"Natural beauty calls for care if it is to remain and this principle applies to our hair too. The best care we can give it is a natural way of life with plenty of exercise in the open air and a sensible diet. Remember, hair is a reflection of our general condition of health” – Alfred Vogel
No one ever feels or looks good with limp, lacklustre hair or frizzy dried locks, so improving the quality of your hair and general health by giving it some extra nourishment, is very important to both our internal and external well-being.
Here are some key factors that cause hair problems and some suggestions as to what can be done to get more hair flair:
Factor 1: Poor diet (lack of protein, iron, iodine, B vitamins)
Diet is very important for hair growth and hair care. Without the nutrients it needs, hair growth and quality may be less than ideal. Buck up your diet with additional doses of the foods that contain hair-supportive nutrients.
For extra protein – soy, eggs, fish, beans, brewer’s yeast
For extra iron – dried fruits, cherries, wholegrain cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, dates and raisins
For extra zinc – pumpkin seeds, oats, adzuki beans, eggs
B vitamins – brewer’s yeast, wheatgerm, lecithin
Healthy fats – saturated fats aren’t good for us, but healthy fats feed the hair follicle: avocados, nuts and seeds contain healthy, useful fats
Factor 2: Poor digestion
There’s no point eating heaps of healthy foods if you’re not digesting them well – your body won’t be able to unpack the nutrients they contain! If you know that your digestive function isn’t great, take bitter herbs before meals and focus on chewing thoroughly and not rushing around whilst eating.
Factor 3: Stress
Stress uses up valuable nutrients such as B vitamins, a lack of which will have a knock-on effect on hair growth and its general condition. Stress also causes scalp tension, which tightens the follicles and may cause shedding, and which restricts the amount of oxygen and other nutrients being delivered to the scalp in the bloodstream. Solutions would be to use gentle head massage, get plenty of fresh air and exercise to stimulate your circulatory system, and to address the stress itself.
If the causes of stress cannot be avoided, use fresh herb tincture complexes containing Passiflora, Valerian or Hypericum to calm your nervous system. Take a vitamin B complex if you think the stress will be long term.
For extra support
Whilst you get your diet, digestion and stress levels into gear, try A.Vogel’s Hair Complex, which contains:
Millet seed extract – a good source of silica. It also contains protein, important for providing the keratin of which hair is mostly made, small amounts of iodine and B vitamins
Nettles – which contain silica, calcium and iron
Brewer’s Yeast – a great food source of B vitamins, which are needed to metabolise protein and build red blood cells
Zinc – important for the metabolism of proteins.
Bored waiting for hair to grow?
If your hair frustrates you by growing very slowly, try Urticalcin, which can help maintain healthy hair and nails.
Naturally revitalising
If you want to try revitalising your hair with a DIY hair mask, try blending together 1 whole avocado with 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Then massage into dry or damp hair from roots to ends, paying extra attention to ends where hair is driest. Leave for half an hour and wash and condition hair as normal.
How do you help your hair stay healthy and happy? Do you have any natural DIY hair care ideas or tips to share? I would love to hear about them.
Looking for our products in a store near you?
