Routines, Products, and Supplements for MaddHealthy Hair

As a health coach and FDN-P, a lot of the questions I get in my DMs are around gut and hormone related issues, PCOS, fertility, thyroid, etc.

BUTTTT there’s one off-the-wall topic that I get a LOT of questions around, and I have avoided answering for YEARS. I wanted to be thorough enough, so I kept putting it off! “What’s your hair routine?” “How do you get such long and thick hair?” “What non toxic hair products do you use?” “How often do you wash your hair?” “Do you use non toxic hair color?” “Do you have extensions?” …

Aside from being born with thick and crazy hair, there are many things I do daily/weekly that have helped me grow my hair longer/stronger/healthier than ever! These tips & tricks have also led to our clients to receive frequent compliments from their stylists: "What have you been doing? Your hair is growing incredibly quickly!" "What changes have you made since our last appointment? Your hair is in the best condition I've ever seen!" 

Sooo.. here are my best tips, all summed up for ya! ☺️

Hair Care Products

First off, the quality of your products makes a huge difference. I don’t believe in skimping on price here. I also only wash my hair once a week, so my products last a long time w/ this schedule and end up being way more affordable than washing multiple times a week w/ cheap products.

My Personal Product Line-Up:

(Most of these products are saved in my ShopMy for easy access, too! ☺️) Clearstem products discounted here.

• Shampoo:

  • Hydrating Cream Hairbath (non toxic and ahhhmazing, just not “non-pore clogging” — so, if you struggle w/ back acne or if it affects the skin on your face, see my other fave option below).

  • Clearstem Shampoo (non toxic and non pore clogging and also UH-mazing)

  • In general for my shampoo: I shampoo twice until it’s sudsy and continue to add water throughout the shampoo massage.

• Conditioner/Hair Mask:

  • Hydrating Cream Conditioner and Hydrating Hair Mask. I alternate using these every other wash. (non toxic and ahhhmazing, just not “non-pore clogging” — so, if you struggle w/ back acne or if it affects the skin on your face, see my other fave option below).

  • Clearstem Repair Conditioner (non toxic and non pore clogging and also UH-mazing)

  • In general for my conditioner: I leave it in for several minutes and brush my hair while I have the product in to make sure it’s evenly distributed and detangled.

• Hair Oil = Oway Silk’n Glow Serum. I apply this first thing out of the shower with super wet hair.

• Leave-in Conditioner = Sweet Spirit Leave-in Conditioner and/or Hair Love Prep Spray. If I’m blow-drying my hair I always add these in beforehand.

• Curl Cream = Quiet Calm Curl Control. This is typically my go-to if I’m just letting my hair air dry, curly.

• Dry Shampoo = Acure Dry Shampoo Powder. My hair doesn’t get oily very often because it’s naturally on the dryer and coarse side, but will use if I ever put in too much product or just need a little to get me by!

Hair Care Routine

Honestly, I really believe less is more when it comes to hair care. I only wash my hair once a week—max. Over-washing can strip your scalp of its natural oils and lead to dryness and damage.

I also try to limit heat styling to just 1–2 times per week.

For about two weeks out of the month, I’ll blow dry my hair using clean, non-toxic heat protectants, then add light curls with my 2-inch curling wand. (for a non toxic hair spray, I use this one).

Pro tip for non-toxic hair care: When I can, I head to a Blow Dry Salon—it’s quick, easy, and I can get some work done while I’m there. But most salons use products loaded with ingredients I don’t want anywhere near my body, so I bring my own clean products for them to use. Works like a charm every time.

The best part = the curls last for days, so there’s no need to keep reapplying heat!

The other two weeks of the month, I keep it simple: I let my hair air dry with my favorite products and rock the natural look.

Contrary to what you’ve heard about sleeping with your hair up - I highly recommend it. 👌🏻  

Wearing it down can cause friction and breakage. I always sleep with mine in a loose bun using an XL silk scrunchie and a silk pillowcase. These are my go-tos and total game changers!

Best Supplements for Healthy Hair

Even though your genes play a big role in your hair, I do recommend a few supplements that help keep your hair healthy + strong, especially as we age.

