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What is Vitamin C Hair Care?

March 8th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin, which our bodies are unable to store or manufacture. When there is an excess it is eliminated in the urine making it necessary for us to have a continuous supply either through the foods we eat or with the help of a supplement.

Vitamin C is has many roles in the body including:

1. It is necessary in the formation of collagen, an important protein which essentially holds us together. It is essential in the growth and repair of the body’s connective tissues including bones, ligaments, cartilage and tendons. Collagen is also important keeping the skin strong and smooth (the break down of collagen leads to wrinkles and sagging).

2. Vitamin C is an antioxidant this means it helps protect the body’s cells from free radicals which are by products of the chemical reactions that are continually taking place inside our bodies.

3. Helps in the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums (we’ve all heard of scurvy).

4. Aids in the absorption of iron, which is needed in the production of red blood cells. It is also believed that iron absorption is important to correct hair loss in women who have been diagnosed with a disorder that causes hair loss.

5. Essential in the healing of wounds and burns

6. Assists in the regulating the sebaceous glands which produce the skin oils. These natural lubricants keep the skin moisturized and help prevent hair breakage and dryness.

Vitamin C as part of your daily diet is therefore extremely important for the health of your hair and scalp. Vitamin C can be found in many fresh fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, pineapples, tomatoes and peppers. If you are not getting enough Vitamin C through your diet take a supplement, surprisingly most people do not get the daily recommended levels. Remember that cooking can destroy the vitamins naturally found in foods. Also if you smoke you require 30% more Vitamin C than the average nonsmoker.

Now the big question, can you feed your hair from the outside? The answer is Yes and No. The manufacturers want us to believe that the nutrients they put into their products help keep our hair healthy and lush. Our hair however is dead and can not absorb the nutrients as the body does. For the product to be useful in this sense it would have to be absorbed deep into the scalp where you find the hair follicle and this just doesn’t happen. However they can help hair have the appearance of body and fullness by temporarily swelling the hair shafts.

Therefore nutrition is achieved from the inside out. However, it should be noted that not all hair products are created equal. Different quality and brands of hair products do make your hair feel and act differently so in that sense many of manufacturers claims are indeed truthful. I am sure you all know individuals who swear by certain products, this is because there are vast differences in how products interact with your hair. In many cases it is a trial and error process until you find a product that works for you and your hair.