All of the nutrition that hair receives comes from the scalp. Aside from the inherited traits which determine the color and structure of hair, there are many things that can be done to keep hair healthy and shiny.
When a hair grows out of a hair follicle, which is to say when it becomes visible, it is completely mature. Not much can be done with the hair itself after it has grown out other than to ensure that it does not become damaged.
Wind, sun, salt water, synthetic hair dyes, and permanents are very hard on hair. A good shampoo and conditioner, which does not damage the scalp, gives some degree of protection against these destructive factors. But really effective hair care also requires that the scalp be nurtured from within.
By ensuring that the body, and thereby the scalp, gets the right diet and nutrients you can create the right “soil” and thereby a good chance of achieving good, full hair. This and the fact that some substances applied directly to the scalp have beneficial effects on hair are not mutually exclusive.
Many substances which promote blood circulation to the scalp can increase the thickness of the hair shaft and thereby improve hair growth. The problem is that many hair products, including shampoos, which stimulate hair roots with synthetic substances, have been shown to cause hair loss. This experience is well known by many consumers and hair stylists. The explanation for this may be that these products are only designed to work on the hair roots alone. They are not a complete treatment where improved blood circulation to the scalp and scalp nutrition through the diet are taken into consideration.
Blood circulation and nutrient delivery to the scalp can be increased by massaging the scalp, with or without a safe to use hair product. This is also the case with thin hair. It is a myth that people with thin hair should treat their hair with more care. Contrarily it is always beneficial for hair and for the promotion of hair growth to massage the scalp thoroughly and brush the hair many times daily. Hair is not damaged by being pulled in this way, quite the opposite is true. Washing your hair with a minimum of shampoo and lots of lathering followed by thorough rinsing is also beneficial.
As mentioned, good blood circulation and a proper diet is all important. Tobacco should also be mentioned here. Smoking causes contraction of the smallest blood vessels, especially those which are superficial. This also includes the blood vessels which are far from the hair.
