1. Eat a healthy diet.
2. Get plenty of exercise.
3. Trim away current damage and start new.
4. Treat dandruff.
5. Practice careful styling routines.
6. Choose the right shampoo for your hair type.
7. Don't over-shampoo or over-condition.
8. Style consciously, avoiding damaging chemicals and harsh styling agents.

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• by Jenny Hudock

• Contrary to popular belief, growing healthy hair doesn't require a lot of high-priced products or visits to upscale salons. Healthy hair begins at home. Healthful eating, exercise and proper haircare routines are essential to growing a healthy head of hair. Read on for some tips and tricks that will help you turn your limp and lifeless locks into a rich, luxurious crown you can be proud of.

• You are what you eat. How many times have you heard that from health food fanatics? When it comes to your hair you'd be surprised how much diet factors into its health. Here are some helpful diet tips to consider if you're ready to make the transition toward a healthier head of hair.

1. Drink a lot of water to keep hair shiny, soft and pliable. I Love India: Healthy Hair
2. Foods like fish and nuts are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that promote scalp health. Web MD: Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair
3. Leafy green vegetables like broccoli and spinach are necessary to promote the secretion of a natural hair conditioner called sebum from the hair follicles. Leafy greens are also rich in Vitamins A and C. Boloji.com: Nine Tips for Healthy Hair (February 15, 2001) Web MD: Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair
4. Protein from dairy products, fish, meats and grains make hair strong and prevent breaking and splitting. I Love India: Healthy Hair
   • Another great source of protein is beans. They provide hair with iron, zinc and biotin. Web MD: Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair
5. The preservatives and chemicals in canned, processed or refined foods rob hair of nutrients. Eat them in moderation. Boloji.com: Nine Tips for Healthy Hair (February 15, 2001)
6. Avoid extreme dieting. A disruption in your diet will disrupt your hair growth and health as well. Long Locks Hairsticks Boutique: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long Hair

• Along with a balanced diet, you will want to incorporate a regular exercise routine to ensure proper blood flow to the scalp. I Love India: Healthy Hair Another important factor to consider when working toward healthy hair is your overall mental health. Take the extra steps to reduce stress, like meditation and mindful thinking, and be sure to get a good night's sleep every night. Boloji.com: Nine Tips for Healthy Hair (February 15, 2001)

• Split ends, dandruff and damage from styling are some of the most common problems associated with unhealthy hair. Easily repairing damaged hair is rare, and in most cases impossible. If you find that your damage is irreparable, trimming down and starting fresh is the only answer.

• Once split ends and style damage occur, there is nothing that can be done to repair your hair. Damage will have to be trimmed, or else split ends will continue to split up the shafts of your hair, increasing damage and dryness. eHow: How to Get Healthy Hair Having split ends and damage trimmed away will allow you to start fresh, and there are a number of things you can do to deter further damage.

1. Have your hair trimmed regularly, at least half an inch every four to six weeks. Long Locks Hairsticks Boutique: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long Hair
2. Use a moisturizing conditioner and allow it extra time to soak into your hair before rinsing. HairStylesCut.com: Split Ends
3. Stay away from heated styling tools like hair dryers, curling irons, crimpers, straighteners and hot rollers. Long Locks Hairsticks Boutique: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long Hair
   • If you absolutely must use hot styling tools, consider this:
   1. Only use a hair dryer after allowing hair to air dry significantly. Long Locks Hairsticks Boutique: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long Hair
   2. Only use curling irons, rollers and straighteners when hair is completely dry. HairStylesCut.com: Split Ends
   3. Use a hair serum to lessen damage. HairStylesCut.com: Split Ends
   4. Deep condition once a week in place of your regular conditioner. Marie Claire: Healthy Hair 101
4. Don't pull on wet, tangled hair with a brush. Work through tangles carefully with a wide-tooth comb. Boloji.com: Nine Tips for Healthy Hair (February 15, 2001)
5. Comb from the bottom up. Comb through tangles first and then work your way toward the roots. Fitness: 12 Insider Secrets to Fabulous Skin, Hair, and Makeup

• Dandruff is an embarrassing sign that your hair and scalp may not be at their healthiest, but how can you get rid of it?

