4 simple tricks for longer, healthier hair

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At some point in our lives, many of us will have to deal with the thinning hair, baby hairs, and breakage that come alongside aging and everyday hair styling.

Whether it's stress-induced or the byproduct of years of scalding-hot styling tools, changes in hair volume and thickness are a fact of life. With that being said, not all is lost when it comes to maintaining healthy hair. If you're looking for ways to keep your hair healthier and thicker for longer, here are some tips and products that might just help.

Start with a scalp massage

Let's start things off with an often neglected part of your hair care routine: the scalp.

Just like the rest of your body, the scalp requires exfoliation to rid itself of dead skin cells and encourage healthy hair follicles. While there is still a ton of research that needs to be done, two small studies have found that massaging your scalp regularly may encourage thicker hair. In one study from 2019, participants reported their hair loss improved with a routine scalp massage.

Why is a scalp massage good for you? By increasing the blood flow to your scalp, it helps bring more nutrients to the hair follicles. A scalp massager is key to getting the best scalp massage possible. This particular massager brush has more than 78,000 reviews on Amazon and its soft silicone bristles are great for all hair types and sensitive skin.

Invest in a shower filter

We all know that hard water in the shower can wreak havoc on our hair and skin. Not only can it increase build-up and fade hair colour, but water with a high mineral content even impact hair loss.

If you're struggling with hair loss, the chemicals in your water supply may be a contributing factor. Hard water has been linked to dry hair and may cause hair loss due to breakage. The remedy? A shower filter.

By outfitting your washroom with a shower filter, chlorine fluoride heavy metals and other sediments can be filtered out of your water supply, resulting in a healthier scalp and shinier, softer hair.

Check out castor oil

If you're looking for an affordable, science-backed hair treatment, look no further than castor oil. When it comes to hair growth, castor oil has been used around the world for centuries to promote longer and thicker strands.

Loaded with vitamin E, fatty acids, and minerals, castor oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. The secret ingredient that makes castor oil so special is ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that helps promote a healthy scalp and increases the flow of blood to the hair follicle.

Incredibly versatile, its uses go beyond scalp care. The 100 per cent vegan oil can be used as a natural eyelash and eyebrow serum, in addition to supporting healthy hair.

While the scientific jury is still out on whether or not castor oil promotes hair growth, the product has been used for centuries for long and luscious locks, and anecdotally, people swear by it.

Switch up your hairstyle

While it can be easy to wear your hair in the same style every day, if your go-to look is a tightly pulled back pony, you may want to think twice.

Wearing a tight ponytail every day can actually cause damage to the hair follicles and result in mild hair loss if you're not careful. Because you're consistently applying pressure to the same area of hair, it's important to choose the right type of hairband. Most stylists agree that coiled hairbands are great for creating and holding a style, and as a bonus, they don't cause breakage to the hair.

If your coil hair ties start to get stretched out, an easy remedy is to hold them in front of a blowdryer and shrink them back to their original state.

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