Imagine every movie star or model you have ever seen. Chiseled bodies, stylish outfits, and thick locks of hair.
Their amazing hair flows back and forth with the wind.
How is their hair so thick with no signs of hair loss?
The answer, friends, are hair vitamins. George Clooney, the Kardashians, and others all use hair vitamins to keep their hair in perfect shape.
So which vitamins or supplements do you need for thicker hair? Keep reading along and what the best hair supplements are for thicker and healthy hair growth.
Causes Of Hair Loss
Genetics
Sad to say, but hair loss or male pattern baldness (MPB) genes can be passed along to you from your family.
MPB can come from either your paternal or maternal family side.
One way to spot hair loss genes is to look at your family members and see if the majority have no hair or crown balding. If so, it might make sense to take some steps to prevent the same from happening to you.
Nutritional Deficiencies
A healthy and balanced diet is not only good for overall health, but it is also good for strong thick hair. In general, you want to make sure your diet includes proteins and leafy greens.
But you can still have gaps in certain nutrients.
Lack of nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin D can drive hair loss or hair fall.
Negative Lifestyle
As we live our lives our bodies have to deal with a lot of stress. But what goes on in our bodies?
An example of a stressor in our body is a free radical. They are basically molecules that are unstable due to them missing a key element. These free radicals do damage to our bodies in the form of oxidative stress which ultimately hurts our hair.
Negative lifestyle like drinking alcohol, smoking, and skipping sleep causes further stress on our bodies.
What Are Hair Vitamins?
Hair vitamins are dietary supplements that contain nutrients that promote healthier hair.
These vitamins can potentially improve hair growth, shine, thickness, and strength. They can also slow hair loss and hair fall.
Hair growth supplements typically include ingredients like biotin, vitamin C, vitamin E, collagen, folic acid, and omega fatty acids. They can also contain ingredients such as ashwagandha and ginseng.
Which Essential Nutrients Help Hair Health?
Hair health is caused by many factors such as age, genetics, hormone levels, diet, stress, and bad hair product chemicals. Hints of unhealthy hair include hair thinning, slow hair growth, dry hair, weak hair, brittle hair, and dull hair.
Having a healthy diet and lifestyle can promote healthy hair. Specifically getting enough of the following nutrients can improve your hair health.
- Protein
- Iron
- Zinc
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
Protein
Not only does protein help with muscle growth it is also what makes up most of our hair. Protein is a macronutrient and our body needs a lot of it.
If you are not getting enough protein then consider supplementing with protein powder to help grow thicker hair.
Iron
In order for oxygen to be carried across our body, your blood cells need iron.
One major symptom of an iron deficiency is hair loss.
If you think you are lacking iron, speak with a medical professional to understand if you should take extra iron.
Zinc
Zinc is great for immune support, but studies have shown that a deficiency can lead to hair loss.
Therefore if you are not able to get it from your diet alone then you will want to supplement zinc.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a very potent nutrient that is necessary for cell growth. It is in the same class as retinoids which is a common ingredient in anti aging creams.
Since your hair has some of the fastest growing cells, your body needs higher levels of vitamin A for a healthy scalp.
Vitamin B
B vitamins like biotin help the body break down protein. Protein is essential for hair growth. Most people get biotin naturally through meat.
If you don’t have a high protein diet or are vegetarian, consider taking vitamin B supplements.
Vitamin C
Free radicals and oxidative stress are one of the major causes of hair loss. So, adding nutrients like vitamin C are great for you as they are powerful antioxidants.
Additionally, our body uses vitamin C to produce collagen which is a key protein that makes up our hair.
Vitamin D
The greatest source of vitamin D is sunlight. However, if you are consistently indoors working or if you dont get alot of sun during the winter then you may have a vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D is one of the top nutrients needed for thicker hair.
Clinical research has proven that adding vitamin D to your diet can boost hair follicle growth.
Vitamin E
Similar to vitamin C, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. Getting more of this vitamin will help prevent damage to your hair from oxidative stress.
If you think you are experiencing hair loss or lack of hair growth then it is recommended that you work with a dermatologist or medical professional to identify the cause and get the right nutrients for your hair.
Do Vitamins For Thicker Hair Work?
