The 7 Best Supplements For Hair Growth, According To Dermatologists (2024)

Thinning hair is something almost everyone will go through at some point, no matter how luscious and full your locks have always been. And, for the most part, you can chalk all of this up to genes.

"At a certain point, our hair begins to thin,” explains Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine. "This can happen early during the teen years or twenties, but mostly occurs in our late thirties.” And much like spotting gray hairs—if it happened to your parents at a certain age, it'll probably happen to you at around the same time.

Meet the experts: Mona Gohara, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine. Debra Jaliman, MD is a dermatologist based in New York City. Erin Palinsky-Wade, RD is a registered dietitian and author of Walking The Weight Off For Dummies. Hope Mitchell, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Perrysburg, OH. Nianda Reid, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Doylestown, PA. Oma Agbai, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Sacramento, CA and health sciences clinical professor at The University of California, Davis department of dermatology. Noelani González, MD is a dermatologist at Mount Sinai in New York City. Vandana Sheth, RDN is a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian and author of My Indian Table: Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes.

Your hair can also start thinning due to a handful of other reasons like stress, tension on your scalp, and disease, to name a few. One of the other most notorious culprits for hair loss, though? Vitamin deficiencies. Luckily, there are tons of vitamins and hair growth supplements on the market that can help. Here, picks that have been pre-screened by our pros.

Biotin is well-known for being able to support hair health and growth, which is why you can't wrong with taking the supplement at least once a day. “Biotin (a form of vitamin B) is important for the energy production that many enzymes need,” New York City dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD says.

A social media celebrity of sorts, these vitamins are great for your hair and scalp. They're packed with vitamin A, which decreases oil production, vitamin D, which helps prevent shedding, and vitamin B12, which keeps the scalp and follicles nourishes in order to retain growth.

Dr. Gohara's a fan of Nutrafol, because it's chock-full of antioxidants, including resveratrol, collagen [the primary building block of hair], curcumin, Vitamin E, and kelp. "This combo of antioxidants and vitamins helps to reduce the hormone DHT, which is responsible for hair follicle shrinkage and thinning," she says. Plus, it wards off environmental damage that can put your locks through the wringer.

Like Nutrafol, Viviscal is backed by peer reviews from dermatologists and clinical studies, says Dr. González. Its blend of ingredients (vitamin C, flax seed extract, and zinc, to name a few) help hair remain in its growth phase, called anagen.

"The addition of blood orange to this liquid supplement provides a boost of vitamin C, along with a delicious and refreshing citrus flavor that you can enjoy alone or mixed into a beverage like a smoothie," says Erin Palinsky-Wade, RD, a registered dietitian and author. In addition to tasting good, it's also made with silica, "which supports the body’s ability to produce collagen and maintain glossy, strong hair, along with radiant skin," she adds. When it comes to strong strands, collagen is a must, and the right vitamins can help increase production. The body uses the amino acids it's packing to build hair proteins and strengthen strands at the root while protecting the follicle from damage.

With biotin, vitamin C, and folic acid, these gummies (that you've probably seen all over Instagram) might just be what your hair is missing. Plus, this supplement can act as a multivitamin, says Palinksy-Wade.

Ritual's ingredients, which include vitamin E, boron, vitamin D3, magnesium, omega-3, iron, vitamin K2, vitamin B12, and folate, "efficiently and effectively address hormone and mineral deficiencies along with inflammation that can lead to disease states that stress the body and cause many problems, including hair loss," Dr. Mitchell says. And since it's formulated for women over the age of 50, Dr. Mitchell says the vitamin also supports healthy aging all-around in postmenopausal women.

For the past few months, Women’s Health editors have been researching the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated vitamins for hair growth. Our team consulted several dermatologists and dietitians, and then evaluated thousands of customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best vitamins for hair growth for a wide range of needs and preferences.

While it's normal to lose anywhere from 50 to 150 strands of hair per day, if you've noticed that your hair brush is picking up a few more strands than usual, this could be happening because you're either missing out on nutrients, you're on a specific diet, or you're dealing with a condition that strips you of these vitamins, says dermatologist Noelani González, MD. Other issues like stress or tension on your scalp could also be at play. And, of course, there's always good old genetics to blame.

Good news: Yes! “Hair-growth supplements and some of these vitamins may be useful for those patients who are experiencing hair thinning, hair loss, and/or don’t have a sufficient intake of certain vitamins,” says Dr. González. “You can think of vitamin supplementation as providing your hair with the necessary ingredients in order for it to develop in a healthy way.” All of that said, if you’re not actually vitamin-deficient, taking a supplement likely won't make that much of a difference. And if you're unsure of where you stand with your vitamin intake, check in with your doctor. They may recommend a blood test to determine what you're missing.