Exploring the benefits of Vitamin E for hair

Free radicals are molecules that contribute to cellular damage and accelerate skin and scalp ageing. Exposure to free radicals can also contribute to concerns like dry or frizzy hair, and hair breakage.
So, anything you can do to help minimise damaged hair and help to maintain a healthy-looking mane has to be worth a look, right?
Hot on the heels of its success as a skincare ingredient, Vitamin E is fast becoming a popular addition to haircare routines, and an increasingly common ingredient in shampoos and conditioners.
Most claims for the role of vitamin E in haircare centre around its antioxidant properties helping to reduce scalp cell damage..

What is Vitamin E?

 

Also known as tocopherol, vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, and a powerful natural antioxidant. It's justifiably considered a hero product in skin care and now increasingly in hair care too.
Vitamin E is present naturally in several foods, including dark leafy greens, nuts and seeds, vegetable oils, and fortified breakfast cereals. Oral vitamin E supplements are also widely available.

Benefits of vitamin E for hair?

In addition to food sources, dietary supplements, shampoos and conditioners, vitamin E oils can be applied directly to the hair and scalp.

Scalp circulation

Use of vitamin E oil has been shown to stimulate capillaries and increase blood flow in other organs. Further research is needed to determine whether vitamin E improves blood supply to the scalp specifically and if so, what that means for hair growth. However, increasing blood flow to the scalp is thought to improve the condition of both scalp and hair, and encourage hair growth.

Scalp condition

Lacklustre hair quality is linked to poor scalp condition. Thought to be an essential nutrient for a healthy scalp, vitamin E is valued because of its natural antioxidant properties, helping reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals and preserving the protective lipid layer.
Prevention of hair fall


Oxidative stress is also believed to contribute to hair follicle degeneration and increased hair fall. Some limited evidence suggests the antioxidant effects of vitamin E may help combat oxidative stress to the hair follicle cells, prevent follicular damage However, more research is necessary to confirm this.

Increased shine

Your hair can suffer as a consequence of chemicals, heat, and other styling products, making it look dull and frizzy. When the protective lipid layer on the outside of the hair’s cuticle is removed, it loses its lustre and can become difficult to manage or style. There's limited evidence around the effectiveness of vitamin E in bringing back the shine, but some experts think that in adding moisture to a dry scalp and hair, the use of vitamin E oil can help replace that protective layer and boost shine.

Balance oil production

Vitamin E is known to be important for maintaining the skin's natural moisture barrier, helping to lock moisture in, and this is just as relevant for the scalp. Improvement in hydration can also deeply condition hair for a visibly smoother-looking effect.
Dry, i skin can be a sign of vitamin E deficiency. It’s unclear whether topical vitamin E can regulate scalp oil production, but hair oils that contain vitamin E may help moisturise the scalp and limit oil production.

Incorporating Vitamin E Shampoo into your Haircare Routine

It's simple to incorporate vitamin E into your haircare routine using a shampoo containing it as an ingredient. These shampoos are used in the same way as regular hair products.
From the DERCOS Anti-Dandruff shampoo range, both the DS Shampoo for Normal to Oily Hair and DS Shampoo for Dry Hair each feature vitamin E for its antioxidant properties, and ceramide R to reinforce the skin moisture barrier.
Other key ingredients include a pair of dermatologically active ingredients in selenium disulphide (DS) and salicylic acid. Selenium disulphide works to rebalance the scalp microbiome, whilst salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant that loosens and removes visible flakes from the scalp.