Tips on How to Strengthen Hair

By Tiffany Walker

Naturalistas, who doesn’t want healthy, hydrated, and strong hair? Ultimately, these are all dependent on the strength of your hair. Often, we sacrifice our curls’ health and make some hair decisions that might not be the healthiest. When it comes to strengthening your hair and promoting healthy hair, there are some critical steps to improving your curls’ health. Hair looks great and can be healthy at any length, but there are some things you can do to improve the strength that also may promote health in the process. We’re here to get to the bottom of it, and help you learn how to strengthen hair naturally! 

How Do I Know if My Hair is Weak?

Knowing if your hair preventing you from having strong and healthy hair may be challenging. If your hair is weak, here are some things to look out for.

Can’t Hold Moisture

If your hair seems always to be dry or looks dehydrated, you may have weak hair. Hydration is an integral part of having strong hair, so without the right amount of moisture, your hair becomes dry and breaks off. 

No Elasticity 

Elasticity is related to your hair’s protein. If a hair strand doesn’t bounce back to its natural curl after stretching or manipulating it, it probably lacks the proper amount of protein it needs to be strong. 

Thinning 

If your hair is not full from the hair root to the tip and looks like it thins towards the ends, your thinning hair needs some strengthening.

Breakage

If you are experiencing a lot of breakages or split ends, your hair is weak. Hair breakage results from a lack of proper moisture and a balance of protein in the hair.

What Causes Weak Hair?

Before you ask, what can I do to strengthen my hair? First, you need to understand the cause of its damage. Weak hair can lead to breakage, hair loss, dehydration, and an overall limp look. Identifying the signs and root causes of weak hair can help you turn it all around and revive the solid and healthy curls you’ve always had! Here are some potential causes of weak hair:

Hormonal Imbalance: Hormonal imbalances like hyperthyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, pregnancy, and menopause are potential causes of weak hair. The usual signs of this include dryness, hair thinning, brittleness, and hair loss. 

Stress: There is a lot of research showing links between hair loss and stress, but stress can also lead to hair breakage. The type of hair damage that is related to stress is called telogen effluvium. The trigger of stress pushes hair follicles into a dormant or resting phase. You may experience hair loss when combing or washing hair, and hair in the process of retention can start to break off. 

Diet: Eating a poor-balanced diet or not consuming enough nutrient-rich foods can cause weak hair. 

Tight Hairstyles: If your hair is pulled back tightly into a ponytail, bun, or braids, it can start breaking away from its roots, resulting in breakage, damage, and overall weak hair. 

Heat Damage: When using an excessive amount of heat using hot styling tools, like a blow dryer or flat iron, you risk damaging the cuticle and weakening the hair. 

Incorrect Combing: Combing hair while it is dry or using a brush with bristles that aren’t flexible can cause breakage. 

Over-Processing: Chemical treatments, like relaxers and coloring, can cause the cuticle to break down and lead to damaged hair over time. 

Over-Washing: Washing your hair too often can strip it of its natural oils, causing dry and weak hair. 

Tips for Strengthening Hair 

Now that you know some potential root causes of weak hair, you are one step closer to helping treat and prevent it. 

Eat a Well-Balanced Diet 

Eating the proper nutrients is an important part of your overall health and can contribute to strong, healthy hair. The type of foods and vitamins that contribute to the strength of hair include:

• Vitamin A supports the production of oil that will help prevent dry hair. This can be found in foods like oranges, mangoes, and carrots.
• Vitamin E improves blood circulation and maintains pH balance that strengthens the hair and promotes healthy hair. This can be found in foods like avocados, spinach, and peanuts.
• Iron supplies nutrients to your hair follicles and promotes healthy hair. This can be found in foods like red meat, chicken, fish, broccoli, spinach, kale, and lentils.

