A TOOL approved by Gwyneth Paltrow is among the haircare essentials a trichologist recommends for promoting growth.
She shared her must-try tips for lusciously long locks without a trip to the salon.
At her trichology clinics, Eva Proudman helps around 250 patients a month improve the condition of their hair.
Anyone from 16 to 90 can see an improvement in “growth, texture, diameter, and density,” she said.
Speaking to The U.S. Sun, Proudman shared her expert haircare advice.
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HOME HAIR HACKS
Proudman revealed there are home remedies that can be effective for healthier hair and scalp.
Among them is routinely using a Manta Pulse Hair & Scalp Brush to massage.
“Scalp massage is something that you can easily do at home,” Proudman said.
“There is lots of research evidence to the benefit of scalp massage.
“The Manta Pulse is a really pleasurable and relaxing thing to do, bringing good blood flow into the hair follicle to encourage the hair follicle to be active for optimum hair growth.”
The tool, which has been featured on Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle site Goop, has a 4.7-star rating out of 5 on Nordstrom, where it costs $85.
Proudman said rosemary and tea tree are among the “beneficial” ingredients to look out for when buying shampoo.
She said they provide “excellent” relief from scalp itching and flaking.
Meanwhile, amino acids in medicated conditioners can add volume while strengthening and smoothing strands.
“Glycerin is a great ingredient as it is a humectant, which means that it pulls moisture into the hair and scalp to hydrate them,” she said.
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“The hair is made of 10% water and it is often dehydration that makes the hair dull and lifeless so using a product with Glycerin is more beneficial than oils as many oils don’t hydrate.”
Proudman recommended leaving wet hair to air dry rather than using damaging tools.
“Plaiting or ragging damp hair and leaving it in overnight will give you great waves and curls in your hair without the need to use heat or chemicals and can look fab,” she said.
STYLE STAPLES
Proudman said hair loss can be reduced by opting for styles that don’t pull on strands.
“Try not to wear your hair in very high tight ponytails or braids,” she said.
“This can put tension on the hair leading to what is called traction alopecia, where the hair is put under strain for too long and it is then lost and can in some cases cause permanent loss too.
“If you do tie your hair up use a silk scrunchy or a smooth tie not a rough elastic band as this can also cause breakage and damage to the hair.”
STRAND SAVIORS
Proudman said vitamin B12 and minerals such as iron and zinc are essential for good hair health.
She also frequently sees patients struggling to incorporate enough protein into their diets.
“I would always advise seeking professional advice and most probably blood tests so that clinical analysis of your needs can be taken and appropriate advice given,” she said.
“Don’t just buy a multivitamin and hope for the best, often these standard off-the-shelf formulations don’t always have the levels of vitamins and minerals required to treat hair health issues.”
She said the time it takes to see an improvement in hair condition varies.
“As a guide, it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to start to notice improvements and up to 2 or 3 years to fully resolve the problem,” she said.
“We have to remember that the hair is the second fastest dividing cell in the body but non-essential, so it is always the last thing to benefit from any treatments that we may advise and it takes time and patience to see the results.”
