Hair growth can be a pretty tricky thing for a lot of men and women. Long, thick, and strong hair is often genetic and not everyone is meant to have those full long locks that have become such a popular look over the last few years.
The good news is, there are some steps you can take to help increase the strength of your hair, help your hair grow longer, and make it look better than ever.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to help with hair growth is to take vitamins and supplements that help target hair growth specifically. There are certain systems and vitamins in your body that help give you great hair, skin, and nails. If you are deficient in any of these areas or your body just needs more of a certain vitamin or mineral to help with hair growth, adding them into your diet is going to make it much easier to get the long and thick hair of your dreams.
We are going to take a look at the top 10 best hair growth vitamins you can take that will actually work. We will go over how and why they work, foods you can find each vitamin in, and also a supplement option if you would like to go for the option instead of or include it with an increase in certain foods.
1. Biotin + B Vitamins
B vitamins, also commonly referred to as biotin, is one of the most well-known and popular vitamins you can take for hair growth. Biotin is also great for your skin and your nails as well. You can also choose to take other forms of vitamin B as these will help carry more blood cells to the scalp bring more oxygen, and helping those nutrients reach the scalp and the hair follicles that help make your hair grow longer, thicker, and stronger.
Biotin and B vitamins can be found in so many different foods. Eating foods like dark leafy greens, almonds, meat, seafood, and more are all high in B vitamins. Biotin supplements are notorious for working wonders on people’s hair.
A supplement you can also consider is this biotin supplement.
2. Vitamin A
All of the cells in your body need vitamin A for proper and healthy growth. This, of course, includes hair which is one of the fastest cells to grow, although some people still struggle with growing out their hair to the length they want. Vitamin A is ideal for hair growth because it helps the tiny glands in your skin produce a special oil called sebum. While sebum is bad for skin elsewhere on your body and can lead to acne, sebum on the scalp helps keep the scalp moisturized and the hair healthy.
It is easy to increase your vitamin A levels by including foods into your diet like sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, spinach, milk, eggs, and yogurt. You can eat these foods in so many different ways and they are very easy to include more of in your daily diet.
You can always opt for a vitamin as well, such as Bronson Vitamin A.
3. Vitamin C
While vitamin C is an essential nutrient for your body it can cause some damage to your hair and scalp because free radical damage can hinder the growth of your hair. And here we are talking about vitamin C that comes from external sources. Vitamin C is a super-powerful antioxidant and this can help block the oxidative stress your hair will encounter from too much free radical exposure.
Foods that contain loads of vitamin C are things like strawberries, bell peppers, and any kind of citrus fruit. You can even drink lemon water or lime water during the day to help boost those vitamin C levels in your body quickly and easily.
This is also a wonderful vitamin C supplement you can incorporate into your routine as well.
4. Vitamin D
If you have lower than average vitamin D levels, this could lead to hair loss but it could also lead to a stall in your hair growth as well. When your body has enough vitamin D your scalp can create more hair follicles and this leads to new, longer, thicker, and healthier hair overall. If you have found it hard to grow your hair, most people are not getting enough vitamin D. therefore, increasing your intake can make for a significant difference in your hair growth.
Foods high in levels of vitamin D include fish, mushrooms, cod liver oil, and you can also increase your levels by getting enough natural sunlight on a regular basis.
Sometimes the best way is to take a vitamin D supplement, especially if your levels are very low. You can find a vitamin D supplement here.
5. Vitamin E
Although we often don’t hear too much about vitamin E, vitamin E is an awesome option for helping with hair growth and hair loss. One study found that those who had hair loss and took vitamin E had an increase in hair growth by 34.5%. This is quite a substantial number and shows just how successful vitamin E can be for so many people, especially those who are suffering from hair loss.
Foods with loads of vitamin E are sunflower seeds, spinach, avocados, and almonds. You can also try out a vitamin E supplement as well.
