Are you tired of dull, frizzy, weak and thin hair? Do you dread combing your hair or shampooing them for days, afraid of hair falling out in locks?

While it’s all well and good to invest in expensive shampoos, costly serums and pricey treatments, take a hard look at the food you eat. 

There is a strong relationship between your overall nutrition and the state of your hair.

Incorporate these foods into your diet to get a healthy and lustrous mane in a matter of a few months.

1. If your hair is dull

  • Eat: Salmon, Flaxseeds, nuts
  • These are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids that help in lubricating your hair follicles and adding luster to hair.

2. If your scalp is flaky

  • Eat: Whole grains, milk, pumpkin seeds, yogurt, cashews, legumes, oyster, pork
  • These foods are rich in zinc, a mineral that helps prevent scalp dryness and flakiness.

3. If your hair is thinning

  • Eat: Chicken, pork, fish, eggs, legumes -- such as chickpeas, lentils, green peas, soybeans and kidney beans, tofu, milk, cheese, paneer, almonds, cashews
  • Protein is necessary for all cell growth, including hair cells. Hair gets its structure from hardened proteins called keratin. Without enough protein for keratin, hair grows more slowly, and the individual strands that do grow are weaker.

4. If your hair keeps breaking

  • Eat: Guava, strawberries, citrus fruits, bell peppers
  • Vitamin C is important for good circulation, hair growth and hair color. If you have enough vitamin C you will have strong, supple strands of hair that do not split. 

5. If you’re facing severe hair fall

  • Eat: Spinach, beans, peas, whole grains, potato, broccoli, raisins, apricot, red meat, seafood
  • Iron deficiency is one of the main causes of severe hair fall and thinning. Without enough iron, hair and its follicles are starved of oxygen.

6. If your natural color is fading

  • Eat: Shiitake mushrooms, sunflower seeds, beef liver, lentils, almonds, apricots
  • Foods rich in copper help hair maintain its natural colour.

7. If you have dry, damaged hair due to chemicals or sun

  • Eat: Carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, almonds, spinach, apricots, sunflower seeds
  • Foods rich in Vitamin E and beta-carotene, which are natural anti-oxidants help in fighting free radical injury and help nourish damaged hair.

8. If you have greasy hair and poor hair growth

  • Eat: Foods high in biotin are eggs, brown rice, cracked wheat, green peas, lentils, oats, cauliflower, sunflower seeds, almonds and walnuts.
  • Biotin deficiency has been linked to hair loss. Deficiency of B complex vitamins can lead to greasy hair, dandruff, poor hair growth, and grey hair.

If you continue to suffer from bad hair days, do not hesitate to visit your dermatologist. Serious medical conditions like hypothyroidism, anemia, drug toxicities, autoimmune diseases etc. may present with hair loss and need to be promptly diagnosed and treated.