Now that I’ve been pregnant several times and had the wonderful thick hair that accompanies pregnancy and seen it thin again after birth, I started searching for and testing ways to naturally promote hair growth.
Of course, some of the post-pregnancy shed is entirely hormonal and somewhat inevitable, but I’ve found some tips that seem to help promote hair growth and improved follicle strength. I also wonder if these tips help baby’s hair growth in utero, as my kids have all come with a LOT of hair, especially my 4-year-old (her hair is in the picture above and she was three when taken!) Her hair has always been naturally thick, curly and easy to work with. In fact, she was born with almost two inches and I’ve now cut off over 16 inches of her still waist-length hair!
It is also important to remember that the condition of the hair and skin can be a good indication of the state of the body on the inside, so it is important address the body as a whole to improve hair and skin for the long term.
Either way, these natural tips are also good for the body in other ways, so there isn’t much to lose. Have you ever done anything to help improve hair growth? Please share your tips below!
1. Consume Enough Protein
Protein is essential for hair growth, so consuming enough protein can make sure that the body has the necessary building blocks for hair. Complete sources of protein like meats and fish are the most beneficial for hair growth and many meats also contain iron, which is another essential aspect of proper hair growth.
Foods like meats, fish, eggs, and especially bone broths (see below) are excellent for hair growth. These foods also contain necessary fats that help promote healthy hormones (see below) and healthy hair!
2. Get The Vitamins!
Some vitamins help promote hair growth- most notably: Vitamin C and Biotin. The body needs Vitamin C to produce collagen, which is necessary for healthy hair and skin. Vitamin C also helps with iron absorption, which promotes hair growth (plus it is an immune booster!). Since the body can’t manufacture Vitamin C, it is one vitamin that must be obtained from food or supplements. Foods like citrus, broccoli and spinach all contain Vitamin C.
Biotin (and other b-vitamins) can also promote faster and stronger hair growth, and it is also good for the skin. Biotin is a water soluble B-Vitamin that is also used in proper digestion of fats and sugars. Eggs, nuts, berries, fish and some vegetables all provide Biotin, though in small amounts, so sometimes a supplement can be helpful.
3. Up the Gelatin
I’ve posted before about the many benefits of Gelatin, including its support of healthy hair, skin and nails. Gelatin is one thing I make sure to consume daily in some form, either in bone broth or gelatin powder (or both). From a previous post:
“Gelatin is largely composed of the amino acids glycine and proline, which many people don’t consume in adequate amounts as they are found in the bones, fibrous tissues and organs of animals and as a population, we don’t consume these parts as much anymore. These amino acids are needed not only for proper skin, hair and nail growth, but for optimal immune function and weight regulation!
Glycine, which makes up about 1/3 of the amino acids in gelatin powder is anti-inflammatory and evidence is finding that it can help speed wound healing. Glycine in gelatin can also help improve sleep ease and quality.”
Here are some of my favorite ways to incorporate Gelatin.
4. Balance the Hormones
“When it comes to health, hormones and gut bacteria have a much bigger effect than many people realize. In fact, these two factors can destroy health even if everything else (diet, supplements, etc) is optimized. Conversely, fixing hormones and gut bacteria can do a lot to boost health, even if not all the other factors are optimal. In fact, there are even studies about using certain hormone reactions to heal brain trauma.”
Hormones are often a major cause of hair loss or poor hair growth and unfortunately, there can be many causes of hormone imbalance. This is also the reason for hair loss after pregnancy. Of course, some steps can be taken to improve hair while working to balance hormones, and these are my top tips for balancing hormones naturally.
Stress and lack of sleep are two major contributors to hormone imbalance and here are some suggestions for optimizing those.
5. External Hair Treatments
Though the major causes of poor hair quality and growth are internal, external treatments can help improve existing hair and prevent breakage. From a previous post:
I got this tip from Pinterest and have been amazed at what an intensive conditioning and strengthening treatment it is! To make, stir 1 tablespoon of Gelatin powder in to 1/2 cup of cool water until mixed. Add 1/2 cup warm/hot water, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey to create a thick gel/liquid. Pour into hair and massage through hair and scalp. Leave on for at least 5 minutes and rinse with hot water. Shampoo as normal.
I’ve also found that many natural hair products can actually cause problems with hair! Conventional shampoos and products have problems of their own (like being linked to cancer), but natural ones are often not pH balanced correctly for hair and strip important natural oils.
