Featuring Dr. Lena Robertson
What is your name? Lena Robertson.
How old are you? 42 years old.
Where are you from? I am part Dutch and part US citizen (with British, Irish, French, Swiss, and Italian ancestry). I have lived all over the world, but Washington State has been my home for the past 20 years.
What is your background? I was a stay-at-home mom for many years taking care of my three kids. Then I went back to school and got my BS in biology from the University of WA, as well as a degree in acupuncture from Wu Hsing Tao School of Five Element Acupuncture. I recently graduated from Bastyr University with my doctorate in naturopathic medicine.
In a few sentences, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do: I live in Bellingham, WA with my husband and two cats. We have five children between us (3 boys and 2 girls). I am a naturopathic doctor with a focus on aging and hair health and care. I love traveling and hiking!
What are you currently doing for hair health and care? I wash my hair every 4-5 days so that it doesn’t get too dry. I shampoo, rinse with apple cider vinegar, and condition my hair from the neck down. I usually don’t condition the top because my hair gets oily too fast otherwise. I used to trim my hair every month, but now it’s mostly every 3-6 months. I try to eat healthy (healthy fats, proteins, fruits, and vegetables). I also try to manage my stress by getting enough sleep, laughing often, taking Epsom salt baths, and walks outside.
Are you using any natural hair products (if yes, what are they and what do you like or not like about them)? Yes, I am using a few different products because I like to try out different natural shampoos and conditioners. I have quite a few travel-sized products so I can try them out to see if I like them or not before purchasing a larger bottle. Some of my favorites so far are Aveda’s Cherry Almond shampoo and conditioner set and Dessert Essence’s Coconut shampoo and conditioner set. I like that they don’t leave my hair greasy or too dry. I would like to find one (or produce one) that leaves my hair a little more smooth and silky and with a few less ingredients.
What works well for you and what doesn’t? Apple cider vinegar is my all time favorite hair rinse! Argan oil and coconut oil are supposed to be really good for your hair but for some reason i can’t make it work for mine. I think because my hair is thick and frizzy enough for it to supposedly work well in my hair but because my hair is blond it just looks greasy instead of nice and shiny and it takes forever for me to wash it all out.
What do you like about your hair and what has taken some time for you to accept about your hair? I have come to appreciate how thick my hair is. I didn’t like it at first because it is a lot of work and hard to style (especially anything with my hair up), but I don’t have to worry about trying to get ‘volume’ so that’s nice. In fact, I spend a lot of time trying to tame the volume by using a hair straightener. I use one that is made from ceramic instead of metal so there is less damage to my hair. Sometimes I do all of my hair which is time consuming (about a 45 minute investment) or I just do my bangs. It has also taken some time to accept that my hair gets really frizzy in humid weather. Any time I go hiking or travel to a warm and humid environment (think Hawaii and the Virgin Islands) my hair turns into a giant ball of frizz even after having straightened it 10 minutes before.
What are some helpful tips you can share with other readers? I like to trim my hair every few months to cut off dead ends. I also like to rinse my hair with about half a cup of apple cider vinegar mixed with about eight cups of water after washing it and before putting in conditioner. I usually rinse the apple cider vinegar out before applying the conditioner, but leaving it in is fine too. I try to brush my hair from bottom to top (working my way up slowly as the tangles smooth out) so there is less chance of hair breakage.
Please share something different, interesting, or funny about yourself: When I was 10 years old I had shoulder length hair and I wanted so badly to have long hair. One of my friends told me that if I ‘watered’ the bottom of my hair every night it would grow. I am embarrassed to say that I was desperate enough to believe it. So, I started wetting the ends of my hair at night until my friend laughed at me and told me it was just a joke.
If you would like to link information about yourself and how to contact you please list your website for other readers to look at: I have a clinic (New Heights Natural Health) in Bellingham, WA where I see patients: www.newheightsnaturalhealth.com. I also have my personal online website (Dr. Lena Robertson) where I will be launching classes, products, and health information about aging as well as hair health and care: www.drlenarobertson.com.