Here Are Some Natural Hair Growth Supplements That Works

At age 25, due to a combination of stress, hormones, and chemical damage, my hair began to thin. I was desperate to find something that would actually make my hair grow faster. shampoos for hair growth that claimed bigger, thicker hair? I kept some in my shower. TikToks that extolled the virtues of castor oil treatments, aloe vera massages, and goods infused with rosemary oil? I gave them all a shot, but failed. I was intrigued—but also quite skeptic—when my mum suggested taking vitamins for hair development that are said to make your hair grow longer and faster.natural hair growth supplements.

According to board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, “there is not enough evidence to prove their efficacy for hair growth,” even though hair-growth supplements may help to enhance overall hair health. I apologize; I know. Prior to reading that and asking yourself, “Whatever—how dangerous can hair-growth supplements really be?” I’ve got some bad news: It can be really perilous with the wrong individual. (more on that below). To find out whether hair-growth vitamins can genuinely grow your hair, which vitamins help with hair growth, and which hair-growth techniques they actually endorse, I spoke with five specialists and doctors.

✔️ FYI: We updated this article in March 2023 to give you the most up-to-date info on hair-growth vitamins, including new tried-and-tested formulas, a dermatologist’s take on hair-growth ingredients, and how to choose a hair-growth vitamin for yourself.

How do vitamins for hair growth work?

Biotin, folic acid, vitamins D, A, C, and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids are typical constituents in hair-growth pills, gummies, and supplements. These “hair-friendly” substances are said to act in concert to make your hair look longer, healthier, shinier, and stronger over the course of a few months. That is presumably the case (sure, we’ll discuss this). Yet first…

Are hair-growth vitamins safe?

Depending on your present health and the sort of supplement or gummy you take, hair-growth vitamins may or may not be safe. The problem is that since supplements and vitamins are not governed by the FDA, companies may essentially say and do whatever they want, as well as incorporate any combination of chemicals into their formulae. Not all gummies and vitamins are necessarily terrifying and dangerous (after all, poisoning clients is terrible business strategy), but the research around hair supplements is either nonexistent or highly dubious because it isn’t supported by government-approved data.

According to dermatologist Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD, many studies that endorse hair supplements are actually funded by the businesses themselves. The majority of dermatologists concur that supplements are not particularly effective, according to Dr. Bhanusali, an expert on hair loss, who claims that the data is “sketchy at best.” Your best option is to chat to your doctor (seriously—their 10+ years of education have made them fairly knowledgeable in the area of hair development), or try some topical products in its place:

But if you’re determined to try hair gummies, pills, supplements, and vitamins, regardless of what I say, then let me at least help you do it safely. So let’s get into what you really want to know:

Do vitamins for hair growth really work?

Reminder: Since vitamins and supplements are not FDA-approved, there is no set standard for their composition, potency, or other aspects. Therefore, there will never be a definitive yes or no to the question of whether vitamins for hair growth actually work. However, if you ask the professionals—or me, who tried using them for two months and ended up with breakouts—the answer to whether or not hair supplements actually work is essentially a resounding NOPE from everyone.

Plus, even though vitamins themselves are absolutely necessary and beneficial for your hair, they won’t do much if your body is already stocked with them—which it probably already is. “Most people get all the vitamins they need to manage their hair growth from their diet alone,” says trichologist Dominic Burg, chief scientist at Evolis Professional.

Does biotin help hair growth?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a definitive answer on whether biotin really helps hair growth, and every dermatologist we spoke with was on the skeptical side. According to dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD,, if you’re taking a stand-alone biotin supplement, you’d need to take at least 5 milligrams daily for it to have a chance of affecting hair growth—but even then, there’s no guarantee it’ll do anything, she says.

It’s also important to remember that biotin has drawbacks, just like every dietary supplement: Some people who are prone to acne may experience outbreaks if they consume too much biotin. (which is what happened to me). Although more investigation is required to determine the precise relationship, it is known that taking biotin can have an impact on important medical tests that your doctor might order. Therefore, before attempting any supplements, as we’ll keep saying, be sure to discuss them with a real doctor.

Are there side effects to vitamins for hair growth?

What harm, you might be asking, could there possibly be in taking vitamins and supplements for hair growth? But alas, in a healthy (read: non-deficient) individual, vitamins don’t function in that way. Even if you consumed three times as many vitamins as your body requires (please don’t), you still wouldn’t experience a threefold or even a twofold increase in hair growth.

Why? Because, according to trichologist Dominic Burg, “your body only keeps the vitamins it needs and then gets rid of the rest.” It’s similar like adding more water to a glass that is already completely full. Therefore, you won’t typically end up urinating out the excess vitamins very soon after you consume them unless you’re genuinely low in some essential nutrients, i.e., your doctor has determined you are vitamin deficient.

What vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?

There are other physical and psychological variables that can contribute to hair thinning and shedding, so it’s not just one vitamin deficiency that can result in hair loss. Many women are lacking in some nutrients and are unaware of it, either as a result of dieting, poor nutrition, or high levels of stress, according to Burg. Furthermore, according to him, when you’re under a lot of stress or aren’t eating enough, “your body will shut down your hair growth first and redirect nutrients and energy to the organs that need it most,” leaving you vitamin deficient and your hair growth at a standstill.

