Hair Treatments
HEALTHY HAIR TREATMENTS FOR FORMER SMOKERS
Nothing says healthy better than a full thick head of hair. Does smoking affect hair growth? In my opinion, yes. That or I’m just getting old and want more hair and thicker hair. All of the B vitamins are great for your hair, especially Biotin, which I don’t personally take right now, but will once I effectively quit smoking. But in terms of stimulating hair and follicle growth there are several things you can to do help your hair.
An Apple Cider Vinegar rinse will help to remove dead cells from the scalp.
Rinsing your hair with Cold water (as cold as I can take at the end of a shower) is refreshing and also seems to makes my hair thicker when it dries.
Peppermint and Rosemary are said to stimulate hair follicles and hair growth and once a week or so I wash my hair with Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap. It does leave the hair “residue-y” but I’m using it more for my scalp than my hair, you actually feel the tingling from the peppermint on your head and while some people don’t like it, I love it, because I feel like it’s making my hair grow. For regular everyday shampoo, I’m a Prell girl. (It’s overpriced on Amazon, but less than $3.00 per bottle at my grocery store). There was Seinfeld episode where Jerry compares using Prell to washing your hair with dishwashing detergent, but I’m a big believer in it. I feel like it makes my hair feel thicker. The other thing I never do anymore is condition my hair, because I feel like conditioners make my hair feel thinner. The best thickening shampoo and thickening spray is still Bumble and Bumble. I’ve tried them all, including ones with Biotin and none of them are as good. Kiehl’s used to have a good thickening shampoo but they changed it and it’s not as good anymore.
This lemon sage thickening spray is not as good as Bumble and Bumble, but it’s less expensive and what I love most about it, is the scent and the spray nozzle, which you get right to your scalp. After I run out of the spray, I rinse the bottle and use it as a dispenser for my own Peppermint Oil and Rosemary Oil scalp misting oil. I use almond or olive oil as the carrier oil, then I add a capsule of Borage Oil (which is similar to Evening Primose, as they both contain Gamma Linolenic Acid, an Omega-6 fatty acid) which may encourage hair growth, along with Peppermint Oil and Rosemary Oil. I keep it refrigerated and spray it onto my scalp nightly before bed.
My favorite treatment to stimulate hair growth? Saunas! I love a good sauna treatment, another self-care ritual that if you can treat yourself too - will also help your hair grow.
Gelatin is also great for your hair so drink plenty of bone broth!!
LED Red Light therapy also stimulates hair growth, I use mine mostly to boost collagen but I also go over the hairline around my face to boost hair follicles and hair growth.