How to Nourish Your Hair from the Inside Out

We've all been there, dry hair that is lack lustre and we just cant seem to get moisture into it. Sometimes the problem cant be treated from the outside only. You are probably already aware of the multitude of hair products that you can get to help you create the style that you want. Hair masks that hydrate and revitalise damaged ends, curl defining products that give your hair the bounce you love, and so much more can be used to get you closer to the hair that you want. Topical products aren’t the only things you should be using to fully nourish your hair, though.

There are a variety of things you can do to promote the growth of healthier hair. If you want to achieve your healthiest, most beautiful hair yet, here are a few ways that you can nourish yours from the inside out.

Take Supplements

Taking specific vitamins and nutrients in a supplement form can be a great way to provide your body with things that it might not be able to get enough of through the food that you eat. The same goes for your hair.

Several vitamins promote healthy hair growth and can improve the quality of your locks. Vitamin A, certain B-Vitamins (specifically biotin), and Vitamin E can all contribute to better hair. While you should certainly be looking to consume these things through your diet, you can potentially boost the quality of your hair by taking a supplement containing these vitamins regularly.

One thing that generally deters people from adding such supplements to their diet is the fact that good quality products can come at a high cost. It is essential, though, to go with brands that maintain the highest standards for the production of their supplements. You can find some deals online that could potentially help reduce the cost of your hair-loving vitamins, though, by using boots discount codes and by stocking up during the sales.

Increase Your Water Intake

Water is probably the most essential ingredient to having healthier hair. Roughly 60% of your body is made up of water. Moreover, the majority of that water is found within the cells of your body. Therefore, if you do not adequately hydrate your body, your cells, including those of your hair and skin, will become dehydrated.

Any hair professional will tell you that dehydrated hair is listless and dull in appearance. If you want to have the best hair possible, you should look for ways to increase your water intake daily. Before too long, you will see shinier, healthier-looking hair. Over time, you might also feel more energized and alert. Studies have also shown a direct link between adequate hydration and maintaining a healthy weight. 

Eat More Protein

A vital component of the cells that make up your hair is protein. For this reason, if your goal is healthier, stronger hair, you should add in plenty of protein to your diet. Fish that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids are even more beneficial as these proteins can help reduce hair loss while at the same time nourishing the cells of your hair.

Four African Inspired Home Decor Ideas

Image Source: CopperDust London

With quite a few of us working from home at the moment, are you looking at those walls and finding more and more things you would like to improve your home?

Do you want to give you home a quick DIY fix or are you planning to give your home a complete head-to-toe makeover and add a touch of personality to your living space? Get a unique, lively and beautiful living space by putting an African inspired spin on your interior decor. When done the right way, you will have a living space that will be the envy of so many. So let’s take a look at some African-inspired home decor ideas worth trying out.

1. Warm colours and light walls

Image Credit: Pinterest

Africa has not been left out of the current architectural advancement, with modern buildings, shooting up across the continent. However, ‘traditional’ homes with clay walls are still the continent’s building heritage. So, if you are planning on bringing some African touch to your interior, make sure your walls are given a similar finish - warm colours and light walls. You can also opt for textural wallpapers with African themes. For any beautiful architectural designs, you can consult firms like Scenario Architecture to bring your visions to life.

1. Animal skin upholstery and dark wood furniture

                                  

Image Credit: Pinterest

One of the main characteristics of an African interior is animal skin upholstery representing the rich wildlife of the continent. How many times have you observed a beautifully-made rug from the skin of a leopard or tiger gracing the floor of African royalty? You can choose from a wide variety of animal print wallpapers and when it comes to furniture, opt for dark wood, as they perfectly complement the animal skin upholstery. You can also shop for any of the many varieties of woven furniture available. These will help complete the Africa-inspired look.

2. African pottery, statues, and masks

                     

Image Credit: SnobStuff 

Now, let’s talk about something less difficult to get your hands on. Although original African pottery, statues, and masks may not be as easy as finding black hair products in town, with some research online, you should be able to find at least one African shop close-by. Those who love African inspired decor in their homes show how much importance is placed on masks, pottery, and wooden statues. Just a few items of this nature are enough to transform the ambience of your interior.

3. Prints and Textiles from Africa

Image Source: CopperDust London

                      

Image Credit: SnobStuff 

There are few things more elegantly attractive and unique than the myriad of different textiles and prints from the Continent. Kente, Kuba, Mudcloth, there are so many different styles to choose from. Find ways to incorporate these onto your walls or cover your dinner table. Also another type of print are animal prints which are currently popular everywhere at the moment -- zebra and leopard, tiger. you can give your interior an African spin from a wide range of options. Fortunately, African inspired rugs and textiles are not very difficult to come by. Just walk into any African shop, and you’ll get a lot of options to choose from. You can even extend the theme to your bedroom by purchasing African print bedsheets and pillowcases. The possibilities are as wide as your imagination can reach.

Wakanda Forever!

