Good hair health starts from within. The secret to luscious locks lies in eating well and doing as little as possible to your hair
Demi Moore's shiny, waist-length locks are not just beautiful - they reveal a fundamental truth about hair health: it starts from within.
The actress, aged 62, has been in the spotlight for snagging her first major industry award - for best actress for her role in The Substance - at the Golden Globes, and many have been talking about her hair. Experts say her approach to hair care reveals important lessons about maintaining healthy locks at any age.
"When I'm not working, I try to do as little to it as possible. It's stressful even having someone touch it. If I don't have anywhere to go, I don't put heat on it - I just try to let it do its own thing. And I don't wash it too often," Moore told People magazine in a 2022 interview.
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"I get regular tiny trims. The rest comes from the inside out. You have to eat well, all those things."
Beatriz Robles, a food technologist and expert in nutrition and dietetics, told lifestyle magazine Vogue: "Changes in the appearance, volume, or density of hair can be a sign that there is a nutritional deficit in our diet."
The science of healthy hair extends beyond luxury products; it involves nourishing your hair follicles with the right nutrients. Here is how diet influences hair health.
Healthy hair starts with your daily diet. Keratin (protein) accounts for about 90 per cent of each hair strand, so it is essential to consume enough protein for proper growth and strength.
Essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3s found in nuts, avocados and fish, help retain moisture and maintain scalp health. Additionally, iron deficiency, which is common in women, can lead to hair loss.
Research shows vitamin deficiencies significantly affect hair health. Vitamin D, present in egg yolks and fatty fish and foods fortified with this nutrient - or that develops from spending time in sunlight - stimulates new follicle formation.
Vitamin E, found in plant-based oils, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables - including sunflower, sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, beet greens, collard greens, spinach, pumpkin, red bell peppers, mangoes and avocados - acts as an antioxidant shield against environmental damage.
Vitamin A - found in a huge variety of fruit and vegetables including sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, spinach, mango and guava, and in animal products - produces sebum, your scalp's natural moisturiser.
Moore's minimal-styling approach aligns with current research. Excessive use of heat can strip hair's natural protective barriers.
"When heat is applied, the natural oils are stripped from your hair, and the water molecules evaporate, changing the hair's protein structure," research highlighted on household appliance manufacturer Dyson's website states.
"The high temperatures cause the water to dry up quickly, which affects the structure of each strand and can crack the cuticles, the outer layer of hair, making hair more vulnerable to further damage."
You have a winning formula for keeping your locks healthy when you pair proper nutrition with consistent hair care. Embrace these tips, and your hair will thank you.
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
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2025-02-04T08:36:31Z