| Majoring in Curls | |
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| Email your questions to Aimee. |
The holiday season is finally upon us! Who can resist time with the family? For college students with a semester of the year under our belts, it’s a time to relax.
But unfortunately, December also can be a month of utter chaos and craziness, especially with finals, Christmas shopping, the trip home for winter break, partying with old friends and overeating. Add to all this the colder weather, and it’s a recipe for disaster. Overdoing things causes your immune system to crash, and you can feel the difference if you don’t take care of yourself. It can be horrible for both your health and your hair!
I’m not suggesting popping vitamins and Echinacea all day long. But a few changes in your eating habits will drastically improve the look and condition of your hair. The last thing we want at a holiday party are dull, frizzy curls. This isn’t Halloween, after all.
To prevent hair loss, everyone needs about 50 grams of protein during the day. So don’t skimp on the chicken and fish. All people lose about 25 to 250 hairs a day. This seems like a huge range, but most people consistently lose the same amount daily. Whenever I shampoo, which is usually about twice a week, I always end up with a hand full of hair — as I’m sure the rest of you do. Don’t worry about this unless it seems to be a lot more than usual. This could be due to excessive amounts of stress, poor nutrition or a hormonal problem. If you’re really worried, definitely give your doctor a ring and let them know.
The cold weather of the season also can cause dry, brittle hair. That means you need to give it more moisture! Never skip out on the conditioner. But a lack of fatty acids in your diet can also make the hair dull, no matter how much you condition. Primrose, flaxseed and fish oils will help this. You can buy capsules at any vitamin store or pharmacy.
You can also get another boost of shine from foods rich in iron and Vitamin B. Green leafy veggies are always a healthy choice. They are full of iron and other lovely nutrients. In addition, foods high in Vitamin C are crucial because they enable your body to better absorb iron. Vitamin C also increases circulation in the scalp and promotes growth. So load up. Whole grains, legumes, eggs, carrots, cauliflower, and raisins are great examples of foods high in Vitamin B. If you don’t like eating healthy, get over it! Cut back on the saturated fats, caffeine and corn syrup. Skin, hair, and teeth all benefit from good food.
