By: Sarah McGill
Sarah McGill (@sarahfmcgill on Instagram) is a marketing coordinator in the natural & organic food industry by day and an indoor cycling instructor by night. She’s obsessed with all things wellness, beauty and Bravo TV. Here, she shares which foods she eats for healthier, stronger hair.
My hair is something I’ve always prided myself on. While I have my parents to thank for my thick, auburn hair, the other key to growing long, shiny hair is my diet. I believe anything that looks good on the outside starts from within. By consuming a diet rich in whole foods, vitamins, and nutrients, you’re supplying your hair with the tools it needs to grow stronger.
Read on to find out my favorite foods for a great hair day, every day.
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
The basis of any healthy diet should be focused on incorporating more greens at every meal, especially dark green leafy vegetables for maximum nutrients. Some of my favorites are spinach, arugula, collard greens, and kale. They contain iron and vitamin C, which both help to strengthen the hair follicle, thus leading to less breakage and split ends. To bulk up my intake, I add a handful of greens to my daily breakfast smoothie. I don’t even notice it’s there, but my hair certainly feels the difference!
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Wild-Caught Salmon
Salmon is a must for me. Not only is it my favorite fish, but also the most beneficial for my hair health. It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids, lean protein, and iron. These nutrients help with hair growth and add an extra dose of shine. I aim to eat salmon three times a week and always make sure that it is fresh and wild-caught, never farm-raised.
Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Glow
Another must-have in my beauty arsenal? Collagen! It’s full of amino acids that help build up the hair follicle for stronger, healthier hair. Since our collagen production decreases naturally as we age, it’s important to supplement our diets with ingestible collagen to reap the benefits. I love adding a scoop of Strawberry Lemon Collagen Beauty Glow to my smoothie or sipping on a Glow Collagen Shot.
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Avocados
Not only are avocados delicious, they’re also amazing for hair because they’re loaded with vitamin E and essential fatty acids. My other favorite way to get all the benefits of this powerful fruit for my hair is by mixing it with raw honey and olive oil for a DIY hair mask. Just apply it throughout your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then rinse it out and watch your hair shine!
Sweet Potatoes
My go-to complex carbohydrate is sweet potatoes for its flavor and high amounts of the antioxidant, beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a red-orange pigment found in fruits and vegetables that our bodies convert into vitamin A, which is vital for hair growth. I love dicing my sweet potato and topping it off with extra virgin olive oil, cracked black pepper, and fresh thyme for an easy side dish!