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After I Destroyed My Hair, These Are 10 Tips I Used to Promote Healthy Hair Growth

Hair. We all love healthy, flowing locks but there are so many things that can impact the health of our hair and hair growth. I’ve always prided myself on my hair. It’s been one of my favorite features about myself my entire life.

Then I did what I’ll call rule #1 of what NOT to do for healthy, growing hair. I bleached it, then dyed it pink. After that hairstyle, in a moment of poor decision making, I got a ‘beach wave’ perm. Never – I repeat NEVER – get a perm no matter what.

The final nail in the healthy hair coffin? I dyed it dark with permanent dye. Permanent dye, as I’ve come to learn, will completely destroy your hair.

So what was the result of bleaching, perming, and then dying my hair? About ⅓ of it fell out, and what was left was damaged, dry as hay, and all but completely destroyed.

I’d gone from loving my locks to mourning their loss, and I knew it was time to do research and find out exactly what I needed to restore my hair to its original glory – which included how to promote hair growth + how to cultivate happy, healthy hair.

In this article, we will first explore 5 methods for hair growth (and regrowth). Then we will learn 5 additional ways to cultivate healthy hair (and keep it that way).
 

Here’s How to Promote Hair Growth

Based on my extensive research for any and all ways to promote hair growth, here are 5 key methods to help your hair grow:
 

1. He Shou Wu

He Shou Wu is a Chinese herb that has many impressive health benefits, ranging from immunity support to DNA repair, hair growth and healthy aging. Part of the healthy aging is through tonifying kidney and liver function, which can also impact your hair growth.
 
I found many supporting articles and studies that attested to how effective He Shou Wu can be for reversing hair loss. About 6 weeks into taking it, I am seeing a noticeable improvement in my hair growth.
 
 

2. Nettle Tea

Nettle is an herb that also boasts a lot of health benefits, including hair growth. It’s actually one of the oldest treatments for hair loss by treating dandruff, combating hair loss, and promoting new hair growth.
 
Nettle can be taken in capsule form or brewed as tea. I’ve been brewing looseleaf nettle tea in big batches and refrigerating it in glass jars. It has a light, refreshing taste and you can add lemon juice for flavor or even that trusty He Shou Wu powder for added benefit.
 
 

3. Scalp Massage

Stimulating your scalp is key for healthy hair. The scalp directly impacts the health and growth of your hair, so massaging it will stimulate circulation and as a result, hair growth. Another way to increase circulation to the scalp is with inversions (think headstand, handstand, or even Downward Dog Pose in yoga).
 
 

4. Essential Oils

Never underestimate the power of essential oils! These highly potent plant concentrates can aid in hair growth. Just be sure you’re using high-quality essential oils, since not all brands are created equal and many have fillers or added ingredients.
 
The following essential oils in particular are believed to stimulate hair growth: lavender, lemon, thyme, and oregano.
 
If you’re interested in learning more great uses for essential oils, check out the Best Uses For 7 Common Essential Oils
 
 

5. Castor Oil Hair Masks

Hair masks are a great way to promote healthy hair, and while there are so many products and DIY recipes out there, I’ve found that organic castor oil is one of the better bets. It has Vitamin E, protein and fatty acids, plus it’s antibacterial and antifungal.
 
Castor oil is really thick and sticky, so you can add a little coconut oil to make the application process easier. I also add 10-15 drops of essential oils (see #4) to the mask and let it sit for at least an hour and sometimes even overnight (just wear a shower cap to avoid a big mess).
 

 

Now Let’s Explore 5 Ways to Maintain Happy, Healthy Hair

Now that we’ve learned five effective ways to promote hair growth, let’s take a look at how we can maintain healthy hair.
 

6. No Chemicals!!

When it comes to healthy hair, the last thing you want to do is mess it up with nasty chemicals. Chemicals can really damage your hair and yet so many hair products contain chemicals and harsh ingredients like parabens, sulfates, dyes, fragrance, alcohol etc that will dry out, strip, and ultimately wreck your hair.
 
Make sure you’re checking your labels and try to use organic, natural products whenever possible.
 
 

7. Organic, pH Balanced Shampoo + Conditioner

Piggybacking on #6, you want to stick to organic and also pH balanced shampoo and conditioner. Why pH? Because your scalp and hair have a natural pH balance that gets thrown off through all the products we use and even the water we wash our hair in.
 
I did some research and started using DermaChange shampoo + conditioner and it’s made a big difference in my hair’s texture, vibrancy, and overall health. It’s vegan, organic, pH balanced (and restores your hair back to its natural pH levels of 5.5), and affordable.
 
 

8. No Heat

As women, most of us have become dependent on heat for drying and styling our hair, but it’s time to let that go. If you can, let your hair air dry. If not, use your hair dryer’s coolest setting, and/or at least wait until it’s mostly air dried first.
 
Replace the curling or styling iron with rollers or braids and experiment with new and different hairstyles that don’t require heat to style. Trust me, it’s worth it and you’ll notice a big difference in the health of your hair.
 
 

9. Braid Your Hair Before Bed

As it turns out, even rolling around on your hair all night can create damage and breakage. If you want to avoid the frizzy mess of bed head and the negative side effects it causes for your hair, try braiding it before bed.
 
Added bonus: if you braid your hair when it’s damp, you’ll have a cute wavy/curly look that didn’t require any heat to style (see #8). Finally, braiding can also stimulate the scalp which in turn can aid in hair growth (see # 3).
 
 

10. Wash Your Hair Less

Washing your hair all the time is not ideal for healthy hair and hair growth. Your body produces natural oils that are nourishing for your hair follicles, and overwashing strips those oils away. Additionally, washing your hair less means drying, styling, and using products less – all of which will help your hair grow and stay healthy.
 
I’ve found a great balance in washing my hair twice a week and doing an oil mask once a week. My hair looks happy and healthy, and the maintenance is completely manageable.
 

Healthy Hair and Stimulating Hair Growth – The Takeaway

The final piece of advice I’ll offer is in the overall care and maintenance of your hair. Put a little coconut oil or argan oil on the tips after you wash your hair. This helps reduce split ends and dried out hair.
 
Brush your hair regularly but only brush your hair when it’s dry to prevent damage. Brushing your hair is a great additional way to stimulate your scalp (see # 3).
 
Finally, try not to stress too much about the health or current state of your hair. Stress impacts all aspects of your body’s functions and health overall, including hair growth! Following these tips will help your hair grow and cultivate happy, healthy hair.
 

This article has been read 10K+ times. Bada bing!

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Ashton August

Ashton is the founder and Content Director of YouAligned.com and YA Classes (we plant a food-producing tree for every class a member completes!). As a motivational author and speaker, distinguished yoga instructor and wellness entrepreneur, she believes that cultivating empowering self-talk and a healthy mindset opens the door to living an abundantly fulfilling life! Ashton lives in sunny Tucson, Arizona with her husband and their two rescue dogs.

ashtonaugust.com

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