The 14 Best Foods For Hair Growth
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.
Many people want strong and healthy hair, especially as they grow older.
Interestingly, your hair grows around 0.5 inches per month, and 6 inches per year. How fast it grows depends on factors like age, health, genetics and diet.
Although you cant change factors like age and genetics, diet is one thing you have control over. In fact, consuming a diet lacking the right nutrients can lead to hair loss.
On the other hand, eating a balanced diet with the right nutrients can help promote hair growth, especially if youre experiencing hair loss due to poor nutrition.
Here are the 14 best foods you can eat to promote hair growth.
Can You Apply Hot Oil To Wet Hair
One question that always comes up in people’s minds is, should hot oil treatment be done on wet hair? Well, it is recommended to apply your hot oil treatment after you have washed your hair. You do not want to apply it to dirty hair because your hair will not benefit as much. You would want the oil to fully penetrate into your scalp and clean your hair. In a case where your hair is dirty, the oil is just going to sit on top of your hair.
The best time to apply the hot oil is right after you shampoo and before your deep condition is the best time to apply. You can also use hot oil treatment if you feel that your hair is really dry and you need maximum moisture.
How Do Vitamins Help Hair Growth
The human body needs vitamins to function correctly. Vitamin deficiencies can often cause your body to go through abnormal changes or face serious health issues, including hair loss.
While your hair loss could be happening due to various environmental and genetic factors, an often overlooked cause is the lack of vitamins in the body that promote normal hair growth. A great way to remedy hair loss is to ensure that you dont lack any vitamins necessary for your body to grow hair.
Don’t Miss: How Much Daily Vitamin D Should I Take
Harness The Vitamin B5
Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, is one of the many powerful ingredients found in Dr.UGro Gashee Oral Hair Supplements. To help increase the feel and appearance of hair density, thickness, and volume, or to help regrow hair loss or aid hair growth, take 4 capsules of Gashee Oral Hair Supplements daily.
Best Supplements For Your Hair According To Dietitians
Lackluster, brittle hair is no fun. Neither is hair loss. Thankfully, several nutrients may help preserve and enhance your hair, and for some people, taking them in supplement form may be the easiest way to ensure they’re getting enough of the good stuff they need.
“While supplements may help enhance the quality of your hair, skin, and nails , it is preferable for your nutrient needs to be met through a healthy balanced diet,” cautions Kristin Gillespie, MS, RD, LD, advisor for Exercisewithstyle.com. “Nutrients found in foods are more bioavailable and better absorbed than those found in supplements.”
Nevertheless, if after talking with your doctor or nutritionist you determine a supplement to support hair health may be for you, here are registered dietitians’ top picks. Read on to get hair ready to shine like you’re in a shampoo commercial, and for more on how to eat healthy, don’t miss 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
Don’t Miss: How To Use Vitamin C Serum
Best Vitamins For Hair Growth
The appearance of hair plays an important role in peoples physical appearance and self-perception, so it can be devastating to experience hair loss, especially when there doesnt seem to be anything you can do about it.
But did you know that there are vitamins for hair growth? In fact, poor nutrition, including vitamin deficiencies, is a major factor of hair loss. These natural hair loss remedies work to fix the root of the problem, like regulating your hormone levels or fighting oxidative stress that increases with age.
Fewer than 45 percent of women go through life with a full head of hair while a majority of men go through some type of hair loss in their lifetimes. The hair care industry knows that consumers have a great desire to look youthful now more than ever so it constantly delivers new products that promise to promote hair growth. Before you spend your money on yet another product that may leave you disappointed, try using these supplements and vitamins for hair growth first.
How To Choose Hair Nail And Skin Supplements
When shopping for a hair, nail, and skin supplement, one of the most important considerations is the ingredient list.
Ideally, look for products that are free of artificial ingredients and fillers. Also be sure to pick a product with research-backed ingredients, such as vitamins A and D, MSM, collagen, and omega-3 fatty acids.
If youre interested in a supplement that contains a proprietary blend, keep in mind that the exact amounts of the ingredients used in the blends are not disclosed. Therefore, youll want to avoid any products that contain ingredients you may be sensitive to.
On a similar note, its important to buy products from a trusted source. For an extra level of reassurance, look for vitamins that are tested by a third-party organization such as USP, NSF, Banned Substances Control Group , or ConsumerLab.
A third-party seal of approval guarantees that the product contains the types and amounts of ingredients that are listed on the bottle.
Additionally, because some ingredients may interact with medications or be unsafe if youre pregnant or breastfeeding, its best to talk with a healthcare professional before trying any new supplements.
Finally, keep in mind that while studies do support the effectiveness of some ingredients, research on the benefits of these vitamins is still quite limited.
