How to Nourish Your Hair Follicles for Faster Hair Growth?

What matters more than your hair being long or short, curly or straight, is how healthy it is! And when hair is well nourished and the scalp is healthy, the simple proof is: faster hair growth. Now, it is a general assumption that a good hair oil or conditioner can help hair grow faster, but how do they do so?

It is no surprise that the demand for products that alter hair growth and appearance has led to a multibillion-dollar industry today. But trust us, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that very few of these products work. In fact, many of these products are loaded with chemicals that do more harm than good in the long run. Recent studies in the physiology and pathology of hair follicles have led to more effective therapies for hair growth disorders. In simple terms, a good natural hair conditioner and herbal oil can do the job just as much or, in fact, better, minus the chemicals.

Now we have all heard that we need to be healthy from the inside to feel better on the outside. Haircare is not limited to your hair. It’s your hair follicles that need the most attention.

What is a Hair Follicle?

A follicle is an opening on the skin's surface through which hair grows. Hence, it is an essential unit for the generation of hair. Like other internal and external body organs, hair has a complicated structure. The hair follicle starts at the epidermis' surface and surrounds hair roots and strand. Hair follicles are present all over the human body, and are about 1/5th of the total area on the head alone. Essentially, you can pull out your hair, but not the hair follicle. It can be damaged, but it remains a part of your skin.
So, you need to care for the skin on your head, and a good part of your hair care regime is done! Let’s get a little deeper to understand this better and find some ways to do it effortlessly.

The Function of Hair Follicles

⮚      The main function of hair follicles is to grow hair. It does so in different stages:

• Stage 1 or Anagen: Hair starts to grow.
• Stage 2 or Catagen: Growth slows down, and the follicle shrinks.
• Stage 3 or Telogen: Old hair falls, and new hair regenerates.

⮚      Hair follicles also give color to your hair. The melanin, which gives color to your hair, is stored in the hair follicles. These pigment cells containing melanin need extra care to prevent them from dying and turning your hair grey prematurely.
Not-so-fun fact: Men are more prone to premature hair-greying due to factors other than genetics.
After a lot of brainstorming and trying out different recipes, we at Nat Habit came up with our Fresh Hair NutriMask that works great for greying hair. The unique combination of 15 powerful ingredients is specifically meant for melanin restoration. Not just that, we also recommend it for its hairfall control and scalp cooling properties, thanks to all the natural ingredients that brew for hours on slow heat.

⮚      Besides their cosmetic functions, your hair follicles can repair your skin after an injury. They also facilitate the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and new neuronal cells (neurogenesis). We can say that it’s not only your hair but your internal body which is affected by the hair products you use.

Symptoms of Hair Follicle Damage and Disorders

Like our other body parts, hair follicles are prone to disorders or conditions that can be hereditary, accidental, or due to a lack of proper care. Vitamin folate deficiencies are also associated with hair follicle disorders. They can lead to weakened hair, bald patches, or complete baldness. Symptoms include:

• Excessive or prolonged hairfall
• Losing the shine of hair
• Hair stops growing
• Breaking of hair
• Rough hair
• Bald patches

We recognize that taking time out for hair care is difficult in today's fast-moving world. But let’s not take our hair for granted. Our regular hair wash looks like this: You shampoo your hair and then use an instant conditioner.

Nat Habit reversed the process and how! Washing already damaged/dry hair can cause further damage to the hair follicles. We have this amazing Fresh Hair NutriMask catering to different hair types. You apply it from scalp to ends, keep it for an hour and wash it twice with a gentle cleanser or shampoo, and done!

Meeting Nutritional Requirements of Hair Follicles

Hair follicles need nourishment in the form of care and a nutritional value derived from the food we eat and the hair products we use, including hair oil, shampoo, hair conditioner, etc. A proper haircare routine is about deciding how to provide this nutrition to your hair follicles. Let’s see how you can do it without spending hours at a hair salon.

1. Vitamin intake: Contrary to popular belief, taking oral supplements for vitamins and other minerals does not directly affect your hair growth. But your body requires a lot of energy for your hair to grow faster, and this energy can be derived from such oral supplements. It is much better to derive these from naturally occurring sources, and mostly from the food we eat. A balanced diet can help you immensely with this. Supplements are only recommended after proper medical consultation, and in case a massive mineral deficit is detected.
2. Essential oils: Nature has abundant resources for you to use at your disposal. Essential oils present in nature are a boon for their innumerable benefits. Some of these oils have miraculous properties which help in growing hair. They do so by properly stimulating the scalp and follicles. Ayurvedic hair oils and herbal hair oils prepared meticulously in specialized kitchens enhance their benefits as they are mixed with other ingredients following techniques straight from natural sciences.
3. Leave-in conditioner: The most advertised hair products are oil, shampoos, and instant hair conditioners. But the advantages of a leave-in conditioner are still on the lesser-known side. These mostly come in cream or oil, and can be easily left on for hours. One should prefer herbal hair oils and masks as the product is left for a long time to soak deeper into the follicles, and the chemicals present can cause considerable harm to your hair and skin.
4. Nourishing ingredients: Coconut oil, olive oil, mustard oil, etc., work well for hair growth. But be it any base oil or essential oil, it is difficult for any one to meet all your hair's needs.  Infusing them with other nutritional ingredients under guided methods and temperatures is what's needed for your hair to get the best of all worlds. Some ingredients which work best for haircare include hibiscus, neem, bhringraj, curry leaves, mustard, etc.

Hair oils have been used for ages, especially in Indian culture. In earlier times, there were no add-ons, and only pure oil(s) extracted from natural ingredients were used. It’s time we go back to our ancient practices in the form of hair mask for hair growth and hair oils. Once we understand what helps our hair grow and feel better, we are conscious of the products we choose for our hair and the hair care habits we adopt. All our hair oils are prepared the old way. We use cold-pressed oils with fresh ingredients slow-infused for hours at our Ayurvedic kitchens. Have a quick look at the range here.

Everyday Tips to Avoid Hair Follicle Damage and Promote Faster Hair Growth

• Protection from direct heat: When your hair goes through procedures and styling that involve direct contact with heat, it leads to weaker hair and, eventually, damaged hair follicles. It happens because exposure to high heat alters the shape of your hair’s keratin strands. Heat takes away the moisture from your hair and also makes them rough. So, it is best to avoid heat-based treatments and styling. If you need to do it once in a while, it must be followed up by a good hair-care regime that helps the hair retain its shine. A good hair conditioner for dry hair is also recommended.

• Stay away from chemicals: There is a reasonable amount of hair products in the market. But it would be best if you stayed away from chemicals. Cosmetic products are loaded with chemicals and parabens which hurt your body internally. Look for natural products with zero mineral oil like the NatHabit hair mask for dry hair.
  All of our oils are PURE cold-pressed. With ZERO paraffin,  mineral oils, chemicals & preservatives. We are completely cruelty-free.

• Avoid diets with large calorie deficits: While a healthy diet is great for your mind, body, and soul (hair, too!), diets with huge calorie deficits can do the opposite. Include food in your diet which is rich in vitamins B12 and D, biotin, riboflavin, and iron. Fresh fruits, leafy veggies, eggs, fish, etc., are some food that can help you fill up these nutrients. 

• Protection from sun: Prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays causes considerable damage to hair and hinders its nourishment and growth. Sun exposure is not limited to the hair but directly penetrates the shaft at the roots and hair follicles which causes damage to hair protein and the basic structure of your hair. While staying away from the sun is not completely feasible, you can consider covering your hair with a light cotton cloth when exposed to it for longer.
  Nature has so much to give. We need to extract the best out of it. Nat Habit’s Fresh Conditioning Methi Jal is one such example. Our range of ayurvedic hair mists is a moisturizer for the hair shaft. It protects the hair cuticles, prevents hair breakage and sun damage, helps tame frizz, prevents split ends, and more.

• Use weather-specific products: We put a lot of effort into choosing products for our skin. We prefer cold creams for winters, light moisturisers for summers, and so on, but when it comes to our hair, we use regular products throughout the year. Weather affects our hair, too; hence, the ingredients used in hair products must vary according to the climate.

Our Winter Dasubati Hair Oil is a unique blend of herbs infused with warm oils that nourishes your hair and is also great for sinus, cold and headaches common during winter.

• No chemical based hair-dyes: Experimenting with our hair is cool until it starts going downhill. Chemical-based dyes damage hair and can lead to serious irreversible health issues. Henna-based dyes are the answer. They give your hair a natural tint and are great hair conditioners that help your hair with healthy growth.

The number of hair follicles you have is fixed, but the good news is that you can increase your hair density by nourishing and taking care of them. Do not give in to quick fixes, which cause damage in the long run. Opt for nature-based products that make your hair beautiful on the outside and nourish them from the root.

NatHabit’s range of haircare products is completely chemical-free, based on natural oils and ingredients laboriously prepared to get desired results for your hair. Check them out here!