My mother had just made a horrible comment about my new hair cut. Her first three words were "It'll grow". She has made negative comments in the past but that was just plain mean. I was devastated and despite constant reassurances from honest people, tearful phonecall to my hairdresser and the fact that I had been very pleased with it, I decided that I had to make my hair grow and fast.
Looking around on the internet, there were all sorts of miracle treatments that claimed to make hair grow at an increased rate to the normal (1/4 an inch per month on average). However, there was no scientific proof and these remedies were very expensive. I also browsed certain that stated there was very little you could do other than keep a balanced diet, exercise and observe a general healthy lifestyle. Incidentally, hair grows faster in summer so is a good time to grow hair.
In desperation, I went to Holland and Barrett. A review on a website had advised me that sea kelp is supposed to stimulate hair and nail growth and improve their general condition. They were on offer (£2.99 for 500 tablets down from £5.99, available in smaller numbers by the way) and me being a terrible nail biter too, I reasoned I wouldn't be too upset at the loss of three quid if they did nothing, unlike the twenty-five I could lose on the internet.
The packaging was perfectly functional and easy to use, with a picture of some fish and seaweed. They smell and look unpleasant, kind of like rotten sea weed, and are about a 1cm in diameter (smartie size). The taste is not very nice, so make sure you swallow them first time!On the tub, it recommends taking 1 to 3 daily with food and advises that it is not suitable for pregnant or lactating women without consultation from a doctor. They are not advised for under-18s use but I tried them anyway.
Aswell as making hair and nails grow faster and in better condition, some have said that it can:
- Help with weight loss. There is a high concentration of iodine in it which stimulates the thyroid gland. There is a definate scientific link to iodine and thyroid stimulation, but more is written about it in natural health areas than medical areas. Experts disagree about just how useful it realluy is.
- Raise energy levels.
- Taken daily they boost the immune system, improve circulation and make bones stronger - so even if they don't work to make your hair grow faster at least you should be healthier! (They do contain calcium, iron, zinc and iodine, so clearly will have the benefits of these vitamins).
(The jar from H&B only specifies the weight loss benefit and makes no mention none of the others, nor did any staff member or display in the store).
Looking for a quick-fix, I took three a day with my breakfast. My hair grows pretty fast anyway, about 1/2 inch a month, which is good because my hairdresser always has something to play with!
My upset over the comment wore off after a couple of days but I'd already bought the sea kelp and thought I might aswell see if they do work or if I could benefit from then in any other ways. I'm still taking them, about five months after I bought the jar as it's still going. I have had it cut/trimmed several times in this period.
However, as I had copper blonde hair when I first started to use it and my natural colour is dark brown, my roots gave me a good indication with something that would be otherwise quite difficult to measure. I don't think my hair or stumps of nails did actually grow particularly faster, but it did improve the condition. My energy levels did feel higher for a while but this effect seemed to have worn off a couple of months later. I seemed to have lost some weight too but this could have been down to a number of factors, as could the improvement in my hair condition. These sea-kelp tablets sure aren't a quck-fix solution.
When I confessed to my hairdresser that I'd done this, he laughed. He told me I was under a delusional "placebo effect", was a silly girl and that they have no known hair-growing effects!! He cauitioned you just have to be incredibly patient, keep the hair in good condition and have regular trims to grow hair, which I was then made to promise not to do! He was also quite jokily hurt: how could I let a spiteful comment make me want to grow out one of his prize cuts?! Think I learned some important lessons more than any value for money from kelp.
I don't know if they have worked for others in any form or if they too found the effects to wear off/not be very effective. They might be good if you had about three months to grow your hair for a special occasion like a wedding. I think they are only truly suited to weight loss and that this effect is only marginal and must be combined with exercise and a helthy diet for it to occur.
Final summary (vary with the individual):
weight loss - yes to a degree (proven-ish)
energy levels - perhaps (non proven)
general health - not noticeable (non proven)
hair/nail growth - not for me (non proven)
hair/nail condition - thought they did but this could have been down to other factors as they could all have been I suppose (non proven)
Of course as with all vitamin supplements they won't be doing you any harm to take them, as their ingredients are obviously of benefit to the human body even if this is not actualy noticeable to the eye. For general health or specific vitamin deficiencies, I would not suggest kelp - ask the advisor.
I'll keep going until the 500 run out just to check but I don't think I'll be trying these again in a hurry and I no longer even want my hair to grow out!
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Value for Money
Satisfactory
Price
£5.99 for 500 tablets (varies between different stores and brands)
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