1. You may need to alter your diet. Poor diet and lack of exercise are one of the main causes of dandruff. HairStyleCut.com: Dandruff
2. Try a warm oil scalp massage to stimulate circulation. Boloji.com: Nine Tips for Healthy Hair (February 15, 2001)
3. Avoid harsh dandruff shampoos, instead washing with mild organic shampoos. HairStyleCut.com: Dandruff
4. If you discover that your dandruff is brought on by stress, practice relaxation techniques like meditation and make sure you are getting enough sleep. HairStyleCut.com: Dandruff

• Shampooing and conditioning our hair is a must. Not only does it keep hair clean and add moisture to thirsty strands and follicles, it's also a great way to stimulate scalp circulation. How often should you shampoo, though, and are there any specific types of products to focus on?

1. Experiment with shampoos to find the right balance for your hair type. HairStyleCut.com: Shampooing
2. Avoid shampoos with a high concentrate of sodium laureth sulfate, which strips away moisture. Ladies Home Journal: Healthy Hair Habits
3. Don't shampoo every day. Shampooing too often will strip nutrients and moisture that keep your hair healthy. eHow: How to Get Healthy Hair Shampoo every other day, or if your hair is long, every third day.
4. If hair isn't particularly dirty at your next wash, wash with conditioner only. Long Locks Hairsticks Boutique: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long Hair
5. Always wash with lukewarm water and rinse with water as cold as you can stand. Long Locks Hairsticks Boutique: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long Hair
6. Don't over-condition. Too much conditioner can cause hair to become lank and heavy. HairStyleCut.com: Conditioners
7. Emulsify shampoo and conditioner in your hands before applying to hair. Marie Claire: Healthy Hair 101
8. Shampoo from the roots down to the crown. Then massage gently into the sides down to the tips. Marie Claire: Healthy Hair 101
9. Be sure to focus conditioner on the tips of hair, which may be drier than the rest of your hair.

• Keeping up with the latest in styling isn't always healthy for our hair. In fact regular coloring, perming, styling products and heat-related styling tools may give you a moment's satisfaction, but the long-run damage isn't really worth it. Here are some tips and alternatives to consider:

1. There are mixed schools of belief when it comes to brushing hair.
   1. Some say regular brushing stimulates scalp circulation, so you should brush your hair each night before bed. Boloji.com: Nine Tips for Healthy Hair (February 15, 2001)
   2. Others say brushing can cause damage to hair. Minimize how often you use a brush, resorting to combing to undo tangles instead. When you do have to use a brush, use a boar's bristle brush. Long Locks Hairsticks Boutique: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long Hair
2. Try to cut back on heat-required styling techniques, practicing them no more than two or three times a week. HairStyleCut.com: Damaged Hair
3. Avoid harsh chemical styling agents. Boloji.com: Nine Tips for Healthy Hair (February 15, 2001)
4. If you absolutely must color, go for the semi-permanent hair colors, which are ammonia free and less damaging. eHow: How to Get Healthy Hair
5. Steer clear of pulling your hair up with elastic bands, which will pull and break hair during removal. eHow: How to Get Healthy Hair
6. Avoid tight styles like tiny braids or stressful updos. Pulling can stretch and break hair. Long Locks Hairsticks Boutique: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long Hair
7. Try your best to stay away from chemicals that will damage hair, such as chlorine, perming and coloring solutions. eHow: How to Get Healthy Hair

• If you're aiming for beautiful hair, you need to start out healthy. If you're routines until this point have not been beneficial to the health of your hair, it's definitely time to rethink them. A healthy diet, exercise and careful haircare routines are the start to a healthy, beautiful head of hair.