What is Healthy Hair?

We hear about healthy hair all the time, but hands up who really knows what that
means? What does healthy hair look like, what does it feel like – and more
importantly, how on earth do we get it?  The key isn’t in a weekly trip to the salon (although we’d love that) – it lies in being proactive, and putting in the work to really get to know your hair, in order to bring out its best traits. Understanding your hair type, its nature and behaviour, what it likes and dislikes – these are all key in achieving truly healthy hair.

At KOHA, we prefer the natural way of doing things, and if you do too, we think
you’re going to love our top tips on generating healthy, glossy hair, naturally.

Understand your hair type
First up, you need to know what you’re working with. Dry hair feels brittle, looks frizzy and is prone to breakage and split ends. Oily hair looks heavy and lank, with limited volume and is quick to become greasy, even after washing. Damaged hair is dull, lacking shine and very prone to breaking and snapping, so needs to be handled with care. Dandruff is a scalp condition, which cause white flakes on the scalp and through the hair, which can be noticeable even from a distance.

Do any of these sound like your hair? Here’s how to treat them, naturally…

Consider your routine, and make some changes.  Some hair types are genetic, and your hair will revert to this if not properly maintained. But some are definitely exacerbated by lifestyle choices, so it’s time to really consider your haircare routine and what you use on your locks.

Dry or damaged hair? We’re willing to wager that you are a bit of a blow-dry fiend,
or that you’re partial to heat-styling your hair a few times a week. The first step on
the road to healthy hair here is to cut down the amount of time that you’re
exposing your hair to the heat. It’s best to wrap dry or damaged hair types post-
washing, as leaving it to air-dry can also cause damage. Leave the hair wrapped
as long as you can, and then apply a heat-protection spray, before blow-drying
on a medium heat. For bonus points, apply our conditioner bar pre-wash and
leave it on for as long as possible, to give the hair some much-needed moisture.

Oily hair is often caused by things like pollution, humidity or smoke – but if you
have oily skin, you’re probably genetically predisposed to oily hair, too. So, give your hair a regular deep clean with a lightweight shampoo and conditioner combo –
like our vegan-friendly shampoo and conditioner bars, which deliver a deep clean
without weighing down the hair.

Dandruff can be a sign of a stressed-out scalp, reacting to products or regimes it
doesn’t like. The oil from the scalp causes the skin cells to clump together,
appearing as white flakes in the scalp and hair – which can be a pain to get rid of.
Try and reduce your stress levels, lower your exposure to heat styling and try using
natural products like tea tree oil and coconut oil on the hair, to gently moisturise
the scalp.

Think about diet
Diet has a huge impact on our bodies, and especially our hair – so it’s not enough
to change the products you use, you also need to think about what you’re feeding
your hair too, to improve its condition from the inside out in a natural way.
Dry or damaged hair types should really up the levels of antioxidants and omega
3’s the body receives. Think about adding in foods like blueberries, walnuts,
tomatoes, avocados and broccoli to your diet, to intensively nourish,
strengthen and improve the condition of your hair, giving you stronger and shinier
locks in a matter of weeks. Vitamin supplements really help too, especially those
containing zinc and biotin.  Oily hair and oily skin need the same kind of care, so the same rules apply if you’re already caring for an oily complexion. Strip down the amount of refined carbohydrates and saturated fats in your diet, replacing them with foods like oats, grains, beans, plenty of fruit and veg, and olive oil, to make sure you’re getting the right vitamins and essential fatty acids to hydrate and nourish your hair, without sending it into oil overdrive.

Dandruff can be a sign of inflammation, so it’s best to reduce the amount of
inflammatory foods that you consume, including foods high in sugar, processed
foods or saturated fats. Upping your consumption of fruit, and both raw and
cooked vegetables, can really help send your hair some much-needed nutrients
that reduce the appearance of dandruff. Bread and alcohol both contain yeast,
which is thought to exacerbate dandruff, so it might be best to try and cut down
on this too.

Foods containing high levels of biotin and zinc are both great – and
good news, plenty of both is found dark chocolate, so get nibbling!

Happy hair, happy life – or something like that!

xoxo

KOHA Beauty