# vitamin E, etc., in shampoos...BS?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-e-etc-in-shampoos-bs/52870>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 2, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-e-etc-in-shampoos-bs/52870 "2001-02-02T15:17:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-e-etc-in-shampoos-bs/52870/1 "2001-02-02T15:17:35Z")

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Many shampoos and body care products have vitamins in them. Does this really have any benefit? Can your dead (literally) hair absorb vitamins that have been topically applied? What about skincare products? Should I just grind up my Centrum and rub it into my skin?

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**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-e-etc-in-shampoos-bs/52870/2 "2001-02-02T19:20:52Z")

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They’re a waste of money. From [ABC News.com](http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/living/MensHealth/menshealth_7.html):

“Worth buying? No. And don’t go for shampoos that contain these nutrients, either. Hair isn’t live tissue, so it can’t benefit metabolically from a vitamin-enriched shampoo.”