If you want your hair to grow long and thick, eat a healthy diet, keep yourself well hydrated and try to keep your stress levels down.
Also make sure you keep your hair adequately moisturised and avoid over-styling it either using chemicals or heat.
In most cases, this is enough to keep your hair healthy and lush. But if you need a little boost to make your hair grow faster and longer, hair vitamins and supplements can help.
Do hair supplements and vitamins really work?
There isn’t much research into the efficacy of most hair supplements and vitamins. Only a few vitamins like biotin have been researched.
Among those that have been studied, scientists have found that they can help improve hair growth. The effect is not drastic but makes all the difference for people who are struggling with issue like hair loss, baldness and hair damage.
However, researchers insist that a healthy diet is the foundation of healthy hair. When you eat a wide variety of healthy mostly natural foods, you’ll get most of the nutrients you need to keep your hair healthy.
So even as you think about buying hair supplements, make sure you have covered the basics. Otherwise, you might find that the supplements aren’t much help.
Benefits of hair supplements and vitamins
a. They boost hair growth
Vitamins like biotin have been found to significantly increase hair growth especially in people with thinning hair.
You’ll find that most hair supplements contain biotin, vitamin A, vitamin C and other vitamins that are essential for hair growth.
When combined with other basic hair care practices, these supplements can help make your hair longer and thicker.
They are especially beneficial if you are struggling with hair loss because of age, an illness or hair damage.
b. They strengthen hair
Most of these vitamins that make your hair grow longer and thicker also strengthen it. This makes your hair more resilient to damage and less likely to break off or develop split ends.
Some supplements go a step further and add collagen to the list of ingredients. Collagen is a protein that makes up a big part of our skin, hair and nails.
Collagen from supplements makes your hair stronger and boosts hair growth.
Other supplements contain keratin, another protein that makes up the structural part of hair. Keratin-containing supplements strengthen and thicken your hair.
c. They keep your hair and scalp healthy
Finally, hair supplements can help keep your hair and scalp healthy. This includes preventing and treating viral and bacterial conditions that affect your scalp and prevent your hair from growing properly.
What to look for when buying hair supplements and vitamins
The first thing to look at is the list of ingredients. Make sure the supplement is rich in vitamins and nutrients that will help your hair grow and get stronger.
Some of the best ingredients to look for include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, biotin, zinc, selenium and keratin.
If your aim is to make your hair grow longer and look healthy, vitamin C, D and B-vitamins are essential. Minerals like selenium and zinc are very important as well especially in maintaining healthy hair follicles.
If your goal is to strengthen your hair, look for supplements with collagen or keratin.
Note: If you have a medical condition or are taking any medication, consult your doctor first before taking any hair supplement.
Best Hair Supplements and Vitamins reviews
1. Nourkrin Woman 180 Tablets (3 Month Supply)
This is one of the most popular and trusted hair supplements for women. It contains two main ingredients: Marilex and Biotin.
Marilex is a proprietary component extracted from deep-sea fish. It has been proven to help people struggling with hair growth disorders.
This extract works by supporting and extending the hair’s natural growth cycle. This results in longer and thicker hair and can also prevent hair thinning.
Biotin is a B vitamin commonly found in many hair supplements. It too has been found to encourage hair growth especially for people with thinning hair.
Combined, the two ingredients are great for your hair. They boost hair growth, resulting in longer, thicker and stronger hair.
Nourkrin is 100% natural. No chemicals or synthetic drugs.
The manufacturer recommends taking 2 tablets daily for 6 months and then 1 tablet daily thereafter to maintain the results.
You should see a difference in your hair growth after around 3 months although some women say they saw a difference after just a couple of weeks.
What we like about it:
- Effective – noticeable results in 3 months.
- 100% natural – safe for most people.
- Easy to swallow tablets.
2. Biotin Hair Growth Supplement with Collagen, Zinc and Vitamin C, 180 Tablets
You probably already know about biotin, a vitamin that has been shown to boost hair growth. Zinc and vitamin C also play a big role in the health and growth of your hair.
Zinc deficiency has been linked to various forms of hair loss including alopecia areata (spot baldness) and Telogen effluvium (hair shedding as a result of stress).
Having adequate zinc in your body promotes the health of your hair follicles, ensuring that your hair is growing normally. It can also prevent hair loss for those at risk of baldness and during moments of high stress levels.
Vitamin C on the other hand works to counter the damaging and aging effect of free radicals. In other words, it keeps your hair looking lush, young and strong.
That’s why you should also make sure you are getting your fill of fruits and vegetables which also contain plenty of vitamin C.
Finally, there’s collagen which is a hair-strengthening ingredient.
If you’ve had a problem with split ends and brittle hair that keeps breaking off, the collagen will help.
You only need to take one tablet a day, meaning that one pack provides a 6-month supply.
What we like about it:
- Effective at boosting hair growth.
