Nail Care and Hair Care: Internally
Extra-virgin olive oil should be included in a healthy diet. A
healthy diet is the key to healthy nails and healthy hair. Healthy nutritional
changes can promote hair and nail growth and prevent nail damage and hair loss.
You can obtain most of these from the foods you eat. If taking supplements, do
not overdo it, since overuse can cause other health problems. Below are other
essential foods to ingest, in addition to using extra-virgin olive oil for a
heart-healthy diet.
Healthy Diet for Great Nail Care and Hair Growth:
- Include omega-3 fatty acids; an essential part of your healthy diet. For nail care and hair growth, try to eat salmon (preferable wild Alaskan salmon), sardines, herring or mackerel two or three times a week. Or, sprinkle two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseeds per day on your cereal or salads, or eat walnuts.
- Supplement your diet with the essential omega-6 fatty acid called GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) in the form of black currant oil or evening primrose oil, available in capsules or soft gels at health food stores. Take 500 mg of either twice a day. Be patient with this one. You won't see results for six to eight weeks.
- Minerals that strengthen the nails and hair shaft: calcium, selenium and silicon (silica).
- Minerals that stimulates hair growth: manganese and zinc.
- Minerals needed that help prevent thin, flat nails and hair loss: iron (deficiency can cause hair loss), iodine (regulates thyroid hormone -affects hair growth).
- Vitamin that strengthen the nails and hair shaft: vitamin B-7, vitamin A (retinol).
- Vitamins that stimulates nail and hair growth: vitamins B-1 (thiamin), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3 (niacin), B-5 (pantothenic acid), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-9 (folic acid), B-12 (cobalamin), vitamin E.
Nail Care and Hair Care: Externally
Olive oil can not only be used
internally, for a healthy diet, but externally for great skin, nails and hair.
Olive oil can be used as a nighttime massage oil for hair, hands and nails.
Olive Oil for Nail Care:
1.) Simply warm the olive oil and soak nails for about 10 minutes; cover with cotton sleep gloves (worn while sleeping). Go to sleep.
2.) Use the following recipe to soften skin and strengthen nails.
Moisturizing Paraffin Bath for Hands.
4 ounces paraffin
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. Lustrous Henna® Face & Body Mask Skin
Treatment
In a small saucepan, heat the first 2 ingredients together until liquid. Mix in Lustrous Henna® Face & Body Mask Skin Treatment until well-blended. Cool to comfortably warm and "paint" each hand or dip both hands at once into the mixture. Wrap in plastic wrap. Leave on 10 minutes; then peel off.
Olive Oil for Hair Care:
Nighttime Hot Oil Hair Massage Therapy for Hair
Before going to bed (or anytime you have an extra 6-8 hours to wear a plastic cap), massage hot oil (EEVO/extra-virgin olive oil) into your scalp. Be careful not to make it too hot-should still be able to touch it without scalding your fingers
Cover hair with a plastic cap or wrap and hair bonnet/scarf. (Sleep on a towel to protect pillow from possible leaking). In the morning, (before bathing) mix a little lemon juice and acv (apple cider vinegar) together and apply it to your scalp, dabbing with a soft cloth. Leave on for about 5 minutes and rinse out. Wash hair with Lustrous Henna Dry Shampoo Powder (made into a paste). Cover hair with plastic cap. Leave shampoo powder on hair for 5 minutes and rinse out. This will also help prevent dandruff and hair loss.
Taking good care of your hair will not only prevent hair loss, but will help you strengthen and maintain great-looking nails.
