Let’s talk about head!

I mean your head...I mean your head as in your hair and scalp!

A change in hair health is one of the many signs that something isn’t quite right within your system. Thin, brittle hair, itchy scalp, dandruff, and hair loss all have underlying metabolic and hormonal issues. Yes, genetics and location (i.e. living in a dry climate, etc) can be at play, but if you’ve noticed a drastic change in your hair health, it’s time to take inventory of what and where you can add support.

As a society, it seems we always err on the side of external support first, which is fine but most likely is not addressing the root cause. So, while it may not be as glamorous as purchasing a brand new shampoo and every hair/scalp elixir you can find, focusing on your nutrition aka internal support can have a lasting benefit for your hair and scalp health.

Internal support:

🐝 Bee Pollen isn’t just a photogenic addition to your smoothie bowls, it also has the amino acid L-Cysteine which is rich in sulfur. Sulfur has been studied and found to reverse hair loss. It’s also rich in copper, which supports melanin production AKA you HAIR color.

🐮 Collagen, (Kendall10 gets you 10% off!) is another powerhouse of amino acids including the amino acid proline, which is foundational building block to keratin. And keratin is a major building block towards thick, happy hair.

🥥 Vitamin E is full of antioxidant properties which help reduce the oxidative stress and allow more nutrients to get to the skin/scalp. Vitamin E is also greatly supportive of overall skin health, which spoiler alert: your scalp is skin.

🦪 Oysters are nature’s mineral bomb. The high zinc content in oysters help to support your thyroid, which is your master gland and what creates/orchestrates many of your hormones—including the ones necessary for hair growth.

🥩 I know I sound like a broken record, but beef liver is the greatest food-based supplement. Grass-fed beef liver is chock full of retinol (the most bioavailable vitamin A) and B vitamins both of which are integral to hair health and growth.

External Supports:

💇🏼‍♀️ A boar bristle brush may sound like overkill (especially when you see the price), but hear me out: I’ve had my brush for almost 10 (!!!) years. It helps massage and bring blood flow to the scalp, evenly distributes oil, and is gentle on your hair cuticle. Need I go on? Okay, I will. This brush is a workhorse and holds its pristine reputation for a reason. One small little money-saving hack—I invested in the travel sized version of the brush. And it’s held up great and saved me some $$.

💆🏻‍♀️ Because we love a high-low story, this $8 scalp massager is next on the list. I use it in the shower when shampooing to make sure I get the best scrub I can and bring blood flow to the area for healthy hair follicle growth.

🍯 Castor oil has long been touted as a hair growth miracle thanks to it blood flow stimulating propertie. Castor oil is also a humectant, which means it can retain moisture which is great if you’re battling a dry, flaky scalp. One word of caution though—too much castor oil will suffocate your skin/hair follicle thanks to it’s humectant properties, so be careful/a little goes a long way.

🌹Rose Water Spray is my best kept secret—it’s a detangler, hair refresher/scent, and scalp moisturizer all in one. It has a very similar PH to your hair follicle, so it is gentle and supportive. Rose water is also anti-inflammatory, so it’s great for an angry, inflamed scalp.

🌝 Under Luna Shampoo and Conditioner is something I talk about ad nauseam. But it’s just that good. As someone who has been personally victimized by most of the “natural” shampoos in the beauty aisle at Whole Foods, this shampoo and conditioner set has given retribution to the natural label. Many ask how long these bottles last and I have found the duo lasts me approximately 6 months with 2x a week washes.

🧂Goop G.Tox Salt Scrub Shampoo I love using this once a month as a sort of “scalp cleanse” especially if I’ve been in a dusty, dirty climate for an extended period of time, or in the winter after wearing an excessive amount of beanie hats. Basically, it’s just a great shampoo to help wipe your scalp slate clean, with cleanish ingredients. Smells great too.