Vitamin C

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble antioxidant and one of the most versatile micronutrients in human health. For hair specifically, it plays three distinct and important roles.

First, Vitamin C is an essential co-factor for collagen synthesis. Collagen is the structural protein that forms the dermis of the scalp — the layer of skin in which hair follicles are embedded. Without adequate collagen, the scalp loses structural integrity, which can compromise follicle anchoring and disrupt the hair growth cycle.

The link between Vitamin C and collagen production is mediated by its role as a co-factor for the enzymes prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase, which are required to form stable collagen crosslinks.

Second, Vitamin C dramatically enhances the absorption of non-heme (plant-based) iron. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional causes of hair loss — particularly in women. Vitamin C converts iron from ferric (Fe³⁺) to ferrous (Fe²⁺) form in the intestine, making it up to three times more absorbable.

Third, as a powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C protects hair follicles and scalp cells from oxidative stress. Free radicals — generated by UV exposure, pollution, inflammation, and metabolic processes — damage follicle cells and are associated with premature hair aging, greying, and loss.