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What are the best hair growth vitamins?

What vitamins are good for hair growth? Do they really work???

Before reviewing vitamins for hair growth, let’s be clear – you cannot fix all possible hair issues with nutrients only. A bunch of factors influences the way your tresses look and grow. Your body does need certain nutrients to make your follicles work properly, and, certainly, their shortage doesn’t allow for faster hair growth. So, check out our science-based list of hair growth vitamins to see what you may lack.

7 Nutrients Required for Hair Growth and Thickness

Vitamin D – its low level is proven to trigger hair loss. There are studies confirming the fact that this vitamin can help hair growth. Vitamin D3 is the most important form, which maintains normal calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood.

Vitamin E – known for its antioxidative properties, the vitamin reduces free-radical damage that can affect hair follicles.

Vitamin C –like with the previous agent, you need vitamin C for hair growth to avoid oxidative stress.

Vitamin B – the whole group is praised for its role in supplying both follicles and scalp with oxygen and nutrients. Vitamin B12 is the top-rated coenzyme here due to its contribution to cell turnover.

Iron – the nutrient carries oxygen to the cells and helps maintain the normal progression of the hair cycle.

Zinc – being one of the best natural hair growth vitamins, zinc regulates sebum production (hello, dry coils!) and participates in cell regeneration.

Protein – it’s the main building material for our hair that is also responsible for its healthy look. We recommend adding it to your black hair growth vitamins since high porosity hair needs protein as badly as oils.

Biotin for Hair Growth

While all the vitamins of B-family are considered hair-friendly, this coenzyme still manages to stand out from the crowd. Serving as a source of sulfur, biotin is involved in cell regeneration and protein/collagen production. And we all know that the latter is especially important for hair health and beauty since it gives your hair elasticity, strength, silkiness, and shine. Moreover, sulfur conditions oily scalps, while biotin’s antioxidative properties protect our curls from negative environmental factors. Numerous studies show that biotin deficiency provokes hair loss. But is there any evidence that it is good for hair growth?

In fact, the coenzyme seems to work when combined with other hair growth boosting nutrients, yet you don’t need biotin supplements to get enough of the vitamin unless you suffer from certain pathologies. Just make sure to have egg yolks, liver, cereals, spinach, mushrooms, dairy foods, and rice in your diet for giving your hair what it needs.

Do Prenatal Vitamins for Hair Growth Work?

Though it looks like a smart idea to avail of prenatal vitamins when trying to re-grow your hair, it’s not that simple. On the bright side, these supplements are packed with folic acid, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, copper, and zinc, along with E, A, and C vitamins. But on the other hand, when consuming a double dose of folic acid and iron, you may get a gastrointestinal disturbance and even possibly increase cancer risks. Is the battle worth the blood? You’d better consult your physician as trendsetters like Reese Witherspoon or Gwyneth Paltrow surely did.

Are There Any Vegan Hair Growth Vitamins to Add to the List?

Actually, you cannot get all the nutrients required for growing a head of hair just out of plants. Some of the vitamins cannot be found in veggies in the sufficient amount:

Vitamin B12 – though contained in trace amounts in nori seaweed and tempeh, this vitamin needs to be delivered with enriched food products.

Vitamin D – while the vitamin is produced in our body under the sunlight, it makes sense to opt for supplements derived from lichen and mushrooms in wintertime.

DHA – it is one of the essential omega-3 fatty acids found in algal oil.

Iron –you need to consume almost twice the meat-eaters’ intake of non-heme iron to bridge heme iron deficiency.

Taurine – this beta-amino acid is rarely mentioned as a substance needed for hair growth, but we’ve spotted some evidence of its positive influence on hair follicles.

Zinc – eat more whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds to cover the recommended daily intake of zinc since its absorption from veggies is limited.

Do Hair Growth Gummy Vitamins Work Better?

Well, they are definitely more fun to take due to their various flavors and shapes. Besides, if you don’t like this feeling of capsules sticking to your throat, chewable variants are worth considering (as well as liquid vitamins). However, keep in mind that they come with added sugar and, consequently, extra calories as well as color additives. Moreover, because of multiple fillers, chewable vitamins tend to deliver fewer nutrients. So, do choose wisely and opt for certified natural vitamins recommended by nutritionists and trichologists rather than by reviewers on Amazon.

When Is It Time to Turn to Hair Growth Supplements?

The best way to know for sure that your body lacks some essential vitamins and minerals is to undergo testing. It will show the levels of nutrients to correct your diet and add vitamin supplements if required. But if you don’t feel like going to labs, review your current lifestyle. Do you eat healthy, regularly, and in a sufficient amount? Is your life stress-free or, at least, can you manage stressful situations effectively? No disturbing physical conditions like hormonal imbalance? If you have doubts regarding some of the questions, you might need dietary supplements (if not to promote hair growth, then, at least, to prevent hair loss).

When to Expect Hair Supplements Kicking in?

Unfortunately, all we can hope for in the immediate future is getting a bit healthier-looking locks thanks to better sebum production. Other changes will be happening from the inside, and it will take about a year to get 6 inches of new hair growth. Supplements can spur the process but not much and only if you do have some deficiency.

Guided by our list of vitamins for hair growth, you will be able to review your eating habits and bridge existing gaps that prevent your hair from unleashing its natural potential. Make sure to opt for organic hair growth vitamins to get better results for both your hair and overall health.

Featured Image: jcomp- www.freepik.com

by Donna Sullivan
Donna is a hairstylist with 8 years of experience. Ask her about any hair-related problem (haircuts, hairstyles, colorings, hair care) and get a pro advice!