The global hair care market makes big money, with it estimated to hit 87.73 billion U.S. dollars in 2018. If you were to ask many people who contribute to that market, they would say that its money well spent. The thing about this is, are they getting the most out of the money they put into haircare products and salon appointments. Just like a personal trainer for exercise, you can get the best results by investing in the foundation along with the added help. For your hair, this means making sure that you’re getting the right nutrients to help your hair grow and stay healthy, as well as looking out for natural products that can support them.

Don’t Neglect Your Nutrients

Sounds a bit odd to talk about nutrition when talking about hair, right? It shouldn’t be, when you think about it. The hair, skin, and nails are working parts of the body just like your heart, lungs, and stomach. While the stakes may not be as high as keeping those organs working, all the items mentioned require a certain amount of nutritional food to function properly. For hair, this manifests in growing at a proper rate as well as having proper volume, color, and texture. Here are some vitamins you want to make sure you are getting plenty of:

B-vitamins: B-vitamins are probably the frontrunner when it comes to talking about vitamins for hair growth, largely because of biotin. A lack of biotin has been associated with hair loss, but the good news is that chances of being deficient in it are pretty low. It is available in a variety of foods, including whole grains, shellfish, and meat. Some use biotin as a hair loss treatment, but those who have the best results were deficient in it in the first place. The effects of biotin supplementation for those who have normal levels aren’t as clear.

Antioxidants: This actually covers several vitamins that you hear a lot about, including vitamin C and vitamin E. We are lumping these together because they combat a common foe: cell damage from free radical molecules. Excessive cell damage can slow the growth of hair and age existing hair. Fruits like strawberries and oranges are good sources of vitamin C, while almonds and spinach have plenty of vitamin E. Iron: Iron deficiency, also known as anemia, is common in women, and is associated with hair loss. Certain shellfish, eggs, red meat, and lentils have the highest amounts of iron. Iron has a number of other important health functions as well, so this is one that you may want to consider supplementing if you are deficient.

The Essential Oils Family

Chances are that you’ve probably heard of the essential oils category before. These are oils extracted from plants, and they are finding more and more uses as the category grows. Originally, their pleasant aromas were the main selling point, but now we’re seeing more and more of their chemical properties as well.

Here’s a brief list of some of the different essential oils that have been shown to have some potential positive benefits for hair:

1. Lavender oil
2. Horsetail plant oil
3. Peppermint oil
4. Rosemary oil
5. Cedarwood essential oil
6. Lemongrass oil
7. Thyme oil
8. Clary sage oil
9. Tea tree oil
10. Chamomile oil

So, which of these is best? There isn’t really a clear answer to that, as different oils focus on different things. For example, sage oil’s main benefits are disinfecting, while cedarwood oil can hope stimulate the scalp by increasing circulation to the area. Before using these, you’re going to want to see two people: your stylist and your dermatologist/doctor.

Your stylist will help you figure out what type of hair you have, as certain oils and products are designed for certain types. Granted, you could probably figure this out in the mirror, but a stylist can get your direction started. A doctor is a good person to talk to before using any sort of natural treatment or alternative, to make sure you get their input.

The benefits of hair health practices aren’t only aesthetics, but versatility. You’re your stronger and brighter hair and try out a new hairstyle. Look at a salon’s website to see some of the potential options you had that you may have had to miss out on with brittle or thinning hair. Here’s a great example: http://www.ellebsalon.com.