As a naturalista for the past 12 years, I’ve come to terms with the fact that my hair takes work. Lots of it. It’s a relationship that is quite complicated at times. I love it, but I don’t always like it. I appreciate its thickness, but I hate the length of time it takes to style it. I love its versatility, but I hate that many really cute styles only stay cute for a few days. Nevertheless, I AM STILL IN LOVE WITH MY NATURAL HAIR! My hair doesn’t always love me or the way I treat it though. Over the years, I’ve learned that natural hair doesn’t automatically mean healthy hair. There are things that I have to do even beyond protective styling to keep my locks looking and feeling their best. I’m willing to bet you have too. To help, I’ve invited Kenyona McLeod, owner of Shear Glamour Salon and creator of Kennesential Beauty products (www.kenessential.com) to share her knowledge on achieving the healthiest hair possible. So, let your hair down and let’s get our luscious locks on!

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 2

I believe the Bible rates health right near the top of the list in importance. Man’s mind, spiritual nature, and body are all interconnected and dependent. What affects one can affect the other. If our bodies are misused, or if we live a gluttonous lifestyle (In Luke 21:34, Christ specifically warns against overeating in the last days), we could be putting ourselves at risk for health problems. Overeating is responsible for many degenerative diseases. Poor food choices make our bodies sluggish and our energy low. In that state it is difficult to efficiently perform what God has ordained and called us to do. Poor food and lifestyle choices can also affect the health of our hair.

Most of us dream of having long, luscious, flowing tresses, but no thanks to genetics, stress or other environmental factors, many of us have been left with hair that rarely sparkles or shines. Fortunately, a healthy diet and smart lifestyle changes can be the perfect marriage for your hair and body. Adopting a clean eating lifestyle can have your hair looking luscious. Truly healthy hair is the result of a well-nourished body and a nutrient-rich diet. What you put in is what you get out.

We often talk about hair as an extension of us and how we should handle and maintain it from the outside in so we can be able to achieve long hair, but how often will we hear people talk about the correlation between exercise and clean eating to make the hair stronger and longer?

There are several reasons why the whole body health connection would support the conclusion that in the quest for longer hair, clean eating is a huge factor. Others argue that longer hair is more about caring for the strand rather than the whole body. I believe your body and hair is a direct result of what you ingest… if you have a fatty fast food addiction, chances are your hair and body shows signs of this.

Healthy tips for achieving the stronger, longer hair you desire.

Eat Well

While you might not be able to change your hair growth rate which is about ¼ to ½ inch a month, it is possible that the vitamins and minerals present with a healthy diet will allow you maximize your natural hair growth rate. Think about eating healthy as deep conditioning your body from the inside out. A lifestyle high in fruits and vegetables will give you the minerals and vitamins needed for healthy hair and skin.

Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans are a great source of biotin, a vitamin known to help promote hair growth. Salmon Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients for healthy hair and skin, and since your body cannot produce them on its own, it’s important you get these fatty acids from your diet. Eating two servings of fatty fish like salmon or tuna per week can help keep your hair full and long. Sweet potatoes are another wonderful food for hair growth due to their high dosage of beta carotene, the precursor of Vitamin A, which helps to keep hair from becoming dry and brittle. According to Livestrong.com, avocados are high in vitamin B and E, and fatty acids, preventing you from hair loss and breakage, strengthening your scalp, and providing that gleam and shine that most long hair girls desire.

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise may improve blood circulation and allows the vitamins and minerals discussed previously to travel to the scalp where they are needed. Increasing blood flow to your scalp is one of the best ways to promote hair and scalp health. An increase in blood flow means that your hair is getting the nutrients it needs, but it also prevents dandruff, psoriasis, and other scalp problems. Studies have shown that better circulation in your scalp can even help your hair to grow faster. (www.theluxuryspot.com/increase-scalp- circulation/)

Manage Stress

Some people experience more hair loss or breakage during periods of high stress. Regular exercise is known to have a positive impact on blood pressure and mood which could help manage stress.

Think you cannot incorporate daily exercise into your already busy lifestyle? Remember stolen moments add up. Experts recommend working out 45 minutes to an hour a day (30 minutes for beginners) for weight loss and fitness. But if you’re like most women, you don’t always have a block of 30 to 60 minutes a day to devote exclusively to doing your workouts. Lest you think that short bursts of activity have a negligible effect on your fitness program, think again. One study found that women who split their exercise into 10-minute increments were more likely to exercise consistently, and lost more weight after five months, than women who exercised for 20 to 40 minutes at a time. (www.prevention.com)

Chat with Kenyona. What is your hair’s story? What have you discovered about the best way to care for your hair?

Kenyona McLeod is a Master hair care stylist and natural beauty mixologist, owner of Shear Glamour Salon, Shear Glamour Cosmetics and the creator of Kenessential Beauty a luxurious hair and body care line. She has been a licensed stylist for 20 years; she loves what she does and enjoys finding new ways to take hair and body care to the level of fabulousness. Kenyona has been trained under world renowned styling artists from Redken, Paul Mitchell, Mizani, Affirm, Kera Care, Design Essentials, Influence and B&B Bronner Bros.

“I believe everyone should enjoy and love their hair and body, and glamorizing what you have naturally, every time I step behind my chair or sell a product, I pray each and every client achieves their top level of beauty inside and out; and I’m here to make sure you fall madly in love with yourself and have the tools and resources to do so.