Does your hair seem thinner, or is your daily brushing routine pulling out an excessive amount of strands? Causes of hair loss vary, but in women, hair loss is most often the result of:
● Hormonal changes. If you’re pregnant, stressed, going through menopause, or experiencing any other major hormonal change, your body may be out of balance and failing to adequately support normal hair production.
● Medications. Always check with your doctor about possible side effects of any medications you’re taking! Certain drugs may inhibit your body’s ability to produce new hair.
● Sudden weight change or physical trauma. Similar to hormonal changes, if your body undergoes any major change or trauma, it needs time to recover and reset its natural processes.
While hair loss is generally a symptom of other diseases, syndromes, and disorders, vitamin deficiency is often a forgotten factor in the conversation. There are a variety of vitamins that help promote hair growth, and a deficiency in even just one of them could be having a negative effect on your hair production.
Read on to learn about five vitamins that can help restore your natural mane, and check out our hair toppers and top pieces collection to help conceal any major hair loss!
Vitamin B
Raising Vitamin B intake helps many women suffering from hair loss. Each type of Vitamin B could help your hair in a unique way: Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) can strengthen your hair follicles, Biotin (Vitamin B7) can reinvigorate your hair strands and multiply the number of your strands, and Niacin (Vitamin B3) helps improve your scalp’s blood circulation, thus allowing more nutrients to access—and ideally repair—your hair follicles.
Many of these can be found naturally in eggs, fish, beef, whole grains, avocados, and various nuts. If you’re not sure which vitamin supplement to start with and you’re desperate for a healthier, shinier mane, B vitamins are the way to go!
Vitamin C
If your hair loss is due to aging, Vitamin C is your friend! When used as an antioxidant, Vitamin C can work to make collagen and fight the unique agents that are causing your scalp’s hair loss. You can also choose to up your Vitamin C intake by improving your diet. Most fruits and vegetables are filled with Vitamin C: oranges, broccoli, strawberries, brussel sprouts, and kiwi are just a few of your options!
Vitamin A
The human body needs Vitamin A to promote any cellular growth, and your hair is no exception! Carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes are some of the delicious foods you can have to help improve hair growth and increase your body’s sebum production, which keeps your hair looking and feeling healthy. This vitamin can be tricky, though: talk with your doctor to determine the proper dosage for you, as too much Vitamin A can be unhealthy and potentially damaging to your body.
Vitamin E
Hair loss has been linked to oxidative stress, depression, and anxiety: all things, it turns out, that Vitamin E works hard to prevent! Vitamin E is found in many of the same foods as Vitamin B: avocados, nuts, seeds, and spinach are filled with the vitamin. Vitamin E is also used in aloe vera gels that can help heal, nourish, and condition a dry, ailing scalp.
Vitamin D
The relationship Vitamin D deficiency has with hair loss is still scientifically unclear, but preliminary studies have found that Vitamin D can help treat patients who suffer from alopecia areata. Vitamin D is found in various fish, mushrooms, and cod liver oil—not to mention, of course, the sun. More Vitamin D may mean more hair production and a healthier scalp, so grab some sunscreen, get outside, and start working on your tan!
Not sure whats causing your hair loss? Read these articles to learn more!
The Relationship Between Stress and Hair Loss
What vitamins have helped your hair growth? Tell us what you know in the comments below!