11 best hair growth vitamins for healthier, longer hair
More than 11,000 people search for the best hair growth vitamins every month - which makes total sense. The one thing I get asked the most is what my haircare routine looks like and how I managed to grow my hair so long. The truth is, I can’t credit a single thing: I started growing mine out for my wedding last year and I’ve tried plenty since - from targeted hair growth serums to scalp serums, weekly hair masks, and even a red light therapy hair growth device. But if there’s one consistent step I’ve kept in place throughout, it’s hair growth vitamins - because I’ve learned that real results start with feeding your hair from within.
According to consultant trichologist Anabel Kingsley, brand president at Philip Kingsley, it all comes down to how your body prioritises nutrients. “Hair isn’t necessary for physical health, so hair-cell production is, unfortunately, viewed by the body as non-essential,” she explains. “Hair is therefore the last to receive the nutrients we ingest and the first to be withheld from them. Even small deficiencies that might not impact our general health or be flagged in blood tests can cause hair shedding.”
She also points out that “hair cells are our second fastest-dividing cells (skin cells being the fastest), which means that hair’s energy, vitamin, mineral and protein requirements are incredibly high… since hair is a needy, but essentially not-needed tissue, its nutritional demands are unique, and it can be hard to meet these through diet alone.”
In other words - when your body is running on empty, hair is often the first place it shows which is why finding the right supplements can make all the difference. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best hair growth vitamins that actually do something (because no one’s got time for overpriced gummies that don’t deliver). And if you’re going all in on your growth journey, don’t miss our edits of the best eyelash growth serums and best eyebrow growth serums too.
- Meet the experts
- Why you can trust us
- Shop the best hair growth vitamins
- Do vitamins actually help your hair grow faster?
- Which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?
- How to work out what vitamins and supplements you might need
- What to do before you take any vitamins or supplements
- What are the best hair vitamins for thickness?
- What are the best hair vitamins for shine?
- What are the side effects of hair growth vitamins?
Meet the experts:
| Expert | Area of expertise |
|---|---|
| Anabel Kingsley | Consultant trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley. |
| Kate Holden | Consultant trichologist at Noughty Haircare. |
| Steve Daveluy | MD, associate professor and program director of dermatology at Wayne State University. |
| Joyce Davis | MD, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon. |
| Michele Green | MD, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist. |
| Danilo Del Campo | MD, a board-certified dermatologist. |
How we test hair growth vitamins:
Over the years, the Glamour team has tested its fair share of supplements, including many hair growth vitamins. After interviewing the hair industry's top experts, we've taken recommended supplements ourselves, carefully assessing any benefits and whether they genuinely managed to improve the quality (and density) of our hair. We scored the below products based on efficacy, ingredients lists, how easy they were to take, and factors like whether they were vegan or cruelty-free.
While we always aim to review as many formulas as possible, we still make sure to back the supplements that didn't undergo a rigorous testing process with statistics and trichologist opinions. In true Glamour fashion, we're also mindful of the importance to review said products on a variety of hair types. Find out more about how we test here.
Why you can trust me:
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I’ve been a beauty journalist for six years, five at The Mirror and one at Glamour, and product testing has always been part of my day-to-day. Still, hair has become my biggest passion point, largely because of my own hair journey, which began last year in the run-up to my wedding. Thickness has never been a concern for me, but growth was a different story. For years, my hair simply wouldn’t grow past my shoulders, and if I’m being honest, bleach was the main culprit.
I became slightly obsessed with Googling “how to make my hair grow”, and hair growth vitamins were the one recommendation that kept appearing again and again. After researching as much as I could, I decided to try them properly, and around the three-month mark I started to notice a real change. My hair looked healthier and felt stronger. By six months, I was finally retaining length because my ends weren’t breaking off constantly, and now a year on, my hair is the longest, strongest and healthiest it’s ever been. Hair vitamins aren’t a quick fix, they take time and consistency, but in my experience, they’ve made the biggest difference out of everything I’ve tried - and trust me, I've tried a lot.
