The Lowdown on Nutritional Supplements

It would be too good to be true if taking a little pill every day would solve our hair issues. Or would it? Drugstores and health-food stores abound in products promising shinier, fuller and even longer hair, as well as treating hair loss. But do these items really deliver? The scientific community is clearly divided on the issue.
Let’s take one brand as an example: Inneov, a French brand of nutritional supplements which is the fruit of a partnership between L’Oréal and Nestlé (beauty and “nutrition”!). Inneov claims that its hair supplements work to reverse hair loss and if taken for a minimum of 3 to 6 months it will even make hair fuller and thicker. The brand goes on to state that its supplements enter the bloodstream to actually attain the follicles from where each hair begins its journey. In the follicle, the supplement is said to activate micro-circulation and boost the creation of keratin, which is a key ingredient in our hair composition. Inneov claims that after just 3 months hair loss decreases, and the hair gains in volume. So what’s in this magic formula? Like most hair supplements, Inneov contains a cocktail of Vitamin B (for scalp health) and zinc (stimulates hair growth through its bolstering of the immune system), which helps fortify hair. Some supplements also feature Biotin, an ingredient which is said to combat hair loss.
So it appears that these supplements do contain essential vitamins and minerals that will do our hair good. But so does a balanced diet, so why not try that first?
If you just want to give your hair a little bounce you might give these products a try, but if your hair issues are more serious, you are better off making an appointment with a trichologist, or “hair doctor”.