Therefore, theres no guarantee that these products will result in notable differences in your hair, skin, or nails.
You May Like: What Is Fish Oil Vitamins Used For
Best Hair Growth Vitamins For Thicker More Lustrous Hair In 2021
- Jennifer Barton
- 15:00, 3 Nov 2021
THEREs a vitamin for everything these days, whether youre looking to improve your sleep or get more energy in the day.
And lets not even get started on nutricosmetics: vitamins and powders designed to make skin glow, hair shine and nails resilient.
Hair growth vitamins are having a moment, and studies have shown they can help women with thinning hair and to improve hair’s overall condition.
While the place to start when it comes to healthy hair is by consuming a nutrient-rich diet, hair growth vitamins can make a difference if you are low on specific nutrients.
Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, zinc, folic acid and biotin can all help improve hair condition, so you’re likely to find a combination of some or all of them in hair growth vitamins.
Omega 3 and 6 have also been shown to protect against hair loss and improve hair diameter and density in studies.
Do bear in mind that lots of things can affect your hair’s growth and texture, whether its a period of excessive stress or postpartum hair loss, which can affect up to 50 per cent of women.
And if you are particularly concerned by your hair growth, the first stop should be with a doctor.
The latest vitamins for hair loss dont look like the enormous yellow pills of the past.
Brands like Sugarbear Hair are all about making their hair growth vitamins as appealing as possible: candy-coloured, they look like Gummy Bears, are berry-flavoured, vegetarian and cruelty-free.
READ MORE
Iron Makes Your Skin Glow
Without iron, your hair can become dull, thin, and dry, Bank says. without iron, your nails could become brittle and break easily.
Iron, found in foods including spinach, oysters, and cashews, also helps make your skin glow by activating B vitamins. Soheil Simzar, MD, a clinical instructor of dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a dermatologist in Santa Monica, California, recommends iron supplements only to patients with an iron deficiency. A doctor can do a simple blood test to find out if youre deficient and help you decide how much iron you need to take. However: “Too much iron can cause free-radical damage to skin structures,” warns Simzar.
Recommended Reading: Can You Buy Vitamin D2 Over The Counter
Does Biotin Help Hair Growth
Sorry , but theres no definitive answer on whether biotin really helps grow hair. According to dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD, clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, if youre taking a stand-alone biotin supplement, youd need to take at least 5 milligrams daily for it to have the chance of affecting hair growthbut even then, theres no guarantee itll do anything.
Its also worth noting that biotinjust like any supplementisnt without its downsides: Excess biotin has the potential to trigger breakouts in some acne-prone individuals . More research is needed to understand the exact correlation, but what is known is that taking biotin can also affect major medical tests your doctor may perform. Basically, unless you yourself are a doctor , make sure to discuss all supplement-related info with an actual MD.
Do Any Vitamins Help With Hair Growth
There are some studies and anecdotal evidence that support the idea that low vitamin D levels can hinder hair growth, and a lot of people tend to have low vitamin D, even if theyre otherwise healthy, says Dr. Bhanusali. And the same goes for lower iron levels. A lot of derms see good results by prescribing patients iron supplements and vitamin D supplements,” he says, “although always check with your doctor before taking anything.
If you are not vitamin deficient but still want longer, healthier, stronger hair, then sadly, supplements will probably do very little for you, says Burg. Hey, maybe youll be the lucky wild cardagain, there are no mass studies definitively saying yes or nobut if were talkin from a point of science here, your odds arent great.
You May Like: How To Use Vitamin C Powder For Face
Getting Enough Vitamin D
600 international units , or 15 micrograms , of vitamin D per day.
However, many experts agree that this daily recommendation is likely too low to reach optimal blood levels, which most experts agree lies between 30 and 60 nanograms per milliliter .
People can find out their vitamin D levels and whether or not they are deficient by asking their doctor for a blood test.
Few foods contain significant amounts of vitamin D, but the following foods are among the best sources:
- fish, such as salmon or swordfish
- mushrooms
- fortified orange juice
- fortified milk
Sun exposure is also essential, as this enables the body to produce vitamin D. People should remember to wear sunscreen , however, as too much sun exposure over time can lead to skin damage.
Vitamin D supplements are available for purchase online, but a person should always check with their doctor before taking any vitamins.
That said, vitamin D supplements are relatively safe, and toxicity is extremely rare.
However, taking vitamin D in very high doses can lead to toxicity that may result in severe complications. An excessively high dose would be over 150 ng/ml .
Cases of vitamin D toxicity are typically related to inappropriate dosing. To prevent problems, a person should ask their doctor to test their vitamin D levels and suggest a suitable dosage.
Taking vitamin D with a meal that contains fat will improve the absorption of this vitamin.
