How to Achieve Gorgeous Looking Hair With Healthy Eating

Your diet can have an impact on your hair's appearance. If you're lacking certain vitamins and minerals, your hair will appear less healthy. Eating plenty of healthy protein and increasing the amount of vitamins and minerals in your diet can make your hair shine. You should also work on limiting things like sugar and junk food, which can harm your hair.

Part 1

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Getting Healthy Protein

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1
Go for a high-protein diet. Increasing the amount of protein in your diet can help your hair grow strong and beautiful. Hair is made of protein, so a high-protein diet is essential for your hair's health.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Opt to include a serving of protein in every meal. Things like poultry, beef, eggs, nuts, and legumes all contain protein.
- Go for protein-based snacks. Have a piece of low-fat cheese in the afternoon. Go for a hard boiled egg or a handful of nuts when you feel hungry.
2
Eat eggs. Eggs contain biotin, which is a water-soluble B vitamin. Too little biotin can cause hair loss, as well as brittle hair. Try eating a couple of eggs every day. Make sure to eat the yolks, as egg yolk is what contains biotin.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Other sources of biotin include liver, soy flour, and yeast.
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Try seafood. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help hair stay hydrated. Oysters contain zinc, which can prevent hair from becoming dry and flaky.^{[3]XResearch source}
- In general, oily fish are better. Go for salmon, herring, sardines, trout, and mackerel.
- In addition to fish, omega-3 fatty acids are found in avocado, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts.
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Eat plenty of vegetarian sources of protein. Non-meat options contain a lot of vitamins and minerals necessary to keep hair strong. Opt for nuts, legumes, and soy products for healthy hair.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Nuts are particularly good for hair. They contain zinc, selenium, and vitamin E, all of which are great for your hair's health. Try snacking on nuts between meals.
- Be careful not to overindulge on nuts, however. They tend to have a lot of calories.

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Eating the Right Nutrients

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1
Get plenty of iron. Iron is vital for healthy hair growth. Brittle hair could be caused by an iron deficiency. If you want healthy hair, make sure to include a lot of iron in your diet.
- Dark green vegetables tend to contain a lot of iron, so add a lot of greens to your diet. Put some spinach on your sandwich at lunch, or order a small side salad. When you go out to eat, see if you can order something like grilled asparagus or Brussels sprouts for an appetizer instead of french fries or potatoes.
- Red meat is another very good source of iron. Look for lean cuts of red meat to avoid unhealthy fats.
- Whole grains also contain a lot of iron, so always opt for whole grains when possible. Go for whole wheat bread and pasta over white varieties. Have a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast in the morning.
- You can also take iron supplements, but you should talk to your doctor first to make sure supplements are safe for you.
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Ask your doctor about vitamin D supplements.^{[5]XExpert SourceMohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified DermatologistExpert Interview. 26 March 2020.} Vitamin D is related to the health of your hair. Unfortunately, few foods contain vitamin D naturally. You can get juice and milk fortified with vitamin D for your hair's health, but you can also ask your doctor about supplements. Your body synthesizes vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, so a vitamin D deficiency may be more common in the winter.^{[6]XResearch source}
- You should always talk to your doctor before taking any new supplements. You never know how supplements will interact with existing medication.
- If you're unable to take supplements, try spending more time in the sun each day; however, be careful to wear sunscreen with UV protection. Too much exposure to UV rays can be dangerous to your health.
3
Increase your vitamin C intake. Vitamin C helps with circulation. This can encourage hair growth. If you want strong, healthy hair, work on increasing the amount of vitamin C in your diet.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Citrus fruits are all rich in vitamin C. Go for oranges, lemons, limes, clementines, and other citrus fruits.
- Many vegetables contain vitamin C. Cucumbers, tomato, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, leafy greens, and red peppers are all sources of vitamin C.
4
Stock up on vitamin A. Vitamin A is also essential to healthy, beautiful hair. There are many foods you can eat that naturally contain vitamin A.
- Fruits and vegetables are the main sources of vitamin A. Green and yellow vegetables tend to contain the most vitamin A, so go for things like green and yellow peppers, bananas, leafy greens, and other green and yellow plants.
- Sweet potatoes, broccoli, and apricots are also great sources of vitamin A.
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Drink plenty of water. Water is essential to strong and healthy hair. In addition to eating healthy foods, up your water intake.
- Drink only water with meals. If you have trouble drinking plain water, try drinking flavored seltzer water or putting fruits, vegetables or herbs (like lemon, cucumber, or mint) in your water to improve its taste.
- Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day. Make a point of periodically taking a sip.
- Take every opportunity you can to drink water. Stop by a water fountain and take a drink every chance you get.

