Five ways to achieve the most out of your hair by Anabel Kingsley, Trichologist and Hair Care Expert at Philip Kingsley, the leading authority in hair and scalp health.
- Use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment once to twice a week. This will help to restore elasticity to brittle hair, making it more resilient and less likely to break and split at the ends. It will also make the hair shinier and more manageable. As you won’t have to spend as much time styling, this in turn can strengthen the hair.
- Increase your protein intake. Hair is made of protein, so it’s important to eat protein-rich foods to keep your strands looking their best – and growing at their optimal rate. In order to ensure that your hair is getting the protein it needs, include at least 120g of a first class protein (one that contains all essential amino acids) with breakfast and lunch. Good choices are eggs, fish, lean meats, poultry, low-fat cottage cheese and quinoa.
- Have a snack. Energy available to hair cells drops four hours after eating. If more than this is left between meals, you should have a snack to sustain energy levels to hair follicles. We recommend choosing a healthy carbohydrate, such as fresh fruit, no-added-sugar granola or whole-meal crackers.
- Look after your scalp. If your scalp is dirty or flaky, chances are your hair isn’t as healthy or glossy as it could be. Keep your scalp environment in great shape by shampooing frequently with a shampoo suitable for your texture. For an extra boost, use a daily anti-microbial scalp toner and an exfoliating scalp mask once a week.
- Improve your ferritin levels. Ferritin is an iron that helps produce hair cell protein. If these levels are depleted, hair often becomes weaker and unable to grow as long. The best way to improve low ferritin levels is to take a daily supplement containing iron and vitamin C. Red meats, such as steak and liver, are also great dietary sources.
I have been trying the Tricho Complex which is making my hair look shiny. It seems to be growing faster too.
Diet is crucial for hair health. As Anabel Kingsley notes “The most essential nutrients for hair are protein (what your hair is made of), complex carbohydrates (which provide energy to rapidly growing hair cells) and iron.” It can be hard to get the nutritional requirements during a busy day at the office, so it can be useful to take a nutritional supplement. Tricho Complex contains an exceptional mix of vitamins and minerals which contribute to the maintenance of normal, healthy hair.
Tricho Complex
£45, philipkingsley.co.uk