PROBLEM: “Oh no, my hair is snapping in two”
Hair is predominately made up of protein. Not getting enough protein in your diet may lead to weak hair without any strength. Weakened hair is more prone to daily stresses like blow drying and straightening.
The fix
Eat adequate protein in the form of fish, chicken and tofu. Nuts, seeds, grains, legumes and beans are also great alternatives. A serve of protein
(meat or chicken) the size and thickness of the palm of your hand just about meets your daily requirements.
PROBLEM: “My hair is so blonde/coloured it looks like straw”
Chemical exposure in the form of frequent bleaching, straightening and perming weakens the hair’s chemical structure. Furthermore, UV damage from sun exposure, usually during summer, can increase the damage and lead to straw-like hair.
The fix
Try leaving your hair colour natural or using a chemical-free hair colour such as ‘Atlantis Watercolour’ or ‘Tints of Nature’. Avoid chlorinated swimming pools and excessive blow drying for several months. Wear a hat in the sun to protect hair from harmful UV rays.
You can also try making a natural hair mask. Combine avocado, evening primrose oil and chamomile essential oil (1-2 drops). Leave the combination in hair for 20-30 minutes.
PROBLEM: “My hair looks frayed and frazzled”
Excessive use of products and over-handled hair can lead to hair looking frayed and frizzy. Overheating, chemicals, dyes and strengtheners can strip the hair and leave it dry and frayed. Other common culprits are frequent shampooing, long un-kept hair and a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet.
The fix
Keep your hair looking and feeling smooth and healthy by avoiding chemicals and chlorinated pools, and keep dead ends at bay with regular trims. You may want to try using a leave-in conditioner. In terms of nutrition, the herb horsetail is naturally high in silica and may improve hair strength.
Making a hair mask with a handful of jojoba oil and a couple of drops of rosemary oil before shampooing once a week will add a protective layer to the hair.
It’s also important to not wash your dry and frayed hair on a daily basis. Leaving it several days without a wash will allow time for its natural oils to build up.
PROBLEM: “My hair is so dry and dull it looks dead”
Low iron levels can lead to hair that looks and feels dryer and lighter in colour. Anaemia may also lead to hair loss.
The fix
Eat foods rich in iron. Women need on average 18 mg of iron per day due to monthly blood loss experienced during menstruation, and this goes up to 27 mg per day during pregnancy. Remember, check with your healthcare professional before supplementing with iron.
Iron-rich foods:
Wheat bran has approx 13 mg/100 g of iron and rice bran contains 19 mg/100 g
Red meat (beef) provides on average 3.7 mg/100 g, whereas turkey contains 1.4 mg/100 g
Pumpkin and sesame seeds contain approx 10 mg/100 g of iron on average
Combine any non-meat sources of iron with vitamin C, as this may help to increase the absorption of iron. Try sprinkling nuts and seeds on your salad.
PROBLEM: “My hair has lost its lustre”
Essential fatty acids like omega 6 and 3’s help to give hair its sheen and shine. If you don’t have enough of these oils in your diet, your hair may appear lustreless. Dry, red flaky skin on the scalp and eyebrows may indicate a need for essential fatty acids.
The fix
Supplementing with a combination of evening primrose oil (omega 6) and fish oil or flaxseed oil (omega 3) may help to give your hair back its lustre. You can also try rubbing in a teaspoon of flaxseed oil, with a little wheat germ or apricot oil, into your hair and scalp (and leave it in your hair for one hour before shampooing).
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