NorthStar Nutritionals Blog

Hair hydration can be just as important to hair growth as what’s happening at your scalp – but so many people forget about this vital step!

Sure, hair growth is the goal, and we’re not denying that. But healthy hair requires hydration, too.

Especially considering hair dries out as you age. Just when you need strong healthy hair the most, it starts drying out and breaking off.

Suddenly, you’re looking at thinning growth at the scalp AND through the length.

But you can break that cycle and keep your hair hydrated, healthy, and growing, with these eight hair hydration techniques…

1. Shampoo less often. Unless you’re actively getting it dirty, your hair only needs to be shampooed once or twice a week. Shampoos strip your hair of their natural oils, which causes the strands of hair to become brittle and break. It doesn’t matter how much hair you’re growing if it’s breaking off.

2. Condition more. Some people even recommend conditioning every single time you’re in the shower. Others may only need it every other time you’re in the shower. The key, though, is making sure you condition far more often than you shampoo.

3. Read your labels. It’s easy to just grab anything labelled “deep conditioning” or “moisturizing shampoo” off the shelf and think you’re okay. Don’t do that. Take the time to read the labels. Make sure you’re avoiding chemicals and compounds that will dry out and weigh down your hair. If the ingredients include sulfates, non-water soluble silicones, parabens, or waxes, find another option. You’re not doing yourself any favors, no matter what the bottle promises in terms of hair hydration.

4. Reach for hot oil. Remember the classic hot oil treatment? Well, there’s a reason it’s a classic. And you don’t have to buy anything special product. You can get the same (or better) results from the oils you may have in your pantry. Heat olive oil coconut oil, or sesame oil in the microwave until just warm enough to feel but not hot enough to burn. Comb the oil through dry hair and wrap it in a towel or shower cap for twenty minutes. Shampoo and condition your hair, as usual. For best results, follow the whole routine once a week.

5. Fats work, too. If hot oil makes you nervous – or makes your hair greasy, rather than hydrated – try one of these high-fat foods: avocado, mayonnaise, or egg. Choose any of these once a week for best results.

Avocado: Peel an avocado, and combine it with two tablespoons of olive oil, mixing until smooth. Apply to clean, damp hair. Leave it for thirty minutes, then rinse.
Mayonnaise: Apply one cup of full-fat mayo to clean, damp hair. Wrap in a shower cap for an hour. Rinse with tepid water, and then shampoo.
Egg: Whip an egg white with two tablespoons of lukewarm water. Apply to clean, damp hair. Massage scalp and length for fifteen minutes. Shampoo with cool water.

6. Vinegar. Dry hair is often the result of product build-up – conditioner and even shampoo can build-up, even though it’s meant to clean! It’s important to rid your hair of this build-up without stripping it or causing further damage. Wash your hair as usual. Mix ½ c vinegar with one cup water. Rinse clean, damp hair with vinegar solution. Let sit for ten minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Only use this treatment once a week, at most.

7. Skip the heat. Styling with hair dryers, flat irons, or hot curlers can damage your hair, especially in the winter. Whenever possible, let your hair air dry or use the lowest heat setting possible.

8. Eat for your hair health. Hair hydration doesn’t have to just come from the outside. Just like your diet effects your skin and nails, it affects your hair, as well. Make sure you’re getting plenty of omega-3s – think salmon and nuts – as well as leafy greens, for their vitamins.

As important as hair hydration is for growth, it’s not the only step you can take! So, embrace hair supplements, as well.

You don’t need to undergo surgery or take prescription medications for hair health. Not when we’ve learned which supplements your body needs to promote healthy, shiny hair from the inside.

Take targeted hair health supplements, like Restore FX, instead so that you get the hair growth you want, the way you want it – naturally!

Don’t just focus on growth at the scalp. Focus on hair hydration and overall health, for the best looking hair you’ve had in years.

By now you know that movement is key to keeping your joints healthy – even if your instinct is to rest in order to avoid injury.

Because regular, low-impact aerobic activity is one of the best things you can do to stay mobile and keep your joints fluid.

So you walk, or swim, or ride…something, almost every day.

But when was the last time you thought about good balance and how stability affects your joints?