13 best hair growth vitamins, tried & tested…
- Pros: Delicious flavour, enriched with essential vitamins for hair health.
- Cons: May not be suitable for those who dislike taking gummy supplements, contains sugar.
- Key ingredients: Biotin, vitamin C and E, folic acid.
- Number of doses per bottle: 60 gummies.
Why we love it: After delicious gummies to support your hair health? Say less. These strawberry-flavoured supplements from UK Lash (the brand behind one of the best eyelash growth serums on the market) are full of essential vitamins and minerals, including a high dose of biotin, folic acid, and vitamin C, all known to contribute to the maintenance of healthy hair. Plus, the formula is also vegan, halal, and free from gluten, gelatin, and dairy, making it suitable for a wide range of dietary needs. They're also our beauty writer, Shani Cohen's favourite vitamins - and the one's she used to grow her hair for her wedding day.
Here, you can shop more of the best folic acid supplements.
- Pros: Affordable, vegan, trichologist-formulated and free from artificial colours or preservatives.
- Cons: You’ll need to stick with them for a few months to see results.
- Key ingredients: Biotin, zinc and fenugreek extract.
- Number of doses per bottle: One-month supply (two gummies daily).
Why we love it: If you’re looking to boost your hair health from the inside, Champo’s Hair Gummies are a great pick. They combine essential nutrients like biotin, folic acid and zinc with Ayurvedic ingredients - think fenugreek, pumpkin seed and nettle leaf - all known for strengthening roots and supporting healthy growth. The vegan formula is free from gluten, preservatives and artificial colours, and the subtle summer berry flavour means they double as a delicious sweet treat too. They’re ideal if your hair’s been feeling a little thinner, duller or slower to grow, and work best alongside the Pitta Growth Serum.
JSHealth Hair + Energy Formula
- Pros: Nutritionist-formulated, supports hair, skin and nail health, and helps boost everyday energy.
- Cons: Contains iodine, so best to check with your GP if you have thyroid concerns.
- Key ingredients: JSHealth Kelp™ (iodine) and zinc.
- Number of doses per bottle: 30 capsules (one-month supply).
Why we love it: A bestseller for a reason, JSHealth’s Hair + Energy Formula takes a simple, science-backed approach to healthier hair from the inside out. It combines zinc - which helps maintain strong hair, glowing skin and healthy nails - with the brand’s exclusive JSHealth Kelp™, a sustainably sourced seaweed packed with iodine to support energy levels and overall wellbeing. It’s an easy daily capsule that actually does what it says, helping you feel more energised while giving your hair the nutrients it needs to thrive.
- Pros: One-a-day capsule, designed for thinning and shedding, more targeted than a standard biotin supplement.
- Cons: Takes time to show results.
- Key ingredients: AnaGain™, bladderwrack, zinc, selenium, biotin.
- Number of doses per bottle: 30-day supply, one capsule daily.
Why we love it: Hair supplements all claim to do the same thing - grow your hair - but what I love about Vida Glow’s Hairology Capsules is that they feel more specific to thinning and fallout than the usual all-purpose “hair, skin and nails” approach. The main ingredient, AnaGain™, is a pea sprout extract that’s been studied for its role in supporting the hair growth cycle, alongside zinc, selenium, biotin and bladderwrack.
I also love that you only have to take one capsule a day, which is refreshing compared to some formulas where you’re expected to take three. And if you’re anything like me and struggle with tablets, that really does make a difference. While I haven’t tried these myself just yet - I’ll be testing them over the next few weeks - the reviews and results on the brand’s website are seriously impressive. One user said that after four months, their fine hair looked the best it ever had, while another described seeing around four inches of new growth after dealing with hair loss following Covid and surgery.
Hair + Me The Capsules For Hair Growth
- Pros: Reasonably priced, scientifically proven to work, contains multiple hair-supporting nutrients.
- Cons: Nothing of note.
- Key Ingredients: Personalised active ingredients in addition to microcrystalline cellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.
