Eco Ethical beauty

What’s hair got to do, got to do with it?

October 21, 2009

Yesterday I had a brief one-on-one with Nigel Russell, a hair dresser and registered Trichologist who, through a short but freakily accurate analysis, diagnosed my low iron, sore back and digestive problems that have been plaguing me of late. He simply asked me a few questions about my health and looked in my eyes (with a light - in a very doctorly way - not romantic. At all).

Trichology is the study of hair and scalp health and how it affects the body as a whole. It’s a bit like reflexology, iridology, homeopathy, naturopathy in all piled into one - with hair care on top. It’s fascinating.

Nigel, who cuts at Servilles and also runs his Holistic Hair business, was wearing his Pantene Ambassador’s hat for the launch of Pantene’s Deep Fortifying Treatment range, which we got to trial before getting a lovely blow dry from Gareth Morgan of Gareth & Co. It was quite a nice way to spend a morning!

Nigel says that our hair is a reflection of the inner body, a barometer for our inner health, if we treat our body well it will reflect through in healthy vibrant hair.

Here are some food tips for healthy hair production:

1. Don’t starve yourself and then gobble down a big fat steak. Eat small amounts of protein with each meal, rather one large portion from time to time

2. Consuming fruit and veges with each meal will assist in the proper digestions and helps your body absorb various nutrients. So, have 5 plus a day!

3. Eggs are good - they contain L-cystine (there is 18% of L-cystine in hair), they have antioxidants and they also have sulphur which is a major element of hair strength. Sulphur is also found in beans, lentils, carrots and honey (and wine - maybe that helps???).

4. Seeds, nuts and eggs have L-methonie which is good for repairing hair

5. Essential Fatty Acids in brewers yeast and alfalfa assist in normalising oil balance to skin and hair, promoting good circulation and brain function. But not when you get brewers yeast from a little green bottle with a Heineken sticker on the front. That rarely provides good brain function. Sadly.

6. B complex is very important - so stress (which depletes B vitamins) is not good and of course reveals itself in unhappy hair and crappy skin.  Find B vitamins in pills or meat, wheatgerm, nuts, cereals and brewers yeast.

7. Biotin strengthens hair. Find it in - egg yolks (yussss to weekend scrambies), liver (yuck) and rice.

8. Choose a fruity tea instead of sticking to gumboot - Rose hips (as opposed to elbows) are high in essential fatty acids.

9. Get some Zinc and Silica in you - again, if you don’t choose to pop a pill for this gobble down some seaweed, kelp, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and olive and avocado oils.

10. Do find a multi-vitamin with silica in it - it’s AWESOME for hair, strengthens and promotes blood flow to the scalp.

Did you know that hair has a growth cycle that works in three stages?

Firstly it has the ANAGEN stage which is the growth period that lasts about 4 years. Then it goes through the CATAGEN stage, which is kind of like a resting period. This can take a week. Finally, Telogen - the shedding period that continues for up to 3 months. Of course this is graduated, some strands will be growing while others are shedding. (Thank god, imagine it all going at once - it would be a follicular feast or famine!).

Of course there are a few events in life that can cause a disturbance and make your hair do crazy things. Like fall out in lots of clumps. If this happens - seek help.

Oh and one other thing - the Deep Fortifying Treatment worked a treat. My hair was shiny and happy and so was I.

Are you happy with the health of your hair?

Tamsin xo