Hair plays a crucial role in maintaining your external appearance and your self-esteem. Full healthy hair can give an immense boost to your confidence, while hair loss or a receding hairline can have the opposite impact.

There are several reasons for hair loss. Certain medical conditions, drugs and treatments, sudden weight-loss diets, and stressful events can cause hair loss.

If none of the above reasons applies to you, and you are suffering from hair loss, then vitamin deficiency could be the reason. 

Statistics show that 21 million women and 35 million men are experiencing hair loss. The good news? You can retain your hair and your confidence by changing what you eat and what you use on your hair.

Table of Contents:

• Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss? - Identifying the Culprit
• Symptoms of Hair Loss - How to Tell if You're Experiencing Vitamin Deficiency
• Hair Loss Causes - Other Factors that Contribute to Hair Thinning and Balding
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin A

Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss? - Identifying the Culprit

Vitamins are crucial for the well-being and functioning of your body, including your hair. They are essential for the normal growth and functioning of cells. Given this crucial role, deficiency of vitamins may lead to hair loss when hair does not receive them in sufficient amounts.

Vitamins also have a direct and indirect connection with hair growth and loss. They are key to the nourishment and growth of hair follicles themselves. In addition, they contribute to hair growth by keeping the body’s immune system intact. By strengthening the immune system, vitamins indirectly protect hair follicles and hair. 

Therefore, supplying the body with essential vitamins may ease the symptoms of hair loss.

Symptoms of Hair Loss - How to Tell if You're Experiencing Vitamin Deficiency

How do you identify if your hair loss is normal or is a signal of a vitamin deficiency?

Symptoms of hair loss can vary depending on the reasons causing the loss in the first place. You may experience these symptoms gradually or even suddenly. Also, these symptoms can affect your hair alone or hair on the whole body.

Watch out for these symptoms that you may experience when you are undergoing hair loss:

• Hair starts thinning gradually on the top of the head. This is the most common symptom of hair loss, seen in both men and women. In men, this symptom is visible in the form of a receding hairline. In women, the hairline area becomes broad. In older women, however, a receding hairline may be seen.
• The appearance of bald spots. In some people, bald spots occur on the scalp. These bald spots can be patches or circular areas of baldness. Other areas, such as eyebrows and beards, too, may lose hair. The balding spots may trigger an itching sensation before the hair starts falling out.

• Hair becomes loose and falls at the slightest pressure. This hair loss symptom usually occurs following emotional or physical trauma. You may see strands of hair falling out as you comb or even when you give a slight tug. Such hair loss results in hair becoming thin. This form of hair loss is usually not permanent.

Hair Loss Causes - Other Factors that Contribute to Hair Thinning and Balding

Vitamins are crucial for your hair health. However, you may not notice any immediate symptoms of hair loss following vitamin deficiencies. The hair loss induced by vitamin deficiencies is not permanent either. The ill-effects of loss of vitamins on the hair become visible only over time. However, these symptoms are manageable, and the hair loss too can be reversed.

Given here are some key vitamins whose deficiency can make a difference to your hair health. Replenishing your hair with the lost vitamins can restore its health and glory.

• Vitamin D

Vitamin D is crucial for many bodily functions, including cell growth, immunity function, maintaining healthy skin, and keeping bones strong. This vitamin is also instrumental in the production of new hair follicles.

Vitamin D is available to the body primarily through the sun. The vitamin is also available through foods and dietary supplements.

The deficiency of vitamin D can lead to hair loss, given its contribution to the creation of new hair follicles. The association of vitamin D deficiency with hair loss is better understood through a study that shows hair loss in patients with rickets type II (Vitamin D-dependent).

This is a rare disorder that occurs due to reasons of heredity. This disorder happens when there are mutations in the gene responsible for coding for vitamin D.

Patients with this disorder have symptomized of hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body. Low levels of vitamin D can cause stop hair growth or thin down existing hair.

Spending excess time indoors and neglecting intake of vitamin D-rich foods can lead to vitamin D deficiency. Blocking vitamin D absorption by the body by wearing too much sunscreen can also lead to lower levels of vitamin D in the body.

