The second most common question I get asked by singers is how to heal a cracked voice.
Even though we outlined things to do in order to prevent this in a previous article, a vocally demanding job that requires you to use your voice frequently over the course of several hours, such as teaching jobs, call centre jobs, working around loud machinery which causes you to shout etc, might make voice loss inevitable.
We also have our wonderful uncles and aunties who insist on screaming down the building in the name of singing high pitch even though they are not properly warmed up and what they are trying to sing is way beyond their vocal range.
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Weh done ‘sahs’ and ‘mahs.’
Worthy of mention are singers who are also die-hard football fans. You know as e dey be when your team is playing or you’re watching a match that you have stakes in.
I hail you all.
I am not ready to shake this table today.
Anyways, for whatever reason your voice cracks, here are 5 things that will help you get them back in shape in the shortest time.
1. Rest Your Voice
Aim to rest your voice as much as possible.
Talk quietly and ONLY IF YOU NEED TO.
I know this may be difficult for a lot of people but it is the most logical and is critical to recovery.
When you are sick, you give your body rest.
It is however ironic that a singer loses their voice and still uses it anyhow by constant talking, shouting, etc.
Allowing your voice time to rest will give it time to heal from the inflammation on the vocal folds.
2. Avoid Loud Environments
Being in a loud environment often forces you to talk more loudly (or with greater effort) than usual.
It is strenuous even for healthy voices which makes it even worse for cracked voices.
If you really have to to be in or communicate in a loud environment, then look for nonverbal ways of communication.
After all, you can communicate without necessarily having to use your voice, but you cannot sing without your voice.
3. Drink a Lot of Water
The most important thing you can take is far as vocal health is concerned is water.
A good goal is to drink at least 2 litres of water (8 cups) in a day.
Soft drinks and other types of drinks cannot replace water. As a matter of fact, you should avoid these drinks as they serve as diuretics.
4. Steam Inhalation
When you drink water, it does not pass over your vocal cords rather it goes down the oesophagus into the stomach and is distributed to the the vocal folds the same way it gets to other muscles.
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A way to get water directly onto your vocal folds is by steam inhalation and it is a great way to soothe the vocal cords.
Here’s how to:
Boil a pot of water till it is steaming hot.
Turn the hot water into a bucket and place a towel over it to contain the steam.
Put your head under the towel and inhale deeply for a couple of minutes.
Repeat.
5. Honey
Honey is great in many ways and is especially beneficial for singers because it is rich in antioxidants and possesses antibacterial properties which can help fight bacterial infections in the throat and help singers gain speedy recovery from sore throats, inflammation, and cracked voices.
Honey can be consumed in various ways, raw, with warm water, and with garlic, ginger, or lemon in warm water as tea. It can be added to meals. You can also gargle with it.