Those threadlike strands growing on our bodies exist for more than just looks. The healthiness of your hair is an indication of your body’s larger-scale physical condition, which is why it’s essential for folks to pay attention to their hair as much as they do to other aspects and parts of their bodies.
With that said, many folks are looking for more and more underemphasized methods to help with stimulating their hair’s natural growth and extending its lifespan – for the sake of the strands’ length, strength, and health.
Luckily, we’ve gathered a few solid pieces of advice for our readers just for this occasion. Join us as we go through the different ingenious ways to help stimulate hair follicles!
Scalp Massages
Massaging your head (or getting it massaged by someone else) already has a plethora of positive traits to consider when it boils down to stress and tension. Besides easing your mind, and, well, your ‘soul’ – scalp massages have proved effective in promoting healthy hair as well. x
According to an in-depth study from 2016, frequent scalp massages, including those done while lathering your hair with shampoo, have a good chance of promoting the development of thicker hair strands.
A follow-up study from 2019 has supported the notion that scalp massages can reduce the likelihood of hair loss. By stretching the cells of the follicles, your body, in turn, produces thicker strands as the blood vessels beneath the skin are stimulated.
Periodic Trims
It may sound somewhat strange for there to be a connection between haircuts and healthy follicles, but it’s true. For women especially, frequent trims can prevent split ends – said split ends aren’t just a visual annoyance, either!
Split ends have been linked to loss of overall shine, volume, and smoothness of the strands. The hair fibers are effectively stripped from their protective layer, or cuticle, in other words.
Since hair is a byproduct composed mainly of keratin, there are “older segments” (to simplify things a bit) that need to be removed once there are signs of dryness and brittleness.
The Right Method of Brushing
Brushing is necessary, yet it’s also commonly linked to being the culprit of various hair-related problems. This is because a lot of people brush too aggressively without realizing it.
While you should brush consistently to distribute the natural, healthy oils (which maintain the hair’s moisture), you should be wary of brushing vigorously to the point of plucking out healthy hair strands.
The recommended amount of brush sessions per day is two to three, using careful, gentle strokes and movements. This way, you will avoid breakage and further strain that could potentially cause hair loss in select areas.
Showering With Care
With regard to showering properly, you need to keep in mind that our hair wasn’t made to be lathered with an insane amount of shampoo, nor should it be over-washed. One’s hair is meant to repair itself through self-hydrating means, which is why shampooing should be limited to three or four times per week.
In addition to this, rinsing off with cool water – while unpleasant – does strengthen the strands and seal the cuticle layer, which in turn prevents future excess oil buildup.
The drying process on its own is another prominent aspect of hair maintenance, as you’re better off letting the hair dry slowly without rubbing your towel all over it aggressively for the sake of speeding up the process. Remember – light taps and gentle motions go a long way!
Be Cautious with Chemicals
Bleaching, dying, and other forms of chemical treatment – they’re as popular as ever, and there’s no sign of people stopping their use. With that said, it should come as no surprise that these processes can hinder hair growth or create unwanted reactions.
These types of chemical treatments can raise the outer layers of your hair strands, thus damaging the bonds that keep your hair healthy and strong. This means your hair will be more prone to breakage and, in turn, split ends.
We hope you found this article helpful and insightful! There are additional factors to keep in mind when talking about healthy hair, such as the food you eat and the amount of exposure your follicles have to heat-based treatment. Nevertheless, we’ve gathered the essential aspects that determine overall hair quality in the long run.