Article: food24 Image: Fairlady

Good hair nutrition begins with getting enough protein, which is the building block of your hair. Other important vitamins and minerals include B complex, which is associated with energy production and building good hair and skin issues, folic acid, B12, and zinc.

Some minerals to consider for healthy hair are calcium, chromium, iodine, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc.

For those on a tight budget or if you want a natural alternative here is some homemade recipes.

Homemade hair spray
Chop one lemon or an orange for dry hair. Place this in a pot with two cups of water. Boil until half of the initial amount remains. Cool, strain, and place in a spray bottle and store in the refrigerator. If it is too sticky, add more water. Add one ounce rubbing alcohol as a preservative and then the spray can be stored for up to two weeks un-refrigerated.

Chamomile Shampoo
You will need four bags of chamomile tea, four tablespoons of soap flakes and one and a half tablespoons of glycerine. Let the tea bags brew for ten minutes in one a half cup of boiling water. Remove tea bags and add the remaining ingredients until everything is melted. Then poor into a bottle and store in a cool place.

Deep conditioner
This recipe requires a small jar of mayonnaise and half an avocado. Mash both ingredients into a greenish paste and then smooth into your hair. Cover your head with plastic wrap and leave on for 20 minutes.

Homemade gel
You'll need one and a half teaspoons of unflavoured gelatine, and one cup of warm water. Dissolve the gelatine in a cup of water and place in the refrigerator to set, then just use as you would use a normal hair gel product.

Hair tonic
For this recipe take two teaspoons of gin and two egg yolks, beat the yolks until it's frothy then add the gin. Beat until the mixture becomes foamy. Massage the entire scalp and hair with the mixture then rinse off with warm water. This tonic has a shelf life of one week, keep refrigerated.

Why eggs?
It's a good source of 11 essential nutrients and is one of the few food sources with vitamins A and D. It is also an excellent source of choline – an essential nutrient which plays a role in brain development and memory.