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There are many factors that often put our hair to the test, but let's see how we can strengthen it.
In addition to the normal problems associated with increasingly stressful lifestyles that do not always allow for the right attention to a correct diet (which provides all the essential micronutrients), a series of factors characteristic of summer also occur, such as:
- massive photo-exposure, both out of necessity and voluntary (especially among tanning lovers for whom we reiterate the suggestions reported in the article “Tips for a perfect tan“)
- frequent washing necessary for personal decorum, when temperatures involve significant sweating and especially after intense physical activity;
- with the action of sodium and other ions contained in sea water or the chlorine used in swimming pools.
The summer period, therefore, due to the sum of these extremely insidious stress factors, does not prove to be particularly "favorable" for our hair.
What can be done to best protect your hair?
Even in this case there are different nutraceutical solutions which, by optimizing the processes underlying hair formation, can promote hair health, enabling them to more functionally face the pitfalls of summer.
In this context the cysteine, a non-essential amino acid belonging to the family of sulfur-containing amino acids, turns out to be extremely important.
In fact, it is a central element in the synthesis of keratin, one of the main biological components of skin, nails, and hair. In particular, the union of two cysteine molecules produces cystine, the substance that directly intervenes in the formation of keratin and consequently in the basic structure of hair and fur in general.
Cystine is found in very large quantities in the outer layer of the hair cuticle. In this context, methionine, an essential amino acid, also proves extremely useful as it is the central element of the methyl cycle and is crucial in the physiological production of cysteine.
Phenylalanine, another amino acid, also proves to be very important as it is linked to the production of melanin, which is essential for maintaining skin and hair color. Functional in phenylalanine's action are calcium pantothenate and para-aminobenzoic acid (also known as PABA or vitamin B10). These are generally used for anti-graying purposes and, according to some authors, also prove capable of supporting the hair's natural shine.
Also the supply of keratin, as we have seen, the molecule that hair is made of, when appropriately hydrolysed, appears to be very interesting as a "raw material" to support the formation and hair growth.
In addition to these components that we could define as structural, we also have numerous substances with an accessory function including selenium, an important element in completing the processes involved in the management of the oxidative stress, as a component of selenoproteins, for example glutathione peroxidase, which are our natural means of defense against oxidative stress.
Vitamins useful for strengthening hair
B vitamins such as B1, B6 and vitamin H generally support all energy processes and some processes aimed at fabric production, can therefore prove particularly useful in supporting the physiological renewal and development of the hair bulb, and consequently the renovation of the structure of the hair.
The millet extract completes the picture, historically used for the beauty of skin and hair, in fact this plant is extremely rich in minerals such as magnesium, silicon, phosphorus and zinc, but above all sulfur amino acids (like those we have already analyzed at the beginning of the article) and various vitamin factors important in the processes involved in the metabolism of the skin and hair.
The use of these nutraceutical principles allows the optimization of all the natural processes involved in the hair health, from its formation to its defense through its functional maintenance.
A correct intake is certainly useful and above all functional both for facing the summer period serenely and above all in "remedying" some problems due to an overly "casual" behavior in the face of the dangers of summer.
Seasonal changes weaken hair
Obviously also during the changes of season, where the organism is subjected to a metabolic load Extremely important, the optimization of micronutrients is shown to be a fundamental factor in maintaining hair health.
We can therefore love ourselves 360 degrees by also thinking about the most suitable supplements for our hair, the important thing is to do it in time whenever there is the need.
