Does Panthenol Thicken Hair?

Hair can consist of different varieties from long and short to thick and thin. If you have fine or thin hair, you may want to thicken it a bit for more style. Fortunately, for those who want thicker, fuller hair, there are products on the market which are designed to help you achieve your goals.

You may think you have thin hair but there are some tell-tale signs to know how thin your hair really is. Examine your hair to determine its thinness or thickness. HairCareHints recommends examining clean hair, one strand at a time. Look at your hair shaft and see whether it’s easily visible. Thin hair is not easily visible, according to HairCareHints. If you have thin hair, it will be hard to feel the single hair when rolled between your fingers. Medium and thick hair is easily visible when viewing one hair shaft at a time and can be easily felt when rolling it between your fingertips.

Panthenol, also known as vitamin B5, is widely used in shampoos and conditioners to help thicken hair. Panthenol is often referred to as the “beautifier,” according to HealthAndBodyFitness. HairMatters states that panthenol is suitable for those who have fine hair. If you have thinning hair, which can indicate hair loss, panthenol is not recommended. For those who suffer from hair loss, it can indicate a hair disorder such as alopecia areata or a more problematic condition for which you would need to seek care from a licensed health care provider or dermatologist, depending upon your condition of hair loss.

Panthenol works in a variety of ways. Panthenol can improve damaged hair, according to HairMatters. Panthenol works by improving effects of hair elasticity, moisture retention and flexibility. Panthenol, is part of the vitamin B group, but when it’s applied to hair, it takes on a pro-vitamin form and converts into pantothenic acid. At this point, panthenol can penetrate your hair shaft as well as the root of your hair; thus giving your hair an extra boost of B vitamin which helps thicken your hair as well as promote hair growth. According to the HealthAndBodyFitness and HairMatters websites, panthenol can increase your hair diameter up to 10 percent.

Panthenol has similar characteristics to humectants, according to HairMatters. Humectants moisturize your hair. HairMatters explains that panthenol increases the thickness of your hair by restoring moisture, which is different from other products that simply “coat” the hair shaft to make it appear thicker.

If you suffer from thin, brittle hair, consider using hair care products that contain panthenol and other B vitamins such as biotin, according to HairMatters. Biotin is known to help improve hair growth and is required for normal cell function. For those who suffer from thinning hair due to hair loss, consider using other products that strictly promote hair growth or prohibit hair loss, according to HairMatters. Always check product labels to ensure that you are purchasing the right hair care products for your hair type.