When you want lustrous locks, resorting to hair supplements for women is one of the ways to go. But how to know what works, what to choose and how much and whatnot. Right? Let’s learn more about what hair supplements are and how they word before delving further, shall we?
Hair Health & Women
Women love our hair, don’t we? It isn’t called our crown of glory for giggles! Lustrous long and shiny shiny hair is a reflection of one’s hair health.
We can all agree our confidence takes a hit when our hair does. We not only want our hair to grow out long and strong, we go to great lengths to ensure the same. Hair supplements are one way to get healthy hair and support healthy hair growth.
Hair Loss, Hair Thinning & Hair Growth
These three are interconnected topics but we need to know them all. Right, ladies?
Hair Loss
Hair loss is becoming a common problem for not just women but even men these days. It’s OK and normal to lose a few strands a day but hair loss is a real problem for many.
As part of the hair growth cycle, few strands fall out in cycles for recycling of hair. But it should be within limits. Also, the hair growth should be adequate to replace the lost hair.
When either or both don’t happen, and one loses more than 100 strands a day, it is hair loss.
Hair Thinning
Hair thinning and hair loss aren’t the same, though they may be interconnected! Thinning hair is when hair tends to lose its density and thickness. Also, with hair loss, there’s an overall reduction in hair volume.
Hair Growth
Hair falls, grows back, it happens. As long as we have hair, the cycle goes on. What happens when it doesn’t?
When hair falls out, new hair replaces it. Also, regular hair growth is important to keep hair volume consistent. This is all part of the cycle but everything depends on a lot of factors.
Depending on the cause, hair growth vitamins can help, especially when hair loss or reduced growth is due to nutritional deficiencies.
It’s important to understand that our hair health, not just significant hair growth, relies on our health. Our hair is healthy, when we’re healthy. In that way too, hair supplements can help. Don’t you think?
Factors Influencing Hair Growth
Hair growth is a very natural process and many factors influence it including our genes, health and hormones. It’s because of these factors hair growth vitamins can help stimulate hair growth and improve hair health.
Causes of Hair Loss / Thinning Hair
Just like hair growth, many factors influence hair loss or thinning hair. Stronger hair is every woman’s dream. Understanding what are the causes of hair loss or what affects hair growth is important when you’re looking for solutions. Isn’t it?
Genes and hormonal imbalances are the major causes for thinning hair. Other contributing factors include aging, nutritional deficiencies, health conditions, or even stress. Androgenetic alopecia is one of the best examples for genetic hair loss conditions.
These factors are also triggers for hair loss, though stress is one of the major hair loss triggers, closely followed by hormonal imbalances. Genetic factors can’t be ignored either.
Hair Supplements for Women
Having that said, let’s take a look at the hair supplements options we women have. Not all are hair vitamins, which means different supplements take on different roles.
Are we talking about vitamins and nutrients here? We can, do you want to do that here? We have already covered the nutrients that will help hair and we can always add them to our food or as supplements. There are clinical studies done on supplements and there’s been reduced shedding with right supplements.
Did you know there are certain supplements that are intended for hair? Yes, do you know the best part? They either treat, cure or prevent hair related issues. They’re natural and can not only give you stronger hair and boost hair growth, they can also curb hair loss and more.
Natural Supplements
Saw Palmetto
Have you heard about it? It’s a natural DHT blocker and is now recommended by experts to combat hair loss that’s due to excess DHT. It’s one of the most sought after supplements with other health benefits to offer.
Chinese Dodder
Also called TU-SI, Chinese Dodder has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating hair loss and improving hair growth. It can reduce shedding. It’s also antiaging and anti-inflammatory and usually suggested as a supplement.
Fallopia Multiflora
It’s a Chinese herb that’s predominantly used for darkening or blackening hair, in other words, to prevent or treat graying and to combat aging related hair issues.
According to studies, it’s rich in pycnogenol, which significantly improves hair density within 2 – 6 months. This means, it plays a significant role in beating hair thinning and improves women’s hair growth.
Horsetail
A natural DHT Blocker, it’s also rich in silica and antioxidants and used in alternative medicine to improve hair growth and health. Want to grow hair longer? Horsetail is one of the best herbs for that job! It also stimulates scalp circulation which means healthy hair follicles.
Ginkgo Biloba
Did you know Ginkgo Biloba can block DHT production? Yes, it’s a natural DHT blocker. Additionally, it also improves hair growth and has been used for this purpose for ages. So it’s like a double whammy where it not only improves hair growth, but also curbs hair loss.
Nettle
Rich in silica and sulphur among other nutrients like horsetail, this herb can prevent breakage and hair thinning. Hair thinning is another common problem in women followed by hair loss, so when you want thicker hair and prevent breakage, nettle is your best friend.
Indian Curry Tree Leaves
This herb is used widely in Ayurveda, in fact, all parts of this herb are used. However, the leaves are used for hair care. It improves the health of hair strands, hair growth, hair and scalp health and prevents graying. It also combats iron deficiency, the root cause of hair loss in many women.
