Wellness Challenge: Healthy Hair

"Clean, healthy and good for you" shampoo and conditioner and nutrition tips for better hair

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Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Follain which is my go-to spot to shop for smarter beauty picks and not feel overwhelmed..

We're seven months into my personal wellness challenge to make my make up and skin care routine healthier with more conscious products. So far we've talked summer skin care, sun protection, make up and now we're going to hair. Hair is a major visual look into someone's health and it's actually something we're trained to look at as dietitians. It can show malnourishment, vitamin deficiencies...you'd be surprised what you can learn by someone's hair. 

There is an obvious caveat that you can eat well but if you're dying your hair constantly and using hot tools, hair health will suffer. I've heard so many stories over the past two years of people who have died their hair that very popular silver/platinum blonde color and their hair has gone to absolute shit. So with that in mind, in terms of nutrition and a solid good-for-you shampoo and conditioner from natural ingredients, we can talk about that. I've got nothing for you for hair dying as a virgin in that category.

nutrition: WHAT MAKES A FOOD A BEAUTY BOOSTER?

• Healthy fats like nuts, avocado, salmon and olive oil help to hydrate. Eating healthy fats is a major part of luxurious locks and a top layer of protection. Add it into your daily routine by sautéing foods in olive oil or swapping mayo for mashed avocado. 

• Iron from sources like spinach and beef helps to increase blood flow to cells. That means a healthy glow and a healthy scalp for better hair, and better cells all over.
• Biotin, and all B vitamins, are amazing for hair and nails. A diet low in biotin can show itself when you have lank locks. Eggs and fortified cereals are two easy ways to add it to your diet. But one of the richest sources of biotin is organ meats like liver and kidneys. You can score other B vitamins in whole grains and meats.
• Foods like beans, meats, quinoa, eggs, dairy and tofu complete the picture with protein. A protein deficiency can be manifested with weak, dry and unhealthy hair. Protein is also important for building new cells. And don’t be fooled by old ways of thinking: vegans and vegetarians can still get plenty of protein in their diet! 
• Food like berries, sweet potato, broccoli, greens, green tea and dark chocolate all contain antioxidants. They fight against free radicals that come from the sun, air pollutants and stress ( so keep your cool when wedding planning!).
• Foods that have a high water content like cucumber, berries and of course, water itself, keep your cells hydrated so they can function properly. That means faster cell turnover for radiant skin and plump cells so you your skin doesn’t look dry and dull.
• Foods like citrus, kiwis and berries specifically provide the antioxidant vitamin C. They are super important for not only battling free radicals, but also giving your skin a strong structural network underneath.

TIPS TO SNEAK IN MORE BEAUTY FOODS EVERY DAY:

• top your salad with olive oil based dressing

• toss all vegetables you’re roasting in olive oil 
• use mashed avocado as a sandwich spread
• have nuts as a snack
• opt for a spinach salad
• add spinach to a sandwich
• add spinach or greens to a smoothie
• sauté spinach and have it with eggs in the morning
• take your water bottle with you everywhere
• sip green tea as a late night ‘snack’
• make veggies the main meal with things like stuffed peppers 
• veggie sticks instead of chips
• grapefruit with breakfast
• clementines for travel snacks

Use better-for-you products

I've tried a handful of 'cleaner' options in hair category and hated...nearly all of them. I'm not an "over-shampoo-er". In fact I only wash my actual hair twice a week (it's much better for your hair/scalp!). The natural products for hair I had tried in the past (and trust me...I tried the whole home-made route...that's how far I went) either made my hair feel greasy like all the product wouldn't come out, or that my hair was stripped or coated in something. It just felt unnatural really. But this cleaner shampoo and conditioner with natural, plant extract ingredients is amazing. I already know I love the brand's products (I use their daily SPF moisturizer and it's amazing) but really this seals the deal for me with some brand loyalty. I will say the smell is strongly herbal/citrusy but not necessarily a kind of smell that is immediately positive. I personally like it, but it's not a Orbie or R + Co smell. 

The product uses Aloe which helps with dryness as well as camelina oil which helps act as a natural UV filter. The product also uses coconut, olive oil, rosemary, catnip, peppermint, flax, thyme and lavender among other things. But most importantly, I like the results. Clean, moisturized, not sticky or filmy. If you've tried to find natural hair products before and things fell flat, definitely give this shampoo and conditioner a try. 

Note: Follain also carries a mini size if you want to try out the product without the risk!