- Number of doses per bottle: Not specified.
Why we love it: Having launched just earlier this year, these Hair + Me hair growth supplements have already been praised by beauty editors and haircare enthusiasts alike. Designed to offer a personalised approach to hair growth, these capsules will help you nourish and strengthen your hair from within. Simply complete a questionnaire on the brand's website to customise your active ingredients and observe the impressive results within just a few weeks.
Vivisal Maximum Strength Hair Growth Supplement
- Pros: Results supported by research, less expensive than Nutrafol.
- Cons: Have to take 2 pills daily.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc, vitamin C, iron, and niacin.
- Number of doses per bottle: 30.
Why we love it: Another product backed by clinical research, Viviscal is made with a proprietary compound (AminoMar) that contains marine extracts, biotin, zinc, vitamin C, iron, and niacin, Dr Green says. She describes the product as “excellent for individuals looking to achieve thicker, denser hair.”
Indeed, multiple studies in men and women show the product increased the number of hairs and improved hair loss, says Steve Daveluy, MD.
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OUAI Thick and Full Supplements
- Pros: Clinically tested, supports hair strength and reduces shedding; vegan and cruelty-free.
- Cons: Nothing of note.
- Key ingredients: Biotin, pea shoot extract, multivitamin complex.
- Number of doses per bottle: 30.
Why we love it: One of the leading players in the haircare game, OUAI is a brand that never fails to deliver, and its hair supplements are no exception. This formula combines biotin (known for supporting hair strength), pea shoot extract (which helps reduce shedding), as well as a comprehensive multivitamin complex to nourish the scalp and hair follicles. After something else? The brand also stocks some of the best shampoos in the game.
Save when you shop with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Hairburst Advanced+ Hair Formula
- Pros: Supports thicker, fuller-looking hair, targets shedding and promotes scalp health from within.
- Cons: Taking four capsules a day can seem quite excessive.
- Key ingredients: KSM-66 Ashwagandha, vitamin D, turmeric, black pepper and reishi mushroom.
- Number of doses per bottle: One-month supply, four capsules daily.
Why we love it: If you’re serious about improving overall hair quality rather than just chasing length, Hairburst Advanced+ Hair Formula takes a more holistic approach. Designed to promote visibly thicker, fuller hair, it helps reduce daily shedding while supporting new growth and strengthening the hair structure over time. It also focuses on follicle and scalp health, creating the ideal environment for stronger strands to thrive.
What really sets it apart is the addition of KSM-66 Ashwagandha, clinically proven to help reduce stress and anxiety, which can play a major role in hair loss. By supporting hormonal balance, better sleep and helping to protect against oxidative stress and inflammation, it works beyond the surface.
- Pros: Results supported by research, less expensive than Nutrafol.
- Cons: Have to take 2 pills daily.
- Key Ingredients: Marilex (compound containing fish extract, plus other ingredients), biotin.
- Number of doses per bottle: 30.
Why we love it: Dr Daveluy only recommends products to his patients that have studies proving the products work, and with that criteria, Nourkrin meets the mark. In a study of 51 men and 4 women, Nourkin spurred hair growth significantly after six months of use. Also promising: The product – which is made with biotin and the brand’s patented fish extract compound, Marilex – was well tolerated and none of the subjects reported side effects.
- Pros: Budget-friendly, just need 1 pill a day.
- Cons: Not specifically designed or studied for hair growth.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamins A, C, D3, and E; iron, vitamin B12, zinc.
- Number of doses per bottle: 200.
Why we love it: Another easy-to-find, over-the-counter multivitamin, Centrum contains the vitamins Dr Davis deems “essential” for hair health, including iron (100% DV), vitamin B12 (250% DV) and vitamin D3 (125% DV). More than 80% of Amazon customers give this product a 5-star rating, praising its convenience, value, and ease of swallowing.
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One a Day Women’s Complete Daily Multivitamin
- Pros: Budget-friendly.
- Cons: Not specifically designed or studied for hair growth.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamins A, C, D3, and E; vitamin B12, iron, zinc.
