A not-so-dry January: let your hair drink these in to stay moisturised
The hair benefits of vitamins and plant compounds applied topically
When we talk about healthy hair, good nutrition is very important, but what you apply onto your hair and scalp matters just as much. Natural hair care ingredients, including plant oils, are rich in biologically active compounds that can support the scalp, protect the hair fibre and improve shine, strength and manageability.
What you eat and drink (stay hydrated!) influences the whether or not your scalp grows healthy hair from the roots. Topical hair care is a bit like feeding a garden from the soil up. So you can get the hair benefits of vitamins just by using natural hair care products like shampoo bars, conditioners and hair oils.
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The natural plant oils used in Hairy Jayne hair care formulas include fractionated coconut oil, rice bran oil, olive oil, mango butter, argan oil, jojoba oil, camellia oil, grapeseed oil, pomegranate seed oil, apricot kernel oil, oat kernel oil and plum kernel oil.
What do some of the naturally occurring compounds found in plant oils actually do when applied to your hair and scalp?
Hair benefits of vitamins A, B, C, D and E
These vitamins are frequent flyers in the plant oils we use in our formulations.
- Vitamin A supports scalp skin health and helps regulate sebum, keeping dryness and flakiness at bay. It helps to lock moisture into hair and skin and its antioxidants help shield hair from environmental damage and oxidative stress.
- B vitamins (especially panthenol, biotin-related compounds and niacin derivatives) help improve moisture retention, elasticity and overall hair strength and resilience.
- Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects against damage, boosts collagen for strength, cleanses the scalp to fight dandruff and buildup, and potentially stimulates the hair follicles for healthier growth.
- Vitamin D, when applied topically, is linked to scalp barrier health as it helps to stimulate the and support the hair follicle cycle.
- Vitamin E is the most common vitamin and is a classic hair oil hero. It's deeply moisturising and protecting of the scalp and strands, reducing breakage, adding shine and helping to smooth frizz. Its antioxidants help shield hair from environmental damage and oxidative stress, too.
Together, these vitamins help hair look and feel healthier while quietly supporting the biology underneath. The hair benefits of Vitamins A, B, C and E are in all of our natural shampoo bars which feature olive oil and mango butter.
Omegas 3, 6 and 9
Found in oils like argan, olive, camellia seed and oat kernel, as well as mango butter, omega fatty acids are essential for hair flexibility and shine.
- Omega 3 supports scalp comfort and helps reduce dryness and irritation.
- Omega 6 strengthens the hair’s lipid barrier, improving moisture retention.
- Omega 9 adds softness and slip, making hair easier to detangle and style.
These fats act like internal scaffolding for the hair cuticle, smoothing out rough edges and reducing any breakage, which is why they're present in most of our natural hair care.
Phenols and Polyphenols
Phenols and polyphenols help neutralise free radicals that contribute to scalp ageing, dullness and weakened hair fibres. They also have soothing and balancing properties, making them especially useful for sensitive or stressed scalps.
These naturally occurring antioxidants are abundant in argan, grapeseed and avocado oils. Our Natural Beauty Oil for hair and skin is packed with them.
Ceramides
Ceramides are naturally present in healthy hair and skin, and plant-derived ceramides help replenish what styling, washing and environmental exposure strip away.
They reinforce the hair’s protective barrier, locking in moisture, smoothing the cuticle and reducing frizz. Hair with adequate ceramide content tends to feel stronger, silkier and less prone to breakage.
Jojoba oil has a high ceramide content of about 96%. Grapeseed and rice bran oils also contain ceramides.
Phospholipids and Glycolipids
In hair care, these complex lipids improve ingredient absorption, enhance softness and help oils and actives integrate more effectively into the hair shaft and scalp. They're like excellent hosts, making sure everyone gets where they need to go.
They help form cell membranes and play a key role in moisture transport, and can be found in the highly moisturising olive oil and oat kernel oil.
Squalene
Squalene closely resembles the scalp’s own sebum. This makes it exceptionally compatible with skin and hair. It helps balance moisture, adds lightweight shine and supports a healthy scalp environment without heaviness or greasiness.
Olive oil and rice bran oil both contain squalene.
Copper, Zinc and Iodine
Trace minerals from clays, sea plants and botanical extracts play small but mighty roles.
- Copper supports hair pigmentation and structural proteins.
- Zinc helps regulate oil production and supports scalp balance.
- Iodine, often sourced from seaweed, contributes to healthy scalp metabolism.
Applied topically, these minerals help maintain an environment where hair can thrive. They can all be found in jojoba oil.
Avenanthramides
Unique to oats, avenanthramides are powerful soothing compounds with anti-irritant and antioxidant properties. They’re especially beneficial for itchy, reactive or inflamed scalps, helping to calm redness and support the scalp’s natural defence systems.
These compounds can be found in oat kernel oil.
Carotenoids
Carotenoids give many plants their warm golden, orange or green hues and bring serious protective benefits. On hair and scalp, carotenoids help defend against UV-induced damage, support healthy scalp skin and contribute to shine and colour vibrancy. They also work synergistically with vitamin E, boosting antioxidant protection.
Carotenoids can be found in olive oil.
As you can see, a simple hair care routine using a shampoo bar, natural conditioner and plant-based hair oil will do your hair and scalp wonders.
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When you choose natural hair care rich in these compounds, you’re not just coating your hair. You’re supporting the scalp ecosystem, reinforcing the hair’s natural defences and working with biology rather than against it. Healthy hair isn’t about instant miracles. It’s about quiet consistency, thoughtful ingredients and letting natural plant oils do what they’ve always done best – providing the hair benefits of vitamins in them.