• Grass-fed Collagen - 1 serving a day! I add mine into my daily matcha! Collagen is a protein that makes up a significant portion of our hair, skin, and nails. It provides the amino acids that are used to build hair + keep it strong. I love and use many brands of high quality, plain, grass-fed collagen. I also love and use BWBK protein weekly (esp. in my morning Bone Broth Hot Chocolate) which is an amazing source of collagen protein in addition to other hair-healthy nutrients!

• Bone Broth - Bone broth is rich in collagen, gelatin, amino acids, and minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and others that are essential for hair health and growth. The collagen in bone broth can help strengthen hair, while the amino acids can help in building hair proteins and strengthening the skin around hair roots. My fave brand that I drink every week = Kettle & Fire (code MADDHEALTHY gets ya 20% off!) - and I seriously drink this BBHC every morning.

• Desiccated Beef Liver - Nature’s multivitamin! Ancestral Supplements (MADDIE10 for 10% off) and Perfect Supplements (code MADDIE for 10% off) are both high quality brands that I use and love. Beef liver is rich in iron, vitamin A, B vitamins (especially B12), and other minerals that are crucial for hair growth. This one makes a HUGE difference for my clients (and myself!)

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Found in high quality fish oil supplements, omega-3 fatty acids are essential for healthy hair growth. They nourish the hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth. Omega-3s also have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to combat scalp conditions that contribute to hair loss! I like and use Nordic Naturals Pro Omega 2000 through Fullscript or the DHA+ from WeNatal. *Note: many Omega 3/fish oil supplements on the market are rancid and can actually ***cause inflammation, making it crucial to choose a high-quality, well-researched product. If the fish oil isn't good quality, it's actually better to not use it at all!

Labs & Testing for Healthy Hair

If you're dealing with hair loss, thinning, or just feel like your hair is "missing something," it’s so important to look at what’s going on underneath the surface. Things like thyroid health, iron levels, and other nutrient or hormone imbalances play a major role in hair growth and strength.

Hair health isn’t just about what you’re putting on your scalp—your hormones, gut microbiome, stress levels, and more all influence how your hair grows (or doesn’t).

If you're curious about digging deeper with functional testing—like a thyroid panel, the DUTCH hormone test, or a GI Map—I can help you figure out which option makes the most sense!

Click here to explore our signature MHM program which includes functional labs, or email me at hello@maddhealthy.com and we’ll figure out the best next step together! <3

Things to Avoid for Healthy Hair

Of course there are also things you want to avoid to keep your hair strong and healthy, too! Things like:

• Washing too often  - this can strip the essential oils that keep your hair naturally moisturized and protected. This leads to dry, brittle hair.

• Oil stripping shampoos - that's why I'm a fan of the Hydrating Cream Hairbath because it leans towards a "no-poo" approach rather than being like the majority of shampoos out there that harshly remove oils with harmful/toxic ingredients.

• Applying too much heat - I really don’t recommend using hot tools more than 2x per week.

• Too much bleaching - I totally understand the want to color your hair (I do too!). But consider going for a more “lived in” look for less frequent bleaching (I get balayage with organic Oway color every 4-6 months).

• Chronic stress - When the body is in a chronic fight or flight state, (aka: “running from the tiger”) it will only prioritize vital functions for survival. Hair growth is not an essential function that keeps you alive, so it will be one of the first things to go if your cortisol levels are constantly high.

• Poor diet - nutrient deficiencies like iron, zinc, niacin, folate, + more are needed for optimal hair growth. Without these, growth can stop altogether and lead to thinning hair. If you’re concerned about possible mineral deficiencies, our testing included in the MHM program like HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) can give you a closer look!

Being patient + consistent with your habits will be key for your hair growth journey. ❤️ 

I know it can feel like progress takes foreverrrr to see, but know that the products, supplements, and healthy habits you’re implementing really ARE making a difference!

XO,

Maddie

P.S.1 I know that was a tonnnn of info, so if you have any questions at all, comment below or email me at hello@maddhealthy.com and ask away! ☺️

P.S.2 For more actionable health and wellness insights like this and more subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.

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