But you might be wondering, do hair vitamins actually work? And if so, what are the best hair growth vitamins to take to maximize your results? Keep reading to learn the answers to those questions and more in this hair growth vitamin guide!
Index
Do hair vitamins actually work?
First things first: do hair vitamins actually work? Like any part of your body, your hair follicles need adequate nutrition in order to grow longer strands with more hair volume. When you’re not eating the best hair growth vitamins and minerals, your hair growth suffers. Why? Because our hair follicles contain the fastest dividing cells in the body, which means they need lots of nutritional support to fuel that rapid cell division. However, your body does not view hair growth as essential.
So if you’re not eating enough vitamins and minerals to support all of your body’s processes, your body will reroute the nutrients you do eat to more essential functions. Without all those hair healthy nutrients, your hair follicles will grow more slowly with finer, weaker hair.
The best way to get all the vitamins and nutrients you need for healthy hair growth is through a healthy, varied and balanced diet. However, we all know that eating healthily is easier said than done! That’s where supplements with hair growth vitamins come in. The best hair vitamins are formulated with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are thought to maintain healthy and happy hair follicles for better hair growth.
So do hair vitamins actually work? That depends entirely on the brand of hair growth vitamins, the person taking them and how consistently they’re taken. The best hair vitamins contain a full assortment of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients known to help with hair growth (more on those later).
Does vitamin deficiency affect my hair?
The only way to know for sure if a vitamin deficiency is affecting your hair growth is to talk to your doctor about it. Not sure if you should make a doctor's appointment? Here are a few signs to look out for:
- Brittle hair and nails
- Dandruff and scaly patches of skin
- Hair thinning
- Red or white bumps on the skin
The 7 best hair growth vitamins
On the lookout for the best hair growth vitamins? Check the ingredients label and see if they’re formulated with the following vitamins and minerals, all of which are scientifically proven to promote healthy hair and skin.
Note: hair growth vitamins don’t necessarily need to include all of these vitamins and minerals to be effective, but the more they contain the better.
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Biotin - When it comes to the best hair growth vitamins, biotin is probably the most famous. Biotin deficiency has been linked with hair loss, which is probably why it’s so popular in the formulas of the best hair vitamins.
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Vitamin A - Vitamin A supports the growth of new cells. That means it’s especially important to hair because hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body. Vitamin A also helps your scalp produce sebum, the natural oil that keeps your scalp and hair healthy and moisturized. It’s so important in fact, that vitamin A deficiencies have been linked to hair loss. Just be careful, since overdosing on vitamin A may also lead to hair loss. Depending on the form of vitamin A, the EU guidelines recommend taking no more than 800 µg to 1500 µg of vitamin A daily.
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Vitamin C - Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects the hair follicles from free radical damage, allowing them to grow more efficiently. Vitamin C also helps your body produce a protein called collagen, which is a major component of the hair structure. That’s why vitamin C is also considered one of the best hair growth vitamins.
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Zinc - Zinc is important for your body’s production of protein (what your hair is made of) as well as cell division. Both of these processes are critical for healthy hair growth, which is why zinc deficiencies have been linked with hair loss.
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Niacin - Niacin, AKA vitamin B3, is another important nutrient for keeping hair healthy. Alopecia areata (a type of hair loss) has been linked with niacin deficiencies.
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Vitamin D - Low levels of vitamin D have been linked with hair loss, though the role that vitamin D plays in hair growth is still unknown. Your skin produces vitamin D during exposure to sunlight. But if you don’t get much sun (like during the winter or if you live in a cloudy climate), your skin may not produce enough vitamin D.
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Vitamin E - Like vitamin C, vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the hair follicles from free radicals and may also act as a hair growth vitamin. In a 2010 study, people with hair loss experienced a 34.5% increase in hair growth after supplemented with vitamin E compared to a 0.1% increase when people didn’t supplement with vitamin E.
Other vitamins and minerals that may be helpful for hair growth include:
- Selenium
- Folic Acid
- Pantothenic Acid
- Vitamin B6
- Iodine
- Choline
- Vitamin B12
- Silica
- Calcium
What are the benefits of an all-in-one hair growth vitamin?
So, what are the benefits of an all-in-one hair growth vitamin? Of course, you can just pick and choose to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals you feel you may be lacking. But the best way to make sure you’re covering all of your nutritional bases (and setting yourself up for quicker hair growth) is to take an all-in-one hair growth vitamin. Plus, it’s much easier (and more cost effective) to take just one multi-purpose vitamin instead of many supplements every day!
