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How to have a hair detox
by growgorgeous
Our hair can be pushed to its limits with everyday styling, heat damage and exposure to pollution in the air, all of which put a serious dent in our hair’s health. When our minds and bodies are stressed out, over-worked and showing signs of exhaustion, we know to stop what we’re doing, take a step back and evaluate what’s happening to identify the cause of the problem.
In fact, a common reaction for when you’re in need of a break is to drop everything and jet off somewhere sunny for a holiday; to take some time away and to recharge our batteries.
So why don’t we all take this same approach to our hair?
Hair is a great indicator for our general health as stress and ill-health or lack of nourishment easily shows in hair. Thin and dull hair looks unhealthy whereas full and shiny hair with body and bounce positively screams well health and vivacious energy.
If your hair is looking worse for wear before it reaches breaking point (quite literally), stop and hit refresh on your hair care routine with a hair detox.
So why not take that vacation for your hair? No passport required, in fact you don’t even have to step foot outside your own home and you get that same refreshing feeling that two weeks sipping piña coladas gives you. So what’s the catch? Here at Grow Gorgeous we’re promoting #Haircation – the holiday for your hair.
What is a hair detox?
When you think about a detox what comes to mind? A legion of fabulously slender women who escape to luxurious yoga retreats in remote villages or tropical beach huts? Some serene hideaway up in the mountains where you spend your days sipping on green juices? Detoxes sound intense, right? Well a hair detox really isn’t.
Respite for hair can be as simple as laying off heat styling, reducing the amount of product you use to avoid product build-up (more on this later) or taking a few minutes every day to give yourself a head massage to encourage good blood circulation to the scalp. Restoring hair’s health can be done in many simple ways that have a huge impact in the overall look and feel of the hair.
Why your hair needs a detox
While there are several things you can do to help the condition of your hair improve, being more conscious of your environment and daily habits will make you more aware of the damage being done to your hair. The single biggest factor attributing to damaged, fragile hair is environmental pollution. Smog and toxins in the air cling to and can penetrate the hair and scalp causing hair to become dry and brittle.
There are two types of pollution; urban pollution, caused by car emissions, air-conditioning particles and smoke, and environmental pollution, such as UV exposure coming from the sun which can lead to dry, uncomfortable, fragile skin. Basically, air pollution = hair pollution.
Ingredient IQ: Biotin
What is Biotin and why is it so important for healthy hair growth?
Biotin is a B vitamin that it is thought to be essential for healthy hair growth. Though our body produces biotin naturally, ensuring we have the right levels of Biotin by supplementing this with vitamins and nutrients such as Hair Density Nutrients, helps keep skin moisturised (this goes for the scalp too), makes hair stronger and less likely to shed and Biotin encourages healthy hair growth.
Biotin naturally reacts with enzymes in our hair cells that produce amino acids in our body. As hair fibre is mainly made up of a protein called ‘keratin’, our hair needs those amino acids to build hair fibre so it is strong and will not become dry or snap off so it can grow long.
Biotin also aids the body in breaking down foods and releasing energy and improving the circulation of blood throughout the body. If the scalp has adequate blood circulation, hair follicles are healthier and hair is supported to reduce hair breakage and hair is fuller and grows faster.
Ingredient IQ: Caffeine
Isn’t it wonderful when you discover that your daily habits are actually good for you? Our case in point? Coffee! Well, caffeine to be precise. That morning cup of coffee is something many of us depend upon to function normally and some days definitely require a double-shot of espresso to get our juices flowing and to help us feel wide awake and alert, and caffeine can have the same effect on our hair.
Healthy hair relies on several factors, from limiting damage to the hair through exposure to external aggressors and supporting the hair with all the necessary nutrients and vitamins it needs to grow long and strong. Caffeine can help hair at the root where hair begins to grow.
The root of the cause
Concentrating caffeine on the roots and specifically targeting the hair follicle will help increase hair growth as it is dealing with the initial phases of hair growth, down in the follicle beneath the scalp. Caffeine can promote the speed in which your hair grows and improve hair’s structure as it grows.
How does caffeine help with hair growth?
Caffeine is known to help increase blood circulation to the scalp which promotes healthy hair follicles. When you’re applying hair products directly to the scalp you are in turn further aiding blood circulation to the scalp and stimulating the roots while you’re massaging a product on your head. Stimulated hair follicles will grow faster and the hair that is growing from the root will be healthier and stronger thanks to it getting all the right nutrients and minerals from the body from an adequate blood supply to the scalp.