Tag Archive for: Healthy Hair

The Best Superfoods for Healthy Hair

Hair loss can often leave a person feeling helpless about their appearance. Fortunately, there are lifestyle changes a person can make to encourage healthy hair growth.  For example, replacing processed foods with nutrient-dense superfoods may help manage hair loss. 

Nutrients for Hair Growth

Like the rest of the body, the scalp depends on vitamins and minerals from the food you eat to grow healthy hair. Hair grows out through hair follicles, and these follicles need nutrients to work well. The following are a few of the most vital nutrients necessary for hair growth. 

Vitamin A

Healthy follicles are important for robust hair growth. Vitamin A ensures well-functioning follicles by promoting better blood circulation and mitigating follicle damage from free radicals. Additionally, vitamin A improves overall scalp condition, eliminating dry and scaly skin. 

B Vitamins

Deficiencies in B vitamins have been linked to hair loss. B vitamins support the growth of skin, hair, and nails in two ways: 

  • Enhancing the body’s ability to remove nutrients from foods. 
  • Boost red blood cell formation. 

A variety of nutrients fall under the umbrella of a B vitamin: (01)

  • B1 (also known as Thiamine)
  • B2 (also known as Riboflavin)
  • B3 (also known as Niacin)
  • B5 (also known as Pantothenic acid)
  • B6
  • B7 (also known as Biotin)
  • B9 (also known as Folate)
  • B12

Hair-friendly B vitamins help with red blood cell formation, which are vital for carrying oxygen and nutrients throughout the body— including the scalp. 

Vitamin C

A healthy head of hair is nearly impossible without Vitamin C. It’s a powerful antioxidant that impacts hair growth by: (02)

  • Playing a significant role in developing collagen, which is necessary for hair building and structure. 
  • Encouraging the absorption of iron, which prevents hair loss and oxidative stress. 

Like the rest of the body, the scalp and hair is susceptible to damage from free radicals. Vitamin C helps to reduce the injury from free radicals and maintains scalp health. Furthermore, collagen is a key compound that produces keratin, which gives skin and hair cells their structure. Vitamin C amps up collagen production and helps to strengthen and grow healthy hair. 

Vitamin D

Due to our modern lifestyle and diet, most people do not get enough vitamin D. Which is unfortunate, because vitamin D deficiency is linked to hair loss and slow hair growth. Participants in a study of women experiencing hair loss had lower levels of vitamin D. In another study of individuals with alopecia areata (an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss) found that vitamin D levels were also lower in individuals with the disease. (03, 04)

Iron

While many people don’t get enough vitamin D, the most common nutrient deficiency in the world is iron deficiency. Iron plays a significant role in a variety of body systems, but perhaps it’s most well-known for carrying oxygen throughout the body via red blood cells. Without iron, hair follicles can’t get the oxygen they need to grow hair. Therefore, iron deficiency results in anemia and hair loss. (02)

Zinc

Bones, muscles, the immune system, and even reproductive organs all require zinc to function appropriately. Zinc is also essential for healthy hair and skin. This mineral plays a significant role in manufacturing collagen, essential for growing hair. (02)

In addition, zinc affects the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is responsible for the loss of hair in situations like male pattern.  Zinc regulates the activity of the enzyme that keeps DHT in check, 5-alpha reductase.

Seven Superfoods for Hair Loss

The good news is that you can easily obtain these vital hair nutrients by incorporating the following superfoods in your diet. You’ll find some predictable foods on this list, as well as some you may not have expected to be hair-growing superfoods! 

1 Nuts and Seeds

In general, nuts and seeds are high-protein and nutrient-dense superfoods. When it comes to hair, however, they’re chock full of the nutrients necessary for long, shiny hair. Nuts and seeds are high in B vitamins, iron, zinc, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Just keep your intake to a handful a day, because nuts and seeds are also high in calories. 

2 Healthy Cuts of Meat

Meat gets a bad rap. Although it’s true that fatty or heavily processed meats adversely affect a person’s health, this is not the case for all types of meat. Moderate amounts of healthy cuts of meat are rich in nutrients and can help maintain a healthy head of hair. Red meat is full of an easily absorbable type of iron that works especially well in the blood’s oxygen delivery system, which helps bring oxygen to hair follicles. 

3 Oysters

Oysters are more than purported aphrodisiacs, they’re also great for growing hair. These delectable mollusks are low-calorie and high in nutrients, with the minerals it takes to make hair healthy. A 3.5-ounce of oysters provides the following percentage of a person’s daily required nutrients: (05)

  • Selenium: 56% 
  • Iron: 40% 
  • Vitamin B12: 538%
  • Zinc: 555%

These whopping percentages indicate how high oysters are in many of the nutrients needed to grow hair. 

