The 20 Best Supplements For Hair Growth, According To Dermatologists

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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.

Biotin Supplement

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.

Hairfinity Hair Vitamins

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.

Beauty Gummies

These gummy vitamins feature an all-star blend of vitamins A and C, as well as biotin and zinc to support all of your beauty needs—including healthy hair growth. The chewables boast a sweet strawberry flavor that's easy to stomach, too.

Hair Wellness From Within

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.

Hair Growth Supplements

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.

Hair Strong Gummies

Somehow, some way, it's always easier to remember to take gummies than tablets. And these gummies are packed with bennies. "They combine B vitamins with zinc, folic acid, and biotin," says Dr. Gohara. Plus, "this is a vegan product that can benefit those who are deficient in these particular nutrients."

Hair Skin Nails Liquid Supplement

"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.

Tricho Complex Vitamin & Mineral Hair Supplement

If an iron deficiency is the reason your locks aren't looking as good as they used to, this is the supp for you, says Palinksy-Wade, who explains that it's packing a ton. Tricho is also loaded with biotin and amino acids like lysine. "Improving your nutritional intake of these nutrients may protect against hair loss and support hair growth and strength," Palinksy-Wade adds.

Hair Vitamins

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.

Perfect Hair Vitamins Plus

"This great formulation promotes hair growth through a balanced ingredient list which also contains a DHT blocker," says Hope Mitchell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Perrysburg. DHT is the hormone responsible for hair thinning. It shrinks hair follicles and shortens the hair growth cycle, Dr. Mitchell explains. So, by blocking it, you can help "prevent thinning and promote follicular growth," she adds.

Matrix 5000 Complete Multivitamin for Hair

Dr. Mitchell is also a fan of the Elon Matrix Complete formula. "It can serve as a multivitamin," she says. Plus, it's made with vitamins B3 and E, which are major game changers when it comes to increasing blood flow in the scalp. They create the optimal environment for nutrients to make their way to the hair follicle and decrease stress on the strands themselves.

Essential For Women 50+

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.

Undeniable Beauty Gummy

In addition to the biotin, vitamin C, and vitamin E this grapefruit-flavored supplement's packing, it's also loaded up with keratin—the protective and structural protein that keeps skin, hair, and nails looking their best, says Nianda Reid, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Doylestown. "Patients also like that it’s available in a chewy, tasty gummy vitamin which makes for improved compliance," she adds.

Hair Hero

Dr. Reid includes Hair Hero among her top picks because its formula contains zinc and iron, which are biggies for hair. Meanwhile, its doses of collagen and vitamins A, B, C are putting in work too. These vitamins and proteins protect the shafts of each strand and improve strength and volume.

HairAnew

HairAnew's vegan formula contains biotin, vitamin B, vitamin C, and zinc. "These boost its ability to nourish the hair follicles," explains Dr. Reid. "I like it for my patients with sensitivities, as HairAnew is sugar-free and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives."

Haironex Hair Vitamins

This is another favorite among dermatologists because the combo of keratin, flaxseed, biotin, and zinc optimizes scalp health, says Dr. Reid. And a healthy scalp makes for happy hair follicles and thick hair shafts—and ups the survival rate of your strands.

Beauty

Movita is totally organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and allergen-free—and packed with superfoods including maca root and hemp seeds, says Dr. Reid. The pill contains Q10, "a coenzyme that's been shown to stimulate the expression of different hair keratin proteins, thereby promoting hair growth," she adds. Plus, the turmeric powder inside is a biggie add-in for its anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant effects.

Maxi-Hair

Oma Agbai, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Sacramento, CA, considers Maxi-Hair a standout because of two of its ingredients: organic sulfur and horsetail herb. "Organic sulfur provides the body with natural building blocks for healthy hair growth," she says.

As for horsetail herb, Dr. Agbai trusts it because it's been a treatment for hair loss for generations. It's been proven to slow the production of DHT, the hormone that's responsible for thinning hair and baldness.

Phytophanère 100% Natural Hair Loss Thinning Dietary Supplement

If you've tried meditation, better sleep, and exercise routines and your stress levels are still sky-high, Palinksy-Wade recommends the Phytophanère supplement. "In addition to providing a good source of biotin and vitamin C to promote hair growth, this supplement also provides essential fatty acids that may help to strengthen hair while reducing stress-induced inflammation, which could accelerate hair loss," she says.

Iconic Hair Growth Vitamins

Containing an array of ingredients used in Ayurvedic medicine, experts like Manish Shah, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon, say this natural, vegan hair vitamin is a must-have. It doesn't contain any fillers, only pure, herbal ingredients like kelp, licorice root and a whopping 1,000+ times the daily recommended value of biotin. You do have to take these vitamins twice per day, but on the upside, the brand says you'll have no trouble doing so on an empty stomach.

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.

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.

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