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Anyone heard of anything that will help your hair grow faster and healthier legitimately? I've heard of woman taking pre-natal vitamins but I'm not sure if it really works.
You may read personal testimonies that claim otherwise, but no vitamin, solution, tablet, capsule, potion, elixir, powder, shampoo, conditioner, herb, ointment, cream, lotion or other dietary supplement, including biotin, has ever been proven through medical research to accelerate hair growth. Topical minoxidil and oral finasteride, however, have been shown to be mildly effective against male pattern baldness.
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I have found that too much vitamin A can actually cause excess shedding hair loss. I was taking 25000 IU per day. When I cut that to under 10000, my hair shed loss was a lot less. I take biotin and MSM. My hair may still grow 1/2" per month but the growth cycle is lengthened, which results in greater hair length. Some people mistake this for faster growth, but what is really happening is that they are now growing much more hair than they are losing to shedding.
If your hair stops getting longer at 18 inches, you have a 3 year growth cycle. (You will be shedding as much as you are growing.) If supplements increase that growth cycle to 6 years, you will be growing more hair than you are shedding, and your hair will max out at 36 inches. Supplements do help for reaching maximum length, I know from experience. I am 56 years old and my hair is well over 3 feet long.
Scott
Hi Scott,
Any mention of vitamins draws them out don't it?
I was taking biotin, but I ran out and neglected to buy more. I have noticed an increase in shedding, so it seems you're right.
But do you think the summer coming on may have caused some of this shedding?
And what is MSM?
Paul
BTW, I'm already planning on buying some more biotin this week.
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Hi Paul, biotin is a good nutrient for increasing the active growing cycle of your hair. With summer coming, it is probably best to get more soon. Many members here shed the most in fall. To achieve maximum length, you need to reduce shedding. I buy the 5 mg caps (5000 mcg). I empty out the contents and divide it into about 5 doses, maybe 6. (This is cheaper than buying lower potency caps.)
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is great for hair and also for healthy joints as well. I buy the powder. I take 1/2 tsp per day. It has a bitter taste, so I take it with a swig of fruit juice.
Excess intake of vitamin A has caused excessive shedding for me. I now try to keep supplementation to <10000 IU per day. (You only need about 5000.)
Scott
Thanks Scott,
That MSM might be just what I need. I'm starting to get a little stiff in the knees at 47. I checked out the link, Thanks man.
Paul
You're not the only one who desires this, but I don't think anything can accelerate hair growth. There's an idea that you'll wait less if you pay less attention, but I'd rather say it's a relative one. A thing that you should definitely not turn to is listen to the hairdressers and trim the split ends "to make it grow faster". It's a stupid myth no one mature and self-controlled enough should be caught in (yes, I base it on my experience).