Take Supplements 

Vitamin deficiencies can cause weak hair, so it is essential to add supplements to your daily routine, especially if you cannot get the right amount of nutrients from your diet. We recommend trying out our adult hair vitamins. This supplement has zinc, riboflavin, Vitamin B1, B2, B3, C, and E. It helps to not only strengthen hair but also supports healthy skin and a strong immune system.

Use the Right Products 

The types of products you use to wash your hair are essential. Use a cleanser that isn’t harsh to prevent your hair from drying out. We recommend Mielle Organics’ all-natural Detangling Co-Wash and the Rice Water Hydrating Shampoo. The co-wash will remove dirt without stripping your hair of its natural oils. This product also encourages longer and stronger hair. Using rice water for hair is excellent for improving natural hair and reducing split ends. The Rice Water Moisturizing Milk is another great hair product to help moisturize and bring life back to dry, thirsty hair. This product is infused with safflower oil, rice water for hair, yuzu, castor oil, and coconut oil to strengthen and lock moisture. 

Deep Condition Regularly 

Deep conditioners have a high concentration of ingredients. Your hair needs to be extra strong. Try deep conditioning once a week to keep your hair healthy and shiny. Mielle Organics’ Rice Water Clay Masque is the best at waking your curls up. Since you are already taking time out for wash day, you might as well add Split End Therapy to your hair care routine to nourish the hair and prevent any future damage. 

Correctly Detangle your Curls 

When detangling your hair, use your fingers to comb through your strands, followed by a wide-tooth comb, and then a detangling brush, like a Denman brush or a tangle teezer. 

Air-Dry Your Hair 

Air-drying is letting your wet hair dry naturally, without the assistance of any heat tools. Air-drying your hair prevents breakage, heat damage and helps the hair retain moisture better. Overall, this helps to strengthen your curls and promote natural hair. 

If you do plan on straightening or styling your hair with heat assistance, use the Mongongo Oil Pomade-to-Oil Treatment. If you are planning for a protective style, like braids or a weave, the Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil  is perfect. If you were wondering, “Is rosemary good for hair?” the answer is yes! Not only are there many ways for how to use rosemary oil for hair retention, but Mielle’s rosemary hair oil helps support a healthy scalp and prevent heat damage and breakage. 

Protect Your Hair at Night

To help your hair retain moisture and prevent it from breaking, it will require some protection and a good nighttime routine. Depending on your curl pattern and length, there are a few options for protecting your curls while you're getting your beauty sleep:

• Pineapple Method
• Silk Pillowcase
• Scarf 
• Bonnet

Trim Your Hair 

Hair trims are what exfoliating is in skincare, but for hair care. You must get rid of the old to help bring in the new. Hair trims keep your hair free from breakage. When your hair is experiencing split ends, the split can travel up the hair shaft and further break it. Try getting a trim once every 3 months. 

The Bottom Line

From choosing the right natural hair products to taking vitamins, there are so many things you can do to strengthen your hair, promote natural hair, and reverse any existing hair damage. Following healthy hair care and lifestyle habits are worth the time, commitment, and discipline they take. With these tips and tools, you are well on your way to achieving your healthiest hair and best self yet! 

References:

1. Medical News Today. Can I use vitamins to promote hair?. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318403#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
2. Mayo Clinic. Can stress cause hair loss?. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/expert-answers/stress-and-hair-loss/faq-20057820
3. Healthline. How to Stop Hair Breakage. https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-breakage#hair-cuts
4. Doctor Taz. Is Your Hair Loss Caused by Hormone Imbalance?. https://doctortaz.com/is-your-hair-loss-caused-by-hormone-imbalance/
5. Healthline. Want Stronger, Healthier Hair? Try These 10 Tips. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-strengthen-hair#make-an-egg-yolk-mask
6. Netmeds.  5 Food Groups That Are A Must For Strong, Healthy Hair. https://www.netmeds.com/health-library/post/eat-these-5-foods-for-a-stronger-healthy-hair