The Best Vitamins For Hair: Shopping Guide and Recommendations (04/23)

FSC Head High Hair Vitamins and Minerals – Pack of 30 Capsules

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6.49 GBP

Plantur 39 Active Hair Capsules with Biotin and Vitamins | Support Hair Growth and Hair Thickening | Nutritional Supplement For Healthy and Strong Hair | Women Hair Care Made in Germany | 60 Capsules

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16.99 GBP

HealthAid Hair-vit (Vitamins for Hair Growth with Essential Vitamins and Mineral), 90 Capsules

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19.95 GBP

Vitabiotics Perfectil Plus Hair – 60 Tablets

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12.00 GBP

HASHMATS Health Hair Vitamins | Halal Supplement Biotin, Amino Acids & More | 100% Alcohol Free | Gelatin Free

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8.95 GBP

Biotin Hair Growth Supplement 12,000mcg with Coconut Oil | 400 High Strength Biotin Tablets for Hair – 13 Month Supply | Vitamin B7 | Support Normal Skin & Hair Growth | Made in UK by EVO Nutrition

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8.95 GBP

Buying and evaluation criteria for vitamins for hair

When buying vitamins for hair, you can look at various aspects, such as:

Ingredients
Effect
Daily dose
Yield

Hair vitamins are produced by many manufacturers and promise more beautiful and fuller hair. Before choosing a product, you should think about the following points so that you choose the right vitamins for hair.

Ingredients

Many preparations are vegan, i.e. free of animal testing and animal ingredients.

Depending on the desired goal, the ingredients of the tablets or capsules vary. Some are even additionally enriched with minerals to achieve even better results. Therefore, pay attention to the composition and which vitamins are contained in what percentage. In our guide we tell you which vitamins are good for what.

Effect

The vitamins have different effects on the hair and its structure. Some also help to stimulate growth and thus ensure fuller hair. Therefore, take the preparation that meets your requirements.

On the one hand, there are products that have a targeted effect, and on the other hand, there are vitamins that not only strengthen the hair, but also the skin and nails. This variant is therefore very popular.

Daily dose

You will find the recommended daily amount in the package insert or on the outer packaging of the product. Many products are intended to be taken daily, usually in the morning and evening, depending on the dosage of the vitamins for hair.

To ensure that the hair vitamins are effective, it is important to take them regularly!

If you find it difficult to swallow tablets, vitamins in tablet form that are to be taken twice a day are not suitable.

Yield

Depending on whether the vitamins for hair are bought in tablet or liquid form, they have different yields. Capsules or tablets come in small doses that usually last for one or two months. With a daily intake of 2 tablets, this corresponds to 60 or 120 respectively.

Drops or juice concentrates also last for one to two months on average. How much the product ultimately yields also depends on how consistently the vitamins for hair are taken.

Guide: Frequently asked questions on the subject of vitamins for hair answered in detail

In order to inform you comprehensively about the effectiveness of vitamins for hair and to give you an understanding of the current state of science, we have summarised all the important information in the following sections.

What vitamins are there for hair and how do they work?

The packaging often lists many individual vitamins that are contained in the product. However, it is often unclear to us which vitamins can be helpful for what and how they work. This overview of the different vitamins should help.

A vitamins

Vitamin A, or retinol, makes hair supple. The vitamin can be stored in the body and is found in potatoes or spinach. However, if too much vitamin A is added to the body, it has the opposite effect and leads to hair growth disorders.

The body therefore does not need additional vitamin A in a balanced diet and should therefore be discussed with a doctor(1).

B vitamins

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is essential for human metabolism. In addition, it also strengthens hair and nails; especially in cases of weak hair growth, biotin visibly supports the hair roots in growing(2).

Other important B vitamins to support hair growth can be B2, B3 and B12(2). B12 is only found in animal products, such as eggs, fish, meat or dairy products, which is why vegetarians should resort to chemical B12. B7 is found in egg yolk or oatmeal.

However, biotin can falsify laboratory results if it interacts. It affects thyroid levels and can lead to misdiagnosis(3).

C vitamins

Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables. With a balanced diet, very few people have a vitamin C deficiency. However, this vitamin is very important for the body as it increases the bioavailability of iron and stimulates blood circulation in the head(2).

