D-Panthenol: The Essence of Pro Vitamin B5 for Sublime Hair
D-panthenol, or provitamin B5, is one of the most widely used ingredients in hair care. Applied to hair, it hydrates the fibre, strengthens the cuticle and adds softness and shine, whatever your hair type. Here is what panthenol is, what it really does for your hair and how to benefit from it every day.
What is D-panthenol?
D-panthenol is an active, stable form of vitamin B5, a water-soluble vitamin that matters for healthy hair. It is also called provitamin B5: once applied to hair and skin, it converts into pantothenic acid, the scientific name for vitamin B5.
Its small molecule penetrates the hair fibre, which allows it to work in depth and strengthen hair from the inside. Panthenol is valued in cosmetics for its moisturising action, on the skin as well as the hair.
Panthenol, D-panthenol, vitamin B5: what is the difference?
- Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid: the vitamin itself, found in food.
- Panthenol or provitamin B5: its precursor form, stable and easy to formulate, used in cosmetics.
- D-panthenol: the form of panthenol that the body converts into vitamin B5. It is the biologically active form.
What are the benefits of D-panthenol for hair?
1. Deep hydration
D-panthenol is an excellent moisturising agent. It helps capture and retain moisture in the hair fibre, which limits dryness and breakage. This is particularly valuable for damaged hair or hair exposed to external stressors.
2. Stronger hair
By penetrating the structure of the hair, D-panthenol works on weakened areas and strengthens the cuticle. It acts like a cement between the hair's cuticle scales: less porous, the fibre better withstands damage from colouring, chemical treatments or heat.
3. Shine and softness
By smoothing the cuticle, D-panthenol makes the surface of the hair more even. Light reflects off it better: hair gains shine and softness and is easier to style.
4. Protection against everyday stressors
D-panthenol leaves a light film around the hair. It thus helps protect it from everyday stressors: sun, pollution and heat from styling tools.
Does panthenol make hair grow?
Panthenol works mainly on the fibre: it makes hair more resilient, and so less prone to breakage, which helps preserve its length. However, there is no evidence that a panthenol treatment makes hair grow faster.
If you are losing a lot of hair, or have been for several months, see a dermatologist to identify the cause. To support a weakened scalp day to day, our anti-hair loss solid shampoo strengthens the roots and limits breakage.
Which hair types is D-panthenol suited to?
D-panthenol suits all hair types: normal, dry, oily, fine, thick, coloured or curly. It hydrates without weighing hair down, which makes it as useful for fine hair as for dry and damaged hair.
Which panthenol shampoo should you choose?
All our hair care products, from solid shampoos to solid conditioner, are formulated with naturally derived D-panthenol. It is there to hydrate, strengthen every fibre and add softness and shine. Choose your product according to your hair:
- normal hair: the solid shampoo for normal hair, with sidr and argan;
- dry hair: the nourishing solid shampoo, with shea, coconut and glycerin;
- for all lengths: the solid conditioner with avocado and shea, which detangles without weighing hair down.
To find out which product suits your hair, take our online hair diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions about panthenol
Should you buy panthenol from a pharmacy for your hair?
Panthenol is sold in pharmacies, notably in skin creams. For hair, the simplest way is to use it every time you wash, through a shampoo and conditioner that contain it.
Does panthenol weigh hair down?
It is water-soluble and hydrates the fibre without making it greasy. So it also suits fine hair and oily hair.
Does a soap or shower gel offer the same benefits?
A soap or shower gel does not contain these care ingredients, and its pH is not suited to the scalp. We explain this in our article: can you wash your hair with soap or shower gel?
In short
- D-panthenol, or provitamin B5, converts into vitamin B5 on contact with hair and skin.
- It hydrates, strengthens the cuticle, adds shine and softness, and helps protect hair from everyday stressors.
- It suits all hair types, without weighing hair down.
- You will find it in all Homnès solid shampoos and in the Homnès solid conditioner.