I Love Your Hair – Part 2 of My Beauty Diary Spring 2022 series.

Let’s talk hair. I have been getting many questions about my hair and so I am answering them now. I love your hair, no I love your hair, I love my hair, oh I love our hair. A lot of time and money is spent on hair maintenance and I hope by sharing what I have learnt, it simplifies how you love up your hair. Rewind selector – I used to rock shorter hair and I am actually a natural blonde (gasp), however I discovered that being brunette allowed my green eyes to pop and suited me so much more and I’ve not looked back. I can say this for certain, my hair changed when I became a vegan. Eating an organic, plant based diet reflected in my hair, simply because hair care starts with what you eat. Less over priced hair care products and more attention on high quality food and supplements. Let’s go…..

The basics. Having been a vegan long before it became popular, I was always asked the same question, “what about protein”? My smug face now replies, “let my hair answer that question”. Our hair is made of a tough protein called keratin. Eating adequate protein is important for hair growth and maintaining overall hair health. 

I am a supplement lover and I have what I call my ‘core crew’ and then fine-tune according to my bodies needs and the season. MSM has made a significant difference to my hair and I have used it for years now, I even have some of the top hair stylists in the industry asking me what I use. What is MSM? It’s full name is Methylsulfonylmethane and it is a naturally occurring organosulfar antioxidant. MSM promotes the formation of bonds at the follicle level and these bonds strengthen existing hair strands and help promote new growth. Like everything mentioned here, it is all interconnected and so the benefits are not limited to our hair. MSM is vital for supporting cell structure and reversing free radical damage to cells. This wonder antioxidant supports the immune system and the body’s ability to repair connective tissue. I use Bluebonnet, learn more at  https://bluebonnetnutrition.com

I educated myself on amino acids while in lockdown and opened my eyes to a whole new world. The power of these building blocks of proteins is awe inspiring. Amino acids account for a large percentage of the chemical structure of our hair. Approximately 18 percent of keratin consists of the amino acid Cysteine. This powerhouse provides sulfur to hair cells, improving strength, elasticity, and hair texture. Please do your homework as it is best to take selenium and vitamin E with Cysteine. I have also been using L-Lysine since 2020 and it is most definetley part of my ‘core crew’. It’s a restorative amino acid that supports collagen and has a significant impact on hair integrity. I finally found a vegan collegan called Vegan Collagen Boost by RAE. While reading the ingredients I discovered it contains L-Lysine (so perhaps a gentle introduction to this amino acid for those new to it) and another amino acid called L-Proline (that i was also taking). L-Proline is essential for the formation of collagen and plays a large role in skin healing, contributes to healthy metabolism and fights inflammation. This unique amino acid also helps to seal and heal the gut lining which improves digestive health (where skincare starts). I suggest the book that sits proudly in my kitchen (and my mums); Nutritional Healing by Phyllis.A.Baluch. It is my nutritional bible. 

I’ve recommended MoonJuice over the last few years and for good reason. While in Sephora reading the ingredients in SuperBeauty by MoonJuice, I discovered that it had the exact vitamins and amino acids I had brought individually. Apart from smiling that I had educated myself to take exactly what MoonJuice had combined, it also had financial benefits. I was so impressed by SuperBeauty, I am now taking SuperHair and my hair feels thicker and stronger. This supplement fills in the nutritonal gaps. For example it covers all the B vitamins and the non negotiable Vitamin A – it also includes one of my all time favorites; ashwagandha (which lowers stress hormones and is anti-inflammatory, improves sleep), pumpkin seed powder (loaded with antioxidants that can help to protect hair from environmental aggressors like air pollution – a city girl problem – and rich in Vitamin A which helps your scalp to produce enough sebum. Sebum is a natural oil that keeps your hair moisturized and strong). 

As mentioned above pumpkin seed powder moisturizes from the inside out and I am a fan of using omegas for that purpose. I feel the texture of my hair is drier when I don’t use them. When I was the face of Sibu Beauty Skincare I used their sea buckthorn, (omega 7), and it is a powerhouse that I go back to again and again for glowing skin and shiny hair. I use chia seeds consistently and they also are my water hack. I add them to a glass of water and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours while the seeds expand to a gel like consistency. This superfood is a great source of omega fatty 3 acids and they help control hair loss, along with making hair shiny and lustrous and the vital hair mineral zinc, found in chia seeds, enhances the hair’s ability to protect itself from environmental damages. An added benefit that I like – chia seeds fill you up. 

As a model and actress my hair is certainly tested when on set and so I limit styling when off duty. I love wearing my hair in a low pony tail with a middle part with leave in conditioner (I used to use coconut oil but that creates a residue build up and so I limit that now to just my body). I love the rich certified organic Rose Otto hair treatment by Alteya Organics. My regular beauty lovers know I swear by their face spray also. Whatever hair type, texture, color, length that  you rock, enjoy it. Hair is fun and an expression of our individuality…..

How long are you growing your hair they ask, “that fake hair to my arse long”, I reply with a smile and a wink… 

Directory.

www.alteyaorganics.com

www.moonjuice.com

https://raewellness.com

www.sibu.com

Emma is a model and actress living in NYC. Represented by Mary Anne Claro for all legit. World Models and Access Talent for Voiceover.