To have great hair you have to understand that hair is multifaceted; there is no quick fix solution.

You can have great hair but only you understand the rules.

A good head of thick, shiny, healthy hair is always a sign of good health, youth and beauty. We talk about good and bad hair days and it does sometimes seem as though our hair has a mind of its own and can change from day to day. The condition of hair has little to do with age, as you can be 50 with great hair or 20 with weak, thinning, lank hair. It has to do with genes and how you take care of it.

What affects our hair?

Good diet is most important for the hair as hair is made from protein; and lack of protein in the diet can cause hair to thin. Vegetarians should be especially careful to have iron, protein and zinc in their diet otherwise they will experience hair fall. It is very important to have a healthy diet and in the Gulf, where food has often traveled a long way, to take a good quality daily multivitamin.

Hair ages as a result of environmental damage caused by the sun, air-conditioning and the drying effects of calcium and chlorine in desalinated water. Cosmetic preparations, such as ammonia in hair dye that breaks down the hair fiber, can cause strands to feel dry and brittle. Cheap shampoos and conditioners containing polymers or silicon can also dry out the hair. Over use of hot tongs or hair dryers can damage you hair.

So what can we do to have good hair and also to look good? We have to accept that genes do play a part but we can still make the best of the hair we have been given:

1. Eat a healthy balanced diet (you are what you eat).

2. Drink 8 to 12 glasses of water per day. If your body is dry so will be your hair.

3. Take exercise as a good circulation send blood and oxygen whizzing around the body. Your arteries feed your body.

4. Wash your hair no more than 3 times per week so that your scalp and roots are fed by your scalp’s natural oils.

5. Use natural products on your hair. Too many products contain silicon and polymers damage and dry out the hair.

6. Try and let your hair dry as much as possible naturally.

7. Invest in good quality fragrance free hair oil.

A good hair repair massage oil massaged into the roots once a week can transform your locks after only one use. Before you shampoo, apply it to dry hair for two to three minutes. Gently massage your scalp all over using your fingertips in gentle circular movements. Regular use will give you amazingly thicker stronger hair growth. This is a good tip for men as well, as men tend to carry a lot of stress in the scalp which restricts the blood flow to the roots and causes hair to fall. A weekly massage, even in areas where there is no hair will cause new healthy growth... Just try it!

Healthy Recipe

Fantastic Fruits Smoothie

Your children will love the intense color and flavor, and you can be happy in the knowledge that you are giving them a healthy treat.

Serves 4

Time to prepare: 15 min, no cooking involved.

Ingredients

2 bananas, peeled and roughly chopped

200g frozen fruits of the forest

250ml pure unsweetened apple juice

250ml milk

Method

Put all the ingredients into your blender or smoothie maker and blend until smooth.

Serving Suggestion

Serve immediately in a tall glass. This is a great way to encourage your kids to drink milk – use whole milk or semi-skimmed, whichever your family prefers.

Ask Alva

How can I encourage my family to eat more fruits and vegetables and less junk food?

— Alicia

Keep a well-stocked fruit bowl and encourage the family to snack on fruit.

Make colorful fruit salads or smoothies.

Chop up raw veggies like carrots and peppers for school lunch-boxes, picnics and side dishes.

Include plenty of vegetables in stews and meat sauces.

Don’t force kids to eat fruit and vegetables.

Do praise your children enthusiastically when they try a new fruit or vegetable.

If you don’t buy junk food they won’t eat it.

Get kids cooking – when kids prepare food, they are more likely to try it.

— Alva

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