These supplements are transforming women's hair from frizzy to sleek with impressive before-and-after pictures
Long, healthy, lustrous hair to rival Kate Middleton's is something plenty of women lust after. But if your penchant for heated styling tools and disregard for a trusty heat protectant spray has left your hair with split ends, a hair supplement could be the solution for healthier locks.
One particular supplement has been impressing women, leaving their hair healthier and glossier than ever.
Women have been taking to social media to showcase the results of the Antidote Australia's 'Hair Enhancer' supplements - and the before-and-after photos speak for themselves.
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The supplements, which you pop twice a day, are apparently designed with dry, brittle, damaged and thinning hair in mind. The makers also say their tablets are aimed at anyone suffering with excessive hair loss and lacklustre ends.
The brand is the brainchild of Sydney-based sisters-in-law, Ruth and Stephanie Robalino, and has even been dubbed 'life-changing' by clients.
So what makes them so potent? "Shark cartilage," the sisters told FEMAIL.
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"Shark cartilage is a source of minerals and proteins that are essential for hair growth. It comes from the skeletal composition of a shark and is collected ethically from sustainably fished sharks that are caught for consumption.
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"In the US, shark cartilage is often called marine complex. But the rules in Australia are a lot stricter and so it has to be labelled whatever that ingredient actually is.
"The science behind it is that sharks have rapid cell production, which helps to boost the production of cells and blood supply around the follicles of the hair."
Interesting stuff.
Scroll down to read all about hair loss and what steps you can take to prevent it.
Getty ImagesHair Loss Causes
“Hair loss is a huge subject as there are innumerable causes from stress and short-term illnesses (such as the flu) to genetics, long-term illnesses (such as a thyroid disorder), hormonal imbalances (particularly post-pregnancy), auto-immune disorders, mechanical trauma and of course general aging too,” says Hairmedic director and consultant trichologist Iain Sallis.
“Diet is another very common cause,” adds Director of Communications at Philip Kingsley, Anabel Kingsley. “This is because hair is, physiologically, a non-essential tissue. As such, it's the last part to receive the nutrients we ingest and the first to suffer when our diet is lacking.”
Getty ImagesCan a supplement really boost hair growth?
“‘Boost’ is the wrong word but the body does have an optimum level which it can produce hair cells at and this can be inhibited by things such as low iron and protein which are the main nutritional issues people suffer from,” says Sallis. “We can supplement against these types of issues, but first you need to know what you are lacking because taking a hair supplement just for the sake of it will do very little for hair growth if you are not lacking in the vitamin/mineral/supplement you are taking.”
Kingsley agrees; “A supplement can most definitely boost hair growth if you are losing your hair due to a nutritional factor and supplements containing protein and biotin can also bolster the strength of newly growing strands. However, if your hair loss is completely unrelated to diet, supplements are not going to fix it.”
What ingredients should you look for in a hair supplement?
“I recommend everyone takes a daily protein supplement,” says Kingsley. “This is because your hair is made of protein and hardly anyone eats enough protein – at least from a hair-health standpoint. In terms of other ingredients, it depends on your individual requirements. You definitely don’t want to be popping loads of supplements if you don’t need them. I suggest having a yearly blood test and basing your supplement intake on the results.”
Getty ImagesCan you get the same effect from changing your diet?
“The supplement which I formulated (Hairjelly, £29.95) is designed to give people an extra dose of the sulphur-rich amino acids that may be lacking in your diet if you don’t eat much meat, eggs or oily fish. I actively encourage people to use the natural alternatives (food) first but in some cases they can’t - such as if they're vegetarian/vegan or their lifestyle is too busy to incorporate these food groups into the diet daily, in which case it’s an ideal cheat,” says Sallis.
“The most important thing to understand when it comes to diet and dietary supplements is that your hair’s nutritional requirements are unique and incredibly high,” says Kingsley. “Because hair cells are the second fastest growing cells the body produces, it means strands need a consistent supply of energy in order to grow which means it can be difficult to give it all the nutrients it needs through diet alone. Supplements can therefore be incredibly handy as they provide an extra boost of readily available vitamins and minerals but it should always be a combination of the two.”
Getty ImagesOther ways to boost hair growth?
“I would take a five-pronged attack,” says Kingsley:
1. “Try to manage your stress levels as stress can affect the hair growth cycle. Yoga, meditation and Pilates are all good options.”
2. “If your hair is breaking at the ends, it won’t be able to grow past a certain length so use a weekly pre-shampoo conditioning treatment to strengthen strands."
3. “Scalp health is key to healthy hair growth. Try to shampoo regularly (daily to every other day) to keep your scalp clean and flake-free as a flaky scalp can cause hair loss. Once weekly use an exfoliating scalp mask to gently lift away dead skin cells as like the skin on your face, your scalp benefits from gentle weekly exfoliation.”
4. “Never skip breakfast - it’s the most important meal of the day for your hair as it’s when energy to form hair cells is at its lowest. A ‘hair-healthy’ breakfast will include a portion of protein and a complex carbohydrate. For instance, eggs and whole wheat toast, smoked salmon on a bagel, or quinoa porridge with nuts and berries.”
5. “Snack between meals. Energy to form hair cells drops four hours after eating. To keep energy levels sustained, snack on a nutrient-dense food to keep your follicles happy between meals.”
The best supplements for your strands:
PK4 Soya Protein Boost, £30, Philip Kingsley
This 12-week intensive course has been expertly designed to provide the body with amino acids for an impressive protein punch.
Viviscal
Viviscal's vitamins hone in on providing hair with everything it needs to thrive.
A favourite of hairstylists thanks to it’s unique marine protein complex which has been shown to increase hair thickness by 7.4%
Women's Beauty Gummies, £12.99, Gumi
These moreish hair treats contain a blend of vitamins (vitamin C, D3, B6 and B12) as well as selenium, zinc and biotin.
