Our mission at Odylique has always been working with nature and your body in harmony to create the healthiest version of you.
Whilst our natural shampoo and conditioners are packed with nutrients to encourage beautiful, healthy hair, if what you put IN your body is less than optimal, there’s only so far we can go.
Like any other part of your body, your hair needs nourishment from the inside out to look its best.
Understanding your hair’s structure:
Regardless of your hair type, we all have a similar hair structure.
The hair has three layers, each with its own clear purpose and nutritional need.
1.The Medulla
The medulla is the inner layer of the hair that has the rather important job of storing DNA – information that can reveal the part of the body where the hair came from.
- The Cortex
Your hair’s cortex wraps around the medulla and makes up the majority of the hair shaft. Your cortex is what defines the thickness, elasticity, colour and curl of your hair.
- The Cuticle
The outermost layer, your hair’s cuticle is there to protect the hair. It’s made up of scales that lift and close according to how much moisture your hair needs. If your hair is dull or dry, the cuticles are usually to blame, as they need to lie flat to offer shine.
Understanding your hair’s type:
Our hair’s structure can influence our hair type – thicker hair types have all three types of the structure, fine hair may be missing the medulla, and all need to be nourished appropriately to look its best.
You may have:
- Dry hair – this is easy to break, frizzy and lacks shine
- Fine hair – this is thin, may be very soft and difficult to manage
- Curly hair – there are many types of curl, from wide, to small.
- Afro hair – there are several types of afro hair, which define the extent of the curl, how brittle the hair is and what nutrition it needs
- Thick hair – this can mean full hair shafts, or lots of hair
- Normal hair – this means easy to manage hair with little damage, that doesn’t overproduce oil and shines naturally
- Greasy hair – this actually relates to an overproduction of sebum on the scalp and is usually caused by damage and dryness in the hair cortex. The scalp then overcompensates by producing extra protective moisture for the hair shaft.
WHAT TO EAT FOR YOUR HAIR TYPE
Regardless of your hair’s type, for it to be healthy, we all need to eat a diet rich in the following ingredients:
Protein
Like our nails, our hair is made of mostly protein, particularly keratin, so a diet rich in this nutrient is essential. Often if you’re experiencing hair loss, it will be advised that you up your grams of protein per day to compensate.
CHOOSE:
- White Meat
- Grass fed steak
- Eggs
- Fish
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Legumes
- Nuts
Iron
Iron is vital for healthy hair, because your follicles and roots are fed by a nutrient rich blood supply. If you’ve ever even nicked your scalp, you’ll have noticed it bleeds copiously – this is why.
Conditions like anaemia are the result of low iron and this can result in hair thinning and loss.
CHOOSE
Grass fed red meat, chicken and fish offer the easiest bioavailabity of iron (we absorb this the easiest), but for vegetarians and vegans pulses and leafy greens are a good source of iron too:
- Lentils
- Spinach
- Cruciate vegetables
- Kale, Broccoli
*it is not true that drinking Guinness can help the hair with iron, although the yeast content in beer and other craft ales can help with shine and strength
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps produce collagen, improving the quality of blood feeding the hair. It also helps the body absorb iron better so is useful in feeding your scalp and hair.
CHOOSE
- Purple fruits
- Oranges
- Kiwis
- Sweet Potato
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
We don’t make Omega 3 Fatty Acids naturally, so we need to consume them, which is best done through the diet as opposed to through supplements. Omega-3’s feed the scalp and ensure strong, shining hair.
CHOOSE:
- Ethically sourced oily fish
- Avocado
- Pumpkin seeds
- Walnuts
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a key component in sebum, the oily substance created to protect and nourish the scalp and hair shaft.
CHOOSE
Orange coloured veg rich in beta carotene (which makes Vitamin A)
Carrots, Pumpkins and Sweet potato
Zinc
A diet deficient in zinc leads to hair loss and scalp imbalances
CHOOSE
- Wholegrains (also rich in Biotins necessary for strong hair)
- Oysters
- Grass fed beef
- Eggs.
- Nuts (also rich in vitamin E)
FEED YOUR HAIR FROM THE OUTSIDE IN
Alongside a diet rich in key nutrients, we advise using a natural, organic shampoo which is free from sulphates and parabens. Our Gentle Herb Shampoo is also vegan, PH balanced, and packed with ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile and coconut oil.
You can also feed the hair with a weekly, or bi weekly conditioner. Our Chamomile and Coconut conditioner is packed with essential amino acids and a prebiotic chicory extract that contributes toward a healthy-looking scalp by balancing the skin microbiota.
These work to feed the hair from the outside in, as part of a balanced regime for your hair health.
Odylique are the leading experts in organic, natural haircare that works for the whole family, without causing irritation. View the whole of our haircare line here now
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