Hair health & growth

[Fierce Critter]

JI shared in another thread how I'm growing my hair out. It's been recommended several times to use prenatal vitamins.

I went to Wal Mart the other day and decided to get something. In the area of prenatal vitamins, there were a few products specifically for hair, or hair/skin/nails. So I grabbed a bottle of each product, and did some comparison.

The most common, obviously proprietary ingredient in the "hair" and "hair/nails/skin" supplements was biotin, massive doses of it. The one with the highest doseage had 3,000 mcg's.

One had gelatin in it. I know that's good for nails specifically.

Also heavy in those were vitamins like A, E and D. Some varied, but the basics were the same.

By comparison, the prenatal vitamins didn't have biotin. But their amounts of things like A, E, D, Calcium, the B's and the like were the same as or heavier doses than the hair products.

So it was time to do some creative budgeting. The hair-specific products were as much as twice as much as the prenatal vitamins. Evidence started to lead me towards buying the prenatal vitamins as well as a bottle of pure biotin. Budget-wise, the best deal was a bottle of prenatal vitamins and a bottle of 1,500 mcg tablets of biotin.

I took both over to the pharmacy desk and consulted with the pharmacist. I told her first off about my thyroid meds, to check interactions. She only recommended that I not take them at the same time - you're supposed to take thyroid meds on an empty stomache, so I take my thyroid meds in the early morning and figured I'd take the others later in the afternoon.

I also told her about people recommending the prenatal vitamins for hair growth. I told her how I compared the prental vitamins and the hair supplements and about my conclusion that the prenatal vitamins plus biotin would be the magic combination. She agreed, and confirmed that biotin is good for hair/nails/skin growth & health.

So with her blessing, that's what I bought. I started taking them 2 days ago, and will report back if I see any noticeable difference in growth rate.

I'd like to hear back from anyone else who has used something in regard to hair growth/health and how it worked (or didn't) for you. Maybe we can learn from each other's experience.

[Mistress Mercy]

I recently started dying my hair red but my hair was black before and I used colour zap to strip the colour out of my hair well it fried it and a lot of the bottom part of my hair started to break off.So I looked around for stuff to fix it and the best thing I found is Pantene products(they have vitamins in them) it makes your hair stronger and more healthy so it doesn't break. I was told to switch shampoo and conditioner from week to week cause your hair can get used to one certain type of product if you use it to much so I just bought a different. kind of Pantene to switch to.Another thing that helps is remember to let the conditioner sit in your hair for a while so it actually soaks in you cant over condition your hair. I also am taking vitamin e to help this and it seems to work well.

[Homicidalheathen]

Those prenatals made me sick.

I used everything else...nothing works.

Good diet with varied protien and sun and excersize works well for me.

Since I do this everyone has said I glow with health and I used to look like death. Well I did almost die and looked like a zombie for awhile.

My hair is too thick now and it shines if I don't have it chemically treated.

If you must die your hair use Redken Shades EQ deposit only color.

DON'T PERM

I eat allot of soy and veggies. And apples. I really think it helps. Good health shows...eat well and excersize.

The old fashioned way works.

[JaneDead]

Those prenatals made me sick.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

some prenatals made me sick too. but there are many types you can take (not sure about how many over the counter types there are though?)

all i know is when i was pregnant my hair grew like crazy. i don't know if that was all due to the vitamins or what but my finger nails did too. but not my toenails or my leg hair. which was really weird to me as well. just the hair on my head grew a lot. my hair kind of grows fast anyways but this was like super speed growth.

good luck with the hair critter. maybe i should start taking some again too. i am getting SO impatient with my hair right now- trying to grow it but sooooo tempted to just chop it. hate my "in between length" right now.

[Kit Kat P]

don't forget about the 1/4 inch trim every 6-8 weeks

[Fierce Critter]

Which I'm overdue for.

Depending on how finances are, I might treat myself to one in the next week or so.

[Kit Kat P]

ohh I heard recently that switching to cold water while washing your hair out helps it grow stronger

[Kit Kat P]

Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.