A lack of education has led many healthy hair buffs down a path of quick fixes via supplements and vitamins, which can be pointless without a diagnosed deficiency.
For many women, having hair loss can be nothing short of a devastating experience.
A full head of hair has long been viewed as a woman’s crowning glory, so noticing a thinning or balding spot usually brings on an immediate urge for us to problem solve. With the growing popularity of the natural and healthy hair movements, this very real issue tends to be confused for other natural, God-given factors that might play a role in our hair, like genetics.
Not to be confused with the desire for thicker and longer hair, many naturals believe that they have somehow done something wrong–or perhaps, they have not done enough–when it comes to encouraging the healthiest hair growth as humanly possible.
As a result of this confusion and lack of education, the avenue for seeking quick fixes via supplements and vitamins becomes a possible pathway. Biotin, prenatal vitamins, vitamin A, and more have grown more on the radar of beauty buffs than ever. But do these things produce the same results for everyone using them?
Ask yourself this:
Do I have a vitamin, mineral, or macronutrient deficiency?
Regardless of whether you have been taking a hair vitamin supplement or not, this is important information to have. Various studies, such as this one from the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, state that an improper diet that lacks certain vitamins lead to hair loss in women.
Note that this isn’t something you can simply ask yourself. Schedule an appointment with a licensed medical doctor and have them address the question with a blood test.
Once you receive the results of your test, your doctor can advise you on areas of improvement and the best ways to reach your daily recommended intakes.
Do I eat a well-balanced diet filled with the proper vitamins and nutrients I need?
As far as your hair is concerned, your follicles rely on many dietary sources for strength and function, including vitamin A, vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid”>, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin H (Biotin”>, iron, zinc, and essential fatty acids–to name a few.
Thankfully, the growing healthy hair care market provides numerous options for those hoping to restore and rejuvenate their actual hair loss. If you have an unusual vitamin or mineral deficiency, consider taking a topical supplement to encourage stronger follicles.
Nearly every major drug, health, and nutrition store carries a wide range of affordable multivitamin brands that are essential to helping you get to hair goals. Some of our beloved natural hair brands like CURLS, Mielle Organics, The Mane Choice, Hair Essentials, and Gleau have their own formulas targeted to restoring hair growth with a tablet or liquid supplement meant to be consumed.
Also remember that if it isn’t broken, you cannot and should not attempt to fix it.
This applies to the desire for thicker or longer hair without addressing a real hair loss or thinning issue. Acknowledge the factors that cannot change–your genes express many things that are just out of your control. Once you get your test results back, figure out what part of your diet needs adjustments before resorting to a supplement, and always seek the advice of a medical doctor first.
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This is my personal take on why I’m over the beauty vitamin hype.
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