5 Tips for Healthier Hair

Hello friends - it's Lizzie here. I am so happy to be here with you all once again, and today we are going to be talking about hair care. We all dream of long and beautiful locks like Rapunzel, but how can we obtain such healthy looking hair? We will most certainly not be throwing our hair out a window in an attempt to get rescued, but don't we all want to know how to care for our beautiful locks. So today I am going to be sharing five tips for healthier hair. Let's get started.

Tip #1: Drink Water

Yep! You read correctly. Water not only hydrates you, but it hydrates your hair. It feeds the hair follicle, which can help your hair grow as well. Water has many good benefits. It helps your skin, it keeps you hydrated and it strengthens your hair. Try to drink at least 8 cups of water daily, and you will notice a complete difference in hair growth and in your body in general.

Tip #2: Less Heat

Makes sense right? The less heat you use the softer and healthier your hair will be. You can make a goal for yourself, and only allow heat styling tools near your locks once a week. Refrain from blow drying your hair all the time. Allow your hair to air dry, and limit the amount of heat you use. This can eliminate future split ends and can make your hair smooth too.

Tip #3: Wash Your Hair Less: 

Sounds strange I know, but if you wash your hair every day, you remove the natural oils from your scalp, and this can make your hair dry. If possible wash your hair 3 times a week. If this is not enough then wash your hair every other day. My hair is straight and thin, so when I don't wash it every other day it gets oily fast. Embarrassing I know. You know your hair better than anyone else. If you feel like you can wash your hair only three times a week, then go for it.

Tip #4: Be Gentle with Your Hair Ties

If you are anything like me, then putting your hair in a top knot or pony is always a go to hairstyle. It is simple and easy, and it looks good. Did you know that having a ponytail in the same place for many days can damage your hair. That's right! If you love pony's and top knots as much as me then try changing it up once in a while. Try a high pony one day, a low pony the next, a high top knot, and maybe a side updo the next. Refrain from tightening the pony also to limit breakage.

Tip #5: Massage Away

Have you ever had your head massaged? or have you ever had someone play with your hair? It is very relaxing. Take some time to massage your scalp. It not only feels good, but it helps your hair as well. This can be especially great if you have had your hair in a pony all day. Massaging your scalp will relax you, and it may be even help with hair growth.

There you go ladies. Love your hair, and remember that in order to make it healthy and beautiful, you have to take care of it. I hope you enjoyed these tips, now go ahead and try them out. What tips do you recommend for healthier hair?

Lizzie blogs over at thekindhearted.com & she can be found on Twitter & Instagram.

Recipe: Roasted Eggplant Linguine

It's been a while since I've shared a recipe and that's basically because I only want to share yummy things that are different and/or super yummy. My schedule has been insane lately, in a good way but the meals haven't been anything to write about. I've been busy than ever creating content for DIY Candy and getting ready to relaunch Hello Awesome Tees. No matter how crazy life gets, we still need to eat. And I don't mind that one bit.

Lately, I've been wanting to incorporate more healthy options for pasta. The canned sauce just hasn't cut it for me lately. There's really nothing like fresh tomatoes and organic herbs. Throw in a veggie like zucchini or eggplant, and you've got yourself a gourmet supper. I received a box of ingredients from Hello Fresh accompanied with awesome recipes. They didn't send it with the intention of having me write a post, so this is all my opinion and the recipe altered a bit to fit my family's tastes.

Here's what you'll need:

1 Eggplant

6 oz Linguine

2 Cloves Garlic

1/2 Onion

1-2 Teaspoon Sun-Dried Tomatoes

1 can Tomatoes

2 Teaspoon Olive Oil

1/4 cup finely chopped Parsley

First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cut the eggplant into bite-sized pieces and toss with a dash of salt and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Spray a baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and cook the eggplant for about 30 minutes or until the "meat" of the eggplant begins to brown.

Add the remaining olive oil to a large pan on medium heat. Dice the onion, garlic and sun-dried tomatoes then add to the pan. Toast for about 5-10 minutes. Add the canned tomatoes and stir. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil, cooking the linguine until al dente. Drain the noodles and stir them right into the sauce.

Add the eggplant to the sauce and noodle mix. Serve immediately with a spoonful of the finely chop fresh parsley. Yum!