4 Spinach 

In addition to muscles, perhaps spinach should have blessed Popeye with a full head of hair. Spinach is filled with nutrients that benefit both muscles and hair. Loaded with plant-based iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A, spinach can help keep hair follicles and strands healthy. 

5 Eggs 

One superfood that contains what you need for healthy hair are eggs. Hair is mostly protein (collagen and keratin) and eggs are a rich non-red meat source of protein. High in vitamin A, vitamin E, and B vitamins like folate and biotin, eggs help keep strands strong and healthy. Eggs also do wonders for the scalp by infusing the area with nutrients, allowing healthier  follicles to hang on to hair. 

6 Oats 

You’re probably aware that oats are high in fiber, which is beneficial for the digestive system. But did you know oats improve the health of your hair? Oats contain fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids that reduce excess scalp oils and soothe inflammation, helping prevent hair loss in stress-related cases like telogen effluvium. Furthermore, oat is high in zinc, which keeps strands sturdy and less prone to breakage. (06)

7 Peas

Just like oats, green peas are a surprising superfood that’s good for your hair. Because green peas are full of iron and zinc, they strengthen hair and stimulate growth. Additionally, peas are also high in protein, which helps prevent or slow down hair loss. Interestingly enough, research regarding pea sprouts has shown promising results in slowing hair loss. (07)

You’re More than What You Eat

The saying goes that you are what you eat. While this may be true, you’re also more than what you consume. The environment, your genes, and your lifestyle all play some role in your health. And although a healthy well-balanced diet goes a long way to keeping a healthy head of hair, sometimes it takes more than superfoods to grow your locks back. For those cases, Happy Head is here to help. Our board-certified dermatologists will review your case and make recommendations that are unique to your needs. Customizable and delivered straight to your door, Happy Head’s prescription medications is the hair treatment you’ve been searching for. 

 

Resources: 

(01) https://medlineplus.gov/bvitamins.html

(02) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6380979/

(03) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23428658

(04) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260993460_Vitamin_D_Deficiency_in_Alopecia_Areata

(05) https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/175171/nutrients

(06) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25607907/

(07) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31680356/

Men’s Hair Can Be Damaged and Dry Too. Here’s What You Can Do.

Men usually worry more about losing their hair than about if their hair is healthy.  Women are generally the ones who stress over dry, damaged hair.  After all, hair dryers, flat irons, bleaching, coloring, tight ponytails, and braids can take a toll.  Most men are happy not to deal with all of that.  Even so, it’s not ideal when men’s hair looks dried out or frizzy.  Not to mention that hair that doesn’t look healthy sometimes isn’t.  So, guys, let’s talk about your hair’s appearance and texture.  We have some tips on how to improve your hair’s condition and what to do if you think there’s something causing damage that’s out of your control.

What Causes Men to Experience Dry Hair?

Before we talk about what you can do to repair your hair, let’s discuss the reasons why your hair may be dry or damaged.  Let’s start understanding what happens when your hair gets dried out.  Oils that keep your hair healthy are produced in your hair’s roots.  There isn’t a source of natural lubrication.  When your hair’s natural oil and moisture are lost, it also loses its smooth texture and shine.   There are many reasons why this could happen.  The most common reasons are aging, health conditions such as thyroid disease, and the effects of sun, wind, and other weather-related conditions.  If your hair begins to thin due to male pattern baldness, your hair’s texture can also change.  Thinner hair can become wavy, dry, and brittle.  

How Does Men’s Hair Get Damaged?

Here’s what happens when your hair gets damaged.  Each strand of your hair is protected by a cuticle, which is a protective layer.  When your hair cuticles are healthy, they sit closely together and lock in moisture.  The cuticle protects your hair from elements such as chlorine and sun exposure.  However, those cuticles can peel away from your hair when they separate.  Your hair can’t hold moisture or natural oils.  Contrary to what many people believe, you cannot repair damaged hair.  It’s not a living tissue and doesn’t have regenerative abilities.  However, damaged hair that is cut can grow healthy cuticles.   

