Simply Cooked: Seven Foods for Healthy Hair

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Seven Foods for Healthy Hair

I don't know how to have a good hair day. I recently got a new hair cut and colour; sophisticated is going to be my style henceforth. However, "natural" (also known as "frizzy mess") has been my default hair style for many years. I had to go out and buy a hair dryer yesterday. And I am determined to have more good hair days.

I bought two "hair styling for dummies" books. Both contain a section about food for healthy hair. Of course, I gravitate to the food section in any book! (Plus, reading about food meant I could put off the nervous moment when I had to pick up my new hair dryer.)

Seven Foods for Good Hair Days

1. Lots of fresh dark green vegetables - they give you lots of iron that encourages healthy growth of the hair by getting oxygen to the follicles. Try spinach, kale, chard, and broccoli. (How about some spinach frittata?)

2. Lots of fresh red, orange, and yellow vegetables and fruits - they give you vitamin C and beta-carotene, which boost blood circulation and keep your scalp healthy. Try mangoes, carrots, citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.

3. Oily fish - your hair really needs those essential fatty acids. Eat tuna, salmon, and mackerel.

4. Eggs and other protein sources - hair is almost totally made up of protein. Eggs are also rich in vitamins B7 (also called biotin) B12, which keep hair shiny.

5. Nuts - they contain healthy fats and also have minerals. Brazil nuts give you selenium and almonds, cashews, and walnuts provide zinc.

6. Beans and pulses - they provide protein and also give you zinc and vitamin B7, which stops hair brittleness.

7. Lots of water - it's essential for hydrated hair.

You know, it seems to me that the foods you should eat for healthy hair are all the same foods you should eat to be healthy in general. As I look back over this list, I think it could be titled "Seven Foods for {Healthy Brain/Heart/Energy Levels/Sex Life/Fitness}". If you want to improve your health in any way, just eat from this list.

I've overcome my fear and styled my hair once with my new hair dryer. And I'm looking forward to more days with healthy, shiny, well-styled hair.

Are you having a good hair day?

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Comments (9)

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Charlene · 688 weeks ago

Interesting theme for a blog post!

I have still not succumbed to the lure of the hair dryer. Wish I cared more, but I don't!

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Sue · 688 weeks ago

A good hair day.......never. My unruly mop of limp, dull hair just sits there whatever I do to it, yes it grows.....way to fast for my liking (I hate the hairdressers....worse than the dentist!!) so I guess I'm feeding it right.

Maybe I should starve it into submission.....!

Sue xx
My recent post My Birthday Boy

1 reply · active 688 weeks ago

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simply_cooked 77p · 688 weeks ago

Ha! But if you starved your hair, the rest of your body would probably complain, too. What is worse? :-P

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gz. · 688 weeks ago

Since I stopped using shampoo and conditioner I haven't needed conditioner....
I've always had the flyaway/frizzy/fine hair, but the change has been marvellous-
I use 2 tbsp bicarb in a pint of warm water, rinse, then 4tbsp cider vinegar (any white vinegar will do, but CV best, you can use lemon juice too- just an acid to balance the alkali) in a gallon bucket of warm water. A quick rinse in plain water and you're done.

Stays clean longer without sticky chemicals on your hair and smells good. Cheaper too!
(hello via Our New LIfe in the Country)
My recent post thinking

2 replies · active 687 weeks ago

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simply_cooked 77p · 688 weeks ago

Hi gz, that sounds really interesting and something worth looking into. I have not used shampoo in about four years, but I also didn't use styling products. I don't think I can avoid shampoo if I want to style. Do you use any products?

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gz. · 687 weeks ago

I used to use conditioner to combat flyaway hair. It will always be fine, but conditioner isn't needed any more
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Victoria · 688 weeks ago

Some great "food" for thought, especially since the winter weather makes my normally oily hair very dry.
My recent post Trying Tot School

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Monica · 680 weeks ago

Sarah, What do you use instead of shampoo then?

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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simply_cooked 77p · 680 weeks ago

Well, I've gone back to shampoo now. But before I was following the Curly Girl method (which I read about online). The idea is that your natural oils do a lot of the work and you use a light conditioner as a shampoo-substitute. The first week my hair was a bit greasy, but after that it was in fantastic condition.

I ended up leaving the Curly Girl method when I wrote this post. I wanted to start styling my hair more and the gunky products mean the need for shampoo was back. With CG you can only use very light styling products since you never use any harsh cleansers.