Hair growth is a minor inconvenience many people have to face. But it’s a different story if you’ve had a damaging bleach job or bad hair maintenance habits that made your hair dry beyond repair.In this case, regrowing new hair may take years especially if you want to reach your desired length. Thankfully, hair supplements have proven useful to help with hair repair and steadily rose to popularity because of it.
So how long do hair supplements take to work? It can depend on factors like which supplement you’re using and the state of your hair. Some recommended supplements include vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well as biotin, zinc, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. As for the state of your hair, factors like genetics, medications, hair damage, and health status can all affect the effectiveness of hair supplements.
How Long Do Hair Supplements Take to Work?
Visible changes don’t happen overnight after you start taking hair supplements. It ultimately depends on how the supplements treat the hair.
If you’re taking dietary supplements that improve the new hair that’s growing out of your follicles, you’re looking at up to 5 years for a visible improvement in hair growth to reach shoulder length – and that’s assuming you don’t do anything to your hair to damage the hair improved by your supplements.
On the other hand, hair supplements that work by nourishing existing hair can take several months to show visible changes. These changes can include supplements that increase sebum production, which can lead to hydrated, healthy, and strong hair that shines naturally.
So if you’re taking any hair supplement product for hair growth, it can take over a year up to 5 years to replace the existing hair you have with hair that’s improved from hair growth supplements. But if you’re looking to moisturize or make your scalp healthier, you could be looking at a couple of months to see a difference.
Factors That Can Affect Hair Supplements’ Effectiveness
Hair supplements can nourish your scalp and hair and result in visibly healthier hair, but its effects can easily be damaged if you don’t practice proper hair care. These factors can negate the results of your hair supplements or prevent any changes at all.
- Genetics – Hair loss can be genetic, especially in men. Currently, there is no cure to stop hereditary hair loss. Hair supplements may slow down hair loss temporarily, but it may eventually have little to no effect on hair growth. When this happens, you may need prescription medicines like minoxidil or minimally invasive treatments like hair transplants.
- Pregnancy Hormones – Women experiencing hair loss after pregnancies is normal. While pregnant, your increased estrogen can cause you to have more hair follicles growing. This is why pregnant women might notice their hair growing faster. After giving birth, hair follicles return to normal, so it can feel like you’re shedding more hair than normal.
- Medications – When taking medication and seeking treatment for cancer, hair loss can happen. Continued treatment will make it difficult to regrow hair even with hair supplements. However, after your treatment, your hair can start to grow back especially with the help of supplements.
- Malnutrition – Deficiencies in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, iron, and zinc can result in weaker, brittle, and dry hair, which can make hair loss harder to treat. A healthy diet can prevent deficiencies, though supplements can also provide these vitamins and minerals to promote healthier hair growth. You can also change your eating habits to make sure you’re having a balanced meal that’s rich in these nutrients.
- Hair Damage – If you’ve tried DIY hair bleaching or any hair treatment that requires harsh chemicals, you might have ended up with damaged hair or hair breakage. Depending on the severity, you may be able to salvage your hair with a combination of supplements and certain hair care products. But if your hair is extremely damaged, it might be more practical to trim off most of (or better yet, all) the damaged hair instead of trying to revive it. After trimming it, you can use hair supplements to keep your scalp healthy and produce shiny, healthy hair.
- Medical Conditions – High stress levels, thyroid diseases, and autoimmune diseases can cause dry hair and hair loss. Rather than using hair supplements, you should treat the illness causing hair loss. Hair growth supplements can’t support hair growth until the medical condition is properly treated.
Supplements that Can Improve Your Hair
1. Vitamin A
A water-soluble vitamin that helps with sebum production. Sebum keeps your skin and scalp moist and healthy, which can prevent dandruff and irritation. It also keeps your hair hydrated and prevents dry hair that breaks easily. Vitamin A deficiencies can result in hair loss, while too much vitamin A can lead to hypervitaminosis A, which can also cause hair loss. Natural food sources include carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, and dairy products.
2. Biotin
Also known as vitamin B7, biotin is a B-vitamin that strengthens hair and improves both hair health and hair quality. Biotin deficiencies, although a rare occurrence for those who have a balanced diet, can cause hair loss. But taking biotin supplement products can greatly benefit those with deficiencies to improve their hair regrowth. Biotin can also help produce amino acids, which can help with healthy hair growth. Natural food sources include whole grains, meat, seafood, and leafy greens.
3. Vitamin C
Considered an antioxidant that can prevent premature aging, vitamin C boosts your body’s natural collagen production, which is essential for healthy hair, skin, and nails. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb iron, which can improve hair growth, and help with keratin production, a protein that serves as building blocks for healthy hair. Natural food sources include citrus fruits, strawberries, and peppers.
4. Vitamin D
Promotes hair growth by keeping your hair follicles healthy. While it’s unknown how vitamin D is associated with hair growth, vitamin deficiencies are associated with hair thinning and hair loss. Surprisingly, most people may not be getting enough vitamin D. Natural food sources include eggs, fish, and mushrooms. Exposure to sunlight is also a good source, aside from food products that are artificially fortified with vitamin D.
5. Vitamin E
A hair growth vitamin that protects your skin, nails, and hair from the sun’s UV rays that cause premature aging. It’s also an antioxidant that can prevent free radicals from causing oxidative stress. One study found that taking vitamin E for 8 months resulted in a 34.5% increase in hair growth. Natural food sources include plant-based oils, seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
6. Zinc
Regulates dihydrotestosterone in your body, which can cause hair loss. It can also promote tissue growth and repair and can make stronger hair while making sure hair follicles are working normally. Studies show that both zinc deficiencies and too much zinc can cause hair loss. Natural food sources include beef, spinach, nuts, eggs, and fish.
7. Iron
Prevents anemia and weak blood flow caused by low iron levels, which can affect hair follicles and delay hair growth. Iron helps transport oxygen to cells, which is essential for functions like hair growth. Natural food sources include red meat, lentils, spinach, and green vegetables.
8. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
These fatty acids help your body produce oils to keep your hair hydrated. Natural food sources include fish, avocado, and pumpkin seeds.
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Hair supplements aren’t an overnight solution. Depending on how your beauty supplements improve your hair, it can take at least a couple of months to see visible results. There may also be certain conditions that can affect how well hair supplements work on you, so consider visiting a hair expert to recommend a hair supplement that’s likely to work effectively for your hair type.
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