How Guys Treat Dry or Damaged Hair

If your hair doesn’t look in tip-top shape, all is not lost.  Here are some tips that can help:

  • Use the Right Shampoo 

If a two-in-one is your go-to for the shower, you may want to rethink your shampoo.  A good quality shampoo helps not only clean your hair, but will help balance your scalp’s chemistry.  Shampoos include detergents, pH adjusters, preservatives, thickeners, scents, and additives.  Harsh ingredients strip the oils out of your hair.  If your hair is dry, you’ll want to avoid lauryl sulfates, sarcosinates, and other harsh ingredients known for deep cleaning.   Instead, look for mild cleaning agents such as polyoxyethylene fatty alcohols, polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters alkanolamides, betaines, sultaines, and other gentle cleansers that also help make your hair more manageable. (01)

  • Remember the Conditioner

Skipping conditioner may save time, but it also means that you’re missing the opportunity to add moisture.  Conditioning seals your hair’s cuticles to keep the moisture locked in between washes.  Topical hair loss treatments such as Minoxidil or Finasteride may affect the texture of your hair, especially at the beginning when the medications first start working.  A good conditioner can help by making your hair more shiny and manageable.  Conditioners will often include ingredients such as hydrolyzed silk, animal protein, and glycerin.  When selecting a conditioner, look for protein-derived substances.  Protein works with the keratin in your hair to hold the cortex fragments together.  Your split ends will mend temporarily until the next time you shampoo. (02) 

  • Hair Masks Aren’t Just for Women

If you’re looking for a quick-fix to make your dry, brittle hair softer and more manageable, we’re going to share a secret weapon to treat your hair: hair masks.  Yes, women are the ones who usually use hair masks.  But, not only can men use them once or twice per week, they give short-term results that make your hair stronger, shinier, and tamer.  Keep in mind that you should only apply a hair mask from the roots to the ends of your hair.  Hair masks aren’t meant to be used on your scalp. The hair mask that you choose will depend on your hair’s texture.  It’s helpful to look for keywords such as “fine” or “coarse” that match your hair type.  Hair masks with all-natural ingredients and keywords such as “keratin” and “biotin” are good choices.  

  • Visit Your Barber Regularly

Sure, it was probably fun having long Covid hair and not having to visit the barber every five weeks.  However, if your hair is dry or damaged, it’s important to keep those appointments.  Overgrown split ends make your hair look messy and frizzy.  Not to mention that when men go too long between trims, they end up with an awkward, unflattering shape that’s tricky to camouflage.  No matter how many styling products you use, your hair will still look unkempt. 

  • Eat a Protein-rich Diet

If your hair is dry or damaged, make sure you’re eating plenty of protein.  Protein will strengthen and repair the keratin in your hair strands.  You’ll still need a trim to get rid of the damaged ends, but more protein and keratin means your hair will grow stronger.  A lack of protein has actually been linked to hair loss. (03)  When your body doesn’t get enough protein, your body will conserve what it has by shifting hair into a resting phase when your hair falls out.  Good protein sources include eggs, chicken, shrimp, fatty fish, nuts, tofu, legumes, and cottage cheese. 

  • Ask Your Dermatologist About Vitamins or Supplements

If your hair is dry or damaged and you aren’t sure why, it may be a good idea to have your vitamin, iron, thyroid, and other blood levels checked.  Hyper and hypothyroidism can both cause dry, brittle hair.  Low iron and other vitamin deficiencies can cause the same effect.  Balancing your thyroid or supplementing with vitamins usually brings noticeable improvement.  

  • Stop Using Harsh Coloring Products

If you color your hair and notice signs of damage, it’s a good idea to stop.  In some cases, hair dye lifts the cuticle from the hair and changes the texture.  The hair that’s been colored won’t return to its natural state.  However, only the hair that has been dyed will be affected.  New hair that grows from your scalp will have your original texture and sheen. 

  • Don’t Wait to Get a Professional Opinion

By the time you notice that your hair’s texture and finish has changed, there’s a good chance that damage has already occurred.  A visit to the dermatologist can help you understand why your hair doesn’t seem as smooth or manageable as before.  Once you identify the culprit, you can start to get your hair back on the road to good health.

Sometimes men don’t realize that the change in their hair’s texture or appearance is due to male pattern baldness, telogen effluvium, or another type of alopecia that can be treated.  If you aren’t sure why your hair’s texture or appearance has changed and want a professional opinion, we’re here to help.  Simply fill out the questionnaire.  One of our board-certified dermatologists will review your case and make recommendations on what you can do to get your hair back on track.   

 

Resources:

(01) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458934/

(02) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458934/

(03) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/

 

Is Your Hair Healthy?

Has your hair been a little drier and frizzier than usual?  Is it less manageable than it used to be?  Figuring out whether or not your hair is healthy can be challenging.  It can be difficult to distinguish between when it’s time for a deep conditioning treatment and a haircut or if something else is affecting your hair.  If you know what to look for, though, assessing your hair’s health is easy.  Here’s a simple guide designed to help.    

How Do You Know When Your Hair is Healthy?

Is your hair smooth and shiny or dull and coarse?  Hair that’s shiny and smooth is deemed more healthy, even when hair is wavy or curly. (01)  As we age, natural graying can make hair seem dull or frizzy, but that doesn’t have to be the case.  Daily conditioners, moisturizing treatments, and shine-boosting sprays can help.