Time for some not so great news.
Even with widespread use of hair growth supplements and vitamins, there is not a lot of evidence to support vitamins’ ability to promote thicker hair.
Although certain nutrients have been shown to improve hair health. Clinical studies show that hair supplements are only good for people who have hair issues due to nutritional deficiencies.
Also, deficiencies in nutrients that are typically added to hair vitamins, like vitamin C and biotin, are rare. Therefore, taking these nutrients won’t really improve hair appearance.
Furthermore, due to the possibility of adverse effects, countries limit high doses of certain nutrients to prescriptions only. So, nutrients like iron, biotin, vitamin B, vitamin C, zinc, selenium, and folic acid can have little to no impact on your hair in small amounts.
On the flip side, excess amounts of some nutrients can cause nutrient toxicity making your hair loss even worse.
Instead of taking random supplements to thicken your hair, it is best to work with a dermatologist or healthcare professional to figure out the underlying cause. They will be able to select the right supplements for you.
See Also: Best DHT Blocker Supplements To Stop Hair Loss
Will Biotin Thicken My Hair?
Biotin is a water soluble vitamin that is part of the B-complex group.
It is important for the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. As well as being essential for healthy skin, nails and hair.
A biotin deficiency can lead to thinning hair and hair loss. So it’s no surprise that biotin is often taken as a supplement to improve the appearance of hair, skin and nails.
Biotin helps to produce keratin. Keratin is a protein that makes up the structure of your hair shafts. When there is an adequate level of biotin present in the body, it will produce thicker hair and support hair health.
How Long Does It Take For Hair Vitamins To Work?
Unfortunately, taking vitamins for hair growth doesn’t work overnight. It can actually take a very long time to thicken your hair.
To see visible results from taking hair supplements, you should expect nothing earlier than one year. Furthermore, more significant results may be visible after approximately five years.
Are Vitamins For Hair Safe?
Yes, vitamins for hair are safe, but they may have side effects.
It’s important to consult with a doctor before taking any supplements, because they can interact with other medications you’re taking.
Some people experience nausea, diarrhea, or constipation when taking vitamins for hair. Others may suffer from allergic reactions.
Be sure to read the label of any supplement carefully and follow the directions closely to avoid any problems.
Other Solutions For Thicker Hair
Finasteride
To address androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness, finasteride is a hair loss treatment proven to work. Finasteride is the generic version of the medication called Propecia.
Finasteride works by blocking the DHT enzyme that causes hair loss. Clinical studies show that patients taking Finasteride gained or strengthened their hair.
You can be prescribed Finasteride by your dermatologist or via online subscription through Roman, Hims, or Keeps.
Low Level Laser Therapy
Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is a solution for hair loss treatment that applies laser light to your scalp to regrow your hair. The laser therapy stimulates cell regeneration and blood flow up to your scalp to boost hair production.
Devices like laser therapy hats stimulate your scalp to fight off hair loss and give you a thicker and fuller appearance of hair.
Try this laser hair growth device: Kiierr 272 Premier MD Laser Cap
See More:
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
Another promising hair loss treatment for hair regrowth is platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections.
The treatment works by drawing your own blood and then spinning the blood to separate out growth factors. Finally, the growth factors are injected back into your scalp. This injection will help your hair follicles get blood rich in growth factors to promote hair generation.
Minoxidil
The widely known medication that is Rogaine is a vasodilator. Minoxidil is the generic form of Rogaine. The purpose of this drug is to expand your blood vessels to increase blood flow through your body.
In general Minoxidil is applied as a topical for hair loss. However, it is also prescribed as an oral tablet.
With more blood flow the medication works to extend your hair’s growth phase. This promotes healthy hair growth and ultimately thicker and longer hair.
Different from Finasteride, Minoxidil helps stimulate healthy hair growth and prevents shrinking of your hair follicle cells. Although it has no effect on the DHT enzyme, it is still a great option for those experiencing male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss.
Read More:
Fact Checked by our Director of Dermatology – We know that understanding how your skin and hair work can seem scary, so my team and I devote our time to thoroughly researching every single topic and product we write about. We hope you find our reviews helpful and informative.
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*
