The hair vitamin industry is a lucrative one, despite there being very little evidence that they actually work. So are millions of people wasting their money on a cleverly marketed con or can these vitamins help to make your hair softer, stronger and healthier?
Understanding the ingredients
Despite there being hundreds of different hair care supplements on the market, you’ll find most of them contain pretty much the same ingredients. These include:
- Biotin
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
All of the above have been linked to hair growth as well as general well-being. You already receive a certain level of each ingredient through your daily diet. So technically, you are simply topping up the levels already contained within the body. Once they have travelled to the organs through the bloodstream, they make their way to the hair follicles.
Biotin is perhaps the most advertised ingredient said to improve hair growth. The coenzyme acts as a building block for keratin, helping to build stronger, healthier hair.
Vitamin B3 is also referred to as Niacin and it helps to improve blood flow in the scalp. Helping to keep it hydrated and delivering he nutrients the hair needs both to grow and to stay healthy.
Vitamin C helps by creating the protein collagen. A vital component for the hair’s structure, this helps the hair to absorb iron which is essential for hair growth.
Don’t expect miracles
While hair vitamins can certainly help to ensure the hair grows quicker and healthier, they aren’t a miracle cure. They also cannot help with hair loss. You also need to keep in mind that it can take months to notice results. Many women stop taking vitamins because they think they’re not helping, but in reality they just aren’t being as patient as they should be.
It’s also worth pointing out that not all hair vitamins sold on the market will be effective. As it is unregulated, you’ll come across many ‘fad’ pills out there. You need to ensure you are buying a well-known, respected brand if you want to avoid wasting your money.
Overall you’ll find hundreds of positive reviews of well-known hair vitamins. Many women swear by them and have noticed a great improvement in the condition of their hair. However, if you are noticing hair loss, you will need to seek help from a doctor as vitamins will not help at all with this.
