Top Benefits of Vitamin B12 for Hair Growth and Health

Vitamin B12 can help enhance your hair growth and give you the volume and thickness you’ve always been looking for! Read on to find out more!

Haircare isn’t as complicated as it seems. Of course, you have to look after it both externally and internally, but products can only do so much. Prioritising nutrition from the inside will help you in the long run.

Vitamin B12 is one nutrient that is extremely beneficial to your hair. It supports healthy hair growth by helping in the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells, which feed hair follicles. Applying it topically can make your hair shinier and luscious.

What is Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is a part of the B vitamins and is known to keep your body’s blood and nerve cells healthy. It also helps make DNA and the genetic material in all of your cells.

B vitamins are water-soluble and are therefore almost impossible to overdose on. If any excess is found in the body, it passes out in your urine. Dairy and meat products are rich in vitamin B12, and a common misconception is that vegetarians are deficient in vitamin B12 for the very same reason [1].

Benefits of Vitamin B12 for Hair

Our hair is made up of a protein called keratin and doesn’t require any more nutrients for its growth. However, the follicles present under the scalp require an ample amount of blood supply and nutrients for hair growth.

Vitamin B12 helps produce red blood cells, and consuming food rich in this nutrient can help boost the blood supply to your follicles, affecting your hair growth. A deficiency in this nutrient has shown drastic changes in individuals’ hair health and skin health.

By including B12 in your diet, you can,

Boost hair growth

Thick luscious hair is essentially the ultimate goal. To have thick hair it is important to boost your hair growth. One of the most effective ways of doing so is by increasing blood circulation to the scalp; this way your hair follicles receive all the nutrients required to boost hair growth.

Vitamin B12 can increase blood circulation to your scalp by preventing the oxidation of bad cholesterol. This can help boost your hair growth.

Condition your hair

Often, due to the increased exposure to pollutants in the air, and the harmful sun rays,your hair is left feeling dry, frizzy and overall very dull. You can oil your hair, cover your head when you step out and take various other precautionary measures; however, vitamin B12 might be a more favourable option.

Vitamin B12 is known to moisturize and condition your hair. Doing so can help you get rid of frizz and leave your hair looking smooth and shiny.

Improve scalp health

A dry and itchy scalp is a probable sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 can be used to improve scalp health since its anti-inflammatory property can counter and prevent scalp irritation. Since it is fat-soluble, it can also penetrate deep into the skin and help heal infections.

Maintain natural hair color

Pollution, chemicals, and sun exposure can often damage your hair. This damage might present itself in the form of dullness, and at times premature greying. You can turn towards temporary options like colouring your hair, but essentially what your hair requires is the right nutrition, and vitamin B12 can offer just that.

Vitamin B12 can fight against impurities that cause premature greying and aging of your hair. This way, it can help preserve the natural color of your hair.

Make your hair shinier

Usage of heat on your hair and exposure to UV rays can dull out your hair. Your hair will lose its sheen and look damaged, a look none of us want to carry. By applying Vitamin B12 oil regularly, you can bring back the natural sheen of your hair and prevent further damage since vitamin B12 is known for its UV protectant property.

Balance pH levels and oil production

Excess oil production and an imbalanced pH level can affect your hair growth. The oil can block your follicles and cause issues like dandruff and an itchy scalp. Vitamin B12 moisturizes your hair naturally and can help balance oil production as well as your pH levels.

Consuming B12 when you are deficient will help improve your skin and hair conditions; however, if your body has sufficient amounts of this vitamin, consuming more of it will not make any difference regarding your hair and skin [2].

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a shortage of healthy red blood cells, also known as anaemia. Certain symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are,

Hair loss
Breathlessness

Palpitations
Bleeding gums
Fatigue

Mouth ulcers
Tingling sensation in the hands and feet [1]

How to Treat Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

To treat vitamin B12 deficiency, it is important to ensure you’re getting sufficient amounts of this nutrition through your diet. If however, you still run a shortage, you can consider getting on B12 supplements. Always consult a doctor regarding supplements and their dosages.

Foods Rich in Vitamin B12

Sardines
Beef
Tuna

B12-fortified cereals
Salmon
Yogurt

Cheese
B12-fortified non-dairy milk (like almond or oat milk)
Clams

Milk
Eggs
Liver

Side Effects of Vitamin B12

Since vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, the chances of you overdosing on it are slim to none. Therefore, you experiencing any side effects are also very minimal since any excess will leave your body through your urine.

