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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.
Pros
Contains hair-friendly biotin
Excellent value
Cons
Works best if you have a biotin deficiency
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.
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Pros
Highly touted by social media personalities
Contains vitamins to strengthen follicles
Cons
Large pills may be hard to swallow for some
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.
Pros
Loved by dermatologists
Protects scalp and follicles against environmental damage
Cons
Very expensive
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.
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Pros
Beloved by dermatologists
Backed by clinical studies
Cons
Expensive for number of capsules included
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.
Pros
Tastes great
Strengthens hair and makes it shinier
Cons
Liquid format may be off-putting for some
"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.
Pros
Good as a multi-vitamin as well
Tastes great
Cons
May be too sugary for some
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.
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Pros
Formula designed for mature women
Addresses mineral and vitamin deficiencies
Cons
Not ideal for younger women
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.
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How we chose the best vitamins for hair growth
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.
What causes hair loss and thinning?
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.
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Do hair supplements really work?
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.
What are the best vitamins for hair growth?
If you're on the hunt for vitamins that will support long, lush locks, check ingredient labels for the following:
B-Vitamins: "Foods rich in B-complex vitamins help with hair health and renewal of cells necessary for hair growth," explains Vandana Sheth, RDN, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian and author of My Indian Table: Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes. Good sources for B-Vitamins include whole grains, dark leafy greens, seafood, and meat.
Vitamin D: "This is a vitamin that helps with overall immunity," says Dr. Gohara. It's only recently been linked to hair health. Those who are more likely to be vitamin D deficient are those with brown skin living in colder climates without strong enough UV light, she adds.
Omega-3 fatty acids: These fats are a "good source of protein, which can help enhance the strength of your strands," Sheth explains. Some good sources include salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, chia seeds, flaxseed meal, and walnuts.
Zinc: This stuff's been linked to combating the yeast that causes dandruff, inflammation, and hair loss in the form of excess shedding, says Dr. Gohara.
Iron: "Iron-deficient people can suffer from anemia and subsequent hair loss," explains Dr. Gohara. "This can happen with diets that lack iron, with heavy menstrual cycles where blood loss is substantial, or with other health conditions."
B12: Meats are usually packing this vitamin, so those who follow a vegetarian diet and are noticing thinning hair might also have brittle and dry hair, says Dr. Gohara.
Biotin: Chances are, you've tried this supplement before. It was once known as the holy grail for hair, skin, and nails. But Dr. Gohara explains that it's now falling out of favor due to the lack of science backing up claims about it.
Vitamin E: This nutrient has been found to prevent oxidative stress, Sheth says. Good sources include avocado, sunflower seeds, almonds, and spinach.
Aryelle Siclait
Editor
Aryelle Siclait is the editor at Women's Health where she writes and edits articles about relationships, sexual health, pop culture, and fashion for verticals across WomensHealthMag.com and the print magazine. She's a Boston College graduate and lives in New York.
Danielle Jackson
Senior Beauty Editor
Danielle is the senior beauty editor at Women's Health. Her apartment is currently littered with beauty products, but when she's not testing them all out, you can find her watching facial ASMR videos on YouTube, binge-watching The Golden Girls on Hulu, and reading rom-coms.