The Great Hair Recovery Project😂

A little over a year ago, I decided I was going blonde.

Not just blonde. Blonde blonde.

The kind of blonde that makes you feel like a total bombshell. I got extensions, had long flowing hair, and honestly felt absolutely gorgeous. For a while, I loved it. I felt feminine, glamorous, and a little bit like the peaches and cream Barbie that I adored growing up.

The problem was that my hair hated every second of it.

Between the bleach, the extensions, and all the maintenance required to keep everything looking good, my hair was completely destroyed. Then summer rolled around, and if you’ve ever lived in Georgia or Florida, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The heat and humidity were relentless. I felt like I was constantly washing my hair, constantly dealing with extensions, and constantly fighting with it.

After my niece’s wedding, I finally had enough. In an act of pure frustration, armed with a bottle of olive oil and the dedication of my 23-year-old daughter, we spent hours in the hotel that night removing every last extension from my head. There was olive oil everywhere, and by the end of it we were both exhausted. When it was over, I looked at my poor damaged hair and genuinely thought, “Well, that’s it. I’m never going to have pretty hair again.”

Thankfully, I was wrong.

Instead of looking for another quick fix, I decided to go back to what I know best. I returned to my natural color, stopped putting harsh chemicals on my hair, and focused on supporting my body from the inside out.

That’s when I started taking Horsetail and Biotin consistently. Horsetail is an herb that has been used traditionally for centuries and is naturally rich in silica. Silica is a trace mineral that helps support the production of collagen and keratin, which are important building blocks for healthy hair, skin, and nails.

Many people use horsetail because it may help improve hair strength and reduce breakage. While it doesn’t magically make hair grow overnight, stronger hair tends to break less, which can make it appear thicker and longer over time.

Biotin is a B vitamin, sometimes called Vitamin B7, that plays a role in how the body converts food into energy. It’s also involved in keratin production, which is the primary protein that makes up your hair.

People who are low in biotin can experience thinning hair, brittle nails, and skin issues. While biotin isn’t a miracle cure for everyone, it is one of the most commonly used supplements for supporting healthy hair growth and stronger nails.

For me, these two supplements seem to work well as a team. Biotin helps support keratin production, while horsetail provides silica, which helps support the structure and strength of the hair. My thinking was that if I could support both growth and strength, I’d have a better chance of growing healthier hair instead of just longer damaged hair.

Now, I should probably mention that I’ve spent years working in an herb shop and around supplement companies, so I’m pretty picky about what I take. I’ve seen all the flashy labels, miracle claims, and marketing promises over the years, and not every supplement company is created equal. There are plenty of products I walk right past without giving them a second look.

These two brands, however, are companies I’ve trusted for a long time. I’ve had good experiences with them over the years, both personally and professionally, which is why they’re the ones I reached for when it came time to help my own hair recover.

When you’ve worked with herbs and supplements for as long as I have, you learn that quality matters. You also learn that there usually isn’t a magic pill for anything. Most of the time it’s about giving your body consistent support, being patient, and allowing it to do what it was designed to do.

That’s exactly what I’ve done, and these two supplements have become staples in my routine. The difference in my hair has been significant enough that friends, family, and clients have started asking what I’m doing differently, which is what inspired me to share them here.

Now, before anyone thinks I’m claiming these are miracle supplements, I’m not. Hair growth is influenced by a lot of things. Hormones matter. Stress matters. Sleep matters. Genetics matter. Nutrition matters. But after several months of consistency, I’ve noticed my hair becoming longer, thicker, stronger, and healthier than it has been in years.

I also think a few other things deserve some credit. Protein is incredibly important because hair is made primarily of protein. If you’re not getting enough, your body has bigger priorities than growing long, healthy hair. Collagen can also be helpful, whether that’s through a supplement or something simple like bone broth. Iron, zinc, and omega-3 fats are all nutrients that can support healthy hair growth as well.

More than anything, though, I’ve learned that hair growth requires patience. I wanted instant results. I wanted a miracle overnight. What actually worked was consistency. Consistently supporting my body with good nutrition. Consistently being gentler with my hair. Consistently leaving it alone long enough to recover from all the questionable decisions I’d made in the name of beauty.

Today my hair is healthier than it’s been in a very long time. Do I occasionally miss my blonde bombshell era? Absolutely. But I also love having healthy hair again.

As always, this isn’t medical advice, and I’m not sponsored by either company. It’s simply one woman sharing what worked for her after a season of bleach, extensions, and a few questionable life choices. 😉