Your hair needs protein and vitamins to stay strong and vibrant and to grow. Your hair is much like your fingernails in that it's made of keratin, a special type of protein. Without certain vitamins and amino acids, your hair becomes weak and fragile. If your hair may not be getting all the nutrients it needs, seek advice from your dermatologist.
Parts of the Hair Shaft
The bulb of your hair is also known as the root. Deep beneath your root -- in the papilla -- is where hair growth actually takes place and how your hair receives nourishment. Cells in the papilla multiply and produce keratin. The structure begins to harden, forming a hair follicle. Your hair follicle pushes through your medulla, cortex and cuticle before it reaches the base of your root. As your hair begins to grow out from the root, it undergoes keratinization. Keratinization is the process in which your hair begins to harden as it is cut off from the supply of nourishment. When your hair is cut off from its nutrient supply, the hair cells die, although hair growth continues as new hair continues to push through each layer.
Protein
To continue the hair growth cycle, your hair needs protein to produce keratin. Without protein and vitamins, your hair cannot grow and produce keratin. If your diet lacks sufficient protein, you may suffer hair loss. Vegetarians and those with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia are at great risk of losing hair, since these diets can be low in protein. TeensHealth notes that athletes may be at an increased risk of hair loss because they are prone to developing iron-anemia deficiency.
Vitamins
Like skin and fingernails, hair needs vitamins. B vitamins play a vital role in hair growth as they support growth and cellular function, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. One of the B vitamins in particular, biotin, helps metabolize protein. Biotin helps your body convert food into energy and use amino acids, fats and carbohydrates.
Are You Getting Enough?
When your diet lacks sufficient protein, your body begins to reserve its protein supply by shifting your hair growth into a resting phase, which means your hair growth is almost nonexistent. Within a few months of continuous insufficient protein intake, you'll begin to experience hair loss, according to AgingSkinNet. A biotin deficiency will have many symptoms such as hair loss, dry scaly skin, insomnia, loss of appetite and depression. A deficiency may also cause the corners of your mouth to crack.
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