When you’re struggling with thinning hair and hair loss as a woman, the temptation to throw the kitchen sink at it is fierce. Losing hair can feel like losing control — even more so if you aren’t aware of the root cause of your hair loss. For many women, hormonal changes that we go through during postpartum, pre-menopause, and menopause that disrupt the balance of estrogen and progesterone in our bodies can lead to hair loss. Other women may experience androgenic alopecia as a result of genetic hair loss, and this often occurs along the crown and side of the hair.
Medical conditions, including thyroid and autoimmune disorders, can cause hair loss, certain medications can contribute to it, and stress and over-styling with heat and chemicals certainly won’t help. But there’s one area that can always remain in your control, even when genetics and the hormonal ups and downs of life can’t: your diet.
Fueling your day with the right vitamins and minerals supports healthy hair and new hair growth. But which of those nutrients should you focus on when it comes to hair loss and thinning? It turns out that kitchen-sink approach isn’t far off. Instead of zeroing in on one specific vitamin that will act as a does-it-all miracle solution for hair loss, Board-Certified Dermatologist and Hair Loss Specialist Dr. Candace Spann recommends an approach that combines several nutrients. These are the supplements to focus on, including one specific brand that Spann recommends.
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1. Combine Nutrients
Some nutrients are given superstar status when it comes to hair thinning and hair loss, but they don’t quite deserve ALL the accolades they get. For example, you’ll often hear biotin singled out as an essential nutrient (or the most essential, depending on what you’ve read) when it comes to hair loss. Biotin is vitamin B7, and it helps convert food in your body into nutrients. It is important for a variety of reasons, including supporting the metabolism and strengthening your hair to help reduce hair loss.
But biotin alone isn’t going to cut it. Instead of cherry picking individual nutrients, Spann recommends a spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals that will help your hair. “There are several supplements you can add to your daily routine to help to create thicker, fuller hair,” Spann says. “Biotin, zinc, vitamin D, and iron are just a few of the supplements that are helpful.”
Before you begin a new supplement routine, it’s recommended that you speak with a dermatologist or hair loss expert to try and understand the root cause of your hair loss and to identify any nutritional deficiencies in your diet. If you aren’t sure about taking a variety of different supplements each morning, choosing one hair supplement that is rich in the essential nutrients you need is a great idea — and Spann recommends one such product.
2. ReTress
Instead of having to mix and match supplements on your own, ReTress, which is a product created by Spann, is a multivitamin supplement that puts hair thinning and hair loss front and center so that you can take one pill that will give you the nutrients you need. “The ReTress Supplement is an easy daily supplement that contains purely sourced biotin, vitamin A, and zinc to encourage hair growth,” Spann says.
ReTress offers a number of products, including a shampoo that helps promote blood flow to the scalp for hair growth, a serum and conditioner, and even a brush and pillowcase. But their once-a-day supplement is designed for damaged and thinning hair and works for men and women. According to the brand, this is what its key ingredients can do:
*Vitamin A (Beta Carotene): Counteracts vitamin A deficiency common in hair loss
*Biotin: Provides structural support to the hair shaft and follicle
*Zinc (Gluconate): Contains antiaging properties for the hair and anti-inflammation benefits for the scalp
Take one tablet daily with water (each bottle contains 30 tablets).
Here’s what one reviewer on Derm Warehouse has to say about the supplement: “I have been using ReTress for about a year now and definitely notice a difference in my hair. It has more body and there is hardly any on the shower floor since I began using the product. My hairdresser notices a difference as well.”
You can purchase ReTress here for $23.80.
