Do you dream of long mane tossing and cascading down your back? Are you also longing for strong, shining, and smiling hair? Beautiful, lustrous hair is a desire for many women. It would be difficult to gain healthy hair, but not impossible if you care about a few things. Have you ever thought about your diet? Your hair needs food to grow. You might be thinking that you are eating good food, but have you ever tried to calculate its nourishment value? It is highly possible that your hair needs extra nutrition supplements. Read ahead to know the best supplements for hair growth that your hair needs to stay healthy and strong.
In This Article:
Why should I take the best supplements for hair growth?
Our hair needs a combination of many vitamins and minerals. These are found in foods and other natural sources. If you eat healthily, you might not need extra supplements. But sometimes due to ill health, pregnancy, stress, genetic disorder, taking certain antibiotics, or other environmental factors you may find your hair falling more than normal. In such a situation, it is always suggested to visit your physician and get yourself thoroughly checked. It is highly possible that your dermatologist or doctor prescribes you the best vitamins for hair growth.
Best Vitamins for hair growth
Vitamin A plays an important role in cell growth. It also helps in the formation of sebum. Sebum is a natural moisturizer that keeps your hair soft and shiny. An inadequate supply of vitamin A makes your hair dry and brittle, as its deficiency will result in less production of sebum. Hence, vitamin A if taken in a controlled amount will surely help in your hair growth. You need to take care, that anything taken in excess harms your body. The same goes for vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause hair loss. All the green leafy vegetables, beef and lamb liver, cheese, and butter are high in vitamin A. Taking natural supplements is better than medicines.
Must Read: 10 Vitamin Deficiencies Causing Hair loss
3 Important vitamins for hair growth
Vitamin B
Different types of vitamin B and especially vitamin B7, popularly known as Biotin, are also important for cell growth. Its deficiency may cause brittle nails, skin rashes, and an unhealthy scalp, resulting in hair loss. Salmon, eggs, and green leafy vegetables are high in vitamin B. It is a water-soluble vitamin, hence its extra dose does not harm.
Vitamin C & E
Vitamin C and E are antioxidants and are good hair growth vitamins. Their role becomes very important in fighting against free radicals caused due to many types of pollution, drugs, pesticides, etc. Vitamin C also helps in the absorption of iron. Hence, generally, the doctors advise taking vitamin C with iron supplements.
Experts believe that vitamin E intake for eight months can increase hair growth up to more than thirty percent. Taking extra citrus fruits like guava, kiwi, strawberries, and bell peppers will be sufficient for vitamin C requirements. Vitamin E is available in many seeds like sunflower, sesame, and nuts like hazelnut, pistachio, almonds, etc. It is also present in vegetables, fruits, and eggs.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is popularly known as the sunshine vitamin, as it is produced in our body through contact or direct exposure to the sun. We also know its importance for healthy bones. It is a lesser-known fact that vitamin D deficiency can cause hair loss also. Due to our sedentary lifestyle, we often spend our whole day in our home in air conditioners and avoid going out in sunlight. Thus, vitamin D deficiency has become a very common problem in women. Taking vitamin D supplements can help in women suffering from alopecia. Dairy sources, mushrooms, oranges, oatmeal, and seafood are rich in vitamin D content.
Vitamin supplements come in three forms- pills, capsules, and liquid. Pills are cheaper and long-lasting, capsules and liquid are easy to swallow and easily absorbed by your body. This is why vitamins in capsules and liquids are more popular among consumers. Seek advice from your doctor, who will prescribe what is better for you.
How vitamins work for hair growth
Vitamins and minerals are important for healthy hair, and a lack of certain vitamins can lead to hair loss. Signs of severe vitamin deficiencies include hair-splitting, bleeding gums, scaly rashes, dry skin, delayed growth, and more. Blood work can detect vitamin deficiencies, which are rare except in those following strict diets, like vegans who may need to supplement to get enough vitamins from animal products. Avoiding the sun can also put you at risk for vitamin D deficiency.
4 Hair Growth Supplements That Actually Work
DHT Blocker
Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia is a very common genetic condition in both men and women, where men start suffering quite early. DHT is a male sex hormone that unites receptors in your scalp and causes hair fall. There are medicines available that are popularly known as DHT blockers. These medicines successfully treat DHT, stopping further hair loss. You can block DHT with healthy and natural food, that are rich sources of vitamins and minerals such as blueberries, avocados, almonds, tomatoes, eggs, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, bananas, etc.
Iron
It is a well-known fact that most women all over the world, including both developed and developing countries, suffer from anemia, and face iron deficiency. Iron helps in carrying oxygen to the whole body as a part of red blood cells. Lack of iron causes hair loss or pale hair. If you are facing mensuration disorder or suffering from some other chronic disease, you should surely consult your physician, who may give you an iron supplement. Foods like shellfish, legumes, spinach, liver, and red meat contain iron in plenty.
Omega 3 fatty acid
Omega 3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that prevent inflammation of hair follicles. They are responsible for healthy skin, scalp, and hair. They also save our skin and hair from damage caused by the sun. You can get an adequate amount of omega 3 fatty acid by eating a variety of foods like fish and other seafood, nuts and seeds, plant oils, and some fortified foods.
Zinc
Our hair is made of protein. Zinc is an important nutrient in making proteins. Hence, it helps to make hair tissues and repair them. We can get zinc from different foods or supplements. So if you are finding hair all over your pillow, then zinc deficiency might be the culprit. Dairy foods like cheese and milk prove a host of nutrients, including zinc. Milk, pumpkin seeds, cereal, fruits, and cheese are the best natural sources of zinc, which can easily be absorbed by your body.
All the above-mentioned nutrients are the best supplements for hair growth and are definitely important for your body. But it should go without saying that before taking these supplements, you must consult a medical professional. Taking all these nutrients from natural food is always better because your body absorbs them easily. You should have noticed that in general, these nutrients are found in all-natural food, hence, you should try to count and check your nutrition, while taking your meals, whether you are eating a balanced food or not.
Another helpful natural hair growth supplement is Love Potion #9 by TLP. Love Potion #9 is an herbal tea with 15+ flowers and herbs, including Ginger Root, Butterfly pea flower, and Hibiscus & Green tea, which promotes blood flow to the scalp for thicker hair growth and improves hormonal imbalance for healthier hair growth.
Shop Now: Herbal Hair growth tea
More from Paula Bland:
About The Author: Paula Bland
The founder of TLP, Paula Bland, is a medically qualified Nurse Practitioner, Hair aesthetician, and, also a psychiatric Nurse Practitioner known for her highly effective hair consultation. Paula has a non-traditional approach to hair care and advocates a chemical-free, natural, and holistic approach. The Love of People is her brainchild, and its products reflect her approach to hair health and have helped women with naturally curly hair manage their curls in a chemical-free and organic way.