These supplements, formulated to nourish hair from within, are infused with essential vitamins, minerals, and botanical extracts. Understanding how these components interact with the body’s natural processes allows for the development of highly effective formulas addressing a range of hair concerns, from growth to strength and shine. This insight into the science of hair food supplements pinpoints precise intervention areas, ensuring these products deliver optimal results. Embracing this approach not only enhances product efficacy but also supports the creation of targeted solutions that meet the diverse needs of consumers seeking healthier, more vibrant hair.
Hair is a defining feature of human appearance, with an average person having around 100,000 to 150,000 hair follicles on their scalp. Each strand is made of a protein called keratin, produced in hair follicles in the outer layer of the skin. Typically, hair grows about 1.3 cm (1/2 inch) per month. Each hair strand can grow for 1 to 6 years before eventually falling out. Hair growth is a complex process influenced by many internal and external factors.
Understanding the science of hair food supplements is crucial for maximizing their benefits. A deeper knowledge of hair structure, the hair growth cycle, and the role of nutrition can help manufacturers develop products that effectively promote hair health.
Hair Structure and Composition
Hair is primarily composed of keratin, a type of protein. Each hair strand comprises three layers: the medulla (inner layer), the cortex (middle layer), and the cuticle (outer layer). The health and appearance of hair are predominantly determined by the cortex and cuticle.
Hair grows from the surface of the skin and consists of dead cells filled with keratin. The visible part of the hair is known as the hair shaft, which is not anchored to the skin. The hair follicle, located beneath the skin’s surface, is the growth structure that produces the hair and secures the hair shaft in place.
At the base of the follicle is the hair bulb, where new cells are generated to form the hair shaft in a continuous cycle of growth and rest, referred to as the hair growth cycle. The dermal papilla, situated at the bottom of the hair bulb, supplies nutrients to the hair and receives hormonal signals essential for regulating hair growth.
The Hair Growth Cycle
Hair growth occurs in a cyclical pattern, consisting of four main phases:
– Anagen (Growth Phase): This is the active phase where hair follicles are rapidly producing new hair cells. It can last from two to seven years, determining the length of hair.
– Catagen (Transitional Phase): Lasting about two to three weeks, this phase marks the end of active growth. The hair follicle shrinks and detaches from the blood supply.
– Telogen (Resting Phase): During this three-month phase, hair does not grow but remains attached to the follicle.
– Exogen (Shedding Phase): This is the phase where the old hair sheds and new hair begins to grow in its place.
Several factors can influence hair growth:
– Genetics: Genetic predisposition plays a role in determining hair growth patterns and health.
– Age: As we age, hair growth slows down, and hair may become thinner.
– Hormones: Hormonal changes, particularly during pregnancy, menopause, and thyroid conditions, can affect hair growth.
– Nutrition: Adequate intake of essential nutrients is vital for healthy hair growth.
– External Factors: Environmental stressors, hair treatments, and lifestyle choices can impact hair health.
How Nutrition Affects Hair Health
Proper nutrition is fundamental for maintaining healthy hair. Hair cells are among the fastest-growing cells in the body, but they are also the first to be affected by nutritional deficiencies. A firm grasp of the role nutrition plays in the science of hair food supplements is essential for any brand looking to launch their very own hair food supplement.
Vitamins
– Vitamin B8 (Biotin): Is a water-soluble vitamin that supports the production of keratin, a protein that makes up hair. (1)
– Vitamin C: An antioxidant that helps produce collagen, a key part of hair structure.(2)
– Vitamin E: Protects hair from oxidative stress and promotes a healthy scalp. (3)
– Vitamin A: Is essential for cell growth, including hair cells. It helps the scalp produce sebum, which keeps hair moisturized and healthy. (4)
– Vitamin D: Is crucial for hair follicle cycling. Deficiencies in vitamin D are linked to hair loss. (4)
Minerals
– Iron: Vital for red blood cells to carry oxygen to hair follicles.(5)
– Zinc: Supports hair tissue growth and repair, and helps keep oil glands around follicles working properly. (6)
– Selenium: Protects hair from oxidative damage and promotes hair growth.(7)
Proteins and Amino Acids
Proteins and amino acids, particularly keratin, are the building blocks of hair. Adequate protein intake is crucial for hair strength and growth. (8)
Fatty Acids
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids nourish hair follicles, promoting growth and shine. (9)
Bioavailability
– Importance of Nutrient Absorption
For hair food supplements to be effective, the body must efficiently absorb the nutrients. Bioavailability refers to the proportion of nutrients that enter the bloodstream and reach the hair follicles.
– How Supplements Ensure Optimal Bioavailability
Hair food supplements use various techniques to enhance bioavailability, such as using highly absorbable forms of nutrients and combining them with other compounds that aid absorption.
How Different Nutrients Work Together to Promote Hair Health
Nutrients often work better together than alone. For example, vitamin C enhances iron absorption (10), and vitamin D helps regulate calcium and phosphorus levels (11) for healthy hair follicles.
Examples of Effective Combinations in Supplements
– Green Tea, Bamboo, and Selenium Yeast: Hair’inside™’s unique combination of green tea, bamboo, and selenium yeast works synergistically to provide potent antioxidant action. This formula significantly reduces oxidative stress, which can cause progressive damage to hair cell structures. By enhancing ROS absorbance capacity by 69%, Hair’inside™’s synergistic formula helps protect and maintain the integrity of hair cells.
Other examples include:
– Vitamin C and Iron: Improve iron absorption and promote hair strength.
– Biotin and Zinc: Support keratin production and hair growth. (12)
Hair’inside™, has been proven to enhance hair health. In an open trial controlled by a dermatologist on 40 women aged between 25 and 45, taking 280 mg/day for two months, 93% of women noticed an increase in hair growth, 95% observed stronger and shinier hair, and 85% found Hair’inside™ effective after only one month.
1.A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss/
3. https://Effects of Tocotrienol Supplementation on Hair Growth in Human Volunteers
4. The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review
5. https:/Evaluation of MCV/RDW Ratio and Correlations With Ferritin in Telogen Effluvium Patients
6. https:/Zinc and Zinc Transporters in Dermatology
7. The Relevance of Selenium to Alopecias
8. Replenishing amino acids in damaged hair
9. IADVL Textbook of Trichology
10. Interaction of vitamin C and iron
12. Nutrient synergy: definition, evidence, and future directions