6. Iron
If your body is low in iron levels, the lack of iron can cause both hair loss and your hair has a more difficult time growing. Iron is an important mineral in your body and helps your red blood cells carry oxygen to your cells, including the cells in your scalp.
Foods that are high in iron include options like red meat, oysters, eggs, spinach, lentils, and calms. You can also go with a supplement form of iron. Many people can find it more challenging to eat enough iron through diet alone, so supplementing with a pill is often a good way to ensure your iron is at an appropriate level.
7. Zinc
When it comes to zinc and hair growth, plus healthy hair overall, it actually plays quite a large role. Zinc helps with hair repair as well as hair tissue growth. You need to be careful with the amount of zinc you take. While the right dose of zinc can give you long locks, too much zinc in your body can also lead to hair loss. If this is something you are worried about, it is highly recommended to speak with a healthcare professional to ensure you are taking the right amount of zinc in supplement form for your body.
You can also find zinc in foods like lentils, pumpkin seeds, red meat, oysters, and wheat germ. If these foods are not up your alley or you find that you are particularly low in zinc, a supplement mat be the way to go.
8. Protein
Although protein may not technically be a vitamin, it definitely needed to make an appearance on our list since it is incredibly important for your hair and hair growth. This is because your hair is made up of almost all protein. If you are not eating enough protein on a regular basis, it is going to be very hard for your body to function properly and help grow your hair.
If you are vegan or vegetarian it is particularly important to make sure you are getting enough plant-based protein if you are having issues with your hair growth despite your best efforts.
Sources of protein are endless. Meats, fish, dairy, eggs, beans, lentils, legumes, and quinoa are just a few of the food you can easily find that contain high levels of protein naturally.
You can also increase your daily protein intake by adding a protein powder into your diet. While there are many options to choose from, this is an awesome option from Vega since it is only made with 5 super simple and wholesome natural ingredients.
9. Omega 3 Fatty Acids
We all know how important omega 3 fatty acids are and they are super-duper important for your hair as well. These fats provide your body and your hair with a good natural source of protein. This will help make your hair stronger, which in return can also help your hair to grow longer. As they say, strong hair equals long hair because strong healthy hair breaks less and can grow much more efficiently.
Omega 3 is often found in foods like marcel, tuna, salmon, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and sardines. If these don’t sound like the tastiest options to you, try out this omega 3 supplement. If you do not eat meat, fish, etc. It can be much harder to get the proper levels on omegas you need for hair growth, meaning a supplement is likely going to be your best bet.
10. SugarBearHair Gummy Vitamins
We wanted to include a hair growth and strengthening vitamin in the mix that has a few different vitamins and minerals in one specifically formulated for hair. SugarBearHair is an extremely popular gummy vitamin that has gained loads of traction all over the internet. Their formula includes Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin B-6, Folic Acid, Vitamin B-12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Iodine, Zinc, Choline, and Inositol, all-important for strong hair and hair growth.
You can get all of these different vitamins and minerals in one easy to eat and super tasty gummy
FAQs
How can I grow my hair faster naturally?
All of the vitamins above and going to make your hair grow naturally and safely, however, you have more options as well. You can trim your hair more frequently, don’t wash your hair every day, skip out on heating tools like curlers and flat irons, and eat an overall healthy and balanced diet.
How can I get thicker hair in a month?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions by many people. When people want to grow their hair, they tend to want to grow their hair fast. While this may be possible for some people, more often than not, it is going to be very hard to make your hair grow significantly in a month. Hair growth takes time. It takes a while for the vitamins to build up in your system, for you to change your diet, your hair washing and styling routine, and lots more.
The biggest key to hair growth is the be consistent and patient. There is no magic formula that works in a month to grow your hair.
How long does it take for vitamins to work on hair?
When you start taking vitamins to help with hair growth, everyone is so different so results are going to vary from person to person. However, vitamins are not going to help your hair grow overnight, in a few days, etc. It is generally going to take a few weeks to a few months to really begin to see results. It is also going to take a whole lot of consistency as well. If you are someone who has