If you’re like most people, the answer to that very well may be “never.”

So, we’re about to change that, because good balance is almost as important as low-impact aerobic activity when it comes to joint health.

Breaking the Cycle

People with joint discomfort tend to end up in a cycle before they even realize it’s begun. They hurt – or they don’t realize how important good balance is – so they don’t focus on balance.

Which makes them a little wobbly on their feet. Which makes them afraid of falling. Which keeps them from working on their balance. You see how it goes.

Connecting the Dots Between Joint Health and Balance

Good balance comes from strong muscles and bones. They work together to support your joints as you move, twist, lift, squat, or dance.

Practically every move you make is supported by strong muscles and bones.

Guess what’s also supported by strong muscles and bones? That’s right – your joints. Without them, your joints can only be so healthy and stable.

Your ligaments and tendons can only do so much.

And if your muscles have gotten weak enough that you are struggling with balance, it’s a good bet that they aren’t helping your joints and keeping them as healthy as they should.

Another connection between good balance and joint health is that moment when you do slip, because everyone slips at some point.

The difference between catching yourself or tweaking the joint and doing some real damage is often good balance.

But that also means that healthy joints are important for good balance. It’s a two-way street, after all. Because when you do slip, your joints are part of what helps keep you standing and stable – so long as they are healthy.

An unhealthy, weak joint will allow you to fall.

Luckily, it really doesn’t matter which comes first, good balance or healthy joints. Work on one and the other will follow.

Getting Good Balance

Balance exercises are the best way to achieve good balance. It’s important, though, to start at your fitness level and not push yourself too hard to start.

Forget “no pain, no gain.” No pain is good! No pain is the reason you’re working on balance and healthy joints! Work these into your exercise routine at least three days per week for best results.

Beginning Balance Exercises: Stand on one foot. That’s all you have to do. Grab a chair, a counter, or even rest your hand on the wall. Anything to help you keep your balance. Then lift your right leg off the ground. Hold it for thirty seconds and then relax. Switch feet. Stick with this until you no longer need to depend on the chair for balance and standing on one foot is easy.

Intermediate Balance Exercises:

1. Heel-Toe Walking. Think about walking a balance beam. Walk in a straight line, putting the heel of your front foot directly against the toe of your back foot. Extending your arms will help keep you balanced as well. Walk across the room, turn around, and come back. Note: make sure you have a clear path from one wall to the next.

2. Walk backwards. You might want to keep your hand on the wall for this one, just so you don’t swerve or run into anything. But mixing it up by walking backwards will help improve your balance. Don’t worry about heel-toe walking this time. Just walk backwards down one hall, turn around, and come back.

Advanced Balance Exercises: Look into taking yoga or tai chi classes. You can even get videos if going to a class doesn’t work for you. They have classes and videos available for every fitness level, so don’t think you have to be a gymnast to start. In spite of the name, you don’t have to be terribly advanced to move into this category, but it would help to be able to stand on one foot before you start classes.

Getting Healthy Joints

Since healthy joints are tied to good balance, and good balance is connected to healthy joints, it’s important to work both sides of the equation.

Keep moving. While these few balance exercises will help with good balance, thirty minutes of moderate, low-impact aerobic exercise, most days a week, is still key. Add the balance exercises to the end of these thirty minutes for best results.

Eat well. Your entire body needs the right vitamins, mineral, and nutrients – and your joints are no different. Nourish your joints with a healthy diet to keep them strong and healthy.

Lose weight, if necessary. For some people, weight isn’t an issue. If you’re one of them, you can skip this step. But if you are carrying around more pounds than you should be, try to lose it. The more weight you’re carrying, the more stress you’re putting on your joints.

Think supplements. While it’s always best to get the nutrients your body needs from food, that’s not always possible. Focus on supplements that are especially designed to promote joint health, like LunaFlex PM, so that you’re targeting your body’s specific needs.

Good balance is about more than just being stable on your feet. It’s about quality of life, being able to keep doing the things you love, and about being sure of yourself.

And the best news is that it’s never too late to start working on achieving good balance, no matter your current fitness level. So, stand up, get behind your chair, and see what good balance looks like to you!