The first thing one notices is the change in your hairstyle when you go for a makeover. Beautiful hair can be a head turner for both men and women alike. Hair plays such a vital role in our lives that it’s proportionately related to our confidence. Hence, it becomes necessary to have good healthy hair. And to achieve that, it’s really important to learn how to strengthen hair. But before going ahead with external applications, it’s vital to maintain the right nutrition for hair growth so that you learn how to get thick hair naturally. This is also important to control hair fall and if you ask how much hair fall is normal, the answer is 100 per day.
Also Read: Stages Of Hair Cycle
8 Ways To Make Hair Stronger
1) Limit Chemical Use
Frequent colouring or bleaching your hair could lead to weakening of the hair roots. Even perms or hair straightening can affect the roots if done too often.
Overuse of these chemical treatments can cause permanent damage to your hair.
Also Read: How To Take Care of Bleached Hair
2) Control the Heat
Styling tools like flat irons, blow dryers, curling irons, etc which use high temperatures can destroy your hair from the roots to the ends. It is always safer to lower the temperature to incur minimal damage. It is advisable to apply some heat protectant spray before using these tools. Thermal damage can cause split ends, breakage, and thinning of the hair over time.
3) Deep Conditioning Protein Treatment
Regular protein treatments add moisture back to damaged dry hair. This moisture helps to strengthen it from the root. It reduces breakage of hair and split ends. Deep conditioning strengthens the protein in our hair, especially helpful for hair with chemical treatments or dry hair.
4) Hairstyle
Adopting the same hairstyle for a very long time can affect the hair roots. Do not tie your hair very high up as it will pull the hair from the roots, making them weak. Also leaving your hair down all the time may weaken the roots, if your hair is heavy. So, it’s best to keep changing your hairstyles and not continue the same style for a very long time.
Also Read: Hairstyles That Won't Damage Your Hair
5) Handle Your Scalp With Care
Dirt and grime can lead to an itchy scalp and this in turn can make the hair roots weak as it may turn itchy forcing you to scratch your hair. Sometimes even some hair products may have some reactions leaving a bruised or an itchy scalp. While itching, the hair roots tend to get pulled leaving them weak.
6) Keep stress At Bay
Stress leads to many health issues and it plays a significant role when it comes to hair health. Stress tends to affect the hormonal balance leading to weakening of your strands.
7) Massage Your Scalp
The benefit of a scalp massage is that it stimulates the hair follicles. A scalp massage increases blood circulation and increases blood flow to the hair follicles which helps nourish the hair follicles.
According to research carried out in Japan, a 4-minute daily scalp massage with a scalp massager over a period of 24 weeks has the ability to increase hair thickness and strength. This is the recommended way on how to increase hair volume.
If you do not have a scalp massager you can use your fingertips by applying pressure in circular motions. You can do this on dry hair or may apply some oil. It’s best if you can massage your hair just before you apply shampoo.
8) Avoid Very Hot Water
Showering with too hot water may damage your hair, both at the root and on the cuticle. The heat of hot water opens up the cuticles on your hair, which may result in dryness of the hair or frizzy, and prone to breakage.
Use lukewarm water when you shampoo. Then, finish with cool water on your hair and scalp. This may help seal your hair cuticle, which opens up due to the steam of the warm water. The last wash with cold water seals the cuticles making it easier for the hair to retain moisture. This is really a great way on how to make hair roots strong
Reasons for Weak Hair Roots?
In our day-to-day activities there may be many things that we might be doing knowingly or unknowingly that can lead to weakening of our hair roots or which may affect our hair health. There can be many reasons for weak hair roots. But some of the most common ones are hormonal imbalance, which can be due to menopause, thyroid problems, post-pregnancy changes.
Hormonal imbalance can cause hair thinning, weaken hair roots and affect the normal hair growth cycle. Poor diet, extreme hair styles like perming or straightening or tying hair very with a lot of force, high temperature from styling tools, overexposure in the sun, environmental pollution, certain medications, hair products with certain chemicals, underlying health conditions or a genetic tendency towards certain hair disorders.
