I noticed in my mid-twenties that my hair just wasn’t as thick as it used to be. When asking around, many other women told me it just part of aging. While I think this MAY be true to some degree, it most certainly doesn’t have to be the case. I thought hair loss was very normal and just continued cleaning up my diet, thinking it would help, but my hair actually continued to get thinner. So I did my homework, tried some experiment’s and ended up salvaging my beloved mane. Here’s how I saved my hair…

This article was originally published for Mind, Body, Green here

How I Saved My Hair:

1.I focused on nourishing my thyroid. My doctor told me my thyroid was fine, but upon doing some home testing, I discovered it was a bit sluggish, so I used foods such as high quality sea salt, kelp and dulse as well as herbs such as Ashwagandha and Thyroid Support to get it running optimally again.

2.I used coconut oil as a mask every week without fail. It nourished my dry frail locks and encouraged growth. It was also much more soft and manageable during my in between stages. Simply saturate hair with oil and apply heat (blow-dryer for 10 minutes) or let sit as long as possible, at least 1 hour.

3.I installed a shower filter. Many of us know that chlorinated drinking water is harmful, but it is also absorbed through our skin through showering and steam. By removing these pollutants, and the extra buildup they created on my scalp, I noticed a BIG difference!

4. I ditched the products. I started using just a small amount of the cleanest serum I could find (my hair is curly and can get frizzy) that was it! No hairspray, volumizer, gel, cream, lotion potion or any other concoction. It left my pores open and created an ideal environment for new growth.

5.I stopped washing every day and even every other day. Wash twice a week max with a sulfate and paraben free shampoo and conditioner (or this shampoo alternative). Without using products, such as dry shampoos, I found waiting a week to scrub caused build up and was counterproductive. That said, twice a week was perfect. If your hair is REALLY oily you may need to bump it up to 3 times a week, but do your best to keep the sudsing to a minimum.

6.Find out if you have food allergies. They can lead to hair loss among other side effects. I found once identified my food allergies, removed the offenders, and my gut healed, my hair grew.

7. Do enema buckets. You can’t have healthy hair if you’re digestion is compromised. While I was healing, I did one a week after dry skin brushing and a sweaty workout. Once your digestion is back in line and your gut is healed, not only will your hair grow, but so will your nails and your skin will be glowing too!!

 

Melissa Schollaert is a Holistic Health & Nutrition Counselor and founder of Real Nutritious Living. Helping others achieve their health goals to attain their healthiest, happiest life is her greatest ambition.