If you have experienced hair loss or hair thinning, or you know someone who has, then you have probably heard of hair growth supplements. Some advertisements make outlandish claims, but to get to the truth you need to understand what vitamins actually are, and how different vitamin formulas address specific needs, like a prenatal vitamin for pregnant women or an iron supplement for iron deficiency.
Hair loss or thinning can be a sign of vitamin deficiency, specifically biotin. Other more complex causes are possible, and supplements won't be enough to address those. But if you're looking for a daily vitamin that will give your body the nutrients it needs to promote good, healthy hair growth, then you've come to the right place. We've put together a list of the best vitamins for hair growth to help you find what is right for you.
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The Best Vitamins for Hair Growth - Our Top Picks
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- Best Overall Vitamins for Hair Growth: Naturenetics HairAnew
- Best Vitamins for Hair Growth for Women: Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Supplement
- Best Prenatal Vitamins for Hair Growth: SmartyPants Prenatal Formula Multivitamin
- Best Vitamins for Hair Growth for Men: Rainbow Nutrients Hair + Beard Growth
- Best Vitamins for Hair Growth and Thickness: Primal Harvest Hair Growth Vitamins
- Best Gummy Vitamins for Hair Growth: Sugarbear Vegan Hair Gummy Vitamins
- Best Vegan Vitamins for Hair Growth: Hello Lovely! Hair Vitamin Gummies
- Best Organic Vitamins for Hair Growth: NATURELO Hair, Skin, and Nails
- Best Budget Vitamins for Hair Growth: Nature's Bounty Biotin
- Best Postnatal Vitamin for Hair Growth: Pink Stork Postpartum Hair Loss Gummies
Best Overall - Naturenetics HairAnew
SPECS
- Dose: 2 capsules, once daily
- Active ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, Niacin, vitamin B6, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Zinc, Kelp, Inositol, Silica
Naturenetics HairAnew is our pick for the best overall hair growth vitamins because it strikes a great balance between having a premium, complex formula while being affordable compared to others in its class.
Naturenetics has 5,000mcg of biotin, which is just over 15 times the daily value minimum. But biotin deficiency isn't the only cause of hair loss, so it is important for good hair vitamins to have high quantities of other vitamins and minerals that address other problems and promote hair growth, which Naturenetics does.
What We Like
- High vitamin and mineral content besides biotin
- Allergen-free
- Certified vegan product
What We Don't Like
- The capsules are relatively large
Best for Women - Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Supplement
SPECS
- Dose: 4 capsules per day
- Active ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, Biotin, Iodine, Zinc, Selenium
Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Supplement is a premium product designed by doctors to address the most common hair problems women experience. Nutrafol's products feature their patented plant-based ingredients called Synergen Complex for anyone looking for a more natural alternative to other brands.
What we like most about Nutrafol is that they commissioned their own clinical study to test the effectiveness of this product. According to the study, 90 percent of women who participated saw improvement in their hair overall.
What We Like
- Independently tested
- Formula created by doctors specifically for women
- Focus on natural ingredients
What We Don't Like
- The dose requires 4 capsules
- Expensive
BUY: Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Supplement
Best Prenatal - SmartyPants Prenatal Formula Multivitamin
SPECS
- Dose: 4 gummies daily
- Active ingredients: Biotin, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Choline, Vitamin B12, Iodine, Zinc, Omega-3 fish oil, and Vitamins A, C, D, E, and K
Many expecting mothers are advised to take a vitamin supplement to make sure their growing child is getting all of the nutrients they need for development. SmartyPants Prenatal vitamins have all of the major vitamins you'll need to address common issues that occur during pregnancy, such as vitamin D deficiency, plus the addition of biotin and omega-3s help with any negative effects on your hair.
