By now you’re aware that hair, skin, and nails vitamins are tractor beaming through the naturalista landscape. The trend is picking up steam because these miracle pills promise to make you an overnight number one stunner. Your natural hair will experience a growth explosion, resulting in long, flowing, and glowing curls. Your skin will radiate the inner beauty held so deeply at the root of your soul and overwhelm every person that’s blessed enough to lay eyes upon you. Your nails will garner fear in Wolverine’s heart.
Yeah… That’s what we’re being promised.
At the end of the day, you know better. We all do. So why don’t we examine why these vitamins are necessary for some naturalistas and work on managing some expectations… cool?
Great. Let’s do this!
FACT 1: Vitamin deficiency is so not cool.
To be frank, I don’t eat right.
I’m one of those weirdos that eats dollar store pickled hot links and potted mystery meats… by choice. My junk food selections tend to leave me feeling lethargic, irritable, and downright unhealthy because my body is legit starved of nutrition.
So clearly, your girl has nutritional deficits.
I didn’t really notice it until I began ingesting the Hairfinity Healthy Hair Complex vitamin about a month ago. I took the recommended dosage of 2 pills in the late afternoon instead of walking to the local bakery for a handful of macaroons and bubble tea… judge less, read more.
And then, once the capsules dissolved and released Vitamins A and C and D and the other things my body was deprived of, it hit me: I was hungry for REAL FOOD. I didn’t want vanilla cream-filled moonpies and mint chocolate chip ice cream. I wanted a massive burger patty, oozing with cheddar and smoked gouda… topped with goat cheese stuffed cherry tomatoes and all the love a chef could infuse into a burger… I was so hungry that I left work a little early to fill my stomach with actual adult food. And when I got that burger down my throat, I was convinced that Hairfinity was my favorite thing since sliced bread.
I still take these pills every day. They help me remember to eat because I absolutely must take 2 of them with a meal. I’m a fan. I love them. Hairfinity, you complete me… literally.
But if unlike me, you eat adult food like fruits and vegetables then chances are you do not have a vitamin deficiency, so you may not experience the same hunger-inducing effects that I did. You may in fact experience no real results. Or you may break out. Or you may be convinced that your hair is the strongest it’s ever been. Every body (literally”> reacts differently depending on your environment, your genetics, your diet, and more variables than we can probably name. That’s why it’s so important to consult with your physician prior to chomping on gummy vitamins or popping candy-coated supplements willy nilly.
FACT 2: The placebo effect is real.
Even though I’ve told you how awesome Hairfinity vitamins are, I know you’re still thinking ‘Yeah, but maybe it’s all in your head. I mean, it seems like you were literally starving yourself. What does the vitamin have to do with you being reckless with your health? ‘
Hey hey hey, lady! Calm down… I know that I eat terribly, okay? I also know that what you’re suggesting is that I’m a victim of the placebo effect so let’s dig a bit deeper on the subject.
According to Gizmodo reporter George Dvorsky, “The placebo effect is a neat trick in which our conscious expectations of what a pill or therapy is supposed to accomplish actually elicits physical effects, which are usually quite subtle and transient.”
Dvorsky also reported that, “the placebo effect can still happen even when we’re aware of the intended deception.”
Pretty tricky stuff, right?
So when you’ve been dutifully taking your vitamins twice a day for 3 months and have nothing to show for it but a new break out on your forehead, and your best friend tells you she tried a hair growth vitamin for a week and her hair grew 1 inch in a week, keep Dvorsky’s words in mind.
FACT 3: Girl, your curls won’t grow faster if you take these vitamins.
But your curls can become healthier and stronger!
For real.
We asked a doctor, a dietician, and a certified trichologist about it. Read how we got the scoop on hair growth and loss from the real MVPs.
FACT 4: Not all hair skin and nail vitamins are created equal.
Different vitamins offer different combinations of ingredients, dosage requirements, and benefits. At the end of the day, taking these nutrition supplements means that your body is absorbing vitamins and minerals. Depending on whether they’re fat or water soluble, your body may or may not have the ability to get rid of the excess when you take more than your recommended daily intake.
Here’s a list of vitamin brands on the market. Get to know what is in each (and how much of each ingredient”> before adding a supplement to your regimen. Yes it requires a bit of study, but we’re talking about your health here!
- CURLS Blissful Lengths Liquid Hair Growth – Yes, I have tried this liquid vitamin. This video is proof >watch me.
- The Mane Choice Manetabolism Plus – From what I’ve read, these pills help boost your immune system while helping your curls grow strong. That’s sweet deal, if you ask me.
- Mielle Organics Healthy Hair Formula – This is a vitamin I can get behind. Not only is it formulated to help your hair get stronger, it’s a part of a family of vitamins… so if you’re a mom looking to help your baby’s hair grow strong, you can feed her the children’s formula.
- Nature’s Bounty Hair Skin and Nails – This is the very first hair skin and nails vitamin I’ve ever taken and I highly recommend its use, especially if you want long and strong nails. Seriously. I was accidentally clawing myself for months.
Vitamin supplements can help enhance what your mama gave you.
There’s nothing wrong with eating these hair skin and nails vitamins (unless you haven’t consulted your physician first… then, you’re doing it wrong“>.
Oh, BTW: This post isn’t sponsored. I just willingly ate vitamins to see if they work so that you didn’t have to :”>
And I’m so glad that I did… because they’ve given me the impetus to pay attention to my overall health and natural hair maintenance. As NaturallyCurly editor Amanda Starghill says, “The best way to healthy hair is to care for your body.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Want to track my hair growth and vitamin popping progress? Sweeeeeet! Follow me on Instagram @rockandcurl to see me eat vitamins and relentlessly exalt the power of food.
