Best Vitamins And Minerals For Hair Growth And Thickness

Why Vitamins And Minerals Are Important For Hair Growth?

Just like your body needs essential nutrients to function, your hair also requires them. When your body does not get enough vitamins [1] like D and E, minerals, and fatty acids, it hinders the functioning of your hair follicles. This ultimately leads to hair thinning, weaker strands, brittle hair, slow growth and eventually, hair loss. Let us learn more about the essential vitamins for hair growth and thickness in the sections below.

Essential Vitamins And Minerals For Hair Growth

If you think your expensive hair products can help you with your hair growth, you are mistaken. A nutritious diet with essential vitamins and minerals gives your hair the required boost it needs. However, it should be combined with a healthy life and a proper haircare routine. Here is a list of vitamins for hair growth that you should incorporate into your diet:

1. Vitamin A:

One of the key vitamins for hair growth that helps maintain healthy hair follicles is Vitamin A. [2] It nourishes your scalp and ensures the proper functioning of your hair follicles.

Natural Sources: Eat foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, eggs, spinach, dairy and liver to get all the vitamin A you need.

2. Vitamin C:

Known for stimulating collagen production, Vitamin C is important for healthy hair growth. It strengthens your hair strands and allows for maximum absorption of iron from your diet, yet another essential nutrient for hair growth.

Natural Sources: You can find Vitamin C in foods like citrus fruits, spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers, leafy green vegetables and broccoli.

3. Vitamin E:

It is a powerful antioxidant that prevents oxidative stress and supports hair growth. Vitamin E helps improve blood circulation to the scalp and prevents hair loss.

Natural Sources: Foods, such as avocados, spinach, almonds, sunflower seeds, fish and bell peppers are good sources of vitamin E.

4. Vitamin D:

If you have alopecia areata, low levels of vitamin D could be a reason. Eating foods rich in vitamin D [3] can help support your hair growth and decrease hair shedding.

Natural Sources: Vitamin D can be found in foods, such as salmon, tuna, mushrooms, egg yolks, and fortified foods like milk, yoghurt and cheese.

5. B Vitamins:

If you have thinning hair, try B vitamins for hair growth. B complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12) boost blood circulation to the scalp, support cell regeneration and strengthen hair roots.

Natural Sources: You can find these vitamins in food, such as eggs, dairy, legumes, whole grains, meat, and leafy green vegetables.

6. Biotin:

Biotin, or vitamin B7, is one of the popular vitamins for hair growth. Biotin [4] helps in producing keratin, a protein that strengthens your hair follicles. Biotin deficiency can make your hair weak, brittle, and thin, eventually leading to hair loss.

Natural Sources: Foods, such as eggs, salmon, spinach, almonds, sunflower seeds, broccoli, and sweet potatoes, are excellent sources of biotin.

7. Omega-3:

Omega-3 fatty acids are yet another essential nutrient for hair growth. These fats help hydrate your scalp and hair, reduce dryness and promote hair growth.

Natural Sources: Foods that are rich in omega-3 are fatty fish like salmon, tuna and sardines, walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds.

8. Protein:

Protein is an essential nutrient for hair growth. It helps in the formation of new hair cells, stimulates growth and prevents hair loss.

Natural Sources: Protein-rich foods for hair growth are eggs, lean meat, fish, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and tofu.

9. Collagen:

Collagen is yet another protein that supports healthy hair growth. It contains amino acids that help in keratin production. Collagen benefits the hair by hydrating and repairing the scalp, and improving blood circulation to the scalp.

Natural Sources: Foods like chicken, fish and eggs are excellent sources of collagen. Other foods that support collagen production are avocados, berries, citrus fruits, leafy greens, nuts and seeds.

10. Folic Acid:

It is another important vitamin for hair fall. Folic acid is vitamin B9, which benefits your hair in numerous ways. It encourages cell regeneration and repair, improves blood circulation to the scalp and promotes healthy hair growth.

Natural Sources: Folic acid is found in citrus fruits, bananas, leafy green vegetables, legumes, eggs and liver.

11. Iron:

Iron [5] is an essential mineral for hair growth. It is crucial for delivering oxygen to the scalp, and a deficiency can lead to hair loss.

Natural Sources: Foods like cereals, meat, beans, spinach, tofu, nuts and raisins are rich in iron.