- Number of doses per bottle: 200.
Why we love it: Taking a daily multivitamin may (emphasis on may) increase your chances of getting adequate stores of a lot of the vitamins that promote hair health, and you don’t need to spend an arm or a leg to find a safe, effective product.
Joyce Davis, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon recommends reaching for a standardised brand – like One a Day.
- Pros: Budget-friendly.
- Cons: Contains only 200 mg per serving, which is half of the amount used in the study mentioned above.
- Key Ingredients: Pumpkin seed oil.
- Number of doses per bottle: 90.
Why we love it: Some research supports pumpkin seed oil as a beneficial ingredient for hair growth. In a study of 76 men with male pattern hair loss, those who took 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil per day for 24 weeks increased their mean hair count by 40%. Because of its science-backed benefits, Dr Daveluy recommends pumpkin seed oil to patients and says many of them opt for this supplement to start since it’s an affordable option.
Hair growth vitamin FAQ's
Do vitamins actually help your hair grow faster?
Short answer? They can, depending on the cause of your hair loss. Let us explain. “Vitamins and supplements can help with hair growth,” says Steve Daveluy, MD. That doesn't mean it's guaranteed, but “some help by making sure our hair follicles have all the nutrients they need to carry out the task of building and growing our hairs,” he says. “Others help by promoting the hair growth activities, similar to the way a medication may work.”
Elsewhere, others include ingredients that directly counteract certain triggers for hair loss, like hormonal imbalances, says Danilo Del Campo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. For example, saw palmetto may target dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone associated with hair loss, he says.
A lot of different vitamins – including B vitamins, vitamin D, and vitamin E – can improve hair retention and prevent shedding, according to Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist. That said, in developed countries, it’s pretty rare to have hair loss caused by a vitamin deficiency, since you can often get all you need through a well-balanced diet. The exception is people on strict diets, like those who are vegan, she says.
That's where the nuances come in. How much a vitamin or supplement helps with fast hair growth depends strongly on the underlying cause of your hair loss, Dr Green says. To that end, Dr. Daveluy recommends understanding your root causes of hair loss before turning to a vitamin or supplement. That way, you can take a targeted approach.
For people with actual vitamin deficiencies, taking supplements can yield strong results. But for those without nutritional deficiencies, or whose hair loss is due to non-nutrition related factors like genetics (or a separate medical condition), the benefits of hair growth vitamins and supplements “might be more modest,” Dr Del Campo says.
Also worth noting: while vitamins and supplements can help bolster your strands, they often are not effective enough on their own to fully grow and retain hair, Dr Green says. Some people, she explains, may need to add in other hair care treatment options alongside an over-the-counter vitamin or supplement to really decrease hair follicle miniaturisation and elevate hair growth and retention. This is where topical or oral medications, like Propecia and Minoxidil, may come into play. Dr Green suggests consulting with a board-certified dermatologist to get personalised recommendations.
Which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?
Hair is protein, and in order to make protein, your body needs all the amino acids as well as vitamins, which are important coenzymes in protein synthesis, says Joyce Davis, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist.
Specifically, vitamin D helps stabilise the hair follicle, so not having enough of it can impact hair health. Vitamin D deficiency is really common, so for people worried about their hair health, Dr Davis recommends a vitamin D3 supplement as “pretty much essential.”
Iron deficiency and B12 deficiency can also impact your hair, Dr Davis adds, and so can too low levels of zinc, adds Dr Del Campo. On the flip side, having too much vitamin A as well as excess amounts of the mineral selenium can cause hair loss as well, according to Dr. Del Campo.
How to work out what vitamins and supplements you might need
“In terms of what supplements to take, it varies from person-to-person,” says Anabel. “Everyone’s diet is slightly different, as are health and gut absorption factors,” she adds. But we've rounded up some of the most common requirements below…
“People who menstruate are likely to benefit from a supplement containing iron, vitamin C (which helps with iron absorption), L-lysine (which helps the body to store iron) and Vitamin B12,” says Anabel.