I’ve turned to natural clay based shampoos and see great results. They don’t lather like traditional shampoos but get my hair clean, nourish my scalp and are pH balanced for hair.
And you can always use external treatments such as a hair mask to help strengthen and improve you hair.
How do you keep your hair healthy? Share your tips below!
Food Rules to Cure Picky Eating
Isn’t hot water damaging to your hair? I always rinse mine with lukewarm or cool water.
Cool ideas ! Does anny one know what to do about hair loss? Probably all theese tips wouldl help, but I was wondering what it could be from, because I am not at all in age of loosing hair, haven’t been pregnant and am not aware of stress or lack of sleep…
Inositol has helped my hair tremendously!
I have some. I really need to be better about taking it!
I like deep conditioning my hair with coconut oil. It smells great and leaves my hair much less dry. I also like yogurt mixed with olive oil. Almonds and other nuts (taken internally) have also helped my baby-fine hair grow a little thicker, as my stylist has noted.
Wow your daughter’s hair is gorgeous!! I don’t have the time or energy to get really fancy, or make my own shampoo but there are a few things that have made my hair thicker, with more body & shine. For my overall health I eat a lot of veggies, esp dark leafy greens like kale, protein, and make smoothies with Healthforce Vitamineral Greens, organic blueberries, mix of other fruit, organic 2% milk & coconut oil. My hair started getting thicker when I added more of those things into my diet.
I also switched to a natural chemical & sulfate-free shampoo (I like Whole Foods’ brand lavender shampoo). I tried castille soap but that did not work well for me. After a little while of using the chemical-free shampoo, my hair is more balanced – it used to get so oily so quickly but now I get at least a couple more days out of each wash that I used to.
Instead of conditioner I use argan oil (organic unrefined cold-pressed). After I get out of the shower, lightly towel dry my hair, put a couple drops of oil (less for fine, short & more for thick, long, dry hair) in my palm, rub my hand together and work thru hair (start midway down at back where hair is tends to be driest then work into ends then throughout). I just keep combing my hands thru my hair to let it soak up every last trace. My hair is so much softer, fuller, shinier & curlier!
try castor oil mixed with another carrier oil (coconut, grapeseed, jojoba). this *really* improved my boyfriend’s hair loss. does wonders on the skin too.
You can use Moska oil that’s really work you can find that at Spanish stores also jojoba hot oil treatment this really work I was doing this for more than a year and my hair is really healthy.
That sounds good, but wouldn’t it make european hair greasy? I most envy brasilian women, who can use jojoba oil and make their hair all shiny and beautifull, but I don’t think it really works on mine.
Researchers say that the best oil for the skin and the hair is — Coconut Oil. It’s molecules are small enough to actually penetrate the skin and the hair shaft. No other oil can accomplish this. I have very long hair, over 3 feet, and I condition my hair with coconut oil about an hour or so before shampooing it. Works well. Also, Egg Yolks and Honey are good. Be careful in handling your hair, be very gentle with it. NO BRUSHING!!! That will absolutely ruin it. Use a wide tooth comb and no blow drying. No chemical dying. And eats lots of healthy, protein-rich foods. Oh, and Vitamin A. 🙂
Incorrect. Sweet almond has very small molecules. Coconut oil is noted for entering the hair shaft.
I’m a hair junkie, since my hair is thick and oh-so-fussy. Actually, my quest for naturally healthy hair is what lead me to your site in the first place, and since then I’ve changed my whole diet and outlook on health! But yeah, your homemade recipes for skin and haircare were the first posts I read. Anyway, I always finish a shower by rinsing my hair in cold water– this closes up the cuticle of the hair, which makes it shiny and reduces frizz if not eliminating it. My hair tends to be pretty strong, but in order to keep it weather resistant in the cold winter months or harsh summer sun, I dye it with henna (from Mountain Rose Herbs!). I like a little bit of a red tint so I usually get copper, but henna molecules bind to the hair shaft and actually thicken the individual strands of hair while conditioning it deeply. It’s effective as a UV protector and keeps the hair resistant to dryness. How you mix up the henna makes a difference too– I add hair-boosting rosemary tea to mine, which stimulates hair growth. I’ve also put all sorts of food mixtures in my hair as well: apple cider vinegar + water for a build-up remover, avocado paste + honey + olive oil for deep conditioning (although this takes FOREVER to wash out since I have so much hair), coconut oil, egg yolks for moisture and the whites for cleaning (this is tricky though, you have to be able to stand cold water because the egg will cook if your scalp warms it up enough), etc. It’s all online. I’m considering starting to rinse with rosemary tea, but I don’t know if I have the time. Anyway, diet helps a TON with hair.
