If your hair is dull, lifeless, prone to breaking easily or lacking shine, strength or flexibility, it may need some extra nourishment.

How do you nourish your hair? From the inside

When it comes to hair nourishment, many people think of topical applications like hot oil packs and deep conditioning treatments. While these products may help your hair look and feel better temporarily, the truth is, they'll only ever provide a short-term fix. Why? Because true nourishment of your hair needs to happen from the inside, not the outside. That's because the visible parts of your hair are no longer living tissue - all the action is actually going on beneath your scalp. A similar phenomenon occurs in the nails, where the only growing, living tissue is the part that's yet to emerge from beneath the skin. Consequently, the condition of both your hair and your nails is largely based on the nourishment they receive during their growing phases – which occur before they’re visible outside your body.

Nutrients to support healthy hair

The condition of your hair can be indicative of your overall health and wellbeing, and your diet plays a key role here. A number of nutrients are essential to include in your diet if you're keen to promote healthy hair growth and condition. Among the most important to consider are:

• Silica, which provides essential support for the formation, structural integrity and repair of connective tissue – which includes specialised body structures such as your hair, skin and nails
• Other minerals, such as zinc, manganese, copper, selenium and iodine, which are involved in helping to promote healthy hair growth and condition, including helping to maintain the hair’s strength, volume, thickness and shine
• Several of the B-group vitamins (specifically vitamins B2, B5, B6, biotin and the related compound inositol) are particularly important if your hair is thinning, as are the minerals zinc and iodine
• Antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C and betacarotene also play a role in helping to restore hair condition, so are a valuable inclusion in your hair care nourishment routine

Herbs to nourish the hair follicle and scalp

In traditional Chinese medicine, the Liver and Kidney organ-meridian systems are traditionally believed to support healthy scalp and hair follicle function, which in turn promotes healthy hair growth and contributes to the hair's overall look and feel – including factors such as helping to keep it strong, shiny and in good colour. The herb Fallopia (sometimes referred to as Phytofol^®) has traditionally been used to nourish and strengthen the Kidney and Liver Blood, which in turn are traditionally believed to revitalise the scalp, promote healthy hair follicle function; improve the strength, volume, colour and shine of the hair; and help to manage issues such as thinning hair, dryness, dullness, brittleness and split ends. Fallopia may work by helping to promote the growth or anagen phase of the hair life cycle, and revitalising hair follicles that are in a resting or inactive (telogen) phase. Fallopia is often taken in combination with other Chinese herbs that are traditionally used in a similar way, including Peony, Dong Quai and Rehmannia.

Mr Vitamins recommends

Fusion Health, premium quality Australian-made supplements that combine the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine and the science of modern Western herbalism, including:

• Fusion Hair Tonic: Combines Fallopia (Phytofol) with other Chinese herbs traditionally used to promote healthy hair growth and improve hair condition
• Fusion Hair, Skin & Nails: Combines Fallopia (Phytofol) with silica, plus essential nutrients for the nourishment and maintenance of healthy hair, skin and nails

Find out more and shop online for Fusion Health Hair Supplements here Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet. Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare professional. References available upon request.