Want to know how to get healthy hair? Well, those commercials of the girl on the beach with long locks that shine from within — they probably don’t hold the answer. But you might have guessed that already.
And that’s why you’re here. Because if you want to learn how to keep your hair healthy, there’s more to it than picking the right shampoo (although that can help!).
Because we want REAL tips for how to make hair stronger. Not just some Photoshop image from a shampoo advertisement, right?
I’m talking hair that grows healthy from root to end. Hair that’s nourished from the inside out.
Right? Then you’re in the right place. 🙂
Here are my top recommendations for how to get healthy hair… and how to keep your hair healthy for years to come.
How to Get Healthy Hair Naturally:
1. Use Heat Sparingly
I know, I know. This is a tough one. I’ll bet if you have curly hair, you’ve been straightening it… and if you have straight hair, you’ve been rocking those flatiron curls.
When we’re talking about how to make hair stronger, we also have to talk about what we’re doing to weaken our hair’s natural strength.
The only time my hair started showing extensive damage was when I was using the flatiron every. single. day. My hair strongly objected with split ends and that slightly crispy look. Ugh.
There’s some benefit to being happy with what nature gave you.
Now I save the high heat tools for special occasions and use the lowest effective heat setting (or LEHS for short — just kidding). Seriously, lower heat may take a little longer, but it’s also much safer for your hair and less likely to cause damage and breakage. Plus, you’re less likely to get seriously burned by your hair tools, which is always a plus, right?
It’s also important to protect your hair from the hair tool heat – which means prepping it correctly. Massage a drop of grapeseed oil into your ends before applying any heat to protect your hair from heat damage.
As for blow drying?
I know if you’re in a rush in the mornings, it’s hard not to rely on the hair dryer. Again, just be careful with the heat. Try to gently towel dry and then air dry your hair until it’s barely damp, and then use the lowest heat setting to finish it up.
I personally love my hot air brush because I seem to lack the natural grace it takes to use a blow dryer and a brush at the same time without mangling my hair. Plus it has some really gentle settings that keep my hair from getting too damaged.
(Also, use my abundant hair serum below with coconut oil to repair your hair if you tend to use a little too much heat.)
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
This is seriously one of the best natural hair growth tips on the planet.
Simply mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 2 parts warm water. Rinse through your hair after washing (or between washes) at least 2-3 times per week. You can let it sit for 1-2 minutes, and then rinse out your hair completely.
What does apple cider vinegar do for your hair?
This apple cider vinegar rinse closes up your hair follicle to prevent damage by keeping your hair’s pH levels balanced. This gives you smoother, shinier, stronger hair.
This one simple step can make a big difference for your hair.
Here’s a great recipe for creating your own herbal apple cider vinegar hair rinse.
3. How to Make Hair Stronger with Nutrition
One of my most important natural hair growth tips is: nutrition.
Hair doesn’t grow by magic (although unicorns always seem to have great hair, don’t they?).
Reality is your body grows your hair by using materials you feed it. It can’t just make this stuff out of thin air, folks. You are part of the supply chain and you need to do your job — feed your hair!
Here’s how to keep your hair healthy by adding some key nutrients to your daily diet:
- Collagen protein (I use this amazing pasture-raised collagen)
- Food-based B-vitamins
- Healthy fats (think coconut oil, olive oil, pasture-raised meat and eggs, salmon and omega-3s, etc.)
- Antioxidants (I drink my Ningxia Red for my daily antioxidants)
Seriously, one of the most crucial natural hair growth tips is to feed. your. hair. It might not make a difference in a few days (that’s what all the other tips are for!), but in the long run, you will notice a huge difference.
4. DIY Abundant Hair Growth Serum
This serum is what I use every day to promote strong hair:
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops cedarwood essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops cypress essential oil
Here’s where I get my favorite essential oils.
Add these oils to 4 ounces of grapeseed oil OR aloe vera gel. (Use the oil if you tend to have dry hair, aloe if it tends to be oily).
Apply a small amount to your fingertips after washing your hair and massage into your scalp daily.