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Limiting Bad Foods

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Limit sugars. Refined sugar is bad for your overall health. Your body uses up vitamin B to metabolize sugar, which is important to your hair health. Make a point of limiting the amount of sugar in your diet.
- Make sure to read food labels. A lot of foods have a surprising amount added sugar. It's not uncommon for a seemingly healthy food, like granola or pasta sauce, to be loaded with sugar.
- If you need to indulge your sweet tooth, do so sparingly. Try going for a fun-sized candy bar instead of a full sized one. Have a diet soda at lunch instead of a regular soda.
- Eat fruit if you're craving something sweet. Fruit has natural sugars, and also contains vitamins and minerals that can help your hair stay strong and beautiful.
2
Stay away from junk food. Junk food is full of empty calories, high in salt, and can contain harmful preservatives. This can have a detrimental effect on the nutrients needed for hair growth.
- Do not buy junk food. If you have things like chips and candy in your house, you'll be tempted to overindulge.
- Bring healthy snacks to work if candy and junk food will be provided. This way, you'll fill up on quality snacks and won't be tempted by junk food.
- If you're having a craving, indulge it reasonably. For example, get a 100 calorie bag of chips so you don't end up overeating.
3
Limit your use of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. All these things can block your body's ability to absorb nutrients. This can have a negative effect on your hair.
- As smoking is bad for your overall health, try to quit if you're a smoker. Talk to your doctor about how to taper off nicotine.
- If you drink, limit the amount of alcohol you consume. Stick to one or two drinks at happy hour with co-workers. Try to avoid keeping alcohol at home, as you may be tempted to drink it.
- Stick to one or two cups of coffee in the morning, and avoid caffeinated beverages throughout the day. Soda, energy drinks, and some teas contain caffeine.

Expert Q&A

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Question
Does vitamin D help hair growth?
Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.
Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Answer
It may! Vitamin D is important for healthy hair. However, not everyone needs a vitamin D supplement. Talk to your doctor to find out if you might benefit from taking vitamin D.
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Question
What is the best vitamin combination for hair growth?
Patricia Somers, RD, PhD
Registered Dietitian
Patricia Somers is a Registered Dietitian and an Associate Professor of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her RD from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 1979 and her PhD in Educational Administration (Higher Education Specialization) from the University of New Orleans. She received an Emerging Scholar Award from the American Association of University Women and the Faculty Excellence Award in Research from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Patricia Somers, RD, PhD
Registered Dietitian
Expert Answer
There are several B vitamins that are needed for hair growth. You could take one B-complex vitamin per day. Many women are iron deficient, and iron deficiency is linked to hair loss. You could take a daily multivitamin.
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Question
My hair is so weak and falls out. What is going on?
Patricia Somers, RD, PhD
Registered Dietitian
Patricia Somers is a Registered Dietitian and an Associate Professor of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her RD from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 1979 and her PhD in Educational Administration (Higher Education Specialization) from the University of New Orleans. She received an Emerging Scholar Award from the American Association of University Women and the Faculty Excellence Award in Research from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Patricia Somers, RD, PhD
Registered Dietitian
Expert Answer
You might be surprised to learn that stress can cause loss of hair. If you get your stress under control, your hair might grow back. You can also try a conditioner that contains panthenol. Panthenol has been shown to increase the diameter of hair fibers, and to increase pliability.
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