Myths vs Facts On Hair Vitamins: Nutrafol for Hair Loss

Hair loss, the unwanted and sometimes unexpected side effect of age and hormone imbalances. Expensive solutions like wigs, topical creams, and invasive treatments are becoming increasingly popular among the hair aisles in pharmaceutical stores. 

But to get a fuller, shiner head of hair, should we settle for side effects like allergic reactions, additional hair loss or even hair growth in places where we are not even trying to grow hair?

This has left the general public stumped and generally wary of these “remedies”. These aren’t solutions, just Band-Aids for larger problems. Maybe you could say, even adding to a problem everyone is trying to solve. 

Cheap fillers and additives are normally added without our knowledge to cheap supplements. But are they even effective, or even, dare we say, safe?

As the public grows more and more educated on these so-called-solutions supplement companies are taking to the shelves with new and improved supplements. Definitely, hair growth supplements or hair vitamins. Although vitamins are necessary in every aspect of health, with all the muddying of the supplement industry, how do you know what to search for when looking for hair vitamins?

Let’s discuss why vitamins are essential for healthy hair and the myths and facts that surround them….

As we get older our bodies change. We age, and genetics tend to take over with no say or control over these changes. The most common being hair loss and thinning. These factors generally determine the outcome of your future hair growth… or lack thereof.  

These phases are:

• The growth phase – where the follicles are actively growing and can last 3 to 5 years. The length of this stage is determined by the maximum length of your hair. 
• The regression stage – when the hair follicles get smaller and remove from your skin and eventually fall out.
• The resting stage – where new hair grows under old or removed hairs. Old follicles get pushed out by new hair growth 
• The shedding stage – older hair falls out and is replaced by new hair. This happens on a daily basis. Hair loss can be something that happens over time or be sudden. More common in men than women. 

The growth or Anagen phase and how long it lasts is left up to the devices of your specific and original genetic code. Which provides key nutrients that are extremely important in supporting the growth and strength of your hair. Dermatologist usually recommend taking a daily supplement with all the nutrients to support continued hair growth. These supplements target the gut microbiome which is the communications between our hair, skin, nails, brain, and immune system. This is why our health is so important. It doesn’t just affect our weight but an unhealthy body can affect our entire body and external appearance. 

Especially hair. Who wants that?

However, choosing the wrong type of supplement or taking the wrong advice has been proven otherwise. In the years of clinical studies, it can do the opposite, or even, nothing at all. 

There are always going to be myths surrounding our health. With advancements in technology and studies that start to prove otherwise, there will always be myths left to trail behind picking up victims along the way. 

Normally used as an agenda by cheap supplement companies to convince you to buy their product and feed off of our sensitive needs.
Some of these debunked hair myths you might have heard of:

Trimming Your Hair Makes Your Hair Grow Longer – hair doesn’t grow from the tips, but from the root. So cutting the tips doesn’t actually promote growth. It’s just a healthy way to maintain the look and health of your hair. 

You Only Need Biotin – your hair cannot rely only on biotin supplements to cover all the basis of hair growth. Although it is important in hair growth vitamins it cannot carry the load all on it’s lonesome. 

Prenatal Vitamins Are Ideal – prenatal vitamins are more for, you guessed it, pregnant women. Prenatal(s) are not used to promote hair growth or strength and actually have unnecessary amounts of iron that a non-pregnant woman doesn’t need. 

Frequent Shampooing Damages Your Hair – you probably have heard of dry shampoo. It has climbed to the top of the mainstream cosmetic media. Seemingly the only motive to tell people to avoid washing their hair frequently. Scaring them into thinking they’re going to damage their strands. This is not true. It is entirely up to you and your hair type. If your hair starts to feel greasy, wash it.

Stress Makes Your Grey – there is little scientific evidence to support this claim. Most greys are determined by age and genetics. It could hasten the process but there is no cause-and-effect. The reason you’re seeing greys is because your body is starting to produce less melanin.

Fish Oil Stimulates Hair Growth – fish oil supplements may not be the necessary type of fatty acids your hair needs to grow. Replacing your lack of fatty acids with fish oil supplements aren’t necessary.

