To reduce drastic changes in your hair, seeking out the best hair supplements is a good idea. Hair loss is something that can affect all stages and stages of life. Whether due to stress, medication, hormonal changes or age, many people experience changes in their hair, ranging from hair loss to thinning and shedding. “Our hair is the fastest-growing tissue in the human body and requires a lot of nutrition,” says trichologist Hannah Gaboardi. “Hair vitamins work by giving your hair the vitamins and minerals your hair needs.”
Vogue’s pick of the best hair vitamins at a glance:
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While the ingredients in hair vitamins vary depending on the issue they are formulated to treat, most hair vitamins contain a blend of biotin or vitamin B7, which is known for contributing to healthy hair growth, alongside nutrients like zinc, selenium and iodine.
So whatever issue you need help with, there’s likely a hair vitamin out there that can help. We’ve rounded up some of the best out there, alongside your most frequently asked questions around hair vitamins.
The hunt for the best hair growth supplements was a very personal one undertaken by Vogue editors to combat specific concerns. In the case of senior beauty shopping writer Ellie Davis, it was about regrowth after stress-related shedding, while beauty and wellness editor Morgan Fargo aimed to supercharge the follicles for density. When judging the best hair supplements, we paid attention to the ingredient list to ensure that key nutrients were included with minimal to no fillers. We also considered quality, taste and frequency.
The following hair supplements are formulas that Vogue editors include in their daily supplementation. These are hair vitamins that we actually take, rate and wax lyrical about to anyone that will listen. The testing process was done over an extended period of time, as while some gave immediate results, it was only after three months, the length of the hair cycle, that you can truly judge whether they are worth your time and money.
Scroll on for Vogue’s pick of the best vitamins for hair growth
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Using the brand’s patented ingredient AnaGain, which is derived from pea sprout extract, this smart formula is clinically proven to reduce hair loss by 34 per cent after 28 days. In addition to slowing down loss, it helps reduce thinning, boosts density and improves thickness and growth. It also contains zinc, biotin, selenium and bladderwrack, a brown seaweed that’s rich in iodine, an essential nutrient for thyroid hormone production, which regulates hair follicles and the hair growth cycle.
- Key ingredients: AnaGain™, zinc, bladderwrack, selenium, biotin
- Contains: 30 capsules
- Dosage: One capsule per day
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: If you’re suffering from hair loss due to a hormonal imbalance, this carefully formulated supplement can help. As well as biotin to improve growth and follicle health, it contains zinc and copper, which contribute to the healthy maintenance of hair and vibrant hair pigmentation and colour.
- Key ingredients: Biotin, zinc, copper
- Contains: 90 tablets
- Dosage: One tablet per day
- Best for: postpartum hair loss
- Contains: 180 tablets
- Key ingredients: biotin and zinc
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: I have been taking Viviscal’s biotin-based supplement for over a year now, and it has made such a difference in my hair. I went to the hairdresser, who pointed out the growth that has been achieved since I first started taking two of the tablets daily, where my fine hair was thicker, stronger and in better health than the tips. The contrast was extremely noticeable. The formula contains the hair-strengthening nutrient, biotin, with the brand’s proprietary AminoMarC collagen complex as well as iron, silica, vitamin C and millet-seed extract. You should start to see the impact in three months.
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: This one-stop supplement is designed to help you achieve, amongst many things, better sleep, stress levels and skin, but improved hair strength and shine is the one we’re especially interested in here. For that, there’s a hefty dose of keratin, a structural protein essential for hair growth, which bonds to the rough edges of each hair, covering the cuticle, straightening it, and promoting better shine and strength.
- Key ingredients: turmeric extract, ashwagandha extract, vitamin K, soluble keratin
- Contains: 30-day supply
- Dosage: Four capsules per day
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A comprehensive supplement for those struggling with hair loss, Growth Phase takes key ingredients like B vitamins and reishi mushroom, an adaptogen to help manage stress that can contribute to hair loss, and aims to restore health and shine as well as rebuild the hair follicle for ongoing support.
