I used to believe that hair loss was something that happened to middle-aged people- until I became ill with PCOS at age 17, and one of the symptoms was significant hair loss. When I was searching for a solution, I was frustrated to find that hair loss was mostly viewed as a cosmetic problem when in reality it’s a reflection of what’s going on internally, such as hormonal imbalances, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, and stress. The American Psychological Association found that millennials are 52% more likely to have stress-induced sleepless nights than any other generation.
By following the steps below, I was able to grow my hair from chin length to hip length in less than two years. I was also able to correct and reverse the underlying causes of my hair loss.
Internal Solutions:
Your skin is an organ and your hair is a by-product of that organ. These are the things that healed my body from the inside out:
⦁ Grass-fed beef and liver
⦁ Other minimally processed meats and wild-caught fish
⦁ Chicken and duck eggs
⦁ Bone Broth
⦁ Lots of healthy fats, like coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, olives, grass-fed butter and ghee, and raw or sprouted nuts and seeds
⦁ Dark leafy greens
⦁ Cod liver oil
- External Solutions:
⦁ Other than shampoo, don’t use any products on your scalp- including conditioner. The silicones and other ingredients can clog your follicles.
⦁ To help remove build up, I make a solution of 1/3 parts raw apple cider vinegar to 2/3 parts water and pour it on my scalp and hair after shampooing and conditioning, and then rinse in cold water.
⦁ I highly recommend sleeping with your hair in a satin sleep cap to protect it from being roughed up in your sleep.
⦁ When your hair is wet, run your hands through it gently until a strand comes loose on its own. Pull either side of the strand. If your hair stretches really far before breaking, it likely needs protein- if it snaps instantly, it likely needs moisture. Healthy hair requires a balance of protein + moisture, and your hair’s needs will vary over time.
⦁ If your hair is protein deficient, get a bottle of Colorful Neutral Protein Filler from Sally Beauty Supply and pour it into a small spray bottle. Once a week, shampoo your hair and then spray the neutral all over the length of your hair. Put it up in a shower cap and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then put conditioner on top of the neutral, and let it all set for another hour then rinse. This made a huge difference in the health of my hair when it was literally falling out in chunks. - As well as helping promote growth internally, eggs also help protein-deficient hair externally- after doing an oil treatment on hair, rinse with cool water and massage a couple of eggs into your scalp, allowing it to run through the length of your hair. Then rinse with cool or cold water (even slightly warm water will cook the eggs into your hair) and shampoo and condition.
⦁ Massaging castor oil onto your scalp and covering it with a shower cap then washing it out 6-8 hours later helps stimulate your hair follicles.
⦁ Coconut oil is great for damaged hair, and olive oil is great for dry hair. I massage these into my hair and leave on for 6-8 hours.
⦁ Liquid raw honey mixed with a little conditioner is great for adding moisture to your hair, as honey is a humectant
These are the things that helped me regrow my hair, both in volume and length. I hope they work for you as well!