However, some side effects that you might experience are,

Headaches

Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting

Fatigue
Tingling sensation in your hands and feet
Weakness

High dose supplements of any vitamin, and in this context vitamin B12, should be administered on prescription and cautiously since it could cause side effects. It could affect your kidneys, skin and can be harmful if you are pregnant or lactating.

Vitamin B12 Supplements and Dosages for Hair

Sometimes, although we consume sufficient nutrients through our diet, our bodies do not utilize them. There might be multiple reasons for that, but the most common solution is to get on some bioavailable supplements.

Vitamin B12 supplements are administered when you are deficient. It might also be administered to enhance your hair growth. If you experience hair loss, supplements with 3 mcg or more of vitamin B12 will be administered for desired results.

Hair and Hair Care

Hair is a protein filament that grows from the follicles found in the dermis; but to describe it in layman’s terms would be to say the mop of black, brown, blonde, ginger, and the various other shades you can color it, found atop one’s head.

Different people carry different relations to their hair. They are right to do so since it can depend on their personal experiences and ideologies or factors like sex, religion, age, nationality, etc. Regardless of what relation people have with their hair, taking care of it becomes an essential part of their life, and hair care is often focused on two factors– external and internal.

External Hair Care

A hair care routine is more or less like having a skincare routine. Finding the right products and techniques that will work for your hair, in particular, might take time; however, once you do find a routine that works for you, the chances of you making a change to that is quite slim.

To find a routine that works for you, certain factors that you must keep in mind are,

Your natural hair type and texture
Whether your hair has been chemically processed, bleached, or dyed

Any specific concerns you might have
Your regular hairstyle

Excluding these factors, a basic routine would encompass,

Cleansing
Conditioning
Moisturizing

Detangling
Styling and protecting
Spot-treating

For your hair routine to show results, it is best to stick to one and stay consistent. Noticing results will take some time and will not happen overnight.

Internal Hair Care

When we say internal hair care, we really just mean adding the right nutrient to your plate that can benefit your hair and its growth. Like every other part of your body, your hair thrives based on the intake of nutrients.

A deficiency can lead to various hair problems like hair fall, greying, unhealthy scalp, etc.

To maintain healthy hair and a healthy growth rate, a few nutrients that should be a part of your diet are,

Vitamin A
B Vitamins

Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E

Iron
Zinc
Protein

Having at least small quantities of these nutrients in your diet every day can start to make a drastic change in your overall hair health.

FAQs

Can B12 cause hair loss?

No. Vitamin B12 does not cause hair loss. It is used to fight hair loss and is often administered when one experiences it.

It is important to keep in mind that hair loss is one of the earliest signs of vitamin B12 deficiency; therefore, vitamin B12 does not contribute to hair loss, but is in fact, used to enhance hair growth.

Does vitamin B12 stop grey hair?

Yes, consuming vitamin B12 supplements can stop grey hair. Graying hair can be a sign of poor nutrition. It is crucial to ensure that your body receives all the nutrients in the right quantities to avoid graying hair.

Is vitamin B12 good for hair and skin?

Yes. vitamin B12 is extremely good for hair and skin. It helps enhance hair growth by improving blood flow to the scalp. It can also help clear your skin and give it a more supple and young look.

Does B12 thicken hair?

Vitamin B12 is known to enhance your hair growth by increasing blood flow and oxygen supply to the scalp. With enhanced hair growth comes thickened hair; therefore, vitamin B12 can help thicken hair.

What’s the best vitamin for hair loss?

It is important to consume all nutrients good for hair growth to prevent hair loss and ensure the best hair health

Vitamin A
B Vitamins

Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E

Iron
Zinc
Protein

These are a few nutrients that can help enhance hair growth. However, B vitamin supplements can be consumed to tackle hair fall and other hair problems.

When should I take B12 morning or night?

Vitamin B12 can be taken every day on prescription, and the best time to take it would be in the morning on an empty stomach. Vitamin B12 is an energizing supplement, and taking it at night can affect your sleep.

Wrapping Up

People all around the world do various things to their hair. Some get protective hairstyles, some color it, and others naturally grow it out. Regardless of what people do to their hair, their priority will always be the wellness of their hair; of course, when we speak with regards to hair alone.

This wellness doesn’t just come from using the right products; it also comes from the foods you consume and the nutrients you ingest. One of the most essential nutrients you would want to include in your diet to enhance hair growth is vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 improves blood circulation to your hair follicles and, in turn, affects your hair growth. It doesn’t just stop there; vitamin B12 can be used to improve your overall health as well as your skin health. Vitamin B12 for skin is again something you should consider! Maybe it will make all the difference in your skincare routine!