There’s a lot of hair supplements on the market, and it’s easy to get sucked into a product that promises long, shiny hair backed by our favorite celebrities. The question that everyone always has, though, is do these products really work?
Let’s take SugarBearHair Vitamins, for example. They’re adorable – they’re a bright baby blue, shaped like bears, and look and taste like candy. While hair supplements like this one often have glowing reviews, it’s hard to say if any supplements actually work by scientific standards. Looking closer at some of the key ingredients in these vitamins can help us get a better idea…
Biotin:
This is a vitamin found in various foods such as eggs, milk, or bananas. When someone has a biotin deficiency, they may experience hair thinning, rashes, and other scary symptoms. But when you don’t have low levels of biotin – and very few of us do – it doesn’t really benefit you to take a supplement; it can actually be dangerous. Too much Biotin could lead to an upset stomach, acne, allergic reactions, and other unwanted side effects, and scientific studies haven’t confirmed whether Biotin supplements help in the growth and strengthening of hair.
Folic Acid:
Folic Acid is a helpful vitamin naturally found in green, leafy vegetables, and other foods such as broccoli, corn, oranges, grains, and meats. If you have kidney problems or are of childbearing age, folic acid supplements may be beneficial, but again, if your body has enough Folic Acid, then there’s no need to take supplements for it. Folic Acid is included in multivitamins to aid in absorption and is thought to have hair benefits, but scientific studies have not yet confirmed any hair-related benefit of taking this vitamin when there is no deficiency.
Vitamin D:
Here in Wisconsin where winter lasts for roughly half the year, some of us might be lacking Vitamin D, so this supplement could actually be beneficial to your hair growth! In fact, over a billion people worldwide are deficient. Like Biotin and Folic Acid, a deficiency of Vitamin D could lead to hair loss and thinning, but you’re better off getting Vitamin D from fish, mushrooms, grains, milk, and the sun, of course (but please use sunscreen!) However, getting too much Vitamin D can lead to various health problems such as fatigue or kidney problems, so exercise caution.
The bottom line? Vitamins are great and necessary at appropriate amounts, but most people get the perfect amount just by eating a balanced diet. Some people swear by hair supplements and have no unwanted side effects, but to be safe, check in with your doctor. For the absolute best results, make sure your diet is rich in vitamins and minerals, drink plenty of water, and schedule regular haircut appointments with your stylists. The key to long, healthy hair is getting regular trims to ensure that as your hair grows, your ends aren’t breaking off. It is possible to grow your hair healthier and stronger; just make sure your body is getting what it needs!