Having a hair care routine that includes a cleanser, conditioner, and moisturizer keeps your hair strong and healthy. A proper routine also enriches your hair with all essential nutrients, including vitamin D. 

You may want to try WOW Skin Science’s Moroccan Argan Hair Oil. This oil is formulated with the richness and potency of extra virgin olive oil. This oil contains high amounts of vitamin D, which acts positively on keratinocytes.

Keratinocytes are cells that amount to about 95% of epidermal cells. They are located in the deeper layers of the skin and contain the skin’s epidermal layer. Keratinocytes are fundamental building components of skin structure.

Keratinocytes are also responsible for immune function. These cells serve as a protective barrier for the skin, protecting the organ and the body from the environment. These cells contain keratin as key proteins. Keratin is crucial to the structure and health of hair.

Regular use of this vitamin D-enriched argan oil gives your skin the strength and protection of keratinocytes.

Olive oil has other skin-benefiting components, such as vitamins A, E, and D, and antioxidants. These components are invaluable in protecting the skin, including the scalp, from damage. They keep the skin and scalp well-hydrated and nourished. With the scalp strong and intact, your hair gets a good base to grow.

This oil is packed with more benefits, including argan oil, almond oil, and castor oil. These ingredients bring in their own benefits to your hair. They keep hair nourished with essential vitamins and moisturization. They also repair and prevent damage such as hair breakage and soften strands.

Give your hair and skin a vitamin d boost with a regular massage with this Moroccan Argan Oil.

• Vitamin C

Vitamin C gains immense significance in hair health due to its antioxidant properties. The vitamin is also important because of its rich iron-absorption properties. Iron is crucial for hair growth, and by aiding iron absorption, vitamin C contributes to hair growth.

In patients suffering from hair loss resulting from iron deficiency, vitamin C acts as a lifesaver. This vitamin contributes to hair growth in such patients by contributing to intestinal absorption of iron.

Antioxidant-rich vitamin C protects hair from free radical damage. Hair is subject to a range of damaging external factors, including the sun’s UV radiation. Sun’s UV light damages hair by targeting its keratin and melanin components.

Research shows that antioxidant formulations can fight the damaging effects of sunlight and even improve keratin levels. Antioxidants were also shown to improve hair shine.

Potatoes, citrus fruits, cabbage, green peppers, and tomatoes are rich in this amazing vitamin. You can derive the benefits of vitamin C for your hair by including the nutrient in your haircare routine.

Do you not have a haircare routine? The best time to start is now! Explore natural skincare and haircare products from WOW Skin Science to customize your routine.

If you already have a routine in place, then great! Choose the latest in skin and hair care products from the WOW Skin Science line. These formulations are rich in natural plant actives. Explore their paraben and sulfate-free shampoos, conditioners, and more. Time to upgrade to natural, don’t you think?

For obtaining the power-packed of vitamin C, why not try this new combo - Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Coconut/ Avocado Oil Conditioner?

This powerful combination cleanses, moisturizes, and smoothens your hair. Antioxidant-rich raw apple cider vinegar-based shampoo deep-cleanses your hair, removing dirt and build-up. The other ingredients, including nettle leaf extract, argan oil, and sweet almond oil, nourish your hair with essential nutrients, soothe the scalp, and keep hair and scalp moisturized.

The fragrant conditioner contains jojoba oil, which is rich in vitamin C. This oil can repair your sun-damaged hair to health and prevent such damage in the future. The other ingredients – avocado and coconut oil – repair split ends and deep-moisturize strands. They work with jojoba oil to prevent sun damage and make your locks silky and shiny.

• Vitamin E

Vitamin E is key to neutralizing the impact of oxidative stress. The damage by oxidative stress to human skin and hair is immense. Aging signs, including greying hair, can be accelerated by prolonged oxidative stress.

You can get vitamin E from meats, leafy greens or cereals. This type of vitamin is also available in the form of the Vitamin E gummies for daily intake.