And if you’ve ever gone through a period of intense physical or emotional stress (think: epidemic), you might have seen a sudden hair loss a few months afterwards. According to Burg, “it’s a delayed response to the stress or diet that typically occurs three months later.” Please wait until a doctor says it is okay for you to use supplements before doing so because the only way to know for sure if your body is deficient is to get your levels checked by your doctor.

Do any vitamins help with hair growth?

According to Dr. Bhanusali, certain vitamins may be able to assist with hair growth if your doctor determines you are vitamin deficient. According to Dr. Bhanusali, many people have low vitamin D levels despite being otherwise healthy. “There are some studies and anecdotal evidence that support the idea that low vitamin D levels can hinder hair growth,” she adds. And lower iron levels are the same. Despite the fact that “always check with your doctor before taking anything,” he advises, “many derms see good results by prescribing patients iron supplements and vitamin D supplements.”

If you are not vitamin deficient (which, again, only a doctor can tell you) but still want longer, healthier, stronger hair, then sadly, “supplements will probably do very little for you,” says Burg. Hey, maybe you’ll be the lucky wild card—again, there are no mass studies definitively saying yes or no—but if we’re talking from a point of science here, your odds aren’t great.

What helps stimulate hair growth?

Ah, yes, the question you should be asking: If not supplements, then what? Luckily, you’ve got a ton of options:

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is the active ingredient found in both topical products (like Rogaine and Hers) that you massage on your scalp daily, and in oral medications that are prescribed by a doctor. “We don’t know the exact mechanism for how minoxidil works, but we think a lot of it has to do with increasing blood flow to the scalp,” says Dr. Bhanusali. “It’s like giving more water to the plant to help it grow.” Essentially, minoxidil helps encourage your hair to stay in the growth phase longer (versus the rest or shedding phase), which can increase hair density, says dermatologist Samantha Ellis, MD.

If you’re going to try topical minoxidil, just know you need to be consistent—use it every single day until…forever. And if you’re dealing with irritation or you’re not seeing results after a few months, head to your derm for prescription options (more on that below).

Steroids

A doctor or dermatologist should be consulted as soon as possible if your hair loss is quick rather than gradual. If this is the case, the underlying cause (which may be stress, hormones, deficiencies, inflammation, or sickness) should be treated. According to Dr. Bhanusali, topical steroids or steroid injections are frequently used as a temporary remedy to help reduce the shedding.

Spironolactone

Yup, the magical acne-clearing pill can also be helpful for hair growth. “Oral spironolactone is a prescription blood-pressure medication that helps block androgens—male sex hormones—in females, which can help increase hair growth over time,” says Dr. Bhanusali. Another (off-label) added bonus? “Many patients find that their breakouts disappear and their hair is less oily too,” he says.

PRP therapy

In PRP therapy, also known as platelet-rich plasma therapy, your blood is drawn, the plasma is separated from it, and then it is reinjected into your scalp to assist promote follicle activity. It’s expensive (around $600 to $1,200 per treatment), normally requires at least four sessions, but it’s a promising method for hair growth. Dr. Bhanusali says, “I do think PRP can work in the right patient, but it’s not a certainty. According to studies, 20% of participants see a major improvement, 20% experience minimal to no effects, and anecdotally, the other 40% may experience improvements of 10% to 15%.

Compounded topicals

We are now witnessing new compounding possibilities for your scalp as well, the most current of which is HairStim, thanks to the recent rise of skincare compounding (i.e., when your dermatologist creates skincare formulae specifically for your face—think: Curology, SkinMedicinals, and Apostrophe). According to Dr. Bhanusali, “Your dermatologist will evaluate your scalp and then pick and choose whatever ingredients they think will help with hair growth, like higher-dose minoxidil, retinoic acid, finasteride, topical spiro, salicylic acid—whatever makes the most sense for the patient.”

Additionally, unlike other prescription or hair supplement items that doctors may occasionally receive a kickback for recommending (yes, this really occurs), “doctors don’t get a cent for recommending HairStim,” claims Dr. Bhanusali, who founded the business. The only possible drawback? Compound topicals like HairStim, which costs approximately $60 and lasts between 30 and 60 days depending on how much you use and the size of the “affected” area, such as simply your hairline or your entire head, are typically not covered by insurance.

“We usually see results between 10 and 12 weeks,” says Dr. Bhanusali. I’ve personally used HairStim for my own thinning part for an entire year, and it’s the only formula that doesn’t leave my scalp dry, itchy, and irritated—solely because my dermatologist changed up the percentages and added additional skin soothers to minimize inflammation.

Medicated scalp treatments

It may seem apparent, but serene surroundings are necessary for optimal hair development. Therefore, you must quickly re-establish a healthy foundation if your scalp is irritated, inflamed, or flaky, whether as a result of dandruff, dry scalp, psoriasis, or eczema. This is where medicated scalp treatments come in.

If you’re working with a flaky, itchy scalp from dandruff, dermatologist Samantha Ellis, MD, recommends sudsing up with a dandruff shampoo with antifungals ingredients, like pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole, or selenium sulfide, all of which help to “reduce inflammation that leads to hair loss over time,” she says. If your shampoo isn’t helping after 3-4 weeks, head to the dermatologist for proper diagnosis and/or prescription treatments.

 

 

 

 

 

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