Luxe Letter 35

How to be Becky with the good hair

What you put in your mouth shows up on your head. Here’s what to chow down on if you want lush, gorgeous hair that hip hop tracks are written about - By Parizaad Khan Sethi

Spinach

The leafy green is a potent multi-nutrient powerhouse—and a god sent for better hair. It’s a great supply of iron, an essential nutrient for hair, as a lack of it leads to hair loss. Spinach also contains Vitamins A and C, beta carotene and folate—all required eating for lush hair that can resist breakage.

Lean protein

This should actually be a no-brainer, as hair is mostly made up of a type of protein called keratin. A lack of protein in the diet means new hair growth will stop happening, leading to lank, thinning hair. Low-fat meats like chicken are perfect sources of protein that is needed to fuel hair-producing cells.

Salmon

The Omegas are a strain of vital fatty acids the body needs to perform at its most optimum. A key ingredient in lustrous hair is Omega 3, which can be obtained from fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines. Omega 3s also help regulate insulin; when your body’s insulin levels are out of whack, hair loss can be a result.

Eggs

Eggs are another nutritionist-backed superfood, and an essential building block for good hair, as they contain biotin or Vitamin B7 (also known as Vitamin H.) A biotin deficiency, though rare, can cause brittle hair, thinning and hair loss.
Zinc is another mineral found in eggs that contributes to healthy hair. Lower levels of zinc will mean weak fair follicles, shedding and hair loss. Those on a low-cal diet might suffer from low zinc levels (another sign is white marks on your nails).

Nuts

By now you’re probably realizing that a healthy, all-round diet is what equals a headfull of lush, healthy hair. Nuts should definitely be part of that diet. Almonds, walnuts and cashews contain hair-feeding levels of zinc, selenium and Vitamin E, which all contribute to strong strands.

Guava, bell peppers and citrus fruits

Vitamin C is a superstar in the skincare world—consider it to be one for hair as well. Vitamin C is essential for creating collagen, which gives skin and hair its elasticity and strength. And added bonus: Vit C helps the body absorb iron, another wonder ingredient for hair.

Parizaad Khan Sethi

is a beauty and wellness editor based in New York. She was the former beauty editor at Vogue India and now serves as a contributing editor for the magazine. At age 5, Parizaad fell in love with an old cream blush she found in the back of her mother’s drawer, and has been in awe of the transformative power of beauty ever since. When she’s not writing about beauty, she researches advances in skincare as a hobby, and is constantly guinea-pigging herself in the name of beauty.

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