino acids all help to strengthen hair and improve follicle health
Mainly available to buy in gel or liquid form, we recommend daily application [ and then adjusting to what suits your personal grooming routine] to see the best results.
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4. Make your Conditioner Work Harder with a Heat Cap!
Yes, we sell heat caps and ofcourse, its not surprising that we would add this to our list of hacks.
Besides feeling super luxurious, heated deep conditioners strengthen your strands and enhance the way the rest of your products work. See some of the awesome benefits below:
- If you have tightly shut hair cuticles heat will open them right up! The heat allows your conditioner to deeply penetrate your strands.
- Since your hair is soaking up all the goodies, moisture is restored inside out. Talk about soft hair for days!
- Get the full effect of your conditioner by adding some heat! A proper heated conditioner takes time — we’re talking 15-30 minutes. The heat prepares the hair for absorption, therefore allowing the product or mixture to work its magic. The time length allows your tresses to marinate in all of this goodness.
5. Hair Growth Supplements
We are not going to recommend any particular ones as results and efficacies may be not be the same for everyone.
Are you just looking to get your hair past that certain plateau length or do you need increased thickness?. We recommend trying supplements that contain Collagen, Biotin, zinc with little or no chemical additives. Also give a minimum of 3 months to see if the supplement is working as it can take this long for your body to adjust to the nutrients. A typical growth cycle for your hair can be this long anyway. We do however recommend giving gummies a wide berth as they can contain a lot of sugar [ you don't want to solve one problem and start another do you?].
Always take pictures of your hair from 3 to 4 angles just so you can monitor any changes [ or not]. For issues such as brittle hair, breaking off, bald spots - we recommend seeing your doctor first rather than taking supplements as this could indicate a medical condition
6. Drink Plenty of Gin…Oh Wait, we mean WATER.[ Soz]
Don’t you just hate the ‘drink up to 6 glasses of water every day’ campers? It would be more doable if the advise was to drink plenty of Gin but alas, life can be a sod! So water it is.
BUT it fricking works.
It nourishes, softens, and rejuvenates the skin when plenty of it is taken frequently. It has positive effects on the skin in the same way it has positive effects on the scalp and hair.
Water is a key ingredient that supports vitamins, which contribute to your hair growth. Believe it or not, but water makes up almost 25% of the weight of a single strand of hair. Drinking at least two liters of water a day will help the strength of your hair, increasing growth