Explore your benefits at associatedhairprofessionals.com 31
forming units (number of bacteria per dose),
types of strains (pro-, pre-, and postbiotic
ratios), how they need to be stored, and
fi nally, how they make your client feel. To
avoid providing dietary advice out of your
scope, advise your clients to consult their
primary care doctor if they're interested in
adding a new supplement to their diet. Some
supplements may have contraindications
with other medications they take.
A Probiotic-Rich Diet
Incorporating foods that are rich in
probiotics—like yogurt, kefi r, sauerkraut,
kimchi, and other fermented foods—can
contribute positively to scalp and hair
health. A balanced diet rich in these foods
results in a sustained release of probiotics
into the system, encouraging long-term
health benefi ts, and healthy hair is just one
of those benefi ts. A balanced gut microbiome
is shown to have an infl uence on mental
health, mood, energy levels, and more.
While you shouldn't tell your clients what
to eat, you can certainly share information
or research that helps clients make the
right decision for their hair and body.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
It's essential to view probiotics as part of
a more comprehensive puzzle. Managing
stress, getting adequate sleep, properly
hydrating, and avoiding harsh chemical
treatments also contribute signifi cantly to
the condition of your client's scalp and the
health of their hair. However, individual
genetic factors and hormonal balances
will continue to play a role in hair health.
It's important to realize that while
probiotics can signifi cantly improve
scalp conditions, results can vary from
client to client. Patience and consistency
in delivery method are important,
as the scalp microbiome takes time
to adjust and achieve balance.
e growing research on probiotics
promises an exciting future for hair
health. By focusing on the root of the
matter—literally—you can help your
guests cultivate a landscape on their
scalps that is most conducive to growing
strong and beautiful hair. rough a
blend of topical treatments, systemic
support, and holistic lifestyle choices,
the dream of healthier hair can become
reality. Remember, a fl ourish of friendly
bacteria might be the missing ingredient
in your client's quest for fabulous hair.
Resources
Abdi, Ali et al. "Immunological Aspects of Probiotics for
Improving Skin Disease: Influence on the Gut-Brain-Skin Axis."
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 702 (April
2024): 149632. sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/
S0006291X24001682.
Davis, Amberley. Patient.info. "Do Probiotics Promote Healthy
Hair?" December 5, 2023. patient.info/news-and-features/do-
probiotics-promote-healthy-hair.
Frothingham, Scott. Healthline. "Can Yogurt Benefit Your Hair and
Scalp?" March 13, 2020. healthline.com/health/yogurt-for-hair.
Gao, Ting et al. "e Role of Probiotics in Skin Health and Related
Gut-Skin Axis: A Review." Nutrients 15, no. 14 (July 2023): 3123.
mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/14/3123.
Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. "Yogurt." Last
modified November 2019. hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/
food-features/yogurt.
Levkovich, Tatiana et al. "Probiotic Bacteria Induce a 'Glow of
Health.' " PLoS One 8, no. 1 (January 2013): e53867. ncbi.nlm.nih.
gov/pmc/articles/PMC3547054.
Park, Dong-Wook et al. "Do Kimchi and Cheonggukjang Probiotics
as a Functional Food Improve Androgenetic Alopecia? A Clinical
Pilot Study." e World Journal of Men's Health 38, no. 1 (January
2020): 95–102. wjmh.org /DOIx.php?id=10.5534/wjmh.180119.
Polak-Witka, Katarzyna et al. "e Role of the Microbiome in
Scalp Hair Follicle Biology and Disease." Experimental Dermatology
29, no. 3 (March 2020): 286–94. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
doi/10.1111/exd.13935.
Yoon, Yeo Cho et al. "Stimulatory Effects of Extracellular Vesicles
Derived from Leuconostoc Holzapfelii at Exists in Human Scalp
on Hair Growth in Human Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells." Current
Issues in Molecular Biology 44, no. 2 (February 2022): 845–66.
mdpi.com/1467-3045/44/2/58.
Zaid, Abdel Naser et al. "Ethnopharmacological Survey of
Home Remedies Used for Treatment of Hair and Scalp and
eir Methods of Preparation in the West Bank-Palestine."
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 17 (July 2017):
355. bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/
articles/10.1186/s12906-017-1858-1.
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