The acerola cherry is a vitamin C bomb!

Iron deficiency is often mentioned in connection with hair loss in women. With the help of vitamin C, iron can be better processed in the body. However, since vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, a daily intake is necessary, for example via citrus fruits.

Iron deficiency is the most common deficiency in adults, especially in women. The connection between iron deficiency and hair loss was confirmed in a study by Dr. Wilma Bergfeld of the Clevland Clinic(4). Vitamin C and iron requirements should therefore be balanced in the body to prevent hair loss.

D vitamins

Vitamin D is mainly involved in bone metabolism. The body produces 90% of it itself with the help of UV rays. Therefore, the risk of suffering from a vitamin D deficiency in winter is much higher than in summer(5).

Vitamin D can be produced with the help of sunlight. (Image source: pixabay / silviarita)

With such a deficiency, it is possible for hair loss to occur. But this is only one of the potential signs of vitamin D deficiency.

When and for whom does it make sense to take vitamins for hair?

Not everyone has such a voluminous head of hair as is often conveyed in advertisements for hair products. How much hair a person has also depends on their colour. For example, blondes tend to have more hair than brunettes().

Hair loss can also be a sign of an unbalanced diet and can be caused by a lack of certain vitamins or minerals. In this case, dietary supplements in the form of tablets or capsules are useful.

In the case of hereditary hair loss, medical advice should be sought. So-called constitutional alopecia occurs in both men and women and requires special therapies(6). Vitamins for hair can therefore not be reliably used here for fuller hair.

For women, the loss of hair is often worse than for men. This can also cause mental illness(8). To counteract hair loss, vitamins can be used.

What types of vitamins for hair are there?

Vitamins for hair can be processed in different forms, but they achieve the same effect.

Tablets

The most common form of vitamins for hair are tablets. These must be swallowed whole. This is best done with a few sips of water. Tablets are compressed from powder and dissolve in the stomach.

Capsules

Capsules have a liquid or paste-like content, but are usually a little larger than tablets. Soft capsules, however, are easier to swallow because of their smooth surface. Again, the capsule should be swallowed with water.

Drops

For those who cannot swallow capsules or tablets for vitamins because they find it uncomfortable or have difficulty, drops are suitable. These can be measured out exactly on a small spoon.

Drops are therefore good for older people or children who find it difficult to swallow tablets.

However, if the drops taste bitter, it may take a little effort to take them every day.

How high should the daily dose of vitamins for hair be?

The outer packaging or the leaflet will tell you how many vitamins are contained in the product. Some manufacturers state how much of the daily requirement of an adult is covered. However, the preparations are formulated so that the dose of vitamins does not harm the body.

Vitamin A: This should not be excessively supplied to the body, but an amount of 30 milligrams is harmful to the body. The same applies to excessive vitamin D . Excluded from this, however, is sunbathing(4).
Vitamin C: The recommended amount is 1000 milligrams per day(4). However, the body can certainly tolerate twice that amount. Afterwards, abdominal pain may occur.
Biotin: The daily amount recommended by the German Nutrition Society is 40 micrograms. This value is often significantly exceeded in vitamins for hair.

Vitamins from citrus fruits make for beautiful skin and hair (Image source: unsplash / Noah Buscher)

What side effects can occur with vitamins for hair?

Since vitamins for hair are freely available, there are usually no side effects as long as you stick to the recommended daily dose and do not combine the product with any other products. In this case, you should seek professional advice so that you do not harm your body.

So, the vitamins for hair themselves tend to cause side effects only very rarely, but every body reacts differently. However, to exceed the maximum recommended daily dose, you would need countless tablets of vitamins for hair.

Is there an alternative for hair vitamins?

Vitamins alone can improve hair structure and growth, but commercially available products often contain additional minerals. The following table lists other important nutrients for hair.

Type	Examples
Minerals	Zinc, Iron, Selenium
Herbs	Chamomile, Sage, Calendula
Other	Caffeine, Taurine

Zinc intake per day for adults should not exceed 6.5 mg over a prolonged period(1).

The addition of caffeine has also been scientifically proven(10). This strengthens hair growth and is either contained in tablets for hair or in Shapoo for faster hair growth.