Fat-soluble vitamin E is a compound with clearly defined antioxidant properties. Its other name sounds like tocopherol. An insufficient amount of this vitamin leads to deficiency or hypovitaminosis, which is accompanied by a deterioration in the functioning of various organs, the condition of the skin and hair. At the same time, tocopherol has a pronounced ability to slow down the aging process. In our article, we will tell you about the benefits that vitamin E can bring to the body. We will consider the use for hair as part of homemade masks and shampoos in more detail.
Vitamin E Benefits
Tocopherol has long been used as a cosmetic in masks and other hair and scalp care products. He is able to make curls smooth, silky and lush, shiny and without split ends. The main effect of vitamin E in hair application is that it improves blood circulation in the scalp, thereby stimulating recovery processes in the cells.
Tocopherol is an antioxidant that inhibits the aging process, supports the immune forces, and promotes the complete absorption of other vitamins. Its benefits for scalp and hair are as follows:
- protection of curls from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation;
- increased transport of oxygen and other nutrients to skin cells;
- restoration of a damaged hair bulb;
- relieving itching and irritation on the skin;
- preventing hair loss and stimulating their growth;
- slowing down the aging process and the appearance of gray hair.
Vitamin E allows you to completely change the appearance of curls, without resorting to the help of expensive stylists and hairdressers.
Indications for use
The daily norm of tocopherol for an adult is 15 mg. Most of the vitamin E dietary supplement can be obtained from food. Lack of it in the body directly affects the condition of the skin, nails and curls.
Determine the deficiency of tocopherol and the need for additional use of vitamin E for hair by the following signs:
- once healthy and shiny curls became dry, brittle and lifeless;
- the appearance of itching and irritation on the scalp;
- excessive hair loss and termination of their growth;
- split ends;
- the appearance of dandruff.
The factors listed above indicate the need for additional use of tocopherol in the composition of products or special preparations.
Vitamin E Products
If there is a lack of tocopherol in the body, doctors primarily recommend reviewing their daily diet. To do this, you need to include in it foods rich in vitamin E. These include:
- nuts
- pumpkin seeds;
- vegetable oils;
- broccoli and brussels sprouts;
- liver;
- egg yolk;
- legumes;
- green salad and other various greens;
- apples
- Tomatoes
- sea buckthorn.
If it is not possible to get tocopherol from food, you can start taking it through special preparations in which it is contained in a concentrated form. There are various ways to get vitamin E. Hair use involves using one of the forms below.
Vitamin E Medications
Tocopherol can be recommended for both external and internal use. It is worth noting that today on the domestic market there are two types of preparations containing vitamin E: a synthetic analogue and a biologically active additive (BAA). The first option is a drug obtained artificially in a laboratory, but having the same molecular structure as natural tocopherol. The second option is biologically active additives containing natural vitamin E, obtained from extracts and extracts of plants or animal raw materials.
All drugs are available in various dosage forms, in the form of tablets, dragees, capsules, powders for the preparation of a suspension, etc. All of them have a number of advantages and disadvantages. The most convenient forms of vitamin E for use in hair growth are capsules and an oil solution. Let us dwell on them in more detail.
Capsules are one of the most convenient forms of use, since they contain both vitamin E and the oil necessary for its complete absorption. But this is a necessary condition for the correct intake of tocopherol. And most importantly, for its assimilation by the body.
Vitamin E in oil form is a solution of tocopherol of various concentrations - from 50 to 98%. It is this drug that is used for injection of the vitamin intravenously or intramuscularly and for external use. It is used in pure form or as part of various cosmetic preparations.
Instructions for use of vitamin E for hair
There are several ways to use tocopherol to improve the condition of damaged and lifeless curls:
- Pure oily solution is applied to the hair, and after a while it is washed off with a traditional tool.
- Tocopherol in concentrated form is added to any cosmetics, for example, in shampoo or hair conditioner, shower gel or face wash. The amount of liquid vitamin E is calculated as follows: 5 drops of a solution of tocopherol per 100 ml of cosmetic product. That is, in a 500 ml shampoo bottle, you will need to add 25 drops of pure vitamin.
- Tocopherol in liquid solution is used in the preparation of home masks and other hair care products.
The use of vitamin E in capsules for hair is recommended only for oral administration. For the preparation of cosmetics, it is preferable to use a liquid form. Otherwise, the capsule will have to be opened and its contents poured out.
Vitamin E Shampoos
Adding tocopherol to cosmetics improves the condition of curls, strengthens them, normalizes the sebaceous glands, and saturates skin cells with oxygen. The use of vitamin E for hair at home as part of shampoos is as follows:
- The contents of one capsule dissolves in a single volume of a head wash. You should use your usual hair shampoo, but not 2 in 1 products that cannot provide this effect from the procedure.
- The following homemade shampoo will save you from numerous ailments. For its preparation, the contents of three capsules of tocopherol are added to a 250 ml bottle, as well as a teaspoon of grape seed and jojoba oils and an ampoule of other B vitamins (B5, B6, B9, B12), PP and C. Before applying the shampoo hair, the bottle should be shaken thoroughly.
Effective Masks
It is also possible to use liquid vitamin E for hair as part of masks:
- Combine burdock, olive, linseed, sunflower or any vegetable oil (2 tbsp. Tablespoons) and a teaspoon of tocopherol in one container. The resulting mask should be applied to the hair, paying particular attention to the cut ends. The product on the hair must be left for 45 minutes. After that, the mask can be washed off under running water.
- The recipe for the second mask is to mix burdock or other vegetable oil with a teaspoon of vitamin E and the same amount of dimexide. This tool is widely used in dermatology due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. The hair mask prepared according to this recipe promotes the intensive growth of curls. It is applied to the strands and scalp and left for 50 minutes.
- As a result of unsuccessful dyeing or curling, the hair often has a lifeless appearance. A mask based on honey (5 tablespoons), burdock oil (2 tablespoons) and vitamin E (1 teaspoon) will help correct the situation. It should be applied for 45 minutes before each shampoo.
Reviews on the use of vitamin E for hair
The opinion of women who have already experienced the effects of tocopherol on their curls are extremely positive. But it is worth noting that we are talking about an oil solution that is intended for external use and is used in the preparation of homemade hair masks and shampoos.
According to women, the uniqueness of this vitamin lies in the fact that dull and lifeless strands turn into chic, shiny and silky curls. Moreover, this transformation occurs within a short period of time. Likewise, tocopherol affects nails, making them strong and healthy, and the skin, pulling it in a natural way and smoothing out small wrinkles.
Representatives of the fair half of humanity speak about the use of vitamin E in hair shampoo from a positive side. They consider tocopherol an affordable tool to maintain the natural beauty of hair, face and nail.
Precautions
If you do not see any signs of vitamin E deficiency, then you should not use it. An excess of tocopherol leads to the same negative consequences as its deficiency, in particular to a disruption in the normal functioning of organs and systems.
When using vitamin E in its pure form, it should be applied exclusively to the hair, but not to the scalp. Concentrated composition can cause dryness, irritation and even burns after prolonged contact. In order not to get the opposite effect from the use of masks and shampoos, it is necessary to strictly observe their duration and frequency. A positive result can be observed after just a few procedures.