We all know that taking a multi-vitamin once a day can be great for your overall health, but which specific supplements should you look out for to help promote healthy hair?
Vitamin B7
One of the main ‘healthy hair’ vitamins is biotin, or vitamin B7. Vitamin B7 is used by the body to produce keratin, the main protein in hair. Supplementing with B7 can have a positive impact on hair growth, especially for those with low biotin levels.
Iron
Iron can help with sluggish hair growth rates, which means it can aid the hair to grow for its maximum length time before falling out.
Keratin
For a healthy hair shaft, you’ll need to focus on keratin. Keratin is an important protein for the body. When these levels decline, the hair shaft can deteriorate, leaving it susceptible to breakage and dryness. As an important structural protein, keratin – when taken correctly – can make hair less prone to breakage and promote shine and strength.
Vitamin B12
For a healthy hair follicle, you’ll need to focus on 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, and so they need a constant supply of nutrients to grow and function. Collagen can also help here too, as it helps to anchor the root of the hair follicle to the muscle.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are essential to supporting a healthy microbiome, and a healthy microbiome equals a healthy scalp, gut, and the skin in general. The scalp is home to a complex and delicate host of microbes, this forms your scalp microbiome. 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.
Image: Ashley Gamble