What We Like
- Flavor options
- Vitamin D for immunity support
- Gummy form is easy to consume
What We Don't Like
- Added sugar
- No calcium in the formula
BUY: SmartyPants Prenatal Formula Multivitamin
Best for Men - Rainbow Nutrients Hair + Beard Growth
SPECS
- Dose: 2 capsules per day with water
- Active ingredients: Biotin, OptiMSM®, goMCT®, Saw Palmetto, Collagen, Folic Acid, Zinc, and Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E
Sometimes men and women experience hair loss for very different reasons. Rainbow Nutrients Hair + Beard Growth supplement is a formula specifically for the common problems men face that cause hair loss and other hair damage.
Biotin is of course one of the main ingredients of this supplement, but Rainbow Nutrients also has patented OptiMSM and goMCT blends that address fatty acids and testosterone balances that cause hair loss in men.
What We Like
- Natural ingredients
- Addresses fatty acid deficiencies
- Formula also supports facial hair health
What We Don't Like
- Reviewers say there is a bad taste
- Capsules are large in size
BUY: Rainbow Nutrients Hair + Beard Growth
Best for Thickness - Primal Harvest Hair Growth Vitamins
SPECS
- Dose: 2 capsules daily
- Active ingredients: Biotin, Vitamin C, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Zinc, Copper
Hair growth to replace hair loss is one thing, but many people also experience thinning hair and shedding. The Primal Harvest formula will help thicken your hair without losing the benefits of overall hair health.
This formula can work for men or women because it promotes the growth of keratin with a high dose of vitamin B6. Keratin is one of the main proteins in all hair so strengthening it restores damaged hair's health.
What We Like
- Targets hair thickness and health
- All-natural ingredients
- Money-back guarantee
What We Don't Like
- Each container is only a 15-day supply
- Contains silicon
BUY: Primal Harvest Hair Growth Vitamins
Best Gummy - Sugarbear Vegan Hair Gummy Vitamins
SPECS
- Dose: 2 gummies daily
- Active ingredients: Folate, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iodine, Zinc, Inositol, and Vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, and B12
Sugarbear makes vegan vitamins and supplements for a lot of different needs and micronutrient deficiencies. The Sugarbear Hair gummy vitamins are very similar to other gummy vitamins but with more premium ingredients than most of its gummy competitors.
When compared to other gummy vitamins, Sugarbear also has a slightly higher concentration of the essential nutrients that promote healthy hair growth than comparable gummy vitamins; and it is one of the few gummies that uses fruit for flavoring instead of cane sugar or artificial syrups.
What We Like
- Good flavor
- Premium ingredients
- Contains coconut oil
What We Don't Like
- Some reviews report breakouts during the first week
- Doesn't make hair thicker
BUY: Sugarbear Vegan Hair Gummy Vitamins
Best Vegan - Hello Lovely! Hair Vitamin Gummies
SPECS
- Dose: 2 gummies daily
- Active ingredients: Folate, Biotin, Choline, Iodine, Zinc, and Vitamins A, C, D, E, B5, B6, and B12
If you have trouble swallowing pills or you don't particularly like the taste of vegetable capsules, a gummy vitamin might be a good option for you. The only real tradeoff is that most gummies will contain sugar while capsules don't.
Hello Lovely! gummies have a lower concentration of vitamins than other brands on our list, but they still have a high dose of biotin and a good balance of micronutrients that will make your hair, skin, and nails healthier.
What We Like
- Gummies lower the risk of digestive irritation
- Easier to consume than capsules or pills
- Vegan-friendly
What We Don't Like
- Lower vitamin content than other brands
- Not allergen-free
BUY: Hello Lovely! Hair Vitamin Gummies
Best Organic - NATURELO Hair, Skin, and Nails
SPECS
- Dose: 2 capsules daily with food and water
- Active ingredients: Vitamin B6, Omega-3s, Collagen, Biotin, and Vitamins A, C, and E
We've included a few vegan-friendly options on our list so far, but if you're looking for the best organic vitamins, Naturelo is our recommendation. This product has no added coloring, no flavor, and uses only organic ingredients.
