Hair growth is more in the first 30-40 years of a person's life and much slower after that. It is very difficult to ensure good hair growth throughout though a balanced and proper diet would go a long way in promoting hair growth. Hair growth may be affected due to several factors like neglect, external weather conditions, stress, prolonged illnesses or stress. Thin, brittle or split hair takes a long time to grow because it is not healthy. Hence, the best way to ensure good hair growth is to provide the body with the essential nutrients through the food we take.

Hair growth depends very much on vitamins. The most important vitamins necessary for hair growth are: vitamin A (produces healthy sebum in the scalp), vitamin C (antioxidant), vitamin E (improves scalp circulation), Biotin (produces Keratin), Inositol (keeps hair follicles healthy), Niacin (promotes scalp circulation) and pantothenic acid, Para-Aminobenzoic Acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 that prevent graying and hair loss. The most common food-based sources of these vitamins are: citrus fruits, green vegetables, fruits like pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, potatoes, green peppers, vegetable oils, soybean, raw seeds, dried beans, wheat germ oil, brewer's yeast, whole grains, eggs, liver, rice, milk, fish, turkey, chicken and red meat.

There are hundreds of products in the market that promise to ensure good hair growth. These products contain the necessary vitamins, proteins and minerals that promote hair growth. They can be in the form of external applicants like oils, shampoos, conditioners and sprays or they can even be in the form of tablets or capsules suitable for internal ingestion. Products for external applications do not have a very durable effect while vitamin supplements in the form of capsules have a more lasting effect on the hair growth.

Today, almost all hair care products advertise the presence of a necessary vitamin in their products that would make the hair thicker, stronger, longer, lustrous, and on the whole, healthier. Viviscal, Shen Min, Nu Hair, Hair Genesis, Fast Grow, Hair Formula 37, Follicare, Melancor and Advesia are some of the popular hair vitamin products available in the market today. There are several websites that provide information about hair vitamin products. There are also exclusive stores that specialize in hair vitamin products. However, it is better to consult a physician before using these products to understand the exact condition of the hair so that the right products can be used.