In this article, we will discuss different vitamins for hair growth. Are you looking to have long, lustrous hair, but are not able to grow your hair even an inch long? Also, are you dealing with annoying split ends and breakage? If yes then you are at the right place. You might have tried many shampoos, oils, serums and other products to grow your hair, but they have not shown any positive result. Many people are not aware of the fact that hair growth has a lot to do with the diet you are taking, especially vitamins. Below we have mentioned a list of Vitamins for hair growth and healthy locks. Incorporate them into your diet for the best results.
List of Vitamins for Hair Growth:
1.) Vitamin C for Hair Growth
Most of you must be aware that Vitamin C helps boost immunity, making us safe against frequent colds and other health condition or diseases. Most of the people don’t realize that Vitamin C is very helpful in strengthening hair and help it grow faster. This is mainly because Vitamin C helps your body build collagen, which is a vital protein for healthy growth of hair, skin, and nails. In addition to this, Vitamin C is considered as an excellent antioxidant that helps fight free radicals responsible for damaging body tissue. Plus, free radicals have been known to damage hair, making it brittle and weak. Thus it is one of the best vitamins for hair growth. If you find that your hair breaking a lot and frequently, it may be due to the lack of Vitamin C in your diet.
Though you can take a Vitamin C supplement, but it is recommended to get your daily dose of Vitamin C from whole foods. Some of the foods that are rich in Vitamin C are Kale, Broccoli, Papayas, Oranges, Brussels sprouts, Red bell peppers, strawberries, and kiwi.
Along with consuming Vitamin C rich foods, there are many great hair care products that are composed of Vitamin C.
2.) B Vitamins for Hair Growth
Usually referred to as Vitamin B complex, all these eight B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12) are very essential for the body to keep it healthy. B Vitamins are involved in energy, nerves, metabolism, skin, muscles, nails, and hair. As a whole, Vitamin B complex enhances cell growth and division, therefore it is one among the best vitamins for hair growth. To make sure that your body is not lacking Vitamin B, it’s important to stock up your body’s supply every day. This is because these types of Vitamins are water-soluble, which means that the body can’t store them. Whatever the body doesn’t use, it gets flushed out of the body through urine. Some alarming signs of B Vitamin deficiency are:
- Feeling weak or tired
- Bruising easily
- Hair not growing as fast as it used eggs, meats, grains, and vegetables. If your diet is deficient in B Vitamins, you can go for a daily supplement. In addition to this, some hair care products also contain B Vitamins, so you use them for extra support.
3.) Biotin for Hair Growth
If you wish longer, healthier and shiny hair then make sure to include Biotin rich foods in your diet. This is becoming one of the most extensively used supplements for faster growth of hair. Though Biotin is a B Vitamin, but because of it key role in keeping your hair healthy that it required its own place. This Vitamin helps in producing glucose and breaking down proteins into amino acids. Since hair itself has keratin, which is a type of protein, this supports healthy hair.
While many people do get sufficient amount of Biotin from the foods they eat every day, it is a water-soluble Vitamin. Again, it means that your body is not able to retain it for future use and flushes the excess amount through urination. So, it is recommended that you get enough of it each day or your body will not support healthy hair growth. Many hair care products are now composed of Biotin. However, this doesn’t mean that you should avoid biotin-rich foods or supplements. A right combination of both i.e internal and external supply seems to be best for hair growth.
Some of the food sources of Biotin are salmon, avocados, peanut butter, mushrooms, eggs, and more.
4.) Niacin for hair Growth
Niacin is another one of the Vitamins for hair growth. It is also a part of B family but deserves its own spot. This Vitamin is quite helpful in nourishing the scalp, encouraging healthy hair growth. Without sufficient amounts of niacin, your hair are at the risk of getting brittle, lifeless, and may even fall out. Deficiency of Niacin is a condition known as pellagra. Signs of pellagra are:
- Mental confusion or delusion
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Scaly skin sores
Foods that are high source of niacin include tuna, mushrooms, turkey, chicken breast, avocado and many more.
5.) Vitamin E for Hair Growth
Vitamin E is considered among the most overlooked Vitamins, it is an antioxidant which is very useful in repairing and building tissues that are essential for healthy hair growth. Along with consuming Vitamin E-rich foods (like seeds, almonds, avocado, and broccoli), people are aware of the benefits of Vitamin E in topical use. When you apply Vitamin E on your scalp, it helps in reducing inflammation, promoting blood circulation, promoting oxygen supply, and repairing damaged hair follicles. It is recommended to massage Vitamin E oil into the hair and scalp at least twice a week to encourage hair growth.
Directions to Prepare Hair Mask
- Take two Vitamin E capsules and mix them with coconut oil.
- Massage the mixture into your scalp with your fingertips in circular motions.
- Leave it for at least twenty minutes (the longer the oil remains on your head, the better results you will get).
- Later, wash your hair as usual.
6.) Vitamin A for Hair Growth
Vitamin A is another essential Vitamin for proper cell growth. Also, Vitamin A helps in producing sebum (oils) on the scalp, which helps in preventing hair from drying out and breaking. Foods that are rich in Vitamin A include melons, carrots, and dark leafy greens. Some of Vitamin A deficiency symptoms include vision and skin related problems.
It’s important to remember that taking get too much of Vitamin A can be counterproductive to your hair growth efforts.
7.) Vitamin D for Hair Growth
About 85 percent of Americans are not getting enough of this essential Vitamin which is responsible for promoting healthy follicle growth. One of the easiest ways to enhance Vitamin D levels is to spend some time in the sun. You don’t need to spend a lot of time to get this Vitamin, just about 15-20 minutes every day is more than enough. While this is easy to do in the warm summer months but you may not be able to get enough sun during the winter. Therefore supplements and food high in Vitamin D are alos important. Some Vitamin D-rich foods are mushrooms, milk, eggs and fatty fish (like salmon and tuna).
8.) Iron for Hair Growth
While Iron is not a Vitamin, but it is an essential mineral which your body requires in order to function properly. One way iron is beneficial for your body is that it strengthens hair and promotes growth. Deficiency of iron can make you hair look dull, thin, and dry. To know whether you are deficient in iron or not, you can go for a simple blood test.
Foods which are rich in iron content include spinach, red meat, and oysters.
9.) Magnesium for Hair Growth
Magnesium is another mineral which your body requires in order to function properly. Eating a diet loaded with magnesium-rich foods like seeds, salmon and nuts, is an ideal way to make sure that you’re giving your scalp what it requires to grow strong and healthy hair. Unfortunately, about 80 percent of Americans are lacking magnesium in their diet. A deficiency of magnesium has been linked to type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, depression, constipation, anxiety, and fatigue.
10.) Protein for Growth of Hair
While protein is also not a Vitamin but it is very essential nutrient for healthy hair growth. This is because hair is mostly consists of protein. If you do not take sufficient amount of protein, your body will not be able to maintain your hair follicles and which will make your hair dry and brittle.
While a lot of hair care products include ingredients which are centered around protein, it is always an ideal solution to consume sufficient amount of protein in your diet. Vegetarians need not worry as there are plenty of plant-based sources of protein, which they can incorporate in their diets such as quinoa, broccoli, spinach, and much more. Protein helps your hair grow strong and also helps in speeding up the rate at which it grows.
