Although we can’t be mermaids frolicking and singing with crabs named Sebastian under the sea, there are some tips and tricks to getting their coveted, luscious long locks. The connection between our gut and skin is quite similar to the connection between our gut and hair, and here at Nutra we will always approach wellness and beauty holistically. So step one, it’s time to look at what’s going into the gut.

If your hair doesn’t seem to grow to its full potential or snaps easily, these easy tips will help in supporting you in your pursuit of dreamy mermaid hair. Although growing hair undoubtedly takes a healthy dose of patience, you also need a healthy dose of supporting nutrients. While we can’t control things like our genetics, we can have a little more control over what we consume, and therefore the kind of boosting support we give our hair. Certain vitamins and minerals impact the health and strength of our hair, and not consuming enough of the right nutrients can contribute to poor hair health.

Inside out beauty

Consuming a great source of protein will support the strength of your hair structure, as hair is made up of protein. Collagen Beauty naturally contains protein from bovine collagen, and to really seal the deal, we added bioavailable zinc, silica and vitamin C to boost the effectiveness of the the Collagen Peptides in both Collagen Beauty and Marine Collagen Beauty. Vitamin C has been shown to boost the absorption of certain proteins and iron, the body also uses vitamin C and silica to produce and promote collagen. While zinc and silica plays a key role in making proteins in your hair and other cells.

Other such foods shown to support hair health, strength and growth are eggs, beans and oysters for their biotin and protein (a great source of daily protein will contribute to strong hair). Good fats like nuts, seeds, avocados omega 3 and 6 (found in fish and chia seeds). Berries for the vitamin C (hello Acai Berry Blend + Collagen Beauty berry flavours). Spinach and leafy greens for the iron, folate and vitamins A and C, all so very important for getting that long, healthy mermaid hair. We know it can be hard to get your daily dose of greens in, here’s where Super Greens + Reds comes to the rescue with 23 nourishing greens and reds. Consuming Super Greens + Reds along with Collagen Beauty will give your body a daily multivitamin and collagen boost to support your mermaid hair goals.

Other tips and tricks

While tackling hair health from the inside out is vital, there are some other little tips and tricks to support your hair once you’ve done all the hard work from the inside. Consider the environment in which your hair lives; if you are in saltwater or chlorine a lot, make sure you wash your hair well afterwards, never leaving the salt or chlorine in your hair for too long.

Getting regular trims, although it sounds counterintuitive, actually helps your hair grow in the long run. When a split end forms in a hair follicle, it will simply keep splitting up higher and higher in the hair shaft. By getting a trim every 6-8 weeks, split ends are kept to a minimum.

Avoid heat styling tools in your mermaid hair quest, too much heat too often can lead to thin damaged hair and split ends. If you do find yourself needing to use heat styling tools, be sure to invest in protective heat spray. The same goes for the chemicals used in your hair, where possible, choose a gentle option and avoid harsh chemicals that will damage the integrity of the hair.

This one may seem like an old wive’s tale, but there’s more to it than a simple myth - brushing your hair from the bottom of the strands to the top of your scalp slowly is a better method than brushing from the scalp down. Brushing from the scalp downwards can create more damage higher up the strand as it works to get rid of tangles and knots. Tying your hair back loosely and in protective styles like loose braids with gentle hair ties (throw those elastic bands out pronto) will all help in protecting your precious hair.

There you have it, our holistic approach to growing mermaid hair. Remember, any growth and healing takes time, and our hair is no different. We recommend giving yourself a minimum of 8 weeks of trying these methods. Results from Collagen Beauty can be noticeable for some after a week, yet most see results after 8 short weeks. Beauty and wellness is about whole body health, so along with introducing these supporting steps, it’s helpful to eliminate anything that might contribute to hair damage. We are all going to be different here, for you it might be reducing stress and meditating, for some it might be reducing processed foods and introducing more supporting nutrients. Be kind to your body and give it the time and love it needs. Happy mermaid hair growing and glowing!

~This blog is for informational purposes only, regardless of the advice of holistic health practitioners and research. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. Please obtain medical advice relevant to your particular circumstances from your health professional.