Best vitamins for hair growth and thickness

Thinning hair is something almost everyone will go through at some point, no matter how luscious and full your locks have always been. And, for the most part, you can chalk all of this up to genes.

"At a certain point, our hair begins to thin,” explains dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine. "This can happen early during the teen years or twenties, but mostly occurs in our late thirties.” And much like spotting gray hairs—if it happened to your parents at a certain age, it'll probably happen to you at around the same time.

Meet Our Experts: Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine, Debra Jaliman, MD, a dermatologist based in New York City, Erin Palinsky-Wade, RD, a registered dietitian and author of Walking The Weight Off For Dummies, Hope Mitchell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Perrysburg, OH, Nianda Reid, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Doylestown, PA, Oma Agbai, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Sacramento, CA and Health Sciences Clinical Professor at The University of California, Davis department of dermatology, Noelani González, MD, a dermatologist with Mount Sinai in New York City, Vandana Sheth, RDN, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian and author of My Indian Table: Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes

Your hair can also start thinning due to a handful of other reasons like stress, tension on your scalp, and disease, to name a few. One of the other most notorious culprits for hair loss, though? Vitamin deficiencies. Luckily, there are tons of vitamins and hair growth supplements on the market that can help.

Here, picks that have been pre-screened by our pros.

• Biotin by Nature's Bounty Nature's Bounty Read More

• Best For Stress-Induced Thinning

  Vital Proteins Hair Boost Capsules, 60CT Vital Proteins Read More

• Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements Viviscal Read More

• Hair Sweet Hair Growth Vegan Gummies HUM Nutrition Read More

• Hair Skin Nails Liquid Supplement Swisse Read More

• Tricho Complex Vitamin and Dietary Supplements Philip Kingsley Read More

• Clinical Collagen+ Beauty Blend Swisse Read More

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1 Biotin by Nature's Bounty

2 Hairfinity Hair Vitamins

3

Best For Stress-Induced Thinning

4 Hair Wellness From Within

5 Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements

6 Hair Sweet Hair Growth Vegan Gummies

7 Hair Skin Nails Liquid Supplement

8 Tricho Complex Vitamin and Dietary Supplements

10 Clinical Collagen+ Beauty Blend

11 Perfect Hair Vitamins Plus

12 Matrix 5000 Complete Multivitamin for Hair

13 Essential For Women 50+

14 Undeniable Beauty Gummy

16

Best For Those With Food Sensitivities

17

Best Rated By Dermatologists

19

Best With Herbal Ingredients

20

Best To Fight Inflammation

What causes hair loss and thinning?

While it's normal to lose anywhere from 50-150 strands of hair per day, if you've noticed that your hair brush is picking up a few more strands than usual, according to dermatologist Noelani González, MD, this could be happening because you're either missing out on nutrients, you're on a specific diet, or you're dealing with a condition that strips you of these vitamins.

What are the best vitamins for hair growth?

The vitamins in question include: B-Vitamins: "Foods rich in B-complex vitamins help with hair health and renewal of cells necessary for hair growth," explains Vandana Sheth, RDN, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian and author of . Good sources for B-Vitamins include whole grains, dark leafy greens, seafood, and meat. Vitamin D: "This is a vitamin that helps with overall immunity," says Dr. Gohara. It's only recently been linked to hair health. Those who are more likely to be vitamin D deficient are those with brown skin living in colder climates without strong enough UV light, she adds. Omega-3 fatty acids: These fats are a "good source of protein, which can help enhance the strength of your strands," Sheth explains. Some good sources include salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, chia seeds, flaxseed meal, and walnuts.Zinc: This stuff's been linked to combating the yeast that causes dandruff, inflammation, and hair loss in the form of excess shedding, says Dr. Gohara. Iron: "Iron-deficient people can suffer from anemia and subsequent hair loss," explains Dr. Gohara. "This can happen with diets that lack iron, with heavy menstrual cycles where blood loss is substantial, or with other health conditions."B12: Meats are usually packing this vitamin, so those who follow a vegetarian diet and are noticing thinning hair might also have brittle and dry hair, says Dr. Gohara. Biotin: Chances are, you've tried this supplement before. It was once known as the holy grail for hair, skin, and nails. But Dr. Gohara explains that it's now falling out of favor due to the lack of science backing up claims about it.Vitamin E: This nutrient has been found to prevent oxidative stress, Sheth says. Good sources include avocado, sunflower seeds, almonds, and spinach.

Do hair supplements work?

Yes! “Hair-growth supplements and some of these vitamins may be useful for those patients who are experiencing hair thinning, hair loss, and/or don’t have a sufficient intake of certain vitamins,” Dr. González says. “You can think of vitamin supplementation as providing your hair with the necessary ingredients in order for it to develop in a healthy way.” All of that said, if you’re not actually vitamin-deficient, taking a supplement likely won't make that much of a difference. And if you're unsure of where you stand with your vitamin intake, check in with your doctor. They may recommend a blood test to determine what you're missing.

What vitamins will thicken my hair?

What is the best vitamin for thin hair?

Do vitamins help hair grow thicker?