You can also use the oil to do a deep moisture treatment by massaging a generous amount into your scalp and hair (especially the ends). Leave it in for about 30-60 minutes and then wash as usual. Do this especially if you use heat tools on your hair often.
5. Ditch the Shampoo
I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out on this one: maybe shampoo isn’t your hair’s best friend.
For instance, did you know commercial shampoos can contain as many as 15 toxic chemicals? One of them being formaldahyde. Yuck.
But before you go shopping for a pricey natural shampoo, consider the alternative: going without it. It might just be the key for how to get healthy hair — super naturally.
This is known as the “no poo” method and surprisingly a lot of women have had success with keeping their hair clean without shampoo.
In fact, my friend Ashley has gone “no poo” for more than three years — with awesome results! You can read more about her no poo story here.
Obviously, this tip isn’t for everyone! But it might be worth considering if you want to learn how to keep your hair healthy. 🙂
Bonus Tip for How to Make Hair Stronger:
Drink bamboo leaf tea for strong, healthy hair! Read my post on the benefits of bamboo leaf tea here.
Did you know that healing a stressed metabolism is an important part of how to keep your hair healthy?
Healthy hair doesn’t just show up out of nowhere — it has a lot to do with your overall lifestyle. Stress, not eating well, poor sleep habits, etc. — all this stuff affects your whole body, including how your hair grows. Check out my book The Nourished Metabolism to learn more about living a balanced lifestyle that nourishes you from the inside out.
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Hello! I was wondering, do you leave the AVC rinse in your hair or wash it out?
Thanks
You should rinse it out, Edna. I’ll go add that to the post to make it clear. 🙂
Love your post. Didn’t know about the acv. I have personally gotten alot of benefits from spraying my hair daily with Epsom salt spray. Gives my hair more volume and don’t need to use any products anymore. I make it myself with just Epsom salt and water.
That’s a really cool idea! I’ll have to try that.
Can you share your recipe, pls?
WOW I would like to know how to mix the Epsom salt spray
I am in dire need of volume
I’ve been struggling with my dry hair for years now, it use to be so curly and lovely lol I fell way to in love with my straightener but have recently been laying off it as much as I can! Your article has some awesome pointers and it couldn’t have come at a greater time cause with all the good stuff I do to my hair I was about to give up! I’m going to try the ACV for sure and start adding collagen to my diet, my mom’s been using it for a month and SWEARS by it! Also, have you tried using a silk pillow case? I switched recently and it does wonders for bed head ?
I haven’t tried the silk pillowcase yet, but I’ve heard it’s great for the hair and skin!
Hello, I just tried the inversion method today for the first time. My scalp, neck, and back are now nicely moisturized, but my hair looks like I haven’t washed it in a month. I quit shampoo awhile ago and am using dr. bronner’s castile soap on my hair instead, but all that did was distribute the oil more evenly. So I have two questions:
1. Is castile soap really better than a shampoo with sulfates? Am I on the right track?
2. What do you do to keep your hair from looking amazingly dirty during the week that you use the inversion method?
Thanks for all your hair posts!
The one problem I’ve run into with castile soap is that it’s not the right pH for our scalp and hair. So it can actually cause a build up of dirt and oil. The apple cider rinse (dilute at least 50/50 with water) can really help with residue. I’ve never had success with castile soap unfortunately. A clay mask can be helpful in cleansing the scalp and hair, but definitely use the ACV rinse after that, too.
Hey, thanks for sharing such amazing tips for long hair. I tried many things, but it won’t work for my hair, but after reading your article today I tried apple cider vinegar and it really works from first wash only. It smells different but my hair is amazing now. Should I use conditioner after it or not?
Glad you liked it! I usually use conditioner before I use the hair rinse.
Elizabeth, are these tips able to be used on people who suffer with Eczema & Psrisos, in & outside of the ears & on their head & hair area? Thanks!
Most of these tips can be used by people with eczema or psoriasis, but your experience may vary with topical solutions like hair rinses and serums. I would use your intuition and patch test to make sure it works for you.