As you age, you may run into issues regarding your hair health, such as thinning hair or locks that just don’t have the same shine and volume that they used to. While there are several products and shampoo ingredients you can use to help prevent and reverse these issues, it’s also important to remember that what you put into your body matters just as much as what you apply to your hair. That’s why ensuring proper nutrition by taking daily supplements can be one great way for women over 50 to promote beautiful, healthy hair.
To discover the best supplements to do just that, we spoke to dermatologist Allison Leer of Unity Skincare. She told us that biotin and omega-3 are both great options, because they “promote cell health and strengthen hair follicles, helping to prevent thinning hair.” Read on to learn more!
Biotin
If you're browsing hair, skin, and nail products, you'll likely realize that many of them share one common ingredient: biotin. That's for a good reason. This incredible vitamin can do wonders for your health—and, in turn, your beauty. This is especially true when it comes to promoting gorgeous, thick, shiny hair.
"Biotin is water soluble vitamin that is part of the B complex family," Leer says. Part of what makes this ingredient so great is the fact that it can help you get the most out of all the other nutrients you're consuming. "It helps convert food into energy, promotes the health of skin, nails, and hair, and assists in the absorption of other vitamins and minerals," she explains.
Biotin can also fight one of the major causes of hair loss: inflammation. Plus, healthy hair comes from a healthy scalp, and this supplement ingredient can help in that area, as well. It's known to boost keratin production, which can speed up hair growth. Perfect!
Of course, supplements are always a great option for fitting this vitamin into your diet, but there are also several Biotin-rich foods that can come in handy. Leer says eggs and sweet potatoes are two tasty examples.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are another extremely beneficial nutrient for hair health. Like biotin, Omega-3 promotes thicker, shinier hair straight from the source: your scalp. Leer says these unsaturated fats "have been found to increase scalp health and promote hair follicle regeneration."
But it doesn't just stop there. Taking an Omega-3 supplement every day can do wonders for your overall health, which means you'll not only have gorgeous hair, but you'll also be leading a healthy life—which is the most important thing. "They play a role in preventing heart disease, reducing inflammation, and promoting cognitive functions." Beauty, brains, and health? Sign us up!
In addition to a daily supplement, omega-3 fatty acids can be found in a range of delicious foods. To fit this nutrient into your daily diet, Leer suggests eating fish, cooking with vegetable oils, and snacking on nuts and seeds.
At the end of the day, the best way to ensure your hair is as healthy as it can be is to speak to an expert that can assess your personal hair care and health needs. However, as a good rule of thumb, providing your body with proper nutrition certain couldn't hurt, and upping your intake of biotin and omega-3 is one great place to start.
