If having healthy hair is your goal, then your goal should also be to have a healthy body. The two go hand-in-hand. for without good health, your hair and skin will suffer . You can use as many products and supplements* as you like, but if you aren’t paying attention to your body, then your hair will definitely tell on you.
There are different ways that your hair talks about the neglect you’ve had for your body, and it’s important that you listen when it does.
The warning signs are always there, so before you go reaching for a new product to combat hair thinning or hair fall, remember that it’s likely happening because there’s a deficiency within yourself. Here are some of the things your hair may have been trying to tell you.
Your hair is wearing thin
If you notice that your locks are becoming less luscious, it could be because you are lacking in protein. Most of us know that protein is important for our hair, which is why we should do more than just use protein treatments.
You should also be combining this method with a protein-rich diet. I can speak to this because my hair has stayed healthy without the use of any protein masks or products that promote protein.
I always recommend plant-based protein, which is healthier and easier for your body to absorb. You can find plant-based protein in the form of hemp protein powder, spirulina, quinoa, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), hazelnuts, almonds, romaine lettuce, portabella mushrooms and broccoli.
Your hair is shriveling up
When your hair becomes overly dry, it’s a given that it’s going to start to fall out. This is why we in the natural hair community put a lot of effort into keeping our kinks and curls well-moisturized and oiled.
However, sometimes this isn’t enough. This is especially so if you are suffering from an underlying condition like thyroid disease, also known as under-active thyroids or hypothyroidism.
This simply means that your thyroids aren’t working the way they’re supposed to. Other symptoms you will notice if this is the case include muscle pain, puffy face, weight gain, joint pain, tiredness and cold intolerance.
What your body is calling for is iodine, which you can find plenty from in seaweeds like Irish moss, kelp and bladderwrack.
Other natural ways to get it is by eating flax, ginger* and black walnuts (especially the hulls, which can be bought in powder form and added to your smoothie).
Your hair is shedding ever so slightly
Well, if you’re noticing shedding, then it’s likely it’s doing it more than slightly. When you notice that you’re hair is shedding more than usual, then it could be because you are low in iron*.
In severe cases, you may be anemic. Lacking in iron* can be detrimental to your health and hair. Your blood is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to the rest of your body, so if there aren’t enough cells to do the job, then how will your body and hair get the nutrition you’ve been eating through your diet and supplements*?
Iron* and minerals are the Bobbsy twins, you can’t have one without the other; however, in taking minerals it’s useless if you are anemic.
Natural remedies for anemia include iron*-rich foods and herbs like moringa* leaf powder, sarsaparilla, dandelion root and yellow dock.
It’s best to buy this from an herbalist who can give you the proper dosage, because taking in too much of yellow dock could cause you to have diarrhea, since it is also a cleanser.