Your health and appearance are directly influenced by several factors, including the cosmetic products you use and the foods you consume. Taking care of your hair is important if you have any concerns.
Many nutrients, including vitamins, are required to maintain healthy hair, among which Niacin plays a crucial role in maintaining hair health. You can apply it topically to enhance the appearance and feel of your hair.
Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, is associated with many health and beauty benefits. It supports good health, which ultimately leads to healthier hair. It can improve overall health, thus maintaining healthy hair and a problem-free scalp.
Let's dig deeper into the role of Niacin in enhancing your hair and scalp health.
What is niacin?
Niacin, or Vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which cannot be produced by the body, you need to source it from outside. Food such as meat, tuna fish, mushrooms, and seeds are rich sources of Niacin. It is part of the complex B Vitamins, including Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin).
Niacin is available in three forms:
- Niacinamide or Nicotinamide
- Nicotinic Acid
- Inositol-hexaniacinate
This vitamin is vital and beneficial in many ways, including maintaining heart health, improving metabolism, enhancing cognitive function, and controlling blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates are also converted to energy with the help of niacin.
It improves scalp health and promotes hair growth by improving blood circulation and fortifying the hair follicles with essential nutrients, adding strength and a healthy sheen to your strands.
Benefits of niacin for hair
Niacin is beneficial for keeping your scalp hydrated and conditions your hair adding strength and sheen to it. Let's have a look at the haircare benefits of Niacin or niacinamide.
1. Improves blood circulation
Niacin improves blood circulation, facilitating the delivery of oxygen and other vital nutrients to the hair follicles, thus fortifying the scalp with essential nutrients. Niacin also plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and cellular metabolism.
2. Encourages hair growth
The deficiency of Niacin in the body can lead to hair loss. However, this can negatively impact the quality of your hair. Niacin can promote hair growth and improves the texture of your hair.
You can also check out the ThriveCo Hair Serum for Hair Growth. It is India's first clinically proven hair growth serum. It improves hair growth, hair density, hair thickness, and hair strength within 60 days of usage.
Buy ThriveCo Hair Growth Serum 2.0
3. Soothing effect on inflammed scalp
Nicotinamide exhibits anti-inflammatory as well as hydrating properties. It has a calming effect on your scalp, thereby reducing inflammation.
4. Maintains healthy scalp
Niacin maintains scalp health by hydrating your scalp, relieving dry scalp conditions, and fortifying the scalp with vital nutrients. It forms a protective layer over your scalp to support the moisture balance.
5. Improves hair thickness
Niacin adds volume and bounce to your hair by hydrating the strands and increasing the diameter of your hair.
6. Increases protein synthesis
Niacin is known to improve protein or keratin synthesis, which is vital for maintaining healthy and vibrant hair. Keratin makes up your hair, and the lack of it can deteriorate your hair health. Niacin provides adequate protein to your strands, promoting the growth of long, luscious hair.
7. Prevents dry scalp conditions
Niacin keeps your scalp hydrated, maintaining the moisture balance of your scalp, thus preventing dry scalp conditions such as dandruff.
8. Protects your hair
It forms a protective coating over the surface of your hair, protecting it from heat and extreme climatic conditions. It increases cell turnover, thus protecting your hair from further damage.
How to use niacin for hair
Niacin vitamin is beneficial for maintaining a healthy scalp and improving the texture and appearance of your hair. You can reap the benefits of Niacin in haircare in numerous ways. You can consume food rich in Niacin such as egg, fish, milk, meat, and green leafy vegetables.
Due to the immense haircare benefits of the Niacin vitamin, numerous haircare brands are incorporating Niacin in their products, such as shampoos, conditioners, hair serums, and hair masks. Niacin-incorporated haircare products are beneficial in maintaining a hydrated and well-nourished scalp, conditioning your hair, and making it soft, smooth, and frizz-free. It is advisable to perform a patch test if you use niacin hair products for the first time.
You can also consume niacin tablets or supplements for enhanced haircare benefits. But it would help if you take niacin tablets only after consulting with a doctor, as your body cannot store Niacin. Overdose of Niacin can lead to various skin conditions such as burning or tingling sensation.
How to choose niacin for hair?
Niacin vitamin is available as niacin tablets/ supplements and haircare products. Check the label of your haircare product and look for terms such as Niacin, Niacinamide, Nicotinamide, Nicotinic acid, and Inositol-hexaniacinate. If you see any of these terms on your hair care products, you can be sure that your haircare product has Niacin.
Other ingredients it is compatible with
Niacin works well with other hydrating ingredients of your haircare products.
Side effects of niacin
In most cases, Niacin can be applied topically without causing any adverse reactions. When taken orally, you should take it in a prescribed amount as overdose can lead to flushing. Flushing is a common side effect of Niacin. Flushing can occur in the form of redness or warmth on the skin. Sometimes, you may experience a tingling and itching sensation. Flushing can happen instantly but usually lasts for around one or two hours.
Niacin can trigger an allergic reaction in people with sensitive skin as Niacin releases histamine, which is responsible for causing an allergic reaction. If you have a medical condition or are under medication for kidney, heart, liver, or diabetes, you should never take niacin tablets without consulting doctors.
Niacin is one of the many vitamins required for maintaining healthy hair, scalp, and overall well-being. A lack of Niacin can make your hair look dull, dry, brittle, and frizzy. Ensure an adequate supply of Niacin to your body to improve the texture of your hair. The topical application gives better and instant results as compared to oral supplements.
Also Read :
All the content published on www.Curlvana.in is solely for information purposes. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consider seeking the advice of your physician or a qualified health care provider. The information, suggestion, or remedies mentioned on this site are provided without warranty of any kind, whether express or implied.
