Hair Growth Vitamins
How can I speed up hair growth if I’m healthy?
“There are some studies and anecdotal evidence that support the idea that low vitamin D levels can hinder hair growth, and a lot of people tend to have low vitamin D, even if they’re otherwise healthy,” says Dr. Bhanusali, noting the same for lower iron levels. “A lot of derms see good results by prescribing patients iron supplements and vitamin D supplements, although always check with your doctor before taking anything.”
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 talkin’ from a point of science here, your odds aren’t great.
Not sure what to do? Talk to your doctor. Really. They can give you the thumbs up (or down) before you waste your money—or, worse, mess with your health.
Which hair supplements work the best?
Choosing which hair supplements to try can feel overwhelming, with a huge range of tablets, gummies and liquids on offer.
Medical studies have found that our bodies absorb liquids the fastest, in just one to four minutes. Tablets, meanwhile, can take up to half an hour to break down and be liquidised in our stomachs. Because the body does not need to break down a liquid, a higher percentage of its goodies are absorbed - 98% compared to 53% from tablets, according to Medicare. Some people also find tablets difficult to swallow. The upside of tablets is that they are easier to take with you when travelling, quicker to take each day, and often have a longer shelf life. Hair Growth Vitamins are good.
Gummies may be the most fun and tasty way to take a supplement, but they tend to have a higher sugar content than liquids and tablets. The more sugar, colouring and gelling agent there is in a gummy, the less space there is for nutrients! That all said, our winning supplement comes in gummy form, so don't rule them out.
How long do hair supplements take to work?
Regardless of whether you’re vitamin deficient or just a healthy person who somehow magically benefits from hair supplements, you still won’t see results overnight. Or even in a year. Or in five years. Why? “Your hair is dead, and nothing you do internally can affect its density, strength, or health,” says Burg. “Sure, vitamins will help the new hair that you’re growing, but because it grows only half an inch a month, it’ll take five or six years of taking supplements before a new strand of hair even reaches your shoulders.” Perspective, huh?
Hair Growth Vitamins in Review
But that’s not to say you won’t see any changes before 2025. “If you’re vitamin deficient, supplements may help reactivate your oil glands after a few months, which can make your hair look shinier and more moisturized,” says Burg. And hey, you might even get the tiniest bit of additional hair growth, but that’s about it.
What about biotin—does it really help hair grow?
Sorry (again), but there’s no definitive answer—yet a ton of doubt. According to dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD, clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, if you’re taking a stand-alone biotin supplement, you’d need to take at least 5 milligrams daily for it to have the chance of affecting hair growth—but even then, there’s no guarantee it’ll do anything.
It’s also worth noting that biotin—just like any supplement—isn’t without its downsides: Excess biotin has the potential to trigger breakouts in some acne-prone individuals (yup! Fun! We’re having fun!). More research is needed to understand the exact correlation, but what is known is that taking biotin can also affect major medical tests your doctor may perform. Basically, unless you yourself are a doctor (which, hi, why you here?!), make sure to discuss all supplement-related info with an actual MD. Hair Growth Vitamins
What are the best hair growth pills?
Okay, so let’s pretend you’ve gotten your blood tested, you’ve gotten the green light from your doctor, you’ve made a deal with your god, and you’re ready to try some hair supplements. Cool. Do not go overboard. Doubling up on supplements can be incredibly dangerous over time—some vitamins get peed out by your system, but others can build up to toxic levels—so test only one supplement at a time, and make sure that whatever you ingest is a reputable, well-reviewed formula, like one of these best-selling pills. Hair Growth Vitamins