Hair health is the sum of many factors – Improve the condition of your hair with these tips!
Hair health is one of the indicators of overall body wellness. A healthy, nourished, and well-functioning body supports the growth of strong hair, among other factors. Who wouldn’t want strong, shiny, and thick hair? We asked Annikki Hagros-Koski, a pioneer in hair research, how one can influence hair health themselves.
Healthy hair grows from a healthy scalp. Hair researcher Annikki Hagros-Koski refers to the hair bulbs located in the hair follicles of the scalp as the ‘mothers’ of hair, as they are where hair cells develop, from which the hair itself grows. The hair follicle protects the growing hair, and for hair to grow healthily, the ‘mothers’ must also be well. According to Annikki, hair loss is always caused by inflammation of the scalp.
You can influence the condition of your scalp by ensuring adequate intake of nutrients and soft, good fats, engaging in a suitable amount of exercise, and maintaining good hydration by drinking enough water. Dry shampoos and hair sprays can clog the hair follicle, so it’s advisable to avoid or at least reduce their use. Problems with the scalp may also be linked to various intestinal disorders.
Experiencing hair loss? First, check your nutrient intake
Hair constantly renews itself, and it’s normal for hair to fall out daily. Pregnancy and menopause, for example, can affect hair in various ways. If hair has thinned quickly or a lot of hair is falling out, it’s important to determine the cause. Thinning or reduced hair growth can be due to sensitivities, allergies, stress, or various illnesses. Some medications can also cause hair loss. Diseases such as hypothyroidism can be associated with hair loss. The possibility of thyroid dysfunction can be investigated through laboratory tests. Frequent heat treatments and coloring can also cause hair breakage and thinning.
Hair is not high on the body’s priority list when distributing nutrients. For this reason, deficiencies in many vitamins and minerals, such as iron, are first visible in hair and nails. When the body receives enough of the nutrients it needs and they are well absorbed, there are enough nutrients for the hair’s needs as well.
Take care of good peripheral circulation
Annikki Hagros-Koski emphasizes that hair health begins with good peripheral circulation. The blood vessels in the scalp are very small, and their blockage can prevent nutrients from reaching the hair roots. This can lead to slowed hair growth or hair loss.
The body sacrifices hair first, so any disturbances in the body primarily affect hair growth. It’s important to ensure the functionality of peripheral circulation, which can be achieved through exercise, healthy nutrition, avoiding smoking, and maintaining vascular health by keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check. High blood pressure is a significant factor when discussing circulation disorders.
Enhance hair health and growth with healthy lifestyle choices
Hair health can be improved by maintaining healthy lifestyle habits such as exercising, eating a healthy and varied diet, and managing stress. Stress is a significant factor that can disrupt hair growth by causing the contraction of connective tissue around the hair root or, in the worst case, even causing the hair root shaft to break. Diet is particularly crucial for hair health. Hair loss and other hair problems can result from the body’s acidification, often due to an imbalanced diet. A healthy diet includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, and good fats daily.
Supplements can also be used if necessary. However, it’s important to remember that supplements do not replace a varied and balanced diet or healthy lifestyle.
Laboratory tests supporting hair health
Puhti’s comprehensive laboratory tests can help determine the levels of various vitamins and nutrients that also affect hair health. With Puhti’s new Hair Health Research Package, you can specifically investigate values related to hair health.
The package includes a very comprehensive selection of different tests that help take better care of the condition of hair and scalp and identify causes of hair loss, for example.
Having the most comprehensive values is important to get a complete picture of the body’s wellness and thus support hair health and growth in the best possible way.
Understand your well-being – here’s how measurement works
Choose the right test package for you
You can choose a ready-made test package, include additional tests or plan your own set of tests. All the tests can be ordered without a doctor’s referral.
Visit a location
Sample-taking is available at Mehiläinen laboratories in over 75 locations and and body measurement points are available in 24 shopping centers across Finland. The test itself takes only a few minutes.
See the results in My Journal
You can view your results quickly and easily on the Oma Puhti report. You will get an easy-to-read report of your results.
Why Puhti?
Easy, domestic and fast
High-quality service when it comes to knowledge about your own health
All tests without referral
Clear tests and competitive pricing
Personal data is stored in Finland on servers with a high security classification