“Iron and ferritin (stored iron) deficiency are one of the most common causes of excessive daily hair shedding in women,” says Anabel.
“Vitamin D3 is another supplement ingredient everyone, including men, should look out for as Vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common, and it can impact hair growth cycling; every hair follicle has a Vitamin D receptor,” explains Anabel. However if you're looking for one catch-all supplement, “for most people a general multi-vitamin is fine,” says Kate.
What to do before you take any vitamins or supplements
"Before taking supplements, it’s important to make sure you have a balanced diet, and if you've noticed hair loss or brittle hair, ask your GP, dermatologist, or trichologist to arrange a blood test to check for common nutritional deficiencies," advises Kate Holden, consultant trichologist at Noughty Haircare.
Also, make sure the combination of vitamins you take don't counteract or interrupt each other. “Some vitamins and minerals have an impact on each other so it’s important to be aware of this if you are targeting a specific vitamin or mineral,” says Kate. “For example, vitamin C can help to increase iron absorption, whereas zinc can inhibit iron absorption. Fat soluble vitamins are best absorbed with a meal containing fat, too, so timing can be important,” she says. Always check the instructions that come with your supplements, do your research and if you're in any doubt, consult your GP.
What are the best hair vitamins for thickness?
If thicker, fuller hair is the goal, Nutrafol Women’s Hair Growth Supplements are a great place to begin. They go way beyond your average biotin formula - combining marine collagen, ashwagandha and saw palmetto to strengthen strands from within and support healthy growth over time. What really makes them stand out is that they don’t just promise results; they actually address what’s causing the thinning in the first place - from stress and hormones to nutrition.
They’re definitely a bit of a splurge, but if your hair’s feeling fine or a little lacklustre, they’re worth a try. With consistent use, most people start to see fuller, healthier-looking strands within a few months. For an extra boost, pair them with one of our go-to hair growth serums or scalp serums - your hair will thank you.
What are the best hair vitamins for shine?
If your hair’s been looking a bit flat or lacking shine lately, biotin is the ingredient you’ll want on your side. It helps boost keratin - the protein that keeps hair strong, smooth and glossy - and both UKLash Hair Vitamins and Champo Hair Gummies are packed with it.
The UKLash gummies are strawberry-flavoured (arguably a bit too tasty) and loaded with biotin, vitamin C and folic acid to help bring dull hair back to life. Chämpo’s version takes a more natural route, mixing biotin with Ayurvedic ingredients like fenugreek and pumpkin seed to strengthen strands and add a healthy sheen from the inside out. Think of them as your daily shortcut to that just-left-the-salon kind of shine.
What are the side effects of hair growth vitamins?
Some reassuring news: typically, there aren’t any side effects of taking vitamins or supplements for hair growth–so long as you consume them as directed, Dr Green says.
This means following dosing instructions so that you don’t ingest too much of a certain vitamin, which can lead to toxicity. Like we mentioned, having extra vitamin A and selenium can spur hair loss (literally the opposite effect you’re going for), and downing high doses of vitamin E can increase your chances of issues like hemorrhagic strokes, according to Dr Del Campo.
Additionally, some supplements, like saw palmetto, may interact with certain medications and cause harmful outcomes, he adds. As mentioned, biotin (vitamin B7)–which is involved in keratin production and widely advertised as a solution to hair loss–can interfere with some blood tests, including a thyroid test and one used to detect heart attacks, Dr Daveluy says. Experts are split on whether it’s actually effective in bolstering hair health. Dr Daveluy says if you do introduce a biotin supplement, be sure to tell all your health care providers.
When considering hair growth vitamins, Dr Del Campo urges people to first consult with a board-certified dermatologist and then to follow recommended dosages. It’s also important to do your own research to understand whether a product is safe and effective. “The best vitamins or supplements for hair growth will undergo clinical studies or market research to confirm whether they have been shown to increase hair growth,” Dr Green says.
A version of this article appeared on GLAMOUR US.
