How to boost your hair health

Our hair forms a key part of our identity, which is why so many of us may not feel like ourselves when our hair health suffers.

Eva Proudman, leading trichologist at Absolute Collagen, shares her insight into all the ways you can boost your hair health and keep it looking its best.

Wash your hair regularly

Washing your hair on a regular basis, such as every 2-3 days, is a simple way to ensure hair stays happy and healthy. Ideally, you should wash your locks daily or every other day, as not only does this keep the hair clean, but it also keeps the scalp clean and balanced. We tend to forget about scalp health, but our scalp should be cared for like the skin and cleansed regularly.

Minimise heat exposure

Although great for styling, hairdryers, straighteners, and curling wands can be very damaging to the hair. This is because excess heat can damage the cuticle, which is the outer protective layer of the hair –and cause damage to the protein fibres of the hair, leading to breakage and dullness. To prevent this, you should always have styling tools heated between 120 - 160 degrees, and use heat protection products.

Collagen

One way you can significantly boost your hair health is by taking collagen supplements. Collagen is a key protein that is found in the human body and is essential for optimum hair health. Collagen contains essential amino acids which can help to build keratin, the protein that makes up your hair and supports overall strength and elasticity. Collagen not only supports hair growth, but it also helps keep the strands looking shiny and sleek and limits damage from free radicals.

Collagen is usually broken down into small pieces, so it can be absorbed into the body when ingested. Liquid collagen tends to be absorbed quicker in to the bloodstream which means that the nutrients get to work at a faster rate. Liquid collagen can be taken as a simple shot, or mixed with food or drink including water, tea, smoothies, or porridge – whatever works best for you!

When I carried out my perception trial for Absolute Collagen, I found an improvement in conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis (scalp flaking, itching, and irritation) after taking the formula.

Eat well

Many people forget that internal health can have a huge impact on our external appearance. A balanced, nutritional diet with a sufficient vitamin and mineral intake is key for supporting hair. Vitamin B, D, and E all contribute to not only our overall health but also the quality of our hair and skin. Vitamin C can also aid the body’s production of collagen and helps in the absorption of iron.

If you are concerned about your hair, you should get into contact with a registered trichologist who will accurately diagnose the problem and provide information about treatments.