Hair loss is common, in women and in men, and it can be unsettling. It helps to understand what actually drives it, what your daily habits contribute, and what a food supplement is and is not allowed to say about it. This article covers all three, plainly.
What causes hair loss in women and men?
The causes differ, and often several overlap. In women, hormonal change is a frequent factor: pregnancy and the months after it, the menopause, and conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Thyroid disorders and iron deficiency are also well documented causes. In men, androgenetic alopecia, usually called pattern hair loss, is the most common. It is largely hereditary and linked to the effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the hair follicles.
Shared causes affect everyone: ageing, genetics, prolonged stress, illness or surgery, some medicines, rapid weight loss, and a diet short on protein or key minerals. Hair care plays its part too. Repeated bleaching and colouring, daily high heat styling and tightly pulled hairstyles weaken and break the strand, which can look very much like thinning.
When to see a professional
If hair loss comes on suddenly, appears in patches, is accompanied by scalp soreness or scaling, or simply carries on for several months, see your doctor or pharmacist rather than working it out alone. Blood tests can identify iron deficiency, thyroid problems and other treatable causes, and there are medical treatments for pattern hair loss. No supplement is a treatment for any of this, and anyone who tells you otherwise is not being straight with you.
What role do diet and lifestyle play?
Hair is made largely of protein, so eating enough of it matters: eggs, fish, dairy, meat, pulses, tofu. Around that, build in iron rich foods such as lentils and leafy greens, oily fish for omega 3, nuts and seeds for zinc and selenium, and a good spread of fruit and vegetables. Sleep, water and stopping smoking help the whole body, hair included. Regular exercise and time spent unwinding lower stress levels, which is worth doing in its own right.
If your diet is patchy, a supplement can help top up nutrients you may be short of. For women there are Premium hair vitamins for women, with 25 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts, including 2500 µg biotin per daily dose.
For men there are Premium hair vitamins for men, with 23 vitamins and minerals and the same dose of biotin. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
Which nutrients have an authorised hair claim?
In the EU and the EEA the wording of nutrition and health claims is set in law, and for hair the list is short. Three nutrients qualify:
- Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, skin and nails.
- Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and nails.
Other familiar names carry authorised claims of a different sort. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Iodine contributes to the maintenance of normal skin, and folic acid contributes to normal amino acid synthesis. Iron and several B vitamins contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Copper contributes to normal hair pigmentation. Useful nutrients, all of them, but their approved claims are about skin, cells and energy, not about hair volume.
You will also see plant extracts such as saw palmetto and green tea on ingredient lists. These are included for their traditional use and their content of plant compounds. There is no authorised health claim for them, so treat any strong promises attached to them with caution.
If you find tablets awkward to swallow, there are Hair Luxious Gummies for women in elderberry and strawberry, and Hair Luxious Gummies for men in blueberry and strawberry, with the same nutrients in a form that is easier to remember to take.
How to choose a hair supplement
Look first at what is in it and how much: a clear list of nutrients with the amount per daily dose, and the percentage of the reference intake. Check that the claims on the pack use the authorised wording rather than promises about volume or regrowth. Consider your own situation, including any medicines you take and any conditions you have, and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure. Hair Luxious is a bestseller online and in Norwegian pharmacies, and is recommended by leading Norwegian hairdressers.
Building good habits around it
Whatever you take, take it consistently, with breakfast and a glass of water is as good a rule as any. Around that, keep the care routine gentle. Wash as often as your scalp needs with a mild shampoo, condition the lengths, detangle from the ends upwards with a wide tooth comb, and go easy on the dryer and straighteners. Space out bleaching, avoid tight ponytails worn day after day, and trim regularly so split ends do not travel.
In short
Hair loss has many causes, most of them nothing to do with your shampoo. Eat well, treat your hair kindly, and get persistent or sudden hair loss looked at properly. A supplement fills nutritional gaps: biotin, zinc and selenium contribute to the maintenance of normal hair, and that is the honest extent of it.
Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
