Think of Your Health When Caring for Your Hair

Your hair and health are connected in more ways than you can imagine. In an article in Times of India, hair is described as the “body’s barometer indicating good health or lack of it”. Dryness, hair fall, brittle hair—these can be more than just a bad hair day episode, these can signal hormonal imbalance, thyroid problems or anemia.

But that’s not all. What you put in your hair can also affect your health, the same way that your health condition also has an impact on how your hair looks.

Chemicals in Hair Products May Harm Your Health

For years, researchers have probed the possible effects of hair products on people’s health. Chemicals in hair dyes, for example, have been found to increase certain forms of cancer, namely non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myeloma, breast cancer, bladder cancer and leukemia.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology revealed that women who used hair coloring products eight or more times a year for at least 25 years are at 40 percent greater risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma compared to those who rarely or never color their hair.

The chemicals in the hair coloring products are what shoot up the cancer risk. One of these is phenylenediamine, a staple ingredient in permanent dyes. Despite clear evidence, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not able to prohibit its use. The least it could do was to order manufacturers to put warning labels on their products. Still, you’ll see that many products with this chemical do not have any warning sign.

So what can you do? Does this mean that you can never color your hair again? Not necessarily. Go for the safer route and opt for natural hair coloring methods. Lemon juice, baking soda, cinnamon, chamomile herbal tea, and apple cider vinegar are some of the quickest ways to lighten your hair without exposing yourself to toxic chemicals. Coffee can be used to turn your locks brown while red calendula and marigold flowers can give you a stunning strawberry shade.

Good Health is Key to Beautiful Hair

If you’d like to have beautiful hair that would turn heads wherever you go, it’s imperative to stay healthy. Taking care of your hair also means taking care of your health. Here are some tips you can’t afford to overlook:

Eat a healthy diet

Nourish your hair from within by eating foods that are rich in essential nutrients like protein, vitamin C, iron and zinc, among others. Protein is the building block of hair, so be sure to get plenty of it fromhealthy sources like lean meat, liver, nuts, and seeds. Vitamin C, which strengthens hair cuticles and strands, abound in fruits and vegetables.Iron, which helps get oxygen to the blood vessels in the scalp, can be found in dried beans, egg yolks, liver, lean red meat, poultry and oysters.

Keep stress at bay

Women’s Health Mag describes stress as a “major beauty saboteur”, causing hair fall, dryness and brittleness. Here’s what stress does to your hair: it causes the blood vessels to constrict, therefore depriving the hair follicles of the oxygen and essential nutrients it needs to promote growth. It’s vital for your hair health to de-stress regularly using effective relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and biofeedback. Taking a break from work and doing things that you can enjoy, of course, can also help a lot.

Avoid unhealthy habits

Both smoking and drinking can take a toll on your hair health so it’s best to kick these habits for good, or least minimize them as much as you can. Chemicals in cigarette as well as alcohol deny the body of essential nutrients it needs to stay in top shape. They also make hair lose its shine. Moreover, they contribute to hair loss.

To maintain beautiful hair, you always have to think about your health. And whatever hair problems you have, don’t ignore these. These may be signs of a health problem. Keep in mind that your hair and health will always be linked to each other, no matter what.