Iron & our hair

I recently went for blood tests and found that I was low in iron. Low iron is very common in women, and can affect how our hair grows. In this post I will be looking at how iron is linked to hair growth.

Our hair is made up on protein – this is why it is so important to maintain good protein levels in our hair but not to overload it with protein therefore balancing it out with moisturise

To help hair grow we need to have a healthy scalp and good blood flow to the scalp.

For good blood flow we need our iron levels to be at a sufficient level, low iron means less oxygen around the body and less oxygen means you feel tired and other process in your body slow down, ie your nails constantly break and your hair doesn’t grow as fast as it would, why? – these are not vital for your body to operate and therefore will take a backside until your iron levels pick up.

I would never advice to take vitamin supplements as these could cause unnecessary complication in your body, or will just main you are producing expensive urine!

Keep a good diet, to help your body absorb iron

1.     Drink a glass of orange juice in the morning – Vitamin C is helps with iron absorption

2.    Eat plenty of iron rich foods such as potatoes, broccoli, liver, red meat.

 

If you have a good balance of vitamins and nutrients to help your hair grow do

1.     Scalp massages – this stimulates blood flow to the head

2.    Use peppermint essential oil –diluted with your carrier oils or shampoos, it has antifungal properties which is great for a healthy scalp.

3.    Clarify your hair – Clarifying removes any product build up that prevents all the great products getting to your strands.

 

Bottom line message keep a healthy balanced diet, you will be amazed at what good supplements you are picking up even from the junk we eat (side note: this is not to encourage junk eating), however, unless you are found with a vitamin deficiency tablets might not always be the best option for hair growth.

(disclaimer: I am currently on iron supplements to correct my iron deficiency, per doctor’s recommendation, they are not been taken to help my hair growth)

Happy Hair Journeys Ladies! :-)

‘I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be’ – Douglas Adams