What we love most about Naturelo, though, is that its formula is balanced with a significant amount of collagen which may help with anti-aging, keeping your skin healthy, moisturized, and strong.
What We Like
- Anti-aging properties
- No additives for color or flavor
- High collagen
- Organic ingredients
What We Don't Like
- Not vegan-friendly
- Contains possible allergens
BUY: NATURELO Hair, Skin, and Nails
Best Budget - Nature's Bounty Biotin
SPECS
- Dose: 1 softgel daily
- Active ingredients: Biotin
We understand that vitamins and supplements can get expensive and not every budget can support an expensive monthly cost, especially when most supplements take one to two months before you will see results. If that is your situation, check out Nature's Bounty Biotin.
Nature's bounty is very budget friendly, but it is also strictly biotin so there are no other vitamins and minerals to support your overall health. But if biotin is what you're looking for, this is a very concentrated dose and will get the job done.
What We Like
- Budget-friendly
- High dose of biotin
- Rapid-release gel technology
What We Don't Like
- No other vitamins in the formula
Best Postnatal - Pink Stork Postpartum Hair Loss Gummies
SPECS
- Dose: 2 gummies daily
- Active ingredients: Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Iodine, Zinc, and Vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, and B12
Pregnancy can have a significant impact on hormones and nutrient levels. Most women will take a vitamin supplement during pregnancy, but sometimes it is also necessary to take one after the baby is born while your body recovers.
If you're looking to make sure your hair returns to a healthy, full state after pregnancy, then Pink Stork Postpartum Hair Loss Gummies is a great option for you.
What We Like
- Has necessary vitamins for postpartum recovery
- Women-owned company
- Independently tested
What We Don't Like
- Some reviews complain about an aftertaste
- Not allergen-free
BUY: Pink Stork Postpartum Hair Loss Gummies
How to Choose the Best Vitamins for Hair Growth
Biotin
Biotin is one of the primary ingredients in almost all hair growth supplements. Biotin is a B vitamin complex, also called vitamin H or vitamin B7, that has numerous health benefits for your body and is a popular supplement for healthy hair, skin, and nails. You can typically get plenty of biotin in your diet, but if you have a biotin deficiency, then a supplement can be helpful.
Hair loss is one of the most common signs of biotin deficiency, which is why it is such a popular ingredient in hair growth supplements. But if you don't have a deficiency there is little evidence that biotin supplements alone will help your hair grow, which is why many supplements include other vitamins and minerals to address a range of problems that can cause hair loss.
Zinc
Zinc is another very popular ingredient in hair growth vitamins. Similar to biotin, studies show that hair loss is one of the signs of a zinc deficiency and taking a vitamin that includes zinc can help reverse the damage to your hair follicles. But it is not proven to help if you do not have a deficiency.
B Vitamins
The best supplements include vitamin B. Your body uses B vitamins to break down amino acids, create energy from carbohydrates, and carry oxygen around the body, among other things. Whether B vitamins specifically promote hair growth is still up for debate, but they will help your body absorb the nutrients it needs for healthy skin and hair.
FAQs About Vitamins for Hair Growth
Do hair growth vitamins work?
It depends. There is little to no evidence that a person eating a healthy diet will benefit from hair growth vitamins. But if the underlying cause of hair loss is a deficiency in one or more key vitamins, then yes, the hair growth vitamins will work.
Are hair growth vitamins safe to take?
Hair growth vitamins are typically safe, but it is always best to consult your doctor or a board certified dermatologist before taking a hair growth supplement.
Is biotin good for hair growth?
Biotin is a B vitamin that promotes the growth of keratin. Keratin is a protein in your hair that gives it volume and strengthens your follicles. Stimulating keratin is one way to encourage hair growth, but unless you have a biotin deficiency there is little evidence to say that biotin alone will help.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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