Vitamin E For Hair: Nani Explains Why It's A Great Addition To Your Routine

Let me just start by saying that my Nani is a skincare genius. She has amazing understanding of ingredients that will help the skin, she likes to make her own concoctions to remedy any skincare problem that I or my mother has ever had. And it has worked every single time. And you would agree if you saw her—her skin is always glowing! 

Vitamin E is one of the most important aspects of her routine, so much so that it has been passed to my mother and now (a skeptical but trying to understand) me. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals, which can cause cell damage. Vitamin E for hair means a healthier scalp, which leads to stronger and better hair quality.

My nani swears by Evion vitamin E Capsules, she has been using them for decades. This capsule can be taken orally or applied topically; this mainly covers the topical application of vitamin E capsule, especially for hair. My nani usually pricks the capsule from the top and squeezes the oil whenever she wants to apply. She doesn't like to squeeze and store in a bottle at once as she believes it doesn't stay fresh. While I'm not sure if that's true or not, I wouldn't argue with her wisdom. 

For her face, she likes to mix Vitamin e with another oil (usually coconut or almond) and massage her face for 10-15 minutes before washing with a gentle cleanser. She tells me that this is not the only way, though, Vitamin E is very versatile and can be included in a lot more things, like a homemade face pack with yogurt, or honey or applied directly under the eyes to reduce dark circles.

She says, 'No matter whether you use it for your face or not, Vitamin E for hair shouldn't be slept on; it's one of the best things to do if you're suffering from hair problems'. And here's my detailed discussion with her, dissected and backed with research: 

Reduces Hairfall: Oxidative stress is linked to hair fall, and the antioxidant properties in Vitamin E help tackle that, resulting in less hair fall. 

Adds Shine: Vitamin E adds a protective layer to the skin, therefore improving the shine and elasticity of hair. 

Balances oil production: Vitamin E is highly moisturising, which keeps the scalp hydrated and in turn helps balance the oil production of the scalp.

Promotes Hair Growth: Not only does it reduce hair fall, but it also promotes hair growth as it supports a healthy scalp. 

Nani mentions there are multiple ways to use this little capsule for your hair. Her favourite is to mix it with another oil and leave it overnight to work its magic. You can mix it with a variety of oils and get a blend that works for you.

Olive oil: Olive oil is rich in vitamins A and E, and adding this enhances the already existing properties of vitamin E, making your hair stronger, shiny and also saving it from pollution!

Coconut oil: Research suggests (1) that regularly massaging your head with coconut oil helps with dandruff and chronic dryness. 

Castor oil: Castor oil is known for its antimicrobial and antiviral properties. It's also suggested (2) that it helps promote hair growth, and if that's something you're looking for, then mixing it with vitamin E should definitely help in theory. 

Almond oil: Almond oil contains biotin, which is essential for healthy hair growth. It's also a natural emollient (3), which helps in hydration and makes hair softer and more manageable. 

This being said, you can mix vitamin E (aka a-tocopherol) with various other oils as well, as it is not linked to any side effects known when it comes to topical application.