Vitamin C for Hair: Benefits, Ingredients, How to Use

Vitamin C is a nutrient used worldwide as an immune boosting supplement to prevent disease. Also referred to as ascorbic acid, which is a form of vitamin C found naturally in food, this ingredient can be found in everything from makeup to toothpaste.

Read: Amaazing! This is How Vitamin C Helps Your Body

In the world of beauty, it is an essential part of any skincare routine because of its ability to help create a more radiant and even skin tone.

As a powerful antioxidant and natural collagen booster, vitamin C is likely to benefit the hair and scalp as well as the face. The scalp is often overlooked, and it may seem natural to want to improve the health of your scalp with the same products that have proven beneficial for your face.

Benefits of Vitamin C for Hair

Vitamin C is an essential supplement for the normal functioning of the human body. 2 In skin care, vitamin C is popular for its ability to brighten the skin and increase collagen production.

As one of the most potent antioxidants in the skin, vitamin C has been shown to protect against photoaging and has anti-aging effects by increasing collagen synthesis.

Usually, vitamin C is applied to the skin in the form of a serum or moisturizer.

When used the same, it has the same level of benefits. "Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant to help neutralize free radical damage which can help maintain a healthy scalp," explains Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS.

Vitamin C neutralizes free oxygen radicals that develop during the day as a result of normal metabolism and UV exposure.

Free oxygen radicals damage cellular structures such as DNA, lipids, and proteins. Vitamin C can also help increase collagen production in the scalp and hair, which Garshick says can help strengthen and promote healthy hair.

Neutralizes free radical damage

Vitamin C works as an antioxidant to help neutralize free radical damage, which, according to Garshick, can help maintain a healthy scalp. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C are beneficial both topically and when taken orally.

Read: The Real Benefits and Importance of Vitamin C for Kids

Strengthens hair

Vitamin C is known as a collagen booster and collagen is a key component of strong hair. "Vitamin C can help increase collagen production which can also help strengthen and promote healthy hair," says Garshick.

Boosts Hair

Shine Vitamin C can also work to brighten and increase hair's overall shine, says Garshick. Vitamin C also contributes to a healthy scalp environment, which can affect the overall appearance of hair.

May prevent hair loss

Vitamin C can interact with DHT, a hormone that contributes to hair loss says Camp. "DHT causes miniaturization and shrinkage of hair follicles.

Vitamin C reduces the formation of DHT. Research has shown vitamin C's ability to suppress DHT, which means it can help prevent hair loss.

May promote healthy hair growth: Garshick asserts that "By increasing collagen, vitamin C can promote the growth of lost hair."

How to Use Vitamin C for Hair

There are many benefits to taking vitamin C orally and using it topically. Vitamin C is an important supplement for health. overall, but unlike most animals, humans cannot synthesize vitamin C due to a missing enzyme.

This means that we must rely on dietary sources of vitamin C, such as citrus fruits or vitamin supplements, to meet our physiological needs for vitamin C.

For users and vitamin C for hair, topical application is most effective to see its benefits for the scalp and hair follicles.

Experts advise using pre-formulated products containing vitamin C specifically for hair and scalp use.

Products intended for use on the face may contain other ingredients that can damage hair or be too heavy in consistency. Camp advices reading the directions on the products you use, and following them up to the letter T.

"Over-application can sometimes cause scalp or hair irritation, and too little product may not produce beneficial results."