- Vitamin C to slow down hair aging and collagen to strengthen hair.
- Zinc for optimal hair and scalp health.
- Long term supply.
3. Vitabiotics Perfectil Max – 84 Tablets and Capsules
These tablets are formulated with a selection of the most important ingredients to boost hair growth and keep your hair strong and healthy.
They include biotin, zinc, iodine, riboflavin, niacin, selenium, copper, iron and vitamin C. These are just a few of the 35 nutrients contained in each tablet.
This rich mix of vitamins and minerals is not just good for your hair; it also has plenty of benefits for your skin and nails.
It’s an all-round supplement that benefits even the immune system.
The manufacturer recommends taking 2 tablets and 1 capsule daily. They warn against taking the supplement if you are allergic to fish or fish products and soya.
These tablets are also not recommended for young children who could be affected by excess intake of iron.
What we like about it:
- Wide selection of nutrients to boost the growth and health of your hair, nails and skin.
- Great for your immune system and other body systems and functions.
- Easy to swallow tablets and capsules.
4. Hairburst Chewable Hair Vitamins One Month Supply, Pack of 60 Gummies
If you don’t like swallowing tablets or capsules, get these chewable vitamin gummies.
The Hairburst bottle contains 60 gummies for a full month’s use (2 gummies a day).
Each gummy contains 26 minerals and vitamins to boost hair growth in both men and women. The main nutrients include Biotin which enhances hair growth, minerals like zinc and selenium to support your hair growth cycle and a wide selection of vitamins to keep your hair and scalp healthy.
Take the recommended two gummies together in the morning but do not exceed the daily dosage. The manufacturer also warns that they are not vegetarian (but they are halal).
With daily use, you should see results in a few weeks. Your hair will grow faster than usual and you’ll notice that it is stronger and less likely to break or shed off.
What we like about it:
- Perfect for those who don’t want to or cannot take tablets or capsules.
- Contains a wide variety of minerals and vitamins to boost hair growth and improve general body health.
- A whole month’s supply.
5. Viviscal Maximum Strength Hair Growth Supplements 2 Week Supply (30 tablets)
The main pack contains only 30 tablets that last 2 weeks (2 tablets daily). But you can also order a 60-tablet pack (1 month), a 90-tablet pack (6 weeks) or a 180-tablet pack (3 months).
The Viviscal tablets contain all the standard nutrients you expect in hair supplements: Biotin, zinc, Niacin and vitamin C among others.
All these are important in supporting hair growth and keeping your hair follicles healthy.
In addition, they contain a proprietary Viviscal ingredient called Amino Mar C. This is a marine protein complex that helps hair growth thicker and longer. It’s great if you have thinning hair or are struggling with hair loss.
The tablets are not vegan nor are they kosher. But they are safe if you are allergic to soya, gluten, eggs, nuts and dairy.
What we like about it:
- Plenty of hair-growth vitamins and minerals that are also beneficial for your general health.
- Different pack options to choose from.
- Ideal for those with various allergies including nut, dairy and gluten.
Frequently Asked Questions in the UK
Q: Why take hair vitamins and supplements?
You may already be taking supplements for your general health, in which case you probably won’t be surprised to know that they can benefit your hair too.
Some vitamins and supplements are actually tailored specifically to hair needs, because they contain things that encourage strong, healthy hair.
You will almost certainly notice a big difference when you start taking hair vitamins and supplements, because you are giving your hair exactly what it needs to be strong, healthy and shiny.
You should notice less damage to your hair, whether that be fewer split ends, less hair loss, or just a general healthier look to your locks.
Q: What to look for in hair vitamins and supplements?
Hair is mostly made up of keratin, which needs to be fed with nutrients to keep it healthy. Some of the best hair vitamins and supplements for keratin are:
- Amino Acids – These are essential for the production of keratin.
- Vitamin B6 – This vitamin contributes to cysteine, one of the main components of keratin.
- Vitamin C – Vitamin C supports the production of collagen, which is what makes your hair supple and elastic.
- Essential Fatty Acids – These will strengthen the outer covering of the hair, making it smooth and strong and making your hair look shiny.
- Vitamin E – This one is a powerful antioxidant, as well as stimulating the immune system and encouraging blood flow.
- Iron – Iron is necessary for many functions around the body, including stimulating hair growth.
- Zinc – Another antioxidant, this will help the absorption of nutrients into your hair.
You can either make up your own individual hair vitamins and supplements from this list, or you can go down the (far easier) route of buying hair vitamins and supplements that are already tailored for hair health.
It can be hard to get the balance right, so we suggest buying ready made hair vitamins and supplements.
Q: Where to buy hair vitamins and supplements?
Any good health food shop worth its salt will be able to sell you the perfect hair vitamins and supplements for you and your hair type. You can also look in your local pharmacy, or have a browse online until you find what you are looking for.