Indian Gooseberry
Did you know Indian Gooseberry is one of the main ingredients in proprietary blend recommended in ayurveda? It’s also rich in vitamin C, an essential nutrient for our body. In fact, it’s added in many remedies including topical and internal remedies for hair growth and more. It improves hair growth, improves health caused due to poor diet, strengthens hair and more.
Not just these, there are more supplements with many ingredients or supplements approved by the food and drug administration for use in hair care. The list of causes or symptoms are in no way intended to diagnose, treat or cure, rather give you an idea of the possibilities, so you can seek professional help for diagnosis and treatment.
The key is identifying what’s the issue so a suitable hair supplement can be suggested. This is exactly where a specialist can help as not only the diagnosis, but slo the remedial measures and dosage for supplements if any are best determined by experts.
Essential Vitamins or Ingredients for Hair Growth
Every nutrient or ingredient has a role to play in our hair health. Not just vitamins, every other nutrient is equally important for our hair. That’s why a balanced diet is the key to good health and hair!
Vitamins
Certain vitamins are more sought after for hair than others. Biotin for example, is often dubbed as Vitamin H(air) for this very reason.
Vitamin D is another vitamin that’s considered important for hair. Deficiency of this vitamin is often associated with hair loss. Considering many of us are deficient in this key vitamin, it shouldn’t be surprising!
Other Ingredients for Hair Growth
Not just vitamins, Omega 3 fatty acids, iron, manganese, zinc, folic acid, magnesium stearate and even antioxidants are very important for our hair health. Did you know zinc deficiency can cause hair loss? There’s a reason more than just vitamins are added to Vitamins Revive Hair Growth Vitamins Kit.
Even collagen, keratin, probiotics, plant extracts and herbs are important for our hair health. Haven’t you heard of hair masks or hair treatments? Every ingredient has a role to play, or a contribution to make. Also our overall wellness plays a role in our hair growth and health.
Conclusion
Everyone loves to look at their best and hair is one important contributing factor for the same. Don’t you agree?
Especially women, love their locks and will go to any extent to get their locks healthy and long. Isn’t it?
Having a hair care routine that works, being consistent with a routine, choosing gentle and nourishing ingredients and hair products and most important keeping oneself healthy and active is very important for hair growth.
Everything works in tandem with each other to give lustrous and stunning locks. We need all the nutrients in adequate proportions to not only stay healthy, but also have healthy hair and scalp.
Don’t know how and where to start? Consider asking a professional for help. It’s high time you do, when you don’t have a direction on how to proceed. What do you think?
FAQs
How to choose the right hair supplement?
Whether you want to increase hair growth or increase hair density or improve scalp coverage there’s a supplement out there that would work for you. But to identify what’s that and the right dosage for you, it’s best to consult a professional.
Are there supplements that are researched and proven or backed clinical trials?
Yes, there are. With increased awareness and a desire to get back to our roots many are embracing natural ingredients and hence studies have been conducted on these supplements. Your specialist can help choose the one that would be ideal for you.
What are some hair growth supplements for women?
While biotin is considered more for men than women, increasingly more specialists are recommending it for women. Albeit the dosage will vary, but that’s why we’re consulting a specialist.
Vitamin D, Iron and even Omega 3 Supplements are commonly recommended hair supplements for women. With increased growth, there’s more scalp coverage and the diffuse hair loss reduced volume can be restored.
What are the best vitamins for hair?
While we already discussed that more than vitamins are needed for hair, some are considered the best vitamins for hair. Biotin and Vitamin D are considered important for hair growth. Vitamin E is important for hair shine and health. Yet again, it’s important to understand that there are tests to diagnose deficiencies and you shouldn’t take supplements without guidance.
What can be done for brittle hair?
A good moisturizing and hydrating ingredient can do wonders to keep breakage at bay. Also, poor nutrition is often the culprit behind brittle hair. Taking health supplements with the required nutrients can help a great deal.
What to do for thicker hair?
Did you know hair supplements improve overall hair volume giving you thicker hair? A specialist can help you identify what would be ideal for you to improve hair thickness. The most common supplement is biotin, though depending on the issue it can vary.
Is it safe to take supplements?
Whether you have vitamin deficiency or other deficiencies that’s causing the issue, identifying the issue and addressing it through supplements has helped a lot of women. It is important to choose supplements without artificial additives or damaging chemicals. The key is consuming the right supplement and getting the dosage right. Yet again, it’s important to consult a specialist when considering intaking supplements.
Do iron supplements help with hair loss?
Many women facing hair loss and stunted hair growth are found to be deficient in iron. In such cases, taking iron supplements have shown positive results.
What to expect when taking supplements?
It’s important to understand every individual is unique and the results and the duration can vary with every individual. Having that said, be consistent and regular and follow the right dosage. With time and consistency, you should see results in a reasonable duration. Most natural supplements take 4 – 8 weeks before seeing results.