Here are some key factors you should consider when looking for hair growth supplements:

Stay Natural – look for ingredients with all natural, non-synthetic ingredients. Avoid fillers and cheap additives that may prove to be harmful or ineffective in the long-run. Provide your hair with only essentials in their purest form.

Vitamins that Promote Hair Growth – look for an assortment of vitamins, ingredients and nutrients specifically for natural hair growth

Check On Quality – look for clinically tested ingredients to ensure quality in the product you’re buying. 

Look for High-Quality Hair Ingredients

Key ingredients to look for when looking for quality in hair vitamins. 

• Hydrolyzed collagen – collagen acts as an antioxidant that helps build the hair up from greying and thinning. As well as working to build keratin that helps create new hair follicles as well as repairing damaged hair.
• Vitamin A – necessary for cell growth. Where your hair needs adequate vitamin A, too much can cause hair loss. A 700-900mcg per day on the lower intake level is enough.
• Flaxseed Oil – as a source of Omega-3 fatty acids, it helps with a healthy scalp 
• Saw Palmetto – clinically researched saw palmetto is known to play a role in blocking hormones like DHT that cause hair loss. 
• Biotin (Vitamin B7) – helps hair stay protected and rebuilds hair from being damaged during over-styling
• Vitamin B12 – plays a role in metabolism and energy production. A deficient has been linked to hair loss and premature greying.
• Vitamin D – linked to healthy hair growth and creation of new hair follicles. 
• Iron – necessary for hemoglobin production. Delivers oxygen to cells including hair follicles. 
• Zinc – plays a role in protein synthesis and cell division
• Tocotrienols – or vitamin E have been shown to help promote healthy hair within and strengthen hair follicles. Look for ingredients that list tocotrienols at the top of their ingredients list
• Reishi Mushroom – improves blood circulation, fights infections and boosts your immune system. In turn increases circulation to the scalp to help promote hair growth. 

Avoid products like titanium dioxide – a filler and coloring agent and binding material that causes health issues. And products like Magnesium Stearate – genetically modified with high amounts of pesticides. 

Nutrafol

One of the top rated hair vitamins out for market today is Nutrafol. With Nutrafol Men, Nutrafol Women, and Women’s Balance by Nutrafol, they all target some of these root issues and list some of the ingredients you’re looking for in your hair vitamin supplements. 

Nutrafol Men

• Marine Collagen
• Sensoril Ashwagandha
• Curcumin
• Tocotrienol Complex
• Horsetail
• Kelp
• Resveratrol

Nutrafol Women

• Marine Collagen
• Sensoril Ashwagandha
• Saw Palmetto
• Curcumin
• Tocotrienol Complex
• Horsetail
• Resveratrol
• Kelp

Women’s Balance

• Maca
• Saw Palmetto
• Marine Collagen
• Sensoril Ashwagandha
• Curcumin
• Tocotrienol Complex
• Astaxanthin
• Horsetail
• Resveratrol
• Kelp

Nutrafol for Men is known to reduce the hormone DHT which causes follicles to shrink. This leads to a reduction in hair thinning. Along with Saw Palmetto that helps lower testosterone turning into DHT. 

Nutrafol for Women is known to help with scalp health and strengthen each strand. The collagen ingredients help provide protein and amino acids to make keratin. This also improves moisture and scalp elasticity.

Women’s Balance by Nutrafol is known to target thinning due to DHT in women. The ingredient maca attacks the root problem of DHT production while also supporting your libido while reducing hot flashes and night sweats. 

Nutrafol also promotes what they call “side benefits” instead of side effects.

Benefits such as improved:

• Libido
• Sleep
• Anxiety
• Mood
• Energy
• Skin & Nails

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Well, Nutrafol provides an ingredient study for serious fans of hair growth. All published for the public to read in the Journal of Drugs and Dermatology. Go and see for yourself!

Call Dr. Balshi at Balshi Dermatology in Delray Beach, FL About Nutrafol

If you’re looking to promote more hair growth, volume, stronger, shinier, and better textured hair with Nutrafol and hair growth vitamins, contact Balshi Dermatology, a board-certified dermatologist in Delray Beach. Call us at (561) 272-6000 or send us a message on our Contact Page to set up your appointment.