By Doctor Claude Chauchard
Has the legend of Samson had its day? What truth is there in this Old Testament story?
In the century in which we live, a good head of hair is a sign of good health.
So, nothing has really changed with regard to the emotional charge of our hair. What has changed is that today we not only know how to stop our hair from falling out, we also know how to make it regrow. 
Do you know, for example, that in some cases – in both men and women – it is caused by an excess of hormones, namely dihydrotestosterone? This is called androgenic alopecia. Thanks to a new molecule prescribed by doctors, called Finasteride, this hair loss can be halted. The effective dosage is around 1,532mg per day for women and 1,515mg per day for men. In order to improve the quality of the hair, it should always be associated with testosterone in a percutaneous gel formula. In women, often oestrogens are also prescribed for cutaneous use. Therefore, we now know that beautiful hair requires a good balance of hormones.
Associate other hormones and vitamins
Other hormones are sometimes required to help healthy hair to grow. Often, I add sulphur-containing amino acids to my prescriptions, since sulphur is an essential element for hair and nail formation. These amino acids are called L-cystine, L-cysteine and L-methionine, and are often prescribed for oral administration combined with 50,000UI of vitamin A per day. Excellent results can be achieved, though over several months.
Vitamin B7 (biotin) or vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) are also useful for improving hair quality. Vitamin B5 is prescribed for oral administration with a dosage of 50 to 100mg per day, while 10 5,120mg of vitamin B7 is sufficient. I also like to add vitamin C, which is easy to administer orally, with a dosage of 500mg 5:1g per day.
While we are talking about hair quality, we must not forget to prescribe zinc (25 5-50mg per day), iron (around 50mg per day) and silicon, which is often combined with choline. The polyunsaturated fatty acid that best strengthens the hair is, in my opinion, good-quality omega-6, which can be found in linseed oil, safflower oil and borage oil.
However, I favour hemp oil, which is very little used in France but much more common in Canada, where it is often organically-produced. This oil is amazing: it contains all of the polyunsaturated omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids. The only drawback is that it is not easy to get hold of.
As for hair quality, daily haircare – a good shampoo, conditioner and possibly even a hair lotion – are always important.
Finally, I always recommend a good probiotic to ensure that the intestinal wall is healthy. So, there you have my top tips for hair as luscious as Samson’s! Nowadays we can even slow down greying, but I’ll reveal that secret in another article!
By Doctor Claude Chauchard
A renowned specialist in Nutrition, weight control and Medicine for Age Prevention. More than a million copies of 14 books sold in more than 5 languages. Founder of the Anti-Aging clinic concept La Clinique De Paris, established in China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea since 1992. Assistant professor at the universities of SEOUL and PEKING. Creator of the online Chrono Géno Nutrition method.
