Eat your way to healthier hair

December 12, 7:16 PMNY Women's Health ExaminerAmy Capetta

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Your hair will go bananas for bananas. (freefoto.com)

What are you wishing for this holiday season? One of those phones that can do everything from finding your way out of a dark alley to finding your car keys? A DVD box set from some one-hit-wonder TV show from the 80s? Or, if you’re more practical: A job?

If your wish is for healthier hair, I may have the solution for you. Even better news: All three “remedies” can probably be found in your kitchen this very minute. Whether your beauty wish is for your locks to become thicker, longer or shinier (or heck, maybe all three!), all of your hair care tools won’t be found on a shelf in your salon. “It is important to maintain a balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in your diet for the betterment of your hair’s health,” says Dr. Alvi Armani, a world-renowned hair loss expert who’s based in Los Angeles.
 

Below are three hair-healthy foods that experts say will give you locks to love:

Eggs: Eggs, as well as milk and liver, contain a substantial amount of Vitamin A, which is essential for hair growth, states Dr. Armani. “Too little of this vitamin can result in a condition that occurs in the hair follicles and in the sebaceous glands—the small glands in the skin that secrete oil into your hair—which can complicate hair growth.”

Bananas: This fruit contains tryptophan, a rich amino acid that has been proven to be extremely beneficial for hair and skin. “They are also chock-full of Vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as rich natural oils and carbohydrates, and all of these goodies provide natural elasticity of the hair and prevents splits ends,” says San Diego hair stylist Jet Rhys, who has worked with singers Annie Lennox and Rod Stewart. 

Cayenne pepper: According to Dr. Howard Murad, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles, these spicy numbers can liven up your locks. “Either as a food or a spice, cayenne pepper will increase circulation and blood flow to the hair follicles.”