Androgenetic alopecia, a fancy name for male and female pattern baldness, can also change your hair’s texture and appearance.  Sometimes hair becomes finer due to miniaturization of the hair follicles.  Because the hair becomes thinner, it could become curlier.  In other cases, previously curly or wavy hair can flatten and be less able to hold its curls or waves.  

Healthy Hair From the Inside Out

Healthy hair isn’t just what you see on the outside.  What’s on the inside also counts.  Hair is primarily made of keratin, which is a protein.  Keratin is made out of amino acids and other molecules that come from foods we eat.  That’s why eating a balanced diet and ensuring that you have all the right vitamins are so essential.

Your hair grows from a follicle beneath your scalp’s skin.  A hair shaft extends from the follicle.  The shape and angle of your hair shaft are what determines what type of hair you have.  It’s made out of three layers:

  1.  Medullar- Inside layer 
  2. Cortex – Middle layer that determines your hair color and elasticity
  3. Cuticle – Outside layer that makes your hair look shiny

When the cuticle is damaged by the sun, chemicals, blow drying, or other elements, the cells in the cortex can break or unravel, making your hair look dull or brittle. 

What Damages Healthy Hair?

Typically, the hair’s cortex is filled with keratin, and the cuticle is smooth, allowing light to reflect.  When the cuticle is damaged, your hair may seem dry and frizzy.  The ends may be thinner than they used to be, but there is still an opportunity for repair.  A haircut, deep conditioning, and time to regrow usually solve the problem.  When the cortex is damaged, salvaging the hair is more complicated.  At that point, hair is coarse and dull with split ends and some breakage.  

Does Healthy Hair Fall Out?

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, losing about 50 to 100 hairs per day is normal as part of the hair’s growth cycle. (02)  So, even if your hair is healthy, you might still see a few strands in the sink.  When you lose more than that, there’s a problem.  Hair loss due to physical defects is unusual compared to other types of alopecia.  Here are four of the most common ones:

  1. Loose anagen syndrome – When hair is loose and easily pulls out of the follicle because the root sheaths are not fully formed.  More common in children than adults.  
  2. Traction alopecia – When hair is pulled out of the follicle by tight hair bands, braids, or any other styling habits.
  3. Trichotillomania – A type of obsessive-compulsive behavior when people pull out their own hair.
  4. Overprocessing – Straighteners, perms, bleach, and dyes use harsh chemicals that can break down your hair’s fiber.  Using these harsh chemicals too often or incorrectly can irreversibly damage the hair’s fiber.  

Other Reasons for Hair Loss

If you are losing your hair, and it’s not due to a physical defect, it may be due to alopecia.  Here are some examples:

  • Telogen effluvium is a temporary form of hair loss that can happen after sudden illness such as Covid, surgery, or a stressful occasion.  Hair spontaneously regrows after a few months.  
  • Androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness) is the most common form of alopecia.  Although it commonly occurs during middle age, people in their 20s may have this type of hair loss due to an overproduction of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).  Minoxidil, Finasteride, Dutasteride, and Spironolactone are prescription DHT blockers often prescribed to reverse hair loss caused by male and female pattern baldness.
  • Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition that causes circular bald patches about the size of a quarter.  In addition to Minoxidil and Finasteride, immunosuppressants have recently been found effective in helping people with alopecia areata regrow their hair.  

How to Keep Your Hair Healthy

Want your hair to look shiny and healthy?  Here are some tips to help you keep your hair in top condition:

  • Diet – Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit, and plenty of protein
  • Vitamins – Check your vitamin levels, especially biotin, iron, vitamin C, niacin, and zinc.  Work with your dermatologist to supplement if any levels are low 
  • Exercise – Regular exercise not only helps manage your weight and keep your heart healthy, but it also reduces stress which has been proven to affect your hair
  • Habits – Quit smoking and only drink in moderation
  • Sun protection – Wear a hat when you’re in the sun to prevent damage from ultraviolet rays
  • Chlorine – Wear a swim cap when swimming, or rinse your hair before or after swimming to get all of the harsh chlorine out
  • Wet Hair – Use a wide-tooth comb and treat wet hair gently
  • Condition – Use a quality conditioner each time you wash your hair
  • Styling – Watch heat styling, eliminate or minimize chemical treatment, and avoid tight hairstyles (ponytails, braids, buns, etc.)

No matter your age or gender, having healthy hair is a confidence booster.  If you have questions about your hair’s health or are concerned about hair loss, let us know.  One of our board-certified dermatologists will review the information you provide and let you know if you would benefit by using one of our customized prescription medications.

 

Resources:

(01) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18004288/

(02) https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/insider/shedding#:~:text=It%27s%20normal%20to%20shed%20between,this%20condition%20is%20telogen%20effluvium.