Image Credit: Pinterest

Ikea Made in Africa Collection - Överallt Celebrates African Design

Image Credit : Anthropologie

Confidence: Fake It Till You Make It

Do you find yourself feeling nervous in social situations or stuttering for works in important business meetings? A lack of confidence is common in the world we live in today. As the rise of social media took hold of our lives, more of us are faced with what looks like happy, confident and bold people, living incredible moments and achieving amazing things. We spend hours comparing ourselves to others, and it can be really harmful to our mental health.

You need to remember that social media is a web of lies. In most cases, relationships look amazing, people look flawless, and their lives look so exciting. The truth is you are only seeing a snapshot of what that person wants you to see. Many users of Instagram explain how they spend hours taking the right shot and then just as long editing it, to ensure everything looks perfect. While their images make them look like they are confident people, behind the scenes, they are agonising over various things. Relationships always look great on the internet too. No one posts photos of their partner and them in the middle of a row. Or the days where they are so tired they can’t even look at each other. So, you need to stop comparing yourself to social media and start living your best life for yourself.

One of the best ways to get confident is to fake it. Very few people feel good about themselves all the time, but they have mastered techniques of hiding their insecurities and inner worries. There are a few steps you can take to mask how you feel, which will actually make you feel a little bit better about yourself and will lead to more compliments which in turn will boost your confidence.

You can start with something as simple as your style. If you dress with an attitude, then people will notice you. If you are worried about looking people in the eye, then grab a pair of shades that will make an impression. There are more options than you can imagine when it comes to using fashion to hide your confidence issues. Sometimes something as simple as the way we wear our hair can give us the confidence boost we need to hold our head up high.

You should address any significant issues that you have. Talk to a friend or better still seek out some counselling and get to the heart of your worries. Maybe something happened in your childhood which has made you fearful of rejection. Talking this through with a professional can help you to solve the issue and pick up tips on how to act confident even when you are feeling like crawling into a ball and hiding under the nearest table. The more you fake it, the easier it will become to face the situations you are afraid of.

Confidence doesn’t come naturally to us all, so don’t be afraid to get creative and pretend that you are bolder and brighter than you really feel!

Dealing with the Side Issues of Lockdown

Are you struggling with the lockdown? You’re not alone. There are a lot of issues that you might be contending with right now that you probably didn’t expect to impact you. Let’s take a look at some important examples.

Broken Sleep

It’s possible that your sleeping pattern is broken due to the lockdown. This is likely due to the fact that you are unable to get the rest you need because your usual schedule is off track completely. It will properly start with a later than usual lie in followed by a later than usual bedtime. Before long, you’ll be staying up all night and sleeping away the day. You need to correct this by keeping active throughout the day and ensuring that you are sleepy for when it’s time to hit the hay.

Anxiety And Stress

It is possible that you are feeling a lot more stressed and anxious because you are stuck at home and that’s understandable. When you’re in a situation like this, you might find that you struggle to get the level of exercise that you need to burn off stress. You could also find that being stuck at home in itself, causes you to feel stressed in itself. If that’s the case then you should find ways to relax. There are numerous paths to take here. However, one option would be to consider CBD oil. This has been shown to be a brilliant way to calm the mind and works wonders for some people who do feel overly stressed.

Lack Of Socialisation 

One of the biggest issues with the lockdown is that it has stopped people from socializing as they typically would. You can’t see friends or family like you used to and while this is slowly changing, we still have a long way to go. Until there is a vaccine, it’s like that there will be some sort of social distancing in place. There is also the chance of a second lockdown causing further social distancing to be required. 

So what issues does a lack of socialization cause for you? Well, as it turns out, problems with socializing can cause a whole variety of issues. For instance, it’s possible that if you lack socialization for long enough, then you will experience cognitive decline. That’s why it’s important to make sure that the elderly do interact with people, particularly if they live alone. Of course, there are ways to avoid problems here. 

For instance, you can think about using tech to your advantage. These days, there are numerous tech options that are going to allow you to communicate and interact with friends and family members, regardless of where they are. Potentially, you will be able to enjoy some of the home comforts you used to include things like watching films together thanks to software such as the Netlfix Party. 

Beauty Woes

Like others, you might be having difficulty keeping up your beauty routine in lockdown. After all, a lot of the companies that you might have relied on for years are now closed for the foreseeable future. Is your hair growing out of control? Are you struggling to get the beauty products that you need? We feel your pain and this can be a problem. Particularly, if it’s starting to impact your levels of self-confidence. Some people don’t want to go outside unless their makeup and hair are on point. 

So, what are your options here? Well, one possibility is to consider sorting your own hair. There are videos online that can direct you on the best way to approach doing this without making it a complete mess. You can take a look at the video below for an example of this. 

Losing The  Gym

Finally, you might find that you are missing the gym during the lockdown. You don’t have to be a full fitness junkie to like the occasional workout and it can be frustrating when you realise that this option is no longer accessible. Of course, there are always ways to explore working out at home. For instance, you can think about setting up your own gym at home. This is more affordable than you might think because there are some great fitness sets online, regardless of what type of workout you want to explore. 

Of course, there are other workouts that you can complete without equipment. For instance, you might want to consider a ninety-second workout. This is used by pro athletes, it’s highly intense and will be ideal if you just want to make sure that you stay toned during the lockdown.