One of the most common questions I get is what do I do with my hair to grow so quickly and be healthy. I always had a pretty lustrous lioness mane, but the last few years my hair have really become stronger and healthier due to some changes in my self-care.

So keep reading for my top tips for great hair…

Nutrition

1. Eat enough protein. That doesn’t mean excessive protein. Did you know that we only need 0,8gr of protein per kg of weight? That means a cup of a protein rich food per meal.

2. Iron rich foods. Iron is essential for hair growth as it ensure the follicle receives enough blood supply. Your iron levels might be adequate but ferritin (iron reserve) is a better marker to know whether you have enough iron in your body. Aim to get iron from foods instead of supplements unless you have tested to ensure the need for supplementation. Iron rich foods include lentils and spinach but in order to make this bioavailable you need to combine with vitamin C. So drizzle with lemon juice! You do not need to add vitC in iron rich foods from animals as the form of iron is already available for your body to utilise.

3. Zinc is absolutely essential for hair growth and strength. You will find it abundantly in oysters which apparently are considered vegan. Pumpkin seeds are also a great source.

4. Biotin or B7 stimulate keratin and increases the rate of follicle growth. Oats are rich in B vits as well as nutritional yeast, eggs, liver and fish.

5. Omega 3: essential fatty acids are crucial for great skin and hair. Omega-3 comes from algae so in order to get enough of it you need to either consume fish (that consumes algae) or supplement with algae oil (or fish oil). Plant sources of omega 3 exist but they are not always converted to the EPA form which is the one that our body needs. If you are vegan aim for a good algae oil. Bare biology has by far the best fish and algae oil in the market.

6. Supplement: I really like the Hair and Energy formula by JShealth that has biotin. zinc and iodine. You can find it here.

7. Nettle tea is an amazing herb for strong hair. It is full of vitamins and minerals and can be used as a daily tonic, taken alone or with other herbs to promote overall health including hair, bone density, seasonal allergies, inflammation, and more. It is a purifier for the kidneys and the liver. Simply brew dried nettle in hot water and strain. You can blend it with other herbs that you love.

Hair Products

I have been visiting the Michael van Clark hair salon and have been using their products in the last 2 years. They are free of the major disruptors such as silicones, parabens and propylene glycol so I feel safe using them. Also, I do not wash my hair more than 1-2 per week depending on my yoga teaching.

These are the specific ones that I use:

-Pre-wash treatment that I put overnight. This is the game-changer. It makes the hair thick and strong and prevents damage and split ends.

-Moisturising shampoo suits my dry hair nicely but I also love the exfoliating shampoo or the volumizing if that is what you need. Find them all here.

-Moisturising conditioner is absolutely brilliant. I brush my hair in the shower with the conditioner on and leave for 5 minutes. This has cashmere protein and it makes my hair super silky.

-The brush. I used to be mindless about the impact of the brush quality on my hair. This brush is brilliant for combing and it prevents the hair from breaking.