I Just Want Longer, Full and Healthy Hair Again

As a mom, sometimes it can be hard to get the basic daily routine things done like even brushing our hair. I am sure all of us have been guilty of putting our hair in a bun and running out the house. However, I want to share a few tips on  hair growth and easy ways we can incorporate everyday to help take care of your hair.

Do you want healthier, softer, thicker, smoother, longer, less frizzy, more manageable hair?
Many of us realize that after having babies, our hair changes, and it is not the same as it was before we had children. Childbirth and breastfeeding can take a toll on our overall health, including hair growth. Today, I’ll let you in on a secret! It starts with a healthy scalp.
When we have a healthy scalp, our hair follicles grow strong and healthy. Our hair grows in cycles; knowing this helps us understand how having a healthy scalp is the first and most crucial step to having great hair.

Phases Of Hair Growth

The first phase of the hair growth cycle is called the Anagen phase, or growth phase. During this, the time is when our hair does all its growing, about 2-7 years’ worth, to be exact. During the Anagen phase, it is of utmost importance to have a healthy scalp; having a healthy scalp allows for a prolonged Anagen phase.

The second phase is the transitional phase, called the Catagen phase; this is when our hair detaches and sits on our scalp; no growth happens here.
The following phase is the resting phase, called the Telogen phase, which lasts about three months. During this phase, your hair is just sitting on the scalp waiting for the next and last phase to begin.

The last phase, also known as the Exogen phase, is when the hair actively sheds (shedding is good and a natural part of the hair cycle, it makes way for new hair to come in and grow). Did you know we shed about 50-150 hairs a day in this phase? After this final phase, the cycle begins again. Having a healthy scalp is vital throughout the cycle because it allows for a healthier and longer growth phase. When we are stressed, have unhealthy eating habits or have underlying medical conditions, our scalp is damaged, and this is when we suffer from thinning hair and hair loss.

As a mom, we experience so many changes through the first years of motherhood. We go through moments of stress and hormonal changes that can also affect our hair. It can lead to hair loss or even periods where there is no growth. We don’t realize that some of the products that we use contribute to ways our scalp gets clogged by using products that contain parabens, sulfates, artificial colors, scents, and alcohol, to name a few. A good way to picture this phenomenon is to think of a tube of toothpaste that is all gunky. Now imagine that gunky tube while trying to squeeze some toothpaste out of it; this is what happens with our hair strands when our scalp is full of sebum, product build-up, and environmental factors such as pollution on our scalps. It’s hard for the hair to grow, and it won’t get enough of the hydration, moisture, and nutrients it needs to grow healthy and strong.

We can promote a healthy scalp by using good clean products on our hair. It starts with a shampoo free of parabens, sulfates, silicon’s, chemicals, artificial colors, scents, and alcohol-free. Take a good look at your shampoo and conditioner. Is it free of these things? If not, invest in a great one! It makes all the difference! Exfoliating your scalp is another excellent way to help our scalp’s health. Just as we exfoliate our face and skin, when we exfoliate our scalp, we remove the harsh chemicals and build up; this, in turn, allows the nutrients from our shampoo, conditioners, and good styling products to enter and nourish our hair. Adding in an oil treatment, which mimics our body’s oils, will also promote a healthy scalp that is less oily or dry, balances our PH levels, and reduces inflammation.

A few other tips I can share to promote a healthy scalp is to brush your hair and massage it while brushing; doing so stimulates the blood flow, which nourishes our follicles; it will also distribute the oils on our head down the strands of our hair. When washing your hair, you should always wash it twice. The first wash will cleanse the hair of all the build-up accumulated, and the second wash will prep the hair to receive the nutrients, moisture, and hydration your shampoo offers. Remember our diet and what we eat also makes a difference; eat lean proteins, healthy fats, fruits, and veggies.

Don’t forget your vitamins too! By focusing on your scalp’s health and implementing these tips, you can begin your journey to having great, healthy, fuller hair. Its a process to get back on track to healthy hair growth let’s get you started mama!