12. Magnesium:

Another essential mineral that encourages collagen synthesis is magnesium. This nutrient helps strengthen your hair strands and improve blood circulation to your scalp.

Natural Sources: You can boost your magnesium intake by incorporating foods, like bananas, leafy green vegetables, beans, seafood, soy products and dairy.

13. Selenium:

Selenium is yet another vital mineral that influences your hair growth. It is an antioxidant that protects your hair follicles, reduces scalp inflammation and supports hair follicle health.

Natural Sources: Selenium is mainly found in foods, like whole grains, eggs, meat, fish, liver and nuts.

14. Zinc:

Zinc is an essential mineral for hair growth. It helps regulate excess oil production in the scalp and supports hair growth and repair.

Natural Sources: Pumpkin seeds, beans, meat, fish, nuts, oysters, and chicken are high in zinc content.

Signs Of Vitamin And Mineral Deficiency

Now that you know essential minerals and vitamins for hair growth and thickness, it is time to include them in your daily routine. But how would you know if your body is lacking in these nutrients? Vitamin and mineral deficiency is mainly associated with hair shedding, hair thinning, or excessive hair fall. Check out the following signs and symptoms that indicate if you have a mineral or vitamin deficiency:

• If you are noticing dry and brittle hair that breaks easily, there is a chance that you have a vitamin D deficiency.
• Is your hair thinning and shedding more daily? It is an indication that you need vitamin A.
• If your daily hair shedding has increased from before and you are noticing a progressive thinning of your scalp hair, it indicates that you have inadequate vitamin E. Dry and damaged hair strands are also a sign that you have a vitamin E deficiency.
• If there are signs like brittle strands, dry hair, increased shedding and slow growth. It means you need more vitamin C.
• Are you noticing an increase in the daily shedding of hair or progressive hair thinning? It indicates you have an iron deficiency.
• If you notice a dry, itchy scalp and brittle hair that is prone to damage, you likely need essential fatty acids.

When To Visit A Dermatologist?

If you are experiencing excessive hair loss or gradual hair thinning, consider seeking professional help. Sometimes, your regular haircare regimen and OTC products also seem to be not giving you any results. Visit a dermatologist who will assess your health and check for nutrient deficiency. At Oliva, our dermatologists suggest blood tests and perform a trichoscan to affirm the cause of your hair loss. Depending on the root cause, they will recommend an effective hair loss treatment with targeted supplements.

Advanced Hair Fall Treatments At Oliva Clinic

Based on the severity of hair fall, dermatologists at Oliva recommend the following treatments, either as a single treatment or in combination.

1. PRP Hair Treatment: Dermatologists may recommend PRP hair treatment, which is a non-surgical hair regrowth treatment. In this treatment, the specialists will inject a concentrated platelet solution taken from your own blood sample directly into the scalp. This solution has activated growth factors that activate inactive hair follicles and promote hair growth. It is a safe, quick and effective procedure with proven results for androgenetic alopecia.
2. Hair Threads Treatment: This is another non-surgical hair growth treatment that delivers effective results for your concern. It involves inserting biodegradable PDO threads into your scalp that work to strengthen your weak hair follicles and encourage hair growth. This treatment is ideal for you if you are suffering from early to moderate stages of hair loss.
3. Hair Transplantation: This surgical hair loss treatment is best for people with bald patches or baldness on the scalp. It involves the extraction of hair follicles from the donor areas of your scalp and inserting them in bald areas. If you are looking for a permanent hair restoration treatment, this is for you.
4. QR678 Hair Treatment: QR678 Neo is a painless, non-invasive hair growth treatment that effectively treats your pattern baldness, hair thinning and hair fall due to nutritional deficiency. It involves injecting a natural growth factor solution directly into the areas of your scalp affected by hair loss. It stimulates inactive hair follicles and triggers natural hair regrowth.

Takeaway

If your hair loss is due to poor nutrition, ensure you are getting all the essential nutrients in adequate amounts. The most effective way to maintain healthy hair growth is by adopting a holistic approach that includes a well-balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle and a proper hair care routine. For advanced hair loss treatments, dietary advice and targeted vitamin supplements, consult a professional. At Oliva, we offer a comprehensive hair care that goes beyond the clinical solution. For a personalised hair growth plan and nutritional advice, book your consultation with our experts today.