Vitamin C benefits your hair by protecting strands and scalp from the damaging consequences of oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress happens when there is an imbalance between free radicals in cells and the body’s natural defense against the free radicals. Free radicals are also referred to as reactive oxygen species or ROS.

Antioxidants are the body’s natural defense line against free radicals. But when the production of free radicals increases due to factors such as pollutants and UV exposure, an imbalance occurs.

Vitamin E helps maintain the needed balance between antioxidants and free radicals. It also acts as a protective barrier against damage by free radicals.

Include shampoos and conditioners rich in vitamin E to protect your hair against premature greying and other damaging consequences of oxidative stress.

Himalayan Rose Shampoo can also boost the vitamin C content in your hair with its rich plant-active formulation. This shampoo removes build-up, moisturizes hair, and brings dehydrated locks back to life.

The presence of sweet almond oil, which is rich in Vitamin E, repairs sun-damaged locks and erects a protective barrier against free radical damage. The other ingredients, including rose hydrosol, argan oil, and coconut oil, deliver rich nourishing properties to keep your strands healthy.

Complement this shampoo with the antioxidant-rich Red Onion Black Seed Oil Conditioner for powerful hair-boosting benefits. Antioxidant-rich vitamin E in sweet almond oil brings damaged hair back to life. It forms a protective layer over your hair to stop further sun damage.

Red onion black seed, vitamin B5, and argan oil provide excellent nutrition and moisturization needed to keep your hair soft and smooth. They also arrest hair fall, ease scalp irritation, and nourish hair follicles to promote rich hair growth.

Grab this winning duo for your hair repair kit!

• Vitamin B

Vitamin B comes in different forms. There are eight types of Vitamin B that are water-soluble in nature. These types include:

1. Thiamine – B1
2. Riboflavin – B2
3. Niacin – B3
4. Biotin – B7
5. Pantothenic Acid – B5
6. Vitamin B6
7. Vitamin B12
8. Folate

All these Vitamin B types are crucial for cell metabolism. Except for biotin, which is naturally produced by the body, other B vitamins can be obtained through diet. Biotin may be supplied in the form of supplements if needed.

Deficiency of Vitamin B12, biotin, riboflavin, and folate, can result in hair loss.

Along with a regular haircare routine, treat your hair with hair masks periodically. Hair masks give the benefit of deep moisturization and nourishment. WOW Skin Science’ Moroccan Argan Oil hair mask provides plenty of vitamin B benefits for your hair.

This hair mask is rich in vitamins B6 and B1, which benefit your hair at the cellular level. The presence of other nutrients, including vitamins A and E, repairs damaged strands and provides deep moisturization benefits.

The hair mask contains hydrolyzed wheat proteins, which form a protective layer over your strands and improves hair thickness. The mask is also powered by other natural ingredients, including coconut oil and argan oil. Together, they turn damaged hair into smooth, well-fed, moisturized locks.

Use this hair mask to transform even lifeless locks into radiant richness within minutes!

• Vitamin A

Vitamin A is known better as an eye vitamin than as a hair vitamin. The truth, however, is that this vitamin is important to the body as a whole, including the hair, at a cellular level. Vitamin A is essential for immune function, eye health as well as cell growth.

Vitamin A is present in both animal and plant foods. A balanced diet should be able to supply sufficient amounts of vitamin A to the body. If you feel you are not getting enough vitamin A from foods, then you may consider supplementation on the advice of your doctor.

Note that Vitamin A, when consumed in excess, can cause hair loss.

Include shampoos and conditioners with vitamin A as part of your hair care routine to strengthen your hair follicles and shafts from within, at the cell level.

Consider using haircare products from WOW Skin Science as they are well-formulated with a balance of various natural ingredients. So, you don’t need to worry about having too much vitamin A in your body.

A balanced diet is often the starting point to equip your body and hair with all essential vitamins. Oral supplements may be recommended if your doctor finds you seriously deficient in vitamins.

A skincare and haircare routine comprising natural products ensures that your hair and skin are not deprived of essential vitamins. With natural products, the risk of side effects is nil.

Your wellness routine need not be elaborate. A simple routine with only shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer can work wonders.