Good Food = Good Hair: 6 Foods to eat for Good Hair

Howdy folks! This article is a repost from last year.  I was chatting with friends yesterday and the subject of hair growth came up.  One lady said she had difficulty growing her hair...she said her hair was the same length for almost three years...and she as not been cutting it.  My response was: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize...........and EAT FOOD That is GOOD for you.

So here is  a reminder of the food we can eat for good, healthy, beautiful hair. 

I have always been blessed with hair that has grown quickly and did not break easily.  I thought my hair was healthy and strong.  What I didn't realize was how much what I ate (or did not eat) affected my hair and scalp.  I thought since it was thick and long, and grew fast that it was healthy.  I've made references to the dry scalp issues I've had for years in earlier posts (Tress Update and The Hair Journey).  I was using the wrong products and my diet was definitely NOT optimal for truly healthy tresses. Now that I am starting from scratch, I am very curious to see how my "new" hair will perform under a reformed regime. 

Again: my definition of good hair is not texture, length, color...it's HEALTH (Your Hair is So Nappy).  I believe diet plays a bigger role the health of our hair than the products we use. 

Our entire body is fused into itself.  Our body works as a symphony not a soloist.  If we are not eating optimally, then some part of the symphony will suffer..it may be the horn section...or the string instruments or the percussion section.  Some areas make deficiencies more apparent such as kidney failure or a heart attack as opposed to weak hair and nails or tired eyes.  But all are signs that help is needed in a particular area of our orchestra. 

So just as diet will affect the chances of getting type 2 diabetes, it will affect the strength, porosity, retention and growth of our hair.  Here are some foods I found that will help my hair journey.

6 Foods to eat for Good Hair:

1.  Beans - they are rich in B vitamins and protein which are essential for strong hair.  Lack of B-vitamins can cause premature hair loss  and dry scalp which is what I was experiencing around my temple area. The vitamin B complex is important for protein metabolism, cell growth and repair.  Other foods containing the vitamin B complex are: whole grains, poultry, organ meats and eggs. The B complex includes:

oVitamin B1 (thiamine)

oVitamin B2 (riboflavin)

oVitamin B3 (niacin)

oVitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)

oVitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

oVitamin B7 (biotin)

oVitamin B9 (folic acid)

oVitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)

Beans - black eyed peas

2.  Molasses - this sweetener is rich is minerals and trace elements. Hair needs: zinc, iron, calcium, silicone (to name a few) all which are found in molasses. Iron deficiency leads to dull, brittle hair (1,2).

3. Coconut - this fruit gives a balanced proportion of minerals needed for hair.  The oil is one of the best  moisture sealants for natural black hair.  It works in two ways:  it can decrease penetration of water from the environment and can bind to the protein in our hair reinforcing the hair fiber which makes it stronger (1, 2).

Coconut fruit and oil

4.  Cucumber - provides sulfur and trace elements (1).  Di -sulfide bonds join sulfur atoms together creating amino acid linkages.  The more di-sulfide bonds you have the curlier or kinkier your hair will be. These bonds can only be broken by chemical means such as relaxers.  This is why relaxers are irreversible and you have to grow your perm out in order to have your natural texture back (2). 

5.  Spinach - provides vitamin A which aides in hair growth. Vitamin A can keep the dandruff forming process under control.  Too little of this vitamin can lead to dry hair and scalp.  Dry hair leads to breakage.  Conversely, too much vitamin A can lead to thin, coarse brittle hair.  Other foods high in vitamin A content are carrots, chard, apricots, mangoes, and watermelon (1,2).  

6.  Citrus fruits - provides vitamin C which is a collagen builder and helps us absorb iron.   The lack of vitamin C can cause bleeding under the skin and weak, brittle and dry hair and scalp. Vitamin C can also be found in broccoli, tomatoes and cauliflower (2).

In order to have truly healthy hair I have to beef up my diet in the areas of vitamins and minerals, protein and water.   Water is not a food but it is essential to every part of our body. The goal is to stay away from supplements and get what I need directly from the food source. 

Good ole broccoli

Are there any other foods that can be added to this list? Share your thoughts!

Peace and love!

References for this post:

1 -  Encyclopedia of Food and Their Healing Power - Dr. Pamplona-Roger

2 - The Science of Black Hair - Audrey Davis - Sivasothy

The Hair Journey: Your hair is so nappy!

I had an hour long conversation about hair today.  I could talk for hours about hair.  The topic of good vs. bad hair came up.  There is no such thing as bad hair color, bad texture, bad curl pattern, or bad level of kink.   All hair may not be healthy hair - and in my opinion THAT would equal bad hair.  Not the characteristics listed previously. 

Historically, in the black community, our hair identity has been traumatized.  We have been brainwashed to believe that kinky, nappy, curly hair is not good hair.  I must admit, in the last few years the mindset around natural hair has changed dramatically.  When I first converted to natural hair over ten years ago, I got a lot of slack for it.  There were hardly any hair care products on the market that were suitable and so I continued to use the same products I used when my hair was chemically treated.  Now there is a treasure trove of natural hair care products in the marketplace.  From big brands to grass root brands everybody has a piece of the natural hair pie.  For those of you who are already living the natural hair life:  ever experienced negative reactions about your hair?

Ladies, if you have the kinkiest hair on the block...you have the best hair for ANY style.  I'm talking  extreme versatility.  I assure you there are products that will enable you to unlock the potential of your natural tresses. 

My naps

Another question I have is:  why is hair so important to our identity?  Personally, when I am having a bad hair day I feel it in other areas of my day.  It does not matter what I am wearing. It could be a ball gown.   If my hair is not right...I feel weird. 

Hair is a mode of expression.  Whether it's straight, curly, nappy, blond, red, blue, pink, short, long, dreaded, braided, twisted, curled, or finger waved.  How we choose to style our hair expresses our inner being. 

I have to dig deeper into this love affair we have with our hair.  I'm on the prowl for all books/info out there.  If you know of any good information please pass it along!

Embrace your hair, no matter what texture it is!  :)

Peace and blessings!