A lot of consumers no longer believe in hair vitamins after being falsely advertised as a miracle cure for hair loss (which sadly isn’t true), but does this mean all types and brands are a sham? We spoke to a few hair professionals to find out the truth about hair vitamins.
Hair vitamins
Why do some consumers no longer believe in hair vitamins?
A lot of marketing for Highstreet brands tends to escalate consumer expectations, by over-promising unrealistic results for a complex issue that often requires a cocktail of treatments. “We manage our client expectations by being honest and saying hair vitamins require consistency to see the desired results, around six to nine months. Most clients report a visible improvement by six months,” says Cally Borg, owner of Cally Borg Hair.
“If clients aren’t seeing results, I would recommend seeing a trichologist as the issue may lie deeper than vitamins can target.”
“A brand must be transparent about how hair vitamins should be used in conjunction with a great regime. Every brand has a different formulation suited for different hair concerns. Hair supplements won’t always help every client or customer, they are exactly what they say they are, an additional supplement,” guides Krysia West, CEO of Perfectly Posh Hair.
“It’s essential to educate people and stylists on which key ingredients support which hair concern, and what to look for when it comes to a formulation and the amount of each ingredient because there is a minimum of each vitamin and mineral that we need for healthy hair growth. If you have a supplement that has very little of these ingredients, it just won’t work.”
Do hair vitamins really contribute to hair gain?
Hair loss must be treated from the inside, alongside a good haircare routine. “I always explain to clients struggling with hair shedding, or uneven hair texture, that these are often internal issues. Hair vitamins have been a big success in our salon, we use GLOWWA Hair Food and clients have reported results from four to 12 weeks – we can even see the difference over the course of two or three appointments and show them the new growth,” adds Cally.
They contain MSM to lengthen the anagen phase and Niacin to dilate the capillaries to feed nutrients to the follicle and a whole list of other active ingredients. “They even contain collagen which is amazing for skin, nails and eyelashes too!"
“There may not be a lot of scientific evidence that hair vitamins will miraculously make your hair grow back, but supplements are there to support healthy hair growth overall,” explains Krysia. “I’m a strong believer that the success of any hair supplement will always come down to the manufacturer's formulation, a high-quality ingredient list will help to reduce breakage and prevent excess shedding.”
“The right ones with the right ingredients do! Hair Gain supplements are powered by AnaGain, an immense phytonutrient derived from the organic pea shoot that has been shown to stimulate specific signal molecules that are responsible for reactivating hair growth,” adds Hair Gain founder Lucy Palmer.
“It prolongs the hair growth cycle by improving the proportion of active hair follicles to degenerating ones, resulting in a greater number of hairs being grown, an improvement in the strength and quality of hairs, reduced loss and breakage and the maintenance of density and thickness.”
“Hair nutrition should be part of every client's haircare routine to support optimum hair health and growth from the inside out,” says Suzanne Cooper, founder of GLOWWA Hair Food.
What health complications can contribute to poor health?
“Hair Gain conducted a hair loss survey and found that over 50% of respondents cited stress and anxiety as the cause of their hair thinning or loss.
Other implications include but are not limited to nutritional deficiencies (including Iron, B12, Zinc, Vitamin D etc), certain medicines and medical procedures, hormonal changes including peri/menopause and postpartum hair loss, extreme weight loss, autoimmune disorders such as lupus, diabetes, anaemia, thyroid disorders and genetic conditions,” explains Lucy.
“Around 89% of women suffer from hair loss at some point in their life, and we see a lot in the salon. Our clientele is mostly aged 30 and above, and includes women having babies and going through menopause,” Cally says. Head here for more on how stress and poor nutrition can affect hair loss.
What should you be telling your clients?
Research hair supplements before they buy. “Research the science behind the ingredients, check for studies that prove the effectiveness of the ingredients, and if the supplements are endorsed by relevant experts. Check out their website reviews and see what other customers have experienced, and don’t be afraid to contact the brand to ask questions,” Lucy advises.
“The stylist should be able to carry out a basic hair and scalp analysis and share the benefits of hair vitamins. Approach the topic with questions like, “Do you find you’re getting a lot of hair in your brush when you’re brushing?” or “Is there a lot of hair in the plughole?”, and reassure them that it’s a common issue and something they can treat from the inside,” adds Cally.
“I always explain to my clients that there are lots of different reasons for hair loss, but that you can get on top of it with the right treatments. If they don’t see results after using hair vitamins for at least three months, I go on to recommend a blood test to rule out an issue with their thyroid. If their hair loss looks like more than we’d expect a vitamin to deal with, then we’d refer them to a trichologist.”
“Stylists need to understand why they’re recommending a hair supplement and what’s involved in that particular brand. They can be a great addition to a healthy hair regime, combating the issue from the inside and the outside,” says Krysia.
The bottom line
Hair vitamins are a great way to aid healthy hair growth, alongside a great haircare regime and an understanding of the reasons behind their hair loss. It's important to have a good knowledge of the various professional brands on the market and the types of hair each is best suited to.