B vitamins are essential for metabolism and nervous system function.
Ultrax Labs Hair Rush
Hair Rush by Ultrax Labs is a hair growth supplement that delivers a small amount of vitamins, but is mostly focused on herbal ingredients.
Their proprietary hair growth blend includes nearly a dozen different ingredients, but the overall dosage is fairly lowthe entire proprietary blend totals less than 150 mg per capsule, which makes it very hard to get a large dosage of just about anything in the proprietary blend.
You May Like: What Vitamins Should A Man Take On A Daily Basis
A Note On Alopecia Areata
This condition can result in total loss of hair from the head and sometimes loss of body hair also, although most sufferers develop a few isolated patches of hair loss, which may correct themselves without any treatment. Since the cause is unknown, treatment is hard. Talk to your GP if you are concerned about hair loss.
This article was last reviewed on 4 July 2019 by Kerry Torrens.
Kerry Torrens is a qualified Nutritionist with a post graduate diploma in Personalised Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy. She is a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food.
Jo Lewin is a registered nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition with a specialism in public health. Follow her on Twitter .
All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
What Are Some Good Sources For These Vitamins
The best way to get the essential vitamins you need for hair growth is by consuming a healthy and balanced diet. In fact, there are several foods you can consume for healthier, fuller hair. However, in this modern day and age, thats often easier said than done. With our busy lives and schedules, it can be hard to consistently eat nutritious meals.
This is why Better Not Youngers Significant Other supplements are a simple solution! They contain all the vitamins you need in one single serving so you dont have to buy multiple bottles of vitamins. Kosher, sugar-free and suitable for vegetarians, these gummies are designed to support healthy-looking hair growth, stronger roots and beautiful shine. Tell Us: Do you take a daily supplement to support your overall hair health? Share in the comments below!
Also Check: What Percent Vitamin C Serum Is The Most Effective
Dosage Preparation And Safety
The FDA has not established a recommended dietary allowance for biotin. According to the National Institutes of Health, 30 micrograms is the adequate daily intake for adults 19 years of age and older. People can usually get this amount through their diet.
Still, people who support its use often recommend taking 2 to 5 milligrams of biotin in supplement form daily in order to strengthen hair and achieve results.
Although biotin is a water-soluble vitamin , the safety of using any amount of biotin in supplement form is unknown.
As with many other supplements, biotin hasn’t been tested for safety in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications.
Hairburst Heart Hair Vitamins
- Hairburst Heart Hair Vitamins, £19.99 for 60 tablets from Holland & Barrett – buy here
These chewable gummy vitamins are more palatable than swallowing a pill .
These have wide-ranging fans, from those with Afro hair to those who over-bleached and damaged their locks.
According to one reviewer: “Ive been taking these for a month and a half now and can honestly say my hair’s grown! Im halfway through my second bottle and it has grown about an inch or so.
“Other people noticed before I did and would definitely recommend. Cant wait to see the results after three bottles!”
Read Also: What Vitamins Should Be Avoided When On Blood Thinners
What To Eat For Healthy Hair
Just like skin, the condition of your hair is an outward sign of inside health. The cells that make up each strand of hair require a regular supply of key nutrients.
Eat the correct balance of the following nutrients including protein, vitamins and minerals to supply hair with all that it needs to remain shiny, lustrous and strong
A Brief On Vitamins For Hair Growth
Vitamins are present in all fruits and vegetables. A vitamin is an essential micronutrient and an organic molecule that is needed by all organisms in proper quantities or small quantities for the effective functioning of the metabolism. There are different types of vitamins that have diverse biochemical functions.
Vitamin A regulates cell and tissue differentiation and its growth. Vitamin C, E, and K function as effective antioxidants.
Intake of biotin and vitamin D is the best way to gain thick and strong hair growth. Lets have quick look about different types of vitamins and what vitamins are good for hair growth. Pick the best type that suit better hair growth.
You May Like: Can You Take Vitamin C With Blood Thinners
A Combination Of Family Genetics & Working In The Kitchen
Working in the kitchen, Jennifer had to constantly wrap her hair in a bun to cover it, and she believed that this pressure and strain on her hair may have helped contribute to her hair loss and thinning. And unfortunately for Jennifer, this problem continued to worsen.
Jennifer began to notice her hairline slowly recede, as well as her hair thinning and falling in several places in several regions along her scalp. Fortunately, Jennifers mother was already using Dr.UGRO GASHEE natural hair care products, with great improvements and results to show for it. Due to her mothers success with GASHEE, Jennifer began taking Dr.UGROs GASHEE Natural Oral Hair Supplements and Hair Lotion Topical, and her amazing results can be seen below.
Note the improved fullness, length, texture, sheen, and shine of her overall hair health.
