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?”
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 my 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.
Update as of April 2024: I recently switched my Shampoo and Conditioner to Clearstem and I am obsessed! They just came out with it. Non toxic and non-pore clogging. My discount code is MADDIE. I used to use and still also recommend Innersense and Oway Organics (both organic/non toxic & very effective). (none of these are sponsored btw! Just the best that I’ve found after trying SO. MANY. products over the years.)
My Personal Product Line-Up:
(Some of these products are saved in my Amazon Shop for easy access, too! ☺️) Clearstem products discounted here.
Shampoo = Update as of April 2024: I use Clearstem Shampoo (non toxic and non pore clogging and UH-mazing).
What I used previously and is still a great option (just not non-pore clogging): Hydrating Cream Hairbath.
In general for my shampoo: I shampoo twice until it’s sudsy and continue to add water throughout the shampoo massage.
Conditioner/Hair Mask = Update as of April 2024: Clearstem Repair Conditioner (non toxic and non pore clogging and UH-mazing).
What I used previously and is still a great option (just not non-pore clogging): Hydrating Cream Conditioner and Hydrating Hair Mask. I would alternate using these every other wash.
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 the less, the better! I only wash my hair once per week, MAX. Too much washing can damage your hair and dry out your scalp.
And I don’t recommend applying heat to your hair more than 1-2x per week.
2 weeks out of the month I’ll blow dry my hair with products in for heat protection, and then typically add in some light curls with my 2-inch curling wand. (for a non toxic hair spray, I use this one)
The curls last multiple days, so no need to keep reapplying heat!
The other 2 weeks of the month I just let it air dry with my products in and let it be natural.
Contrary to what you’ve heard about sleeping with your hair up - I highly recommend it. 👌🏻
Sleeping with your hair down can cause breakage, so I always sleep in a loose bun with my hair in an XL silk scrunchie + a silk pillowcase! These are my favorites!
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 - 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 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!)
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
It’s also important to consider optimal thyroid levels, iron levels, + more which can heavily impact hair growth. There are several factors that can affect hair growth/loss like hormone levels, gut microbiome, stress, + more.
If you’re interested in getting hair growth labs or learning more about functional labs like the DUTCH hormone test, GI Map, or thyroid panel, click here!
If you’re not sure which test is right for you, email me at hello@maddhealthy.com and we can choose the right one together.
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, an 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! ☺️
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