Also, I only wash my hair every other day, if not every two days. Washing it every day tires it out and gets the oil production all crazy, especially if you use a commercial shampoo (I don’t). Spacing out my washes has helped with the strength/moisture of my ends and I think it’s helped with growth as well. I took biotin for a little, which I’ve heard is great but you have to drink tons of water in order to let it absorb and not make your skin freak out.
I also have really thick hair and I am going to try some of these ideas. I hate every time when i get out of the shower and start to brush my hair I constantly have knots! I also have been reading up on the henna dye because I have never dyed my hair and want to try something new and of course natural!
I used to have the same problem with combing but now my hair combs through without a problem 🙂 you just have to switch to a high-moisture hair routine, preferably natural. I don’t use any product on my hair and I make sure anything I do use has pronounceable ingredients. If you don’t already have a preferred shampoo/conditioner I recommend Kiss My Face brand, their “whenever” variety. Or try the homemade shampoo from this site, I just ordered ingredients to make it and I’m excited! Also, my favorite hair mask is honey with a LITTLE bit of coconut or olive oil since it’s the easiest to wash out.
If you comb your hair IN the shower and not after you get out and only squeeze dry, it helps to avoid frizz and allows for more natural curls. 🙂
Careful with this though, your hair is its weakest when it’s wet and it stretches out a lot so if your hair is hard to comb through then you might break it more in the shower. But if it’s easier to comb through in the shower (like when you have conditioner or a treatment in or something) then go for it! 🙂
Yes. But if you use an ultra-wide tooth comb and do it gently, it will work. If you sense any tugging, separate with your fingers.
I usually brush my hair before I get in the shower and use that weird-shaped wide comb afterwards. And a cold rinse does wonders for frizz, especially if your grey hair is curlier than the rest……. and if you go no-poo, your natural oils become the detangler.
Oh and you probably know this but make sure the henna is pure and body art quality because some brands add other ingredients that end up damaging the hair. Mountain rose herbs has the highest quality I’ve found 🙂
I ran into this the other day. Haven’t tried it yet but I have the marshmellow root on order. Hope it helps! There might be more at the link, I just copy what I need to a text file.
Recipe for Homemade Herbal Detangler Spray
Marshmallow root is great for the hair because it: contains many mucilaginous compounds.
has a very slippery texture when made into an infusion.
softens the hair naturally.
promotes hair growth (due to it’s high content of plant proteins).
provides natural shine to dull hair follicles.
soothes dry scalp.
reduces itchy scalp.
4 ounces of marshmellow root will give you enough to make this recipe 8 times
The Recipe
Ingredients
-1 1/4 cup distilled water
-1/4 cup dried marshmallow root
-1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
-1/2 tablespoon olive or jojoba oil
-essential oils, optional
Method
1. Combine marshmallow root and water in a small pot and simmer over medium low heat for 15-30 minutes to allow the mucilage to release. The longer you let it simmer the thicker the mixture will be. Note: I order my Marshmallow root from Mountain Rose Herbs.
2. Remove pot from heat and allow mixture to cool.
3. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, nylon, tea towel, or cheesecloth. Squeeze the strainer in order to extract all the goodness of the herb (you will now understand how ”Marshmallow” root got it’s name). Compost the herbs and reserve the liquid.
4. To the Marshmallow root infused water, add vinegar, oil, and essential oils if using.
5. Pour into a re-purposed detangler spray bottle. Re-label and use as you would commercially-prepared spray. Shake well prior to use.
Note: This formula is not.greasy.at.all. It is well absorbed by the hair and leaves it soft and managable all day! You’ll love it!
Wow, you sure take care of your hair! I admire that, I wish I could make more time for that… When you say “hair-boosting rosemary tea” is that just regular rosemary tea? Do you think rosemary essential oils would do good aswell?
Yeah, regular should work well as long as it’s strong and good quality 🙂 Rosemary stimulates blood flow to the scalp and promotes hair growth/strength. You could also brew the tea with rosemary leaves and then strain them out. I’d say essential oils would work well too, I haven’t tried them but any form of concentrated rosemary would work (make sure to dilute it with something else though since it’s an essential oil).
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Great post and some very helpful tips! Thanks for sharing 🙂