Nutritionist Shares the Best Hair Growth Vitamins for Longer, Stronger, Thicker Locks.

Often overlooked, hair health is one of the primary ways our bodies signal that something could be off. Before hopping back to your inbox or scrolling down to the best hair growth vitamins, take a second to think about your locks. Does your hair feel nourished or dull? How would you describe the state of your scalp? What about your hairline? Is your scalp dry? Hair thinning? As you answer these questions, keep in mind that everything from genetics and hormonal imbalances (hello, postpartum!) to stress and nutritional deficiencies can compromise your hair. August 22nd, 2022 by Camille Styles https://camillestyles.com/beauty/finally-a-nutritionist-shares-the-best-hair-growth-vitamins-for-longer-stronger-thicker-locks/  It’s also important to remember that we shed an average of 80-100 hairs every day. Additionally, during certain times of the year, we may notice an increase in shedding, especially in the coming fall months. This common phenomenon is known as seasonal shedding. At any rate, changes in your hair could indicate nutrition or lifestyle issues. A dry scalp, for example, could mean you aren’t getting enough healthy fats in your diet. Similarly, thinning hair could be caused by stress or a lack of protein on your plate.

Hair Wellness Begins on the Inside If take one thing from this article, make it this: hair wellness starts internally. Yes, products can transform your hair, revitalize your locks, and re-introduce a healthy scalp, but nothing compares to a diet rich in key vitamins and nutrients. Unfortunately, the Standard American Diet (SAD) lacks essential nutrients—but armed with an understanding that eating whole, minimally processed foods is ideal, you’re on your way to establishing healthy locks. And while eating foods that promote hair growth is important, adding a daily supplement will further support your hair growth goals. The right hair growth vitamins can help nourish your hair from the inside out, resulting in a faster growth rate and thicker, more nourished strands. An effective supplement can improve the length and condition of your hair, and as an added bonus, it can also improve your nails and skin.

When it comes to choosing the best hair growth supplement, you want to look for these key ingredients:

Vitamin A A fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin A is in the same class as retinoids—a common ingredient in many beauty creams. Vitamin A is necessary for cell growth, and because hair has some of the most quickly replicating cells in the body, hair needs adequate levels of vitamin A.

B Vitamins Vitamin B6, B7, and B12 are especially important for hair health. Biotin is a common B vitamin and probably one of the most popular supplements for healthy hair. In fact, not getting enough B vitamins can cause hair loss. Vitamin B12 deficiency has also been linked to hair loss and may be involved in the premature greying of hair.

Vitamin C Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against free radicals, and free radical damage can block hair growth. Additionally, our bodies need vitamin C to create collagen (a protein). Collagen is an important part of hair structure.

Vitamin E Like vitamin C, vitamin E is a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E helps block free radicals at the hair follicle level, potentially helping maintain healthy locks in the long run.

Iron Given that adequate iron levels are necessary for hemoglobin production, and hemoglobin is required to deliver oxygen to your hair follicle cells, iron is crucial for hair health.

ZincResearch shows that zinc is a potential inhibitor of hair follicle regression, meaning that it plays a role in hair health. Zinc is involved in protein synthesis and cell division, two components of hair growth.

Protein Last but not least, because hair is made almost entirely of protein, it’s an important ingredient in your daily supplement and/or diet.

 Biotin First of all—what is it? Biotin is one of the B complex vitamins. It helps convert food into energy. Like other B vitamins, biotin is water-soluble, so any extra biotin you consume will simply pass through your body when you urinate. Between 30-100, mcg per day of biotin is recommended. Most people get the daily recommended amount of biotin from eating a healthy diet (it’s present in eggs, milk, bananas, etc.), but adding a biotin supplement has no known toxicity symptoms associated with supplementing too much. While the National Institutes of Health reports that there is still insufficient evidence to provide the efficacy of a biotin supplement, signs of biotin deficiency include hair loss, skin rashes, brittle nails, etc. The jury may still be out about its ability to deliver scientifically-proven results, but reviews on popular biotin supplements say otherwise. More on that, below. At any rate, biotin is considered harmless if you take more than the RDA. If you notice more breakouts than usual after taking high doses of biotin, you may want to scale back. There isn’t a proven link between biotin and acne breakouts, but this micronutrient can reduce your body’s absorption of other nutrients (including ones that naturally help your body combat acne).