Calling all naturalistas: Do you have urgent tress questions? If so, you’re in luck. Every Thursday, natural hair blogger extraordinaire CurlyNikki will be solving your curly hair conundrums! Submit your questions by tweeting them to @EssenceMag with the hashtag #AskCurlyNikki.
READER QUESTION: Nikki, do you take vitamins for your hair? If so, what kind?
CURLYNIKKI’S RESPONSE: Everyone knows a healthy body produces healthy hair. So to keep my situation running smoothly, I eat right, drink lots of water and take my vitamins. I actually take a prenatal, and not because of the myth that they help your hair grow faster and thicker (pregnancy hormones do that), but mostly out of habit. I started taking Rainbow Light One Prenatal (a food based vitamin — some argue that those are better than the ones that contain minerals and vitamins chemically derived in a lab) when I became preggers back in 2009, and continue to take it today. The price is right and you only have to take one a day. It’s chocked full of good stuff, like digestive enzymes, probiotics, and even the vitamins and minerals you’d commonly find in top shelf hair vitamins.
Two months ago I reintroduced Biotin into my regimen. Biotin promotes cell growth, the production of fatty acids and metabolism of fats. And last week, I started MSM again, as it lengthens the hair growth phase (which means that you keep more hair on your head). This combo along with my prenatal multi and healthy living habits contribute to my happy, healthy hair.
Nikki “CurlyNikki” Walton is a successful psychotherapist and creator of one of the most credible online sources about natural hair care, maintenance, and decoding the psychological ties between black women and their hair. Visit her at her blog CurlyNikki or follow her on Twitter @CurlyNikki.