20 Hair Growth Vitamins That Dermatologists Say Actually Work (2024)

Whether your hair is thinning or you simply dream of something lusher, there's good news: There are plenty of ways to promote growth and thicken hair naturally. Though hair growth is based on a variety of uncontrollable factors, like age, health, and genetics, it's also connected to diet and overall health—certain nutritional deficiencies, like iron, can cause hair loss, says Michelle Zive, PhD, and coauthor of the National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Nutrition Coach Program.

Do hair growth vitamins really work?

It's precisely this reason that experts say there are hair growth supplements that really do work. Will they give you Rapunzel-esque hair while you sleep? Of course not. "The truth is there is no magic pill that creates long hair, fast," says Zive. But we can help ourselves nutritionally and ward off early hair loss with supplements that support hair growth and thickness, says Manish Shah, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Denver, who recommends looking for supplements rich with vitamins D, C, and A, plus astaxanthin, iron, zinc, and fish oil.

You also might have heard of biotin—a form of vitamin B also known as vitamin B7—as key ingredient for healthy hair. While it can help, it's best to manage expectations, because there is actually little evidence demonstrating the efficacy of biotin on hair growth, warns Amy McMichael, MD, chair of the department of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (Even more important: If you do decide to take a supplement with biotin, make sure to let your doctor know, as it has been shown to cause false-positives or false-negatives for certain lab tests.)

Need a little help sifting through all the products (and they're teeny-tiny ingredient labels) out there? Doctors say these are the best vitamins for growth, breakage, and overall hair health.

The brand claims you can experience fuller, healthier, and stronger hair in 60 days with these dietary supplements. They contain an algae-derived omega-3 complex that works to mitigate any scalp irritation, plus promotes healthy hair, scalp, and skin. It also contains biotin to nourish and strengthen hair and the follicle itself for more elasticity and less breakage. As a nice bonus, the supplement is cruelty-free, vegan, and free from gluten.

Hair loss or thinning is multifactorial, meaning there are many different causes, says Valerie Callender, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Glenn Dale, Maryland. The best treatment is one that offers a multi-targeted approach, like Viviscal, which combines zinc, biotin, vitamin C, horsetail extract, as well as a marine complex. All of these ingredients in the dermatologist-approved monthly supplement work in tandem to support healthy hair growth and fortify thinning hair.

These tropical grapefruit-flavored gummies are loaded with good-for-hair ingredients, like biotin and keratin, to nourish hair follicles. They also contain naturally-occurring minerals, like silicon, to fortify and protect against breakage, as well as amla, a botanical used in Ayurvedic medicine that nourishes hair strands from the inside out.

From the makers of the wildly popular collagen supplement comes a new formula made specifically to give strands a little TLC. In addition to a whopping 500 percent daily value of biotin, these capsules also contain vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and E to support lustrous, healthier hair. Also in the mix? Hyaluronic acid—an ingredient you might know from your daily moisturizer. It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water to rejuvenate parched hair and minimize breakage.

This twice-daily oral supplement contains a whopping 5,000 mcg of biotin to promote hair growth, as well as fish collagen, an ingredient that maintains elasticity and shine, says Shah. All of the ingredients are pharmaceutical-grade, and the capsules are extended-release, which dermatologists say allows for better absorption—aka better results over time. As an added bonus, you may also notice faster nail growth and enhanced skin complexion.

A blend of certified organic, gluten-free, and non-GMO superfoods, antioxidants, and proven growth- and thickness-boosting ingredients like biotin and turmeric. In fact, the supplement boasts a whopping 2,500 percent daily value of biotin. It also packs a punch of choline, an important macronutrient—a deficiency can lead to dull hair, thinning hair, hair loss, and even baldness. The icing on the cake: These capsules are also allergen-free an gentle on the stomach, so just about anyone can take it—even without food.

An impressive blend of biotin, resveratrol, and cynatine HNS keratin—an ingredient that helps improve damaged hair and skin—this hair growth supplement helps nourish strands to prevent breakage. It's an especially good option for anyone who regularly styles, dyes, or bleaches their hair, since the ingredients inside each capsule can help counteract the stress on hair from frequent styling.

