Influencers and supplement brands may make hair and nail maintenance look as simple as popping a daily pill but the truth is that genuine nutrition takes a bit more work.

Dr Gill admits that there’s no specific way of eating for healthy hair and nails, and that if you’re getting a balanced diet, there’s no point in taking specific supplements. “(While) popular supplements tend to contain nutritional components that are important for hair and nails, if you’re eating a diverse diet, chances are you’ll be getting all the nutrients you need, including enough for optimal hair and nail health.”

That’s not to say, of course, that you shouldn’t focus on consuming certain nutrients if your nail and hair health feels sub-optimal.

It’s long been known that our skin, hair and nails can act as a kind of window to our internal health. If your hair is thinning, there could be some hormonal issue going on; pale skin often precedes an illness, while weak nails are often attributed to nutritional deficiencies. If you do think that your symptoms are nutrient-based, you might be wondering about supplmenting certain vitamins.

Nutrients linked to hair and nail health:

B vitamins
A vitamins
Vitamin E
Iron
Zinc
Selenium

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