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(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

From the ages of xv to 17 I suffered with bulimia.

While some people encounter bulimia as simply bingeing on bad foods before purging, it's and then much more than that.

Alongside the eating disorder comes a number of associated symptoms such every bit hair loss, bad skin, brittle nails, bad breath and yellowing teeth.

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Many of these symptoms come from the body becoming anaemic, a common side effect of bulimia which means the trunk has low iron.

An iron deficiency such as anaemia is what ofttimes causes hair loss and brittle nails within bulimia sufferers – just of form anaemia tin can also bear on many others based on whether they're underweight or living with an auto-immune affliction – it tin even affect women who have incredibly heavy menstrual cycles due to huge amount of blood loss, which tin be acquired by having a low thyroid.

When my hair started to fall out equally a result of being anaemic, it didn't fall out completely. Information technology'd come out in clumps when I was in the shower washing it or brushing it later on. The hairbrush would be clogged with hair and I even blocked up the hoover a few times from it simply falling out on the floor.

My scalp was dry and incredibly sore. It got to the point I didn't want to bear upon my head at all for the pain and fear or more hair falling out.

metro illustrations

(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Though eventually I overcame the bulimia, that didn't end me from beingness anaemic, and so my hair would continue to fall out even after recovery.

Tired of having a sensitive scalp and vastly thinning hair, I began taking matters into my own hands past testing different methods to see which would help most in regards to growing my hair back.

Over fourth dimension, using a pick of methods, my hair grew back thick and healthy.

For anyone who'due south currently struggling with hair loss, hither are a few tips I found worked for getting it back on track and maintaining a salubrious, bountiful head of hair.

Brush Oil

I smothered my hair in castor oil at any possible occasion, whether that was over dry hair before a shower or moisture hair afterward.

Castor oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties and is high in Vitamin E, minerals, proteins, Omega half dozen and beneficial fatty acids. Information technology's high ricinoleic acid ratio makes it beneficial to skin and boosting pilus growth.

Co-ordinate to Wellness Mama, the antioxidants in castor oil support the keratin in the pilus, which keeps hair strong and stops it from breaking.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTn9enLB4dM/?tagged=castoroil

Coconut oil

I used kokosnoot oil in three different ways.

Palmer'southward coconut oil products are dandy because they utilise natural coconut oil – significant there's nothing in them that can harm your hair.

Coconut oil is dwelling house to vitamins and fat acids which nourish the scalp and help to remove sebum build-up from pilus follicles. And, as an added bonus, information technology smells great and is super cheap.

For my hair, I used Palmer's repairing shampoo and conditioner to kickoff, leaving the conditioner on my head for at least ten minutes. While damp, I'd employ the kokosnoot leave in conditioner to proceed my pilus feeling soft and smelling nice – and once every two weeks I used a coconut oil deep conditioning hair mask to speed upwardly the process. My hair constantly felt astonishing using these products and over the course of a few months I noticed it becoming much thicker.

metro illustrations

(Pic: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

A good for you diet

I began eating amend in an attempt to grow my pilus dorsum to its natural, thick state.

Vitamins C, B and D alongside lots of poly peptide have been proved to better hair loss rapidly. Then, foods such equally eggs, avocados, fish, sweet potatoes, oranges and basics are all perfect for those hoping to abound their pilus out. And you'll feel much better for eating healthily – I promise.

Vitamins

Aslope eating ameliorate and treating my hair with natural products, I took vitamins. I started with fe and zinc supplements. I indicator of hair loss is really zinc deficiency – then the extra zinc in vitamin-form is really helpful for growing pilus.

According to Progressive Health, 'One theory established that zinc deficiency leads to changes in the protein structure of pilus follicles leading to weakening of their structural integrity. This ways new hairs will autumn off quicker than they should.' And so, taking Zinc tablets tin can opposite the weakening of the hair follicles.

Vitamins such equally Biotin, which incorporate atomic number 26 (and if you buy the high strength version tin too contain coconut oil), have proved to work wonders for me. Information technology is also a office of the vitamin B family, which every bit mentioned in a higher place is vital for hair growth.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV7VYMXggUY/?tagged=biotin

Shampoo on alternate days

Of course, I don't need to tell you non to wash your hair every day – we all know that the natural oils that form on our scalps during wash days are really good to go on hair naturally fresh, right?

But when you practice launder it – launder with intendance.

Shampoo can end up making the pilus feel really dry and hard to work with. It also feels much more than ratty – which means when information technology comes to brushing it, you're going to accept to use more than forcefulness, which isn't ideal for someone who needs to be delicate with their hair. Instead, on alternate washes, go between just using conditioner and and then using both.

Apply clips to go along it up

While at the hairdressers asking for actress tips on keeping my hair salubrious, I was told to avoid pilus ties altogether when keeping information technology up – and to use clips as they provide less pressure on the hair.

Past using a hair tie, parts of your hair can actually break off due to the tightness and the tension from where the necktie wraps around your hair to hold it up. This but doesn't seem worth information technology for an everyday up-do.

https://world wide web.instagram.com/p/BV9D1AIFIUL/?tagged=hairclips

Cut your hair regularly

Sure, if y'all're wanting to re-abound your pilus cutting it doesn't seem ideal – merely trust me on this. Cutting off your divide ends will prevent the split ends from travelling up your hair, which will go along it salubrious and will help avoid it becoming coarse.

Potable lots of h2o

It sounds like shooting fish in a barrel, and that's because it is. While all of the in a higher place options have worked for me – water is a must-drink for healthy hair, equally it helps the body to process and flush out whatsoever toxins, as well as activating nerve endings and other sensors in the skin and scalp that enhance the natural vitality of pilus roots. Ditch your can of Diet Coke and grab a bottle of water, pronto.

This commodity is part of Hair Care, our calendar month-long investigation and exploration into our relationships with hair and the cultural implications that come up with information technology.

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