- Key ingredients: Biovabio, biotin, folate, reishi mushroom
- Contains: 90 capsules
- Dosage: Three capsules per day
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: More than 92 per cent of our hair is made up of keratin, which means keratin synthesis is crucial for maintaining proper health and strength. Containing a blend of active ingredients like sulphur-containing amino acids, B vitamins and minerals like copper, iron and zinc, this formula feeds the follicle with everything it needs.
- Key ingredients: Natural keratin growth complex, vitamin B8, spirulina
- Contains: 28-day supply
- Dosage: Keratin Absolute: 1 capsule per day, Growth Complex: 2 capsules per day.
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Hair that’s dry, brittle and prone to breakage needs a cocktail of key nutrients to get it back on track. Formulated with iron, biotin, pantothenic acid and selenium, this formula by famed trichologist Kingsley is designed to improve health and growth as well as the integral quality of hair.
- Key ingredients: Iron, biotin, pantothenic acid
- Contains: 90 tablets
- Dosage: Two tablets per day
More of the best hair vitamins:
FAQs
Do hair supplements actually work?
The supplement market may be booming, but that doesn’t mean all supplements are created equal. Which is why you need to be discerning with ingredients and always read the label. “Ensure your hair vitamins have ingredients that have been well researched and proven to contribute to hair health,” says Gaby Vaca-Flores, a registered dietitian at HUM Nutrition. “Certain nutrients, at specific doses, can deliver a wide array of benefits with daily supplementation. Depending on the types of nutrients present, a supplement may promote hair growth, strength, thickness or overall appearance.”
However, it’s important to note that supplements do not work in every instance. “Hair supplements work only if you are really lacking in those vitamins,” says Gaboardi. If you’re suffering from genetic hair loss or postpartum hair loss, supplements won’t really be effective, which is why it’s important to identify the root of your hair loss before starting treatment.
If you are hoping for a quick fix when it comes to your hair goals, it is key to remember that patience and consistency are the most important elements. “Hair growth is a slow process,” says Tudor, and discernible differences can take anywhere between three months and a year to appear. “Growth phases of the hair work on three-month cycles, so you can see benefits from taking a supplement in as little as one month,” says Maguire, “but it may take up to three months, as we can never know where we are in our growth phases when we start taking our supplements. If someone is vitamin D or vitamin B12 deficient, it may take a little bit longer, because some vitamins are a little bit like a debt, and until you’ve paid off your debt, you will not see an upward trajectory. Some scientists recommend you persevere for a year.”
Can hair vitamins help with hormonal hair loss?
The best hair vitamins can be especially useful during challenging times such as the menopause, when hormonal changes can take their toll on hair health, says Tudor. “They are particularly beneficial in helping to counteract nutrient deficiencies that can often lead to weaken and thinning hair, and the best hair supplements usually contain a combination of vitamins, minerals and amino acids that are known to support the body’s functions such as thyroid health, cell renewal and blood flow, which are all really important components of hair growth,” he adds.
Stress and hormonal imbalance are big factors in hair loss. To reduce stress levels, or rather minimise the levels of cortisol your body produces when stressed, Jules Miller, founder of The Nue Co, recommends adaptogens (reishi mushroom and eleuthero root). “Emotional stress can push hair follicles into a ‘resting’ (telogen) phase so that they don’t produce new hair strands and can result in shedding.” This type of hair loss is commonly known as telogen effluvium. As for hormonal imbalance, you might want to think about boosting your levels of antioxidants – so vitamin C, E, B1, and B2, as well as iodine and vitamin B6. This, combined with a well-balanced diet, plenty of sleep and exercise, is a highly effective way of treating hair loss.
What are the best vitamins for hair growth and thickness?
When we talk about the best hair vitamins, it all comes down to ingredients. And the key ingredient to look out for is biotin. “The body relies on biotin or vitamin B7 to produce keratin, the main protein in the hair,” says Vaca-Flores. “As a result, supplementing biotin can have a positive impact on hair growth, particularly in people with low biotin levels.”
Iron is another one to note, given its ability to accelerate sluggish growth rate levels, which means the hair can grow for its maximum length of time before falling out. To boost iron absorption, lead therapist at natural hair care brand Leonor Greyl, Masa Ohta, suggests increasing your levels of vitamin C, while Gaboardi recommends vitamin A, zinc, a trace mineral, which is great for making proteins, selenium and herbal ingredients, such as saw palmetto.