When it comes to hair growth vitamins, consistency is key. Set yourself up for success by choosing an all-in-one hair growth vitamin over many different vitamins and mineral supplements. Keep reading for my recommendations for the best hair vitamins.
Before and after Hairlust
*Results may vary from person to person.
See all reviewsProduct recommendation for hair vitamins
These are my picks for the best hair growth vitamins:
Hair Formula Tablets for Women
Hairlust Hair Formula Tablets for Women provide all the best hair vitamins and minerals your follicles crave for a healthy scalp and regular hair growth. This is an “extra strength” formula, so if you’re looking for some serious hair help – this is it. Hair Formula Tablets for Women contain a powerful dosage of clinically-proven ingredients including Biotin, Vitamin B12, Silica and Zinc. Plus, they’re made with natural, vegan ingredients and formulated to meet the specific hair needs of women.
Hair Formula Gummies for Women
Like the tablet formula, Hairlust Hair Formula Gummies for Women contain vitamins and minerals clinically proven to assist with hair growth. These supplements come in a delicious gummy formula that’s easier on the tummy. Many users find that it’s easier to remember to take the gummies because they taste so yummy!
There are also Hair Formula Gummies for Men and Hair Formula Tablets for Men, which are made specifically for men dealing with androgenic alopecia.
How long does it take hair growth vitamins to work?
The best hair vitamins may give you longer and thicker hair, but you cannot expect visible results overnight. If you take the best hair growth vitamins consistently (and you don’t have an underlying hair growth issue like androgenic alopecia), you should see results in three to six months.
The key here, of course, is taking them consistently. If you’re not used to taking hair growth vitamins, here are a few tips to help you get into the habit:
- Keep your vitamins some place where you’re likely to see them. This will help jog your memory. Some useful places include your nightstand, your office desk, or next to your kitchen stove.
- Tie the habit of taking hair growth vitamins with a habit you already have in place. For example, try to take your hair growth vitamins when you wash your face before bed.
- Set a reminder on your phone to take your hair growth vitamins.
Try a few different methods and see what works best for you!
If poor experiences with hair growth vitamins in the past have left you wondering, “Do hair vitamins actually work?”, a lack of results is often simply because of a lack of consistency. Make taking hair growth vitamins a part of your daily routine and you’re much more likely to see results.
Do hair growth vitamins have any side effects?
Even the best hair vitamins can come with some side effects, particularly if you fail to use them correctly. To avoid any side effect for hair growth vitamins (or supplement in general) try taking your hair growth vitamins with a small meal and plenty of water.
Remember hair growth vitamins should be considered a supplement (not a substitute) for a healthy, balanced diet. Do not combine hair growth vitamins with other supplements that contain the same vitamins and minerals. And of course, if in doubt, I recommend that you ask your doctor before adding any supplements to your routine!
Besides taking the best hair vitamins, what else can I do to promote hair growth?
If you’re serious about growing longer, stronger hair, you’ll also want to develop a few more hair-healthy habits in addition to taking the best hair vitamins. Here’s what I suggest:
Optimize Your Cleansing Routine
Ditch your regular shampoo and conditioner for formulas that support hair growth and repair. Nourishing Split Fix™ Shampoo and Conditioner is for you if hair breakage and split ends are preventing you from growing long and healthy hair. Instead, if you are suffering from hair loss or thinning, opt for Grow Perfect™ Shampoo and Conditioner that are formulated with Anagain™ and organic rosemary oil, both of which are clinically proven to improve hair growth and density.
To boost your results with this shampoo and conditioner even further, I recommend using a topical hair growth treatment, such as Grow Perfect™ Hair Growth Serum at the same time. It is formulated with naturally-derived ingredients that are clinically proven to increase hair growth, reduce hair loss, and improve overall scalp health.
Mask It
You’ll also want to make sure you do a deep-conditioning treatment with a hair mask every week. I recommend Split Fix™ Hair Mask, which infuses hair with a potent dose of protecting and hydrating plant extracts.
So if you’ve been wondering, “Do hair vitamins actually work?” now you have your answer! Hair growth vitamins can really help improve hair growth, particularly if you are deficient in one or more hair-healthy vitamins or minerals.