Developed by cardiologist, internal medicine doctor, and health expert Daniel Yadegar, MD, after his sister began struggling with hair loss, Wellbel has been formulated with a unique mix of betaine HCL, saw palmetto, MSM, and biotin—all at the optimal levels for maximum effectiveness. You'll also get a hefty dose of vitamins A, D, and b12—plus 167 percent daily value of folate, an ingredient that helps strengthen hair, skin, and nails.

This hair growth supplement contains a number of powerful ingredients, like vitamins A, C, and D, zinc, and selenium—all of which work together to improve overall hair health. "It's difficult to say which exact ingredients are working the best, but we know that saw palmetto and marine collagen are both very important," McMichael says. "Even better: Nutrafol has performed multiple clinical studies to support their claims." Plus, Nutrafol isn't just for hair—this multivitamin nourishes your whole body from the inside out.

To get to the bottom of what's going on up top, these soft gels are packed with a mix of vitamins, minerals, micro-nutrients, and phytonutrients—including biotin, vitamins B1, B2, B6, and B12, zinc, selenium, and amino acids like L-cysteine—to strengthen both your hair and scalp. According to the brand, 98 percent of users who take two capsules per day will see significant improvement in both hair length and density within three months.

This product is formulated with a special NuCilium-Plex Technology—a combo of hair-healthy ingredients like biotin, zinc, and iron—plus a number of key vitamins, including vitamins A, C, B2, B6, and B12. This powerful punch of nutrients is not only key for thinning hair, but also great for anyone who wants shinier, healthier strands or even longer, stronger nails.

"This multi-component hair supplement contains ingredients found in Ayurvedic medicine used to manage hair growth, overall stress, and hormone support," says Shah. "I'm a big fan of many of these ingredients and use them in my own daily health regimen." The natural, vegan option also contains more than 1,000 times the daily recommended value of biotin—a water-soluble B vitamin that helps improve the physical infrastructure of keratin, a key protein in hair, says Shah. There's none of the yucky stuff—like fillers, milk dairy, corn, sugar, or artificial coloring—plus you can take the capsules on an empty stomach without upset.

From the makers of some of the most popular shampoo and conditioning products comes a 90-day treatment plan with pills packed with hair-strengthening ingredients. Each capsule contains ingredients like biotin and pea shoot extract, both of which support natural keratin production, strengthen strands, and prevent breakage in as little as 60 days, according to the brand.

"This is a very clean multivitamin for hair with additional complementary herbs well known to protect a body (and head of hair) under stress," says Shah. It contains 10 bioavailable vitamins (meaning, easily absorbed for maximum benefits) like vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and five vitamin Bs. It also boasts ashwagandha, an adaptogen said to help balance the stress hormones that can contribute to thinning and hair loss.

Prefer to keep it simple? Limit the ingredients you're putting in your body with this biotin supplement. The rapid-release soft gels may not contain a blend of different ingredients, but they do deliver over 33,000 percent of the daily recommended value of biotin to directly target hair, skin, and nails.

This popular and highly reviewed vegan product has ingredients proven to be helpful for hair growth—biotin, vitamin B, zinc, and folic acid, for example, says Shah. Reviewers say they're exceptionally easy to eat, plus see real benefits. One user said they made their baby hairs grow back when nothing else worked.

What you won't find in these yummy gummies: gluten, soy, or any artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. What you will find: an antioxidant-rich berry blend (cranberry, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, blueberry, elderberry), biotin, and folic acid to improve the look of hair, skin, and nails. Added bonus: The formula also contains a mix of prebiotics and probiotics to improve gut health.

A healthy scalp supports hair follicles, helping them produce softer, stronger strands—so it's literally at the root of your hair's health. To get yours in prime condition, consider adding these dietary supplements—formulated with biotin, as well as vitamins A, C, D, and B3—to your daily routine. They all work in tandem to promote growth and strengthen strands for lusher looking hair.

Shah calls this twice-daily supplement "a designer multivitamin for hair with quality ingredients" because it's rich with hair strengthening ingredients like iron, biotin, selenium, and vitamins B, C, and D. It even contains an extra bonus: copper, which the brand says can help promote normal hair pigmentation for anyone experiencing dulling or early grays.

Two yummy gummies a day may keep weak, damaged strands away. These berry-flavored supplements give top billing to biotin, but they're also packed with vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well as zinc and folic acid to encourage longer, stronger, and thicker strands. Even better: You may notice your skin and nails look healthier, too.