It’s not only trees and flowers budding this time of year. Spring means we finally get to toss those winter hats aside. Did your hair lose its luster over the chilly months? Here are natural ways to thicken hair and get tresses ready to shine.

While cold weather season may be the root of your problem right now, it’s not the only thing that causes hair to thin and lose its luster. Diet changes, stress, hormonal imbalance, and harsh hair care products can all bring on limp locks too.

7 Natural Ways to Thicken Hair

1. Let’s start on the inside. We already know what we eat shows up on our skin. Same goes for our hair. To keep hair thick and lush, be sure you are consuming adequate essential fatty acids. Studies show that women who eat enough omega 3-s and omega 6-s have greater hair density. Healthy EFAs, like those found in olive oil and avocados, also keep the scalp from becoming dried out, which helps to prevent hair loss. You can even use EFAs topically with Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask.

2. Get your antioxidants. This means both inside and out. Consuming foods rich in antioxidants helps to fight free radical damage that can lead to hair loss. Another way to reap these benefits is to use hair care made with antioxidant-rich oils. Try Josh Rosebrook Enrich Mask.

3. Honey to the rescue (again!). We know that honey is a superhero ingredient for skin. Not that surprising that it helps with hair too. The sweet substance is softening, antibacterial, and ultra healing. If a healthy scalp means healthy hair, this stuff is the ticket. Add a tablespoon or two to your shampoo before applying to hair.

4. Scalp massage does more than feel good. Okay, it feels great. But a good massage with healthy oils can actually stimulate hair growth. Everyone loves coconut oil for skin, and it works great as a scalp oil too. The best bang for your buck? St. Tropica Organic Coconut Hot Oil Hair Mask. Another healthy oil to try – avocado oil moisturizes dry locks and adds instant body. Warm the oil in your palms and massage into scalp, working through to ends. Wrap in a warm towel and leave for 15 minutes. Wash and style as usual. This is one of my favorite hair therapy tricks.

5. Ditch the chemical hair care. Did you know the ingredients in conventional hair products that make your hair feel smooth are damaging in the long run? Plasticizers and petro-ingredients may make strands seem soft and silky, but they aren’t doing your hair, scalp or health any good. And synthetic surfactants in mainstream shampoos? Drying your hair and scalp out, not getting it squeaky clean. Use products crafted from natural ingredients and let the real you behind those dried out locks shine. Try Rahua Voluminous Shampoo and Conditioner.

6. Be kind to strands. Using a coarse brush or pulling hair back into tight elastics can cause breakage. Use a natural bristle Widu brush that is appropriate for your hair texture. And my favorite way to tie back my hair is with Twistband Hair Ties. So soft, they never break strands or cause the dreaded dent, and are so cute too. Another kind to hair tip…wash less often. Yep, give your hair a break on days it’s not actually dirty by shampooing every 2 or 3 days.

7. Manage stress for better-looking locks. Stress shows up on skin and hair, lowers productivity, and makes you feel crummy. You’ve heard it before but I’ll say it again: A daily meditation practice is so, so helpful in decluttering the mind and getting clear on your shiz. Not a lotus and om kinda person? There are other ways to meditate. Even a walk around the block counts if you are staying in the moment.

Here’s to happier locks and a bouncy spring!

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of girls with thick hair via Shutterstock

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Summer may have provided a zen experience for your psyche. Your hair? Not so much. Could hair gloss be the answer to your tress distress?

You know how summer feels good for the soul? All warm and relaxing and fun-filled. Well, it’s not quite as great for hair. Rather than rejuvenated, tresses can be dry, straggly, and straw-like post summer vacation.

We all love a little gloss for lips. What’s good for your pucker could be good for locks too. Sort of. Hair gloss is gaining popularity as a way to instantly improve the look of hair in need of a boost.

What the heck is hair gloss? Remember hair glaze? Think of gloss as its longer lasting, more intense cousin. It still offers hair all the gleamy goodness, only with staying power more akin to a hair color.

While hair gloss is thought of as clear, it is actually a semi-permanent color, either clear or tinted, that penetrates strands, sealing in color and creating a sheen. Gloss can be used between colorings to extend and bolster your color, or on its own. Effects generally last 3-4 weeks.

If your locks are looking stressed, sapped, or otherwise less than lustrous you would likely benefit from a gloss. Whether you opt for a salon or in-home gloss is up to you. If you get your hair colored at the salon, chances are you’d rather go the same route with gloss. A DIY colorist? You may be happy with an at home version.

Now for the big question…are there natural hair glosses that work like the chemical stuff? If you are at all familiar with natural hair colorants you probably already have guessed the answer. Natural hair dyes do not behave like their chemical counterparts and the same is true for gloss. To get the best results you will have to stick with a conventional product here.

That is not to say there aren’t natural products that create incredibly shiny, gleaming, gorgeous hair. Healthy plant oils reduce frizz, repair dried out strands, make hair look more vibrant, and increase body. Give these nontoxic hair treatments a try:

Olie Biogolique 100% Organic 23K Gold Argan Oil

Rare El’Ements Marula Cocktail Leave-In Hair Mist

Yarok Feed Your Shine Serum

Rahua Elixir

Rahua Finishing Treatment

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of woman with glossy hair via Shutterstock

The post Is Hair Gloss the Solution to Your Post Summer Tress Distress? appeared first on EcoSalon.