How to keep your hair and skin healthy in this lockdown

There is no disputing the fact that good skin comes from within. We all want to achieve is glowing skin and healthy hair with a shine at almost any age. Starting into the new year leaving festive feasting behind and trying to keep up with our New Year’s resolutions, here are some tips on what affects our skin and hair and what foods can help erase the effects of dullness.
 
“Our emotions, lifestyle and diet all play an intrinsic role in our skin health. If you’re not eating or sleeping well, or are suffering from stress or anxiety, chances are it will show in your skin.” says Arabella Preston (British Vogue, January 2020), make-up artist and co-founder of skincare brand Votary.
 
Our gut and skin are intimately connected and affect one another through blood supply and nerves, therefore our diet and lifestyle heavily affects the makeup of our hair and skin health – to work at an optimum to produce protein for hair production and collagen for our skin, the right foods and vitamins are there to support our necessary intake of vitamins. Vitamin A, C and E are the vital basics for our skin health and B great for our nervous system and anti-inflammatory attributes.
 
Those vitamins also benefit the hair growth, especially a protein rich diet with hair being made out of hardened proteins called keratin. The right diet can indeed promote hair health and growth – here are some of the superfoods and supplements that benefit skin and hair:
 
Eggs are a great source of protein and biotin, which are important for hair health and growth. A deficiency in either of these nutrients has been linked to hair loss.
 
Berries are loaded with compounds like antioxidants and vitamins that may promote hair growth. For example, strawberries are rich in vitamin C, which aids collagen production and iron absorption, two factors that may promote hair growth.
 
Spinach is loaded with folate, iron, and vitamins A and C, which may promote hair growth. A deficiency in these nutrients may result in hair loss.
 
Fatty fish like salmon, herring and mackerel are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to improved hair growth and density. However, there are only a few studies in this area, so more are needed.

Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin A, which helps aid sebum production. Additionally, it has other factors that may help speed up the rate of hair growth. 

Avocados are rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant that may promote hair growth. Additionally, they are a great source of fatty acids, which appear to be crucial for hair growth. Like nuts, seeds are rich in vitamin E and other nutrients that may promote hair growth.

Oysters are one of the best sources of zinc in the diet. This mineral helps support the hair growth and repair cycle. 

And another tip from our head stylist Irene: Ban all your hot tools to give your hair a break for four weeks and keep up with regular treatments like hair masks and conditioners at home.