If you can, read the ingredients in your hair vitamins to check they are suitable for promoting hair growth. “Hair supplements can also contain natural DHT inhibitors,” says Deborah Maguire, trichologist and co-founder of Seed & Soul, “which can help reduce hair loss without causing unwanted side effects, and address the effects of stress, a major contributor to hair loss, with ingredients like myo-inositol, which are micro-follicle stimulants and regulate both serotonin and dopamine.”
When it comes to hair thickness, you need to think about the hair shaft and the hair follicle. For a healthy shaft, you’ll need to focus on keratin. Your hair is mostly made up of proteins, with keratin being among them. When these levels decline, the hair shaft can deteriorate, leaving it susceptible to breakage and dryness. “Keratin is best by far for hair thickness and strength,” says LYMA founder Lucy Goff. “It’s an important structural protein, and if taken correctly, makes hair less prone to breakage. This is because keratin bonds to the rough edges of individual hairs, covering the cuticle, straightening it, and promoting shine and strength.”
For the follicle, you need to think about zinc and vitamin B12. “The cells that make up the hair bulb, which is the part of the hair follicle that produces hair, have a high turnover rate, meaning new cells grow and replace old cells at a rapid rate,” says Miller. “For this reason, hair follicles need a constant supply of nutrients to grow and function properly.” Collagen can be equally beneficial here, as it helps to anchor the root of the hair follicle to the muscle, which, says Miller, “promotes scalp elasticity, making breakage and hair loss less prevalent, and allowing hair to continue to grow.”What are the best hair vitamins for hair loss?
After you’ve taken care of the shaft and follicle, you’ll want to start thinking about the scalp. “The scalp is home to a complex and delicate host of microbes; this forms your scalp microbiome,” says Miller. “When healthy and diverse, this can act as a protective shield; however, when out of balance, its protection against environmental stressors like pollution is weakened, which can induce hair loss and scalp irritation.” A healthy microbiome equals a healthy scalp. “Prebiotics are essential to supporting a healthy microbiome, in both the gut and on the surface of the skin or scalp,” says Miller.
What are the best supplements for shiny hair?
“Shiny, strong hair comes from a blend of nutrients that support not just the hair but also your overall wellbeing,” says Tudor. Alongside the experts’ favourite, biotin, Tudor extols the benefits of vitamin C for hair health and improved shine. “It contributes to collagen production [and] is also essential for the absorption of iron. Without adequate iron levels, hair can often become thin and brittle. Zinc helps repair damaged follicles and maintain a healthy scalp, and silica is a mineral directly linked to hair strength and quality. A great way to think about hair health is to relate it to house plants. If they are not watered adequately, they wilt and suffer, adversely if the soil is well nourished, they will flourish.”
Thanks to hormonal changes that occur in women after a certain age, you might find yourself prioritising shine as hair becomes increasingly dull and brittle. “As women age, particularly after 40, the body’s ability to absorb and utilise nutrients can decline, which can affect hair health,” says Maguire. “Prioritising certain dietary choices can help improve hair quality, strength, and growth. Folic acid (B9) contributes to blood formation and immune function, indirectly nourishing hair follicles. Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids from fish, flaxseeds, or walnuts can further enhance thickness and shine. Vitamin D is crucial to preventing premature greying and thinning, yet many people are deficient in vitamin D, despite it being easily available from sunlight.”
Meet the experts
- Hannah Gaboardi is a trichologist with over 15 years of experience
- Gaby Vaca-Flores is a registered dietitian at HUM Nutrition
- Lisa Caddy is a consultant trichologist at Philip Kingsley
- Kieran Tudor is an award-winning hair stylist and co-founder of Centred
- Jules Miller is the founder of The Nue Co and a wellness expert
- Lucy Goff is the founder of LYMA, an entrepreneur and wellness expert
- Deborah Maguire is a registered trichologist and co-founder of Seed & Soul
- Masa Ohta is the lead therapist at natural hair care brand Leonor Greyl