Support Healthy Hair, Scalp & Nails
Hair breakage and shedding, thinning hair, scalp comfort and flaking, brittle nails and gentler care.
General information, not medical advice. Each goal page shows what helps, what to avoid, the evidence and the safety points.
Goals in this category
10 goals
Reduce Hair Breakage
Breakage means strands snap along their length instead of falling out from the root, and everyday hair care can be one of the causes. This page covers breakage from hand…
Understand & Address Hair Shedding
Losing some hair every day is normal, and a spell of heavier shedding after stress, illness, childbirth or weight loss is common and often settles on its own. This page …
Care for Thinning Hair
Hair can thin slowly over years or seem to thin after a difficult few months, and either way there are sensible ways to look after the hair and scalp you have and to fin…
Improve Scalp Comfort
An itchy, tight or tender scalp is very common, and many cases ease once the likely cause (flaking, a product reaction, or something else) is spotted and handled gently.…
Manage Scalp Flaking
White flakes, a dry feeling and an itchy scalp are very common, and for most people they are dandruff, which is harmless and often improves with a suitable medicated sha…
Care for a Dry Scalp
A dry scalp can feel tight, itchy and a little flaky, and for many people it settles with a gentler wash routine and a look at the products being used. This page is abou…
Protect Hair From Styling Damage
Heat tools, colour, relaxers, smoothing treatments and tight styles can all wear on hair and the scalp, but most of the harm comes from how often, how hot, how tight and…
Support Hair Through Nutrition
Hair, scalp and nails can reflect nutrition, but many things cause hair and nail changes, and extra nutrients help mainly when something is actually low. This page cover…
Care for Brittle Nails
Nails that split, peel, crack or crumble are common, and for most people they come from everyday wear and water rather than illness, so gentle daily care is the first st…
Build Healthier Hair & Nail-Care Habits
A healthy hair and nail routine is mostly gentle handling, protecting your nails from constant water and picking, and noticing changes early. This page is the overall pi…
Conditions
Claim checks and safety
Foods, herbs, vitamins and supplements studied for this category
Strongest evidence first. Most evidence is low, so read each page's studies and safety points.
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) Vitamin
Preventing and correcting low riboflavin
Safety first: Riboflavin has a very good safety record at food levels - Aloe Vera Herbs
Minor burns (first- and second-degree): faster healing
Safety first: Aloe vera is three different products: only the clear inner-leaf gel is the 'gentle' one - Calendula Tea Herbal tea
Skin reactions from breast cancer radiotherapy (radiodermatitis)
Safety first: There is no safety study of calendula tea, and the EU infusion is for rinsing, not drinking - Calendula Herbs
Skin reactions from breast cancer radiotherapy (radiodermatitis)
Safety first: On the skin, calendula looks gentle for most people, but allergy is the main risk - Sweet Almond Oil Carrier oil
Stretch marks in pregnancy (on skin)
Safety first: Tree nut allergy comes first - Coconut Oil and Fractionated Coconut Oil Carrier oil
Eczema in children (virgin coconut oil on the skin)
Safety first: Mixing essential oils into a carrier oil lowers skin risk but does not make them safe - Gotu Kola Herbs
Fine lines and wrinkles
Safety first: Taking gotu kola by mouth has been linked to liver injury - Oregon Grape Herbs
Plaque psoriasis: skin severity (topical cream or ointment)
Safety first: Pregnancy, breastfeeding and newborns: avoid berberine-containing herbs