Latest news with #follicles
CNET
24-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
Unlock Healthy Hair Growth These These 7 Essential Vitamins
It's normal to shed about 50 to 100 hairs every day. However, if you're losing more than that, you might notice your hair feels thinner than before. Before you start stressing out about thinning hair, it's important to figure out what's causing it. Some people may experience hair loss due to genetics or even a hormonal imbalance. For others, it may be a sign of vitamin deficiency. A balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals can help you achieve healthy locks while boosting your overall health at the same time. It's a win-win. We outlined seven hair-friendly vitamins, along with the foods they're found in, that you should try to incorporate into your diet for potential hair health benefits. However, before changing your diet or adding any supplements, be sure to consult your doctor first. What vitamins are best for hair growth? Vitamins do many amazing things for hair. They can aid in cell growth, prevent free radicals from damaging it, keep it from graying prematurely and nourish the follicles that stimulate growth. Here are the best vitamins for hair growth and thickness. Biotin Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, stimulates the production of keratin to increase follicle growth. Biotin deficiencies tend to be rare, with those diagnosed with Biotinidase deficiency being the most common. You can find this vitamin in many foods, including eggs, meat, fish, nuts, eggs, sweet potatoes and seeds. The recommended intake is 30 micrograms for adults daily. However, one side effect of biotin may be acne breakouts. In this Reddit thread a user posted seeking advice on what vitamins and supplements others use for hair growth, multiple responses have indicated that taking more biotin resulted in acne. Though this may not be the same for everyone, it is something to consider if you do take a biotin supplement. If you do notice more breakouts, then consider one of the other vitamins for healthy hair. Vitamin A Hair cells are the fastest-growing part of the body. It makes sense that vitamin A is the perfect fuel for that growth. When your body absorbs vitamin A, it produces sebum. That's an oily substance that moisturizes your scalp, keeping it and your hair follicles healthy. Having a vitamin A deficiency could result in you experiencing hair loss. To consume more vitamin A, you'll want to eat foods high in beta-carotene, which turns into vitamin A. Foods high in beta-carotene include sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, spinach and kale. You can also find it in cod liver oil, eggs, yogurt and milk. The recommended daily intake for vitamin A is up to 900 mcg for men and 700 mcg for women. Be careful not to take too much vitamin A, as it can have harmful effects and has been linked to birth defects during pregnancy. vaaseenaa/Getty Images Vitamin C Oxidative stress is one of the main factors contributing to hair loss. This occurs when we have an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in our bodies, which can lead to an electron imbalance that could result in hair loss. The solution is to consume foods with vitamin C. Your body possesses antioxidants that curtail free radicals' hair damage by balancing their electrons when you do. Along with balancing the scales, Vitamin C aids your body in producing collagen (prevents hair from graying prematurely) and absorbing iron -- tackling iron deficiency to an extent -- which can help hair grow. Smoking, drinking alcohol and having a poor diet can lead to a vitamin C deficiency. You'll find vitamin C in citrus fruits, peppers, strawberries, tomatoes and guavas. Since your body doesn't produce it, you'll need to include these in your diet or have a supplement with vitamin C. Daily intake for vitamin C is up to 90 milligrams per day for adult men and 75 milligrams for adult women. Taking too much Vitamin C could result in heartburn, muscle cramps, fatigue, skin flushing and possible kidney stones. Vitamin D Vitamin D deficiencies can lead to hair loss conditions like alopecia, female pattern hair loss and excessive shedding. You'll find these depletions more in people aged 65 and over. To get more vitamin D intake, you can incorporate fatty fish, cod liver oil, fortified foods (cereal, eggs, bread, yogurt) and mushrooms into your diet. Alternatively, you can catch some midday sun rays. 600 IU of vitamin D is the recommended dosage for adults. Taking too much vitamin D could result in nausea, weight loss, disorientation and heart rhythm issues. Seksak Kerdkanno / 500px / Getty Images Vitamin E Vitamin E contains the same antioxidant prowess as its vitamin C counterpart possesses. It means it can curb oxidative stress by balancing out the electron level in free radicals. People more susceptible to vitamin E deficiencies include those with health conditions such as Crohn's disease or cystic fibrosis. Vitamin E is an effective method for treating hair loss. A small study revealed that people taking vitamin E supplements for eight months experienced a 34.5% increase in hair growth. You can also find vitamin E in sunflower seeds, spinach, avocados and almonds. If you plan to go the supplemental route, the recommended dietary allowance is 15 milligrams daily. Iron Iron fuels the production of hemoglobin, a protein found in your body's red blood cells. These cells distribute oxygen to cells throughout your body, aiding in their repair and growth. An iron deficiency can lead to hair loss, with women being the most susceptible. You'll find iron in foods like eggs, red meat, lentils, spinach, oysters and clams. If your doctor recommends it, you can take an iron supplement. The recommended daily iron intake is 45 mg. Keep in mind that taking too much iron could result in constipation, stomach pain and vomiting. fcafotodigital/Getty Images Zinc Zinc promotes hair growth and keeps the oil glands surrounding the follicles working well. If you have a Zinc deficiency, you could experience hair loss. Those most susceptible to zinc deficiencies are those who drink alcohol excessively, people with Crohn's, pregnant or breastfeeding women and those with chronic kidney ailments. You can find zinc in many common foods like beef, spinach, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, oysters and lentils. The recommended daily dosage of zinc is 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women. Taking too much could result in loss of appetite, cramps and headaches. It can also lower your good cholesterol. How long do hair growth vitamins take to work? Hair supplements are not overnight solutions. It may take months before you'll notice small improvements. Remember that the success rate depends on the cause of the hair loss, your diet, genetics and other factors. Do hair vitamins really work? While hair growth vitamins may work for some, others may not notice a difference. However, consistent use is key to seeing long-term results, so don't expect overnight changes. (And don't invest in products that promise significant results in a short time.) Again, this is a commonly asked question on Reddit. In this particular discussion thread, a guy is asking about what vitamins work for hair growth and thickness, while also giving his nails and skin per his girlfriend's recommendation. One of the replies is a female in her 30's who uses both collagen and biotin and has noticed a significant difference for her hair and nails. Her hair experiences less breakage and feels stronger, while her nails grow much faster. So in addition to the hair growth, some of these supplements can also give you a boost in your skin and nails. Bottom line Vitamins can restore damaged hair, prevent it from aging prematurely, reduce hair loss and improve growth and volume. They're also not a one-size-fits-all solution. You'll want to consult your doctor if you're losing a significant amount of hair, as it may stem from your environment, an underlying medical condition or another factor. They can work with you to create a targeted plan that may include vitamins.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The 5 mistakes you're making that are causing hair loss – including the style you should never wear
DESPERATE for longer, thicker tresses? Aren't we all. Broken shafts and weak follicles are commonplace thanks to a plethora of hair styling practices, such as heat, bleach and way-too-tight up 'dos. It's likely that, somewhere along the line, we're all engaging in things that are indirectly or directly causing our hair to fall out. Experts have long recommended oils and scalp massages to remedy thinning, but there's actually daily lifestyle changes you can implement too. On average, humans lose 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. This is a completely normal part of the hair growth cycle, where older hair falls out to make way for new hair to grow in. But in some cases, your daily routines will be inflating this number and putting you at risk of bald patches. 1. Stop slicking your hair back (or do it less) High-tension hairstyles, like slick-back buns and high ponytails, can wreak havoc on your follicles. These types of styles pull on the hair, making it susceptible to falling out AND thinning. "High-tension styles like slick ponytails may cause traction alopecia - a form of hair loss caused by chronic follicle stress,' Dr Suhail Alam from Aventus Clinic told The Express. 'Research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that up to one in three women who regularly wear tight hairstyles experience some degree of hair loss." 2. Never sleep on wet hair We get it, you're tired - and flopping into bed for some doomscrolling seems way more attractive than standing in the mirror with the blow dryer at 10pm. For the sake of your hair health, though, you should choose the latter. I tried Aldi's Dyson airwrap dupe at bargain price - and it gave me easy hair salon look "Wet hair is weaker and more prone to breakage,' Dr Suhail said. 'Tossing and turning on it adds friction and tangling. Let it dry naturally, or use a gentle blow-dry before sleep." 3. Swap your pillow cases Most bed sheets and pillow cases are made from polyester (a synthetic fibre) or cotton, or sometimes a hybrid of the two. These abrasive materials can be particularly problematic for your tresses as they create more friction against the hair while you sleep, especially if you move around a lot. This friction can cause hair to tangle, break or frizz - and over time, this can make it fall out at an unnatural rate. Dr Suhail recommends sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase to reduce friction, and thus foster a healthier sleep environment for your lengths. 4. Stop washing your hair so much Most people either team 'I wash my hair once a week' or 'I wash my hair every day' - but the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle. Over-washing strips sebum, the natural oil produced by your scalp to keep your hair moisturised and protected, leading to dryness and making your hair more prone to breakage. It can also irritate the scalp, contributing to conditions like dandruff and irritation and, in some instances, hair loss. Dr Suhail recommends washing your hair three times a week at most, but never less than two times a week, to ensure your scalp doesn't suffer a build-up of products and oils. 5. Turn down the shower temperature Like over-washing, having scorching water during your shower can further strip your hair of the natural oils and contribute towards hair loss. Hair re-growth FAQs Anabel Kingsley, Consultant Trichologist and Brand President at Philip Kingsley spoke exclusively to Fabulous. How long does it take for hair to grow back? Hair grows, on average, half an inch a month. You cannot speed this up. Do rosemary oil and scalp massages work? Oils do not promote hair growth. In terms of rosemary oil, the current trend stems from one small study carried out on 50 men in 2015. No women were involved, and the study compared the effects of 2 per cent minoxidil to Rosemary oil. 2 per cent minoxidil doesn't do much for male pattern hair loss anyway, so the results were not very impressive. Oils do serve a purpose in conditioning hair treatments though. They help add shine and smooth the hair cuticle to lock-in moisture and improve combability. Scalp massages alone won't cure hair loss, but it can help relax you, aid in lymphatic drainage, exfoliate and help topicals penetrate. Are there any products or foods/vitamins you recommend someone using or eating to help with hair regrowth? To support healthy hair regrowth, if you are experiencing hair thinning we'd recommend our Density Preserving Scalp Drops clinically proven to help slow hair loss with continued daily use within three months. Telogen effluvium (hair shedding) due to nutritional deficiencies can often be simply treated with changes to your diet, and nutritional supplements such as our specially formulated Density Healthy Hair Complex and Density Amino Acid Booster. Iron and Ferritin (stored iron) in red meat, dried apricots and dark, leafy greens. Vitamin B12 in animal products and fortified plant-based foods. Protein from oily fish, lean meat, cottage cheese, tofu, nuts, chickpeas, and beans. However, there may be an underlying cause for their hair loss and rather than this being masked by using an off-the-shelf product, they should be encouraged to seek the advice of a specialist such as a Trichologist. Furthermore, the heat from hot water opens up the hair cuticle (the outer layer of the hair shaft), which allows moisture to escape from your hair. This can turn your lengths dry, brittle and more susceptible to breakage over time - and when it's dry, your hair will feel rough and look dull. And when the scalp loses moisture, it may overcompensate by producing excess oil, leading to greasy hair or an imbalanced scalp. This will also make your hair appear less smooth and harder to manage after a hot shower. Instead, you should shampoo it with lukewarm water.