Bacterial or fungal scalp infections like boils or ringworm of the scalp, can damage the hair roots and lead to permanent hair loss in the affected areas. Even vigorous scratching due to an itchy scalp can lead to weakening of hair roots.
How to Strengthen Hair Roots
On an average a person loses up to 150 strands of hair in a day. But when you have weak roots, this count goes up. You may lose more hair than the body can replenish. You can try using the following home remedies to strengthen the hair roots.
1. Mango Seed Hair Mask
To make this pack you will need 4 tablespoons of crushed mango seed, 2 tablespoons of amla powder and 2 tablespoons of water to make the paste.
Break open the mango seed to extract the kernel. Put the kernel in a blender with some water. The blender crushes it into a paste. Add amla powder to it. It has to be a fine paste or else it will be difficult to remove from your hair.
2. Egg Yolk Mask
The proteins present in egg yolk help in creating strong hair follicles. According to a study, the peptides in egg yolk may help stimulate hair growth. Peptides are short strings of amino acids which help build strength and muscle mass.
To make the egg yolk mask use 3 egg yolks and 3–4 tablespoons of lukewarm coconut oil. Mix it well and then apply to your scalp and roots. Wear a shower cap after you apply. Leave it for 10 -15 mins. Rinse it out with cool water.
3. Aloe Vera With Castor Oil And Fenugreek
Aloe vera is a natural moisturizer and conditioning agent. It contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It helps get rid of excess oil and debris, which encourages healthy, strong hair growth from the roots.
Take 1 cup aloe vera gel, 2 tablespoons each of castor oil and fenugreek powder. Mix all the ingredients together and apply from the hair roots to the hair ends. Wear a shower cap and keep the mask in your hair overnight. Wash it off in the morning with shampoo and lukewarm water. This hair mask promotes hair growth and this is a good method on how to make hair roots strong.
4. Hot Oil Treatment
Heat coconut oil. Apply the oil with a cotton ball once the oil cools down a bit. Otherwise, it will burn your scalp. Put it from the hair roots to the ends of the hair. Massage it well. Soak a towel in warm water or soak it in normal water and heat the towel for 2 minutes in the microwave. Wrap the steaming towel in your head for 20 mins and then wash it off with shampoo. This helps nourish the hair follicles, it also helps the hair roots detox. A great way on how to make hair roots strong.
7 Vitamins & Nutrients to Make Hair Roots Strong
As already mentioned earlier foods rich in Vitamin A, B, C, D and E are good for strong hair roots. This is the first tip on how to make hair roots strong.
Vitamin A: Include a mix colourful vegetables and fruits in your daily diet. Eat two whole fruits each day. Items like broccoli, sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, spinach, lettuce, bell pepper, squash, milk, eggs, and yogurt.
Vitamin B: found in egg yolk, liver and other organ meats, salmon, avocados, nuts and seeds, leafy greens, legumes and dairy products. Almonds, if consumed regularly, provide hair proteins and stimulate healthy hair growth.
Vitamin C: good sources of Vitamin C for hair include citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers, tomatoes, Indian gooseberry or Amla is considered a superfood for hair. It is rich in micronutrients and detoxifies hair roots.
Vitamin D: found in fatty fish, egg yolk, mushroom and fortified foods like milk and orange juice. Buttermilk stimulates calcium absorption, which is vital for hair growth.
Vitamin E: good sources include sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, and avocados. Walnuts are rich in Vitamin E and hence work positively on lush hair growth.
Omega-3 fatty acid: Found in fatty fish, nuts, seeds, and avocados. This is a healthy fat that helps keep hair shiny and full.
Also See: Hair Vitamins For Hair Growth
Increase your protein intake
Getting enough protein in your diet is important for hair growth, as hair follicles comprise mostly of protein. Protein helps in hair growth. Protein-rich foods that may help boost hair health include: eggs, fish, like mackerel and salmon, nuts and seeds, lean meats, spinach and kale, beans and legumes. This is an effective natural way to make hair roots strong.
Also Read: Protein Deficiency Hair Loss
Eat food rich in Iron
Iron helps to carry oxygen to your hair follicles Iron deficiency weakens the follicles leading to hair fall. Iron can be found in oysters, clams, eggs, red meat, chicken, lentils, dry fruits like raisins and apricots. Raisins are rich in micronutrients and reduce inflammation. Hence, they are good for hair health. Green leafy vegetables like spinach are an important source of folate, iron and other micronutrients.
But if you already have iron deficiency then you won’t be able to fix that with food, you will need to take iron supplements. But please do not take any medication without consulting a doctor as an overdose of iron can damage the gastrointestinal system. This is a popular way to make hair thick and strong from roots naturally.
Increase Zinc Intake
Zinc binds together proteins that increase the strength of hair. It helps in hair tissue growth and repair. It keeps the oil glands around the hair follicles working properly. Good sources of zinc for hair include oysters, beef, lean meats, seafood, pumpkin seeds, and lentils. Green gram (Moong) helps get rid of the blood circulating with cholesterol into the follicles, which usually affects hair growth. It is rich in antioxidants, and thus prevents age-related hair damage. It is an effective way on how to get strong hair roots.
Increase Copper
Copper helps in hair health. Copper peptides increase the hair follicle size and prevent follicle death. It stimulates blood circulation to the scalp and prolongs the growth cycle of hair.
Foods that are rich in copper include nuts, lean meat, poultry, and dark greens. You can also find different hair or skin care products that contain this mineral as a key ingredient. It can be safely used in these treatments as long as directions are carefully followed. Follow this method and learn how to make hair roots strong.
Hair Care Habits for Healthy Hair
1) Shampoo Regularly But Cautiously
Keeping your hair clean is important. But most shampoos use ingredients that strip away your hair’s natural oils in an effort to reduce oiliness and remove dirt. Shampoo your hair two to three times a week. If you do more than that then it will take away the natural oils from your hair and scalp. Be mindful of the composition of your shampoo. Use plant based organic shampoos. Avoid ingredients like coal tar dyes, parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulphate, triethanolamine among other things. These really help in creating robust hair and this is how to make hair roots strong.
2) Hair Wash Technique
Scrub your scalp well when you shampoo. Make sure that you have rinsed off the shampoo well. Dry it gently with a towel. Then, apply conditioner. While applying conditioner, avoid putting it on the scalp. Just apply it on the hair strands.
3) Gentle Combing
Do not start combing your hair when it is wet. Let it dry. Then comb gently. If your hair tangles, then detangle it from the end and move upwards. This way the pressure on the growing strands of hair will be less.
4) Drink Enough Water
We are well aware of the importance of staying well hydrated. Proper hydration not only keeps a lot of health issues at bay, it even contributes to a healthy hair growth and this is a great way on how to make hair roots strong. Sometimes you may find that despite following all the rituals for healthy hair, your hair still looks dull and brittle. Probably, the reason might be that you are not drinking enough water.
5) Avoid Smoking
Smoking can damage hair follicles The hair follicles shrink due to the smoke. The follicles cannot breathe which leads them to shrink. As they shrink, the blood flow is constrained. This retards the hair growth and even causes hair loss, therefore reducing your affinity for the stick is an effective way on how to make hair follicles strong,
6) Maintain A Healthy Diet
Eating well is very important. The food list has already been detailed above. Include foods rich in multivitamins and good fats.
Tips to prevent weak roots
Let’s find out about some ways to make hair roots strong hair remedies. Following are some tips for strong hair roots.
- Shampoo your hair not more than 2-3 times a week.
- Avoid using a hair dryer to dry your hair.
- Avoid chemical treatments.
- Use a soft bristled brush so that your hair roots are not hurt due to traction.
- Do not go for crash diets.
- Avoid unhealthy eating habits.
- Use a scarf to cover your hair when you step out. This protects your hair from pollution and the harmful UV rays of the sun.
- Regular head massage and oiling is great for your hair.
To ensure that your hair is healthy you need to learn how to make hair roots strong. This can be done with the help of a proper diet and disciplined hair care. Do visit us at Traya and learn about some very effective techniques on how to make hair strong and how to increase the life of your hair.