But there are ways to keep your hair shiny, silky and positively luminous – and it all comes down to what you eat.

Celebrity nutritionist, entrepreneur and best-selling author, Kimberly Snyder, believes you can boost your beauty from the inside out.

Here, she explains how certain foods can actually strategically promote shine and strength in your hair.

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“Great products help, but gorgeous hair is a byproduct of having hair follicles that are well-nourished,” says Snyder. “In other words, you can build beautiful hair from the inside out with your diet. You don’t have to just rely on great products.”

The Top Five Foods For Shiny Hair

1. Greens

We all know green is the way to go when it comes to your health. Packed full of goodness and protein, they actually help your hair too. As Snyder notes, “Growing great hair requires minerals and protein, since your hair is largely made up of protein. Greens supply high-quality and easily assimilated amino acids that build the macronutrient in your body and digest cleanly. They also supply a wide variety of minerals, along with beauty-building vitamins A, C, E, and K.” Mix it up with kale, rocket, spinach, chard, silverbeet and your locks will be loving you silly.

2. Chia Seeds

In recent years, the ‘fat will make you fat’ myth has been fervently debunked, with good fats starring in healthy diets. “Healthy fats are an absolute must to nourish vibrant hair. Chia seeds not only supply great whole-beauty fat, but also omega 3 fatty acids that promote circulation, ensuring that maximum nutrition gets to your hair follicle,” Snyder revealed to wellness site WellAndGood. “Plus, they provide antioxidants that help protect your hair from environmental damage.” Sprinkle away on salads or smoothies, or make chia puddings with nut milks and a dash of cinnamon and vanilla for happy hair.

shiny hair chia seeds — Chia Seeds Are Packed With Goodness

3. Pumpkin Seeds

Cinderella may have been onto something. “You also need B vitamins to grow lush, beautiful hair and pumpkin seeds naturally contain Biotin (B7), which not only promotes the growth of strong, resilient tresses, but also encourages increased growth,” notes Snyder. “Pumpkin seeds contain vitamin C as well, which helps produce sebum, the body’s natural oil that conditions hair,” so for lush locks, it’s time to get seedy.

pumpkin seeds shiny hair — Pumpkin Seeds Give You Shiny Hair Too

4. Bee Pollen

You know those hair products that contain Royal Jelly and honey? Well, turns out the bees know what their doing when it comes to our manes. Like its counterparts, bee pollen “contains a whole host of minerals, antioxidants, and B vitamins, and is a complete protein,” says Snyder. But how do you digest it? Either sprinkle in smoothies or on salads and yoghurt, or do what Snyder calls her “Energy in a Spoon: a little scoop of bee pollen with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil”. Remember start small; introduce sparingly as pollen and bee associated products can cause allergy in some people.

bee pollen shiny hair — Bee Pollen Means Shiny Hair

5. Hot Water

We know that staying hydrated is often the answer to so many of our health problems. But why is hot water so imperative for shiny hair? “Excessive cold can contract your stomach, impairing it from properly secreting enzymes and impairing your entire digestive system to a degree — which is not so great for helping your hair get the nutrition it needs! In contrast, hot water (in the form of herbal teas and hot water with lemon) helps enhance cleansing,” argues Snyder. Remember, “water helps flush out waste and supports your liver, which is your main detoxifying organ. The more detoxified your body and blood are, the easier it is for nutrients to circulate and get to your hair follicles.” We’ll drink (hot water) to that.