Holistic Guide To Healthy Hair

Just like skin, the condition of our hair and scalp is a reflection of our overall health. Our skin and hair are typically both the last things to receive nutrients but the first to show the physical signs of distress within. Many women struggle with mystery hair loss at some point in their lives, and there are endless “grow your hair quick” schemes and promises out there that can make it confusing on how to heal. We are going to uncover the reasons behind hair loss in women, explore new hair care practices and my favorite supplement, lifestyle, and clean cruelty free product options further below.

Why Won’t My Hair Grow?

Mystery hair thinning and hair loss is symptomatic to EBV’s damaging presence, and due to excess adrenaline and cortisol. Your adrenals are mediators of the body so when other organs are struggling the adrenals jump in to produce extra hormones. Repeated floods of stress chemicals are hard on the body and can cause the hair to thin and/or fall out.

The changes in your hair aren’t always immediate because it can take time to see the effects of stress-hormone-saturated and weakened hair follicles. It could be three to six months later, or even a year before you start seeing differences in your hair. Breakups, other emotional upheavals, and childbirth are all common examples of when you might find yourself shedding months later. If you’re constantly overstressed or have nutritional deficiencies the timeline for hair thinning and hair loss can be much shorter.

Another reason for mystery hair loss besides viral-caused or stress related could be the use of thyroid medications, antibiotics, or other pharmaceuticals. Stress and excess adrenaline can result in dull straw-like texture, overall thinning, hair loss, and stagnant growth. Adrenals need time to recover so that hair follicles can have a break and recover, too. Add fight or fight stimulating caffeine to the mix, and we have a perfect recipe for adrenal fatigue disaster. In some cased radiation exposure can cause hair thinning. One dental X-ray can be enough to thin hair for about a month or two.
Excerpt from Thyroid Healing by Anthony William, p45.

Alopecia

Medical experts incorrectly believe alopecia is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles that generate hair growth, but alopecia may be an adrenal issue.

Medical research and science are unaware that adrenaline is made up of a complicated group of hormones that haven't been identified yet. If someone has alopecia, his or her adrenals are lacking one of the undocumented hormones that make up part of the 56 different blends of adrenaline that Anthony William details in his book, Medical Medium. Ashwagandha is an important adaptogen that could help restore a trace of the missing hormone.

Rethink Caffeinated Drinks

Life is already stressful enough without the added false flight or flight signals that caffeine produces. Coffee culture has become so normalized and marketed towards women, but it can hinder our healing and dehydrate us from the inside out. Caffeine destroys and interferes with collagen formation, and produces that excess toxic adrenaline previously mentioned. If you are someone trying to heal your hair it can be beneficial to shift your relationship with caffeinated drinks like coffee, black tea, green tea, matcha, chocolate, and energy drinks. Discover more resources for caffeine truths here.

My Favorite Hair Supplements & Hair Food

My top 3 personal favorite hair supportive supplements that I take are:

- Silica
- Nettle
- Zinc

Silica is an essential beauty mineral that supports repair and recovery of bones and connective tissue. It supports the formation of collagen, and can be easily absorbed by the body unlike trendy collagen supplements that do not work (yes, I cringe every time I see someone pour collagen into their coffee over instagram). Food sources of silica include: cucumbers, melons, asparagus, and leafy greens. Beneficial silica containing herbs include: horsetail, rose hips, and nettle.

Nettle is rich in silica, and supports your overworked endocrine and adrenal system. Nettle is amazing for detoxification helping to eliminate viral and bacterial infections while encouraging stronger nails, hair, and youthful skin. Nettle can be enjoyed as a herbal tea, or taken as a tincture.

Zinc helps your liver break down adrenaline and is so supportive for your immune and lymphatic system.

Other supportive hair supplements may be:

(page 515 Liver Rescue book)

Ashwaganda

Barley grass juice powder

Burdock root

Chaga mushroom

CoQ10

Curcumin

Lemon balm

Licorice root

MSM

Spirulina

Vitamin B12

Vitamin C

Vitamin D3

Hair helping foods:

Celery juice

Pomegranate

Berries

Sweet potato

Carrots

Cherries

Aloe

Raspberry leaf

Alma (gooseberry)

Grapes

Pomegranate

Melons

My healthy hair journey

When I was a little girl, my dream was to be a “hair model” like the ones seen in all the commercials on television. I was completely hypnotized by the slow motion shiny bouncing hair in popular drugstore brand ads, so of course I was using those same drugstore brands in my hair too (that I later learned were just full of silicones and mostly tested on animals). Growing up, my mom always kept my hair length short to make detangling easier or would just cut out the knots. Once I became responsible for my own hair, I had no idea how to properly care for it (YouTube, Instagram, and #hairtok did not exist) so I was a shaggy frizzy mess often teased for my mop-like hair until I discovered heated styling devices that I would further damage my hair with.

Back then, my hair always felt brittle and dry, to which I was told cutting off all the ends would solve the problem. I also have fine hair strands that can make oils more noticeable, and like many other women I was told to stop washing my hair frequently and use dry shampoo instead to “train my hair” to not be oily. I tried this for years. Until after an emotional and stressful period (although I did not make the connections at the time) I was losing clumps of hair in the shower and my signature middle part quickly turned into a comb over to hide the nickel sized bald patch and thinning at the top of my head. It was also constantly itchy and flaky. My doctor had no answers but prescribed a topical steroid cream and sent me to a dermatologist who offered a steroid injections as a solution, but again no real answers as to why this was happening to me.

I was terrified to brush or wash my hair and watch it all fall down the drain. I had other chronic symptoms and terrible cystic acne at this time and felt desperate, embarrassed and defeated. I realized if I wanted to feel better, look better, and grow my hair I had to become my own healer. I tried high protein diets, collagen powder, iron supplement, biotin gummies, rice water rinses, and you name it, I probably tried it but nothing was able to help my hair heal.

Eventually I first started with taking zinc, D3, and silica to restore my hair and luckily learned more about the impacts of caffeine, high fat diets, and troublemaker foods from Medical Medium information. As my diet, lifestyle and hair habits slowly changed, so did my hair. It took 6 months for the bald patches to start growing back and over the next 2 years my hair continued to restore itself and grow softer, thicker and longer than it ever could before.

You can’t “train your hair” not to be oily

If you have fine oily hair like I do, please wash your hair as often as you need to. And if you have thick dry hair, wash your hair according to its needs. Just like skin, hair care is not one size fits all. The key is to look for a gentle shampoo and conditioner that won’t strip your hair but will remove build up of product, oils, and grime that can weigh down your hair follicles.

Relying on dry shampoo instead of washing your oily hair, is like constantly using a face powder instead of washing your face.

I have a personal vendetta against dry shampoo and won’t ever understand why we let everyone tell us to dowse our scalp with chalky powders and toxic aerosol sprays because it was “easier” and “better” than washing our hair. These products suffocate your hair follicle and should be the first topical hair product you take out of your routine if you are experiencing hair distress.

Silicones

Silicones make your hair feel nice, but dull and weaken your strands over time and can create build up in the scalp. Be patient with your transition to more natural hair care products, you might feel like they aren’t working at first but that is because your real hair texture is starting to shine through. After a period of silicone detoxing your hair will truly be able to be soft and shine.

Non-soluble silicones that are typically found in hair products include:

Dimethicone.

Cyclomethicone.

Amodimethicone.

Pheryl Trimethicone.

Ceteraryl Methicone.

Dimethiconol.

Stearyl Dimethicone.

Ingredients ending with “-cone”

Water-soluble silicone claims are:

Dimethicone Copolyol

Lauryl Methicone Copolyol

Any silicone with PEG as a prefix

Hair care tips I’ve learned along the way:

• Emulsify shampoo in your hands first before applying to scalp to ensure a thorough lather.

• Never underestimate the power of a double cleanse (best hair and skin advice).

• Use a shampoo brush to help thoroughly wash your hair

• Get hair “dustings”. This technique involves trimming split ends throughout your hair’s length instead of just on the ends.

• Massage your scalp to stimulate oxygen and nutrient rich blood flow to the hair follicles.

• DIY your own scalp oil treatment with coconut oil, caster oil, and jojoba oil infused with alma, rosemary, or lavender essential oil to nourish and care for your scalp while encouraging hair growth. Be sure to section and part your hair to apply into the scalp.

• Use nourishing hair masks on your ends.

• Spray rose water in your hair and scalp

• Make rosemary water to mist in your hair and scalp by steeping sprigs of fresh rosemary in hot water covered until cooled. Place in a spray bottle for easy application. Keeps fresh for up to one week in the fridge.

• Hold your hair as you brush to avoid breakage and pulling at the roots. Always brush from bottom to top, and use the right brush for your hair type.

• Use a soft cotton t-shirt as a hair towel instead of regular terry cloth towels that cause friction

• Sleep on a soft pillowcase to avoid friction

• Braid your hair or sleep with a protective hair style overnight

• Prioritize adrenal health
  

Fav Hair Mask:

Act+Acre Restorative Hair Mask - 20% off affiliate link
A repairing hair mask enriched with 2% Glycerin + Shea Butter that restores hydration to dry, damaged hair while preventing split ends + breakage.

- Nourish your ends
- Improve visible signs of damage + dehydration
- Restores hair health + vitality

Shop My Shelf:

Shop my shelf for my favorite hair care affiliate links.

The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only, to include blog postings and any linked material. The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional health or medical advice or treatment, nor should it be relied upon for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any health consideration. Consult with a licensed health care practitioner before altering or discontinuing any medications, treatment or care, or starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program. The content of this blog and any linked material does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Mindful Beauty facesbykatey and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.