The Best Hair Vitamins For Improved Growth And Shine
Iron is another one to note, given its ability to accelerate sluggish growth rate levels, which means the hair can grow for its maximum length of time before falling out. To boost iron absorption, lead therapist at natural hair care brand Leonor Greyl, Masa Ohta, suggests increasing your levels of vitamin C, while Gaboardi recommends vitamin A, zinc, a trace mineral, which is great for making proteins, selenium and herbal ingredients, such as saw palmetto.
If you can, read the ingredients in your hair vitamins to check they are suitable for promoting hair growth. “Hair supplements can also contain natural DHT inhibitors,” says Deborah Maguire, trichologist and co-founder of Seed & Soul, “which can help reduce hair loss without causing unwanted side effects, and address the effects of stress, a major contributor to hair loss, with ingredients like myo-inositol, which are micro-follicle stimulants and regulate both serotonin and dopamine.”
What are the best hair vitamins for thickness?
When it comes to hair thickness, you need to think about the hair shaft and the hair follicle. For a healthy shaft, you’ll need to focus on keratin. Your hair is mostly made up of proteins, with keratin being among them. When these levels decline, the hair shaft can deteriorate, leaving it susceptible to breakage and dryness. “Keratin is best by far for hair thickness and strength,” says LYMA founder Lucy Goff. “It’s an important structural protein, and if taken correctly, makes hair less prone to breakage. This is because keratin bonds to the rough edges of individual hairs, covering the cuticle, straightening it, and promoting shine and strength.”
For the follicle, you need to think about zinc and vitamin B12. “The cells that make up the hair bulb, which is the part of the hair follicle that produces hair, have a high turnover rate, meaning new cells grow and replace old cells at a rapid rate,” says Miller. “For this reason, hair follicles need a constant supply of nutrients to grow and function properly.” Collagen can be equally beneficial here, as it helps to anchor the root of the hair follicle to the muscle, which, says Miller, “promotes scalp elasticity, making breakage and hair loss less prevalent, and allowing hair to continue to grow.”What are the best hair vitamins for hair loss?
After you’ve taken care of the shaft and follicle, you’ll want to start thinking about the scalp. “The scalp is home to a complex and delicate host of microbes; this forms your scalp microbiome,” says Miller. “When healthy and diverse, this can act as a protective shield; however, when out of balance, its protection against environmental stressors like pollution is weakened, which can induce hair loss and scalp irritation.” A healthy microbiome equals a healthy scalp. “Prebiotics are essential to supporting a healthy microbiome, in both the gut and on the surface of the skin or scalp,” says Miller.
What are the best hair vitamins for shine?
“Shiny, strong hair comes from a blend of nutrients that support not just the hair but also your overall wellbeing,” says Tudor. Alongside the experts’ favourite, biotin, Tudor extols the benefits of vitamin C for hair health and improved shine. “It contributes to collagen production [and] is also essential for the absorption of iron. Without adequate iron levels, hair can often become thin and brittle. Zinc helps repair damaged follicles and maintain a healthy scalp, and silica is a mineral directly linked to hair strength and quality. A great way to think about hair health is to relate it to house plants. If they are not watered adequately, they wilt and suffer, adversely if the soil is well nourished, they will flourish.”