Vitamin D & Healthy Natural Hair

Vitamin D, known as the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’, plays a huge role on one’s overall mental and physical health. Vitamin D deficiency not only causes hair loss, but can also cause depression, as well as loss of bone density, therefore affecting aging. 

It is therefore important to always maintain the right Vitamin D levels. However, a large number of black women are not only Vitamin D deficient, but at a large risk of suffering from this deficiency. 

But with the right information, this risk can be minimised and better managed. 

We unpack all things Vitamin D by discussing the following: –

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Vitamin D Deficiency & Dark Skin

People with darker hued skin are more prone to Vitamin deficiency than people with lighter skin.

The reason for this relates to melanin.

Melanin is what gives the skin its colour and people with dark skin have more melanin than people with lighter hued skin. Melanin absorbs the UV radiation from the sun, thus acting as a ‘natural sun protectant’. However, on the other side of this benefit, this reduces the skin’s capacity to produce Vitamin D3, which is derived from the sun’s UVB. 

So, in this regard, for black women pursuing healthy hair, monitoring Vitamin D levels is crucial.

What causes Vitamin D Deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency may occur for a number of reasons: –

• Inadequate exposure to sunlight,
• Not enough vitamin D in one’s diet,
• Inefficient production in the skin and
• Underlying health conditions that impact the production and /or absorption of Vitamin D.

These underlying conditions are type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, auto immune thyroid disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

If you are Vitamin D deficient, you most likely will experience one or more of these common symptoms: –

• Feeling tired and weak
• Depressed
• Hair loss
• Acne breakout
• Getting ill often or re-infected often
• Bone and Back pain
• Wounds taking longer to heal
• Muscle pain

Looking to up your Iron levels? Introduce these Foods Rich in Iron for Hair Growth into your diet for longer, healthier hair. 

How to Improve your Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D deficiency is usually diagnosed via a simple blood test.

It’s crucial to understand that sun exposure is the primary source of Vitamin D (80%), with diet contributing only 20%.

Therefore, managing Vitamin D levels is a continuous process. During winter, when sunlight is scarce, increased effort to obtain sun exposure and regular blood tests to determine the need for supplements is vital for optimal hair health.

Foods rich in Vitamin D

The following foods are rich in Vitamin D: –

🌺 Cod liver oil

🌺 Salmon

🌺 Sardines

🌺 Mackerel

🌺 Tuna

🌺 Shiitake mushrooms

🌺 Egg yolk

🌺 Fortified milk

🌺 Fortified yoghurt

🌺 Fortified orange juice

🌺 Cheese

How much sun do you need daily?

The best time to get your Vitamin D is during midday. This is because the sun is at its highest point at this time. 

Getting your Vitamin D at midday allows you to spend less time in the sun, while still getting your daily Vitamin D dosage. 

How much sun you need depends on your skin tone and the time of year. Darker skin requires more sun than lighter skin. In summer, an average of 20-25 minutes is enough, but you’ll need much longer in winter. 

The Last Word

Sunlight plays a vital role in maintaining not just healthy hair, but also your overall mental and physical well-being.

Therefore, if your hair is experiencing issues despite a consistent hair care routine and balanced diet, consider assessing your iron and Vitamin D levels.

These deficiencies could be the underlying cause of your hair problems.”

Are you keen to repair your hair? Try out our Honey & Coconut Hair Repair Mask.

With the right hair regime, you can turn your damaged hair into thicker, longer natural hair. 

Sound off in the comments below, and let’s hear your experience with maintaining healthy Vitamin D levels.