My hair has never been this thick and healthy – and here is what I have been doing differently

Last week, I had my first hairdressers appointment in 497 days.

No, really. The last time I had balayage done and an actual in-house cut and blowdry was pre-pandemic in February 2020. Now, I have a friend who is a children's barber, and she has helped me out here and there with a few trims just to keep the ends healthy, but apart from that, I literally had not set foot in a salon for a full year and a half. The good news? My stylist could not get over how much healthier my hair was now – thicker and fuller and shinier than in a long, long time – and – despite me having my ends trimmed – longer too. And all that after a year and a half of minimal hair maintenance. I have, however, made a few changes to how I treat my hair these past 18 months, trying to think healthy and nourished over styled – and clearly it has paid off.

It seems to encourage your hair to grow as healthily (and long!) as possible, all I needed to do was to be kind to it. The secret must be these three:

1. Olaplex No. 6 I noticed a big change in my hair since I started to use Olaplex No. 6 as a leave-in treatment. For the past few months, I have used it every time I wash my hair, and I honestly think it is one of the things that have made the biggest difference, maybe because it’s a bond-builder, meaning it goes into your hair and actually repairs it from the inside out instead of masking the problem like most treatments. My hair has a tendency to get tangled (probably as a result from me tying it up in a messy knot around the clock) but the No. 6 kept it tangle-free, smooth and soft. 2. Tangle Teezer The Scalp Exfoliator and Massager I picked this little gadget up in Boots a few months ago and am now utterly obsessed. Having been a long-term fan of the original Tangle Teezer, the Scalp Exfoliator and Massager does just what it says on the tin – exfoliates, detoxes and massages your scalp. I now use this for a few minutes after every time I wash my hair, and it is almost like getting a mini scalp massage. It can be used on wet or dry hair, but I like to use it as I have my conditioner in while in the shower, it feels like such a great use of time, and my hair – and scalp – always feels amazing after. And the science behind this is actually pretty impressive too. Massaging your scalp stimulates blow flow, meaning your hair follicles get more nourishment and your hair will grow faster. 3. Chlorella A while back, I started experimenting with some superfoods to add to my morning smoothies. Mostly, to give me energy to keep up with the demands of homeschooling and, you know, just trying to live through a pandemic, but as it turns out, one of these superfoods powders I invested in actually turned out being the most amazing thing you can eat – for your hair. Chlorella is actually single-celled green freshwater algae – and having done some research, I now realise I can really thank it for how strong and healthy my hair is right now. Ready to be convinced why you need to try it? Chlorella has a remarkable nutritional profile, it contains 50-60 percent protein, plus all the nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. It is also a rich source of biotin, iron, sulfur, vitamin C, chlorophyll, omega 3’s and fibre, as well as potassium, calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium and folic acid. Sounds like a powerhouse? It really is. All these nutrients nourish the body, including the hair follicles, making them strong enough to foster healthy hair strands.  Chlorella also promotes blood circulation in the scalp which stimulates hair growth, since it contains B-vitamins that help create red blood cells that transport oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to locations like the hair follicles in the scalp. Fun fact – hair loss caused by stress can be reduced by chlorella because chlorella has the ability to protect immune cells from oxidative stress and its negative effects. Chlorella also contains high levels of vitamin B12, along with nucleic acids, chlorophyll, protein and iron that boost the health of hair strands from the cellular level, creating the growth of thicker and stronger hair strands that don’t split or break easily. Oh – and some studies say it can help keep hair from going grey too!