Glossy, healthy looking hair is something we all desire. Commercially, there are countless products that claim to improve hair growth and improve its lustre. These products are often expensive and not very effective. There are some people who believe that the food you eat is the best way to influence your body to keep your looks healthy and shiny. The food group to focus on is vegetables. As kids, we were all encouraged to eat our vegetables to maximize our intake of important nutrients like vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Vegetables for Hair Growth

Whilst all vegetables are important for a good balanced diet, in the hair health arena there are some veggies that supersede others. They can be considered the superheroes of healthy hair.

• Spinach: this superfood is one of the most nutritious foods you can eat for hair growth. It is chockfull of zinc, iron, fiber, vitamin A, C and a host of other nutrients. These prevent hair from becoming dry and brittle. Hair loss is often associated with a deficiency in iron and zinc.
• Carrots contain an important B vitamin called biotin. This strengthens the roots of the hair so that it doesn't fall out easily. Biotin is one of the essential nutrients necessary for the regrowth of hair. Making a hair mask of boiled carrots mixed with the water it is boiled in and applied for thirty minutes is believed to minimise hair loss and promote new hair growth.
• Onions are a great source of iron, zinc and biotin. It may also prevent the early greying of the hair shaft.
• Tomatoes are full of antioxidants which help the body's cells to repair. Tomato puree may be applied directly onto the scalp of consumed as food. Both ways will promote glossy, healthy hair.
• Garlic is one of the vegetables for hair growth. It contains high levels of sulphur which creates the best environment for hair regrowth.
• Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene which the body uses to make Vitamin A. This protects the hair from drying out and breaking easily. Vitamin A also promotes the production of sebum that protects the hair shaft.

Other Ways to Promote Hair Growth

Hair only grows at the rate of half an inch per month and there are many factors that impact the health of hair. Apart from vegetables for hair growth, some of the factors affecting hair health are your general health and genetic factors which will have an impact on the appearance of hair. However, there are some factors you have control over:

1. Balanced Diet

Maintain a healthy but varied diet containing all the nutrients crucial to good hair. Incorporate dairy, lean protein like chicken and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Ensure you have no nutritional deficiencies that can impact your hair growth negatively. Protein is an important component of your diet because hair is made of protein. Healthy fats preserve healthy hair and promote hair follicle growth. Vitamin C is essential to the absorption of iron and it is used to produce collagen in the body.

2. Castor Oil

Castor oil is packed with vitamin E and omega-9 fatty acids which promote hair growth. You can mix castor oil with almond or coconut oil to massage into the scalp gently. This can be left for about 45 minutes before shampooing it off. Essential oils like lavender or thyme can scent the oil mixture pleasantly. Gently massaging the scalp can stimulate the hair follicles.

3. Deep Conditioning

This can be done at least once a week using a specially formulated hair mask or a hot oil treatment. Once you apply the oil or mask, use a circular motion to massage the scalp for about 5 minutes. Thereafter the hair can be washed.

4. Flipping the Hair

Bending over to flip the hair upside down is believed to stimulate blood circulation in the scalp and improve new hair growth. On a daily basis, bend you head over so that your hair falls upside down for about 2 minutes. Do this cautiously so that you don’t lose your balance or become dizzy.

5. Stress Control

Stress is one of the main causes of hair loss. Stress interrupts the regular hair cycle and prompts the fall-out phase of the cycle. You can decrease stress levels by using deep breathing exercises, meditation or other techniques. Ensure you get sufficient sleep because hormones that promote growth are released during sleep.

6. Egg Hair Mask

A hair mask made of eggs, used once a month, will encourage hair growth because eggs are rich in sulphur, zinc, selenium and iron which are all necessary for healthy hair growth.

Some recipes you can use to make an egg hair mask:

• 4 tablespoons of grape-seed oil, a few drops of lavender oil mixed with a whisked egg. This mixture can be applied to the hair and left for half an hour, thereafter washing as normal.
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil mixed with 2 egg yolks. This can be left on the hair for about 20 minutes then washed off with cold water. Thereafter wash with your regular shampoo.
• 1 cup of milk, an egg, the juice of half a lemon and 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, all mixed together. Leave on the head for 30 minutes then wash off with shampoo.

7. Avoid Damages

In addition to the vegetables for hair growth and some other natural remedies that can be put onto your hair, there are things that you need to avoid. Be wary of excessive heat styling of the hair. The regular intense heat application to the hair aggravates damage. Using chemicals to colour, straighten or crimp hair also damages the hair shaft and follicle. Comb your hair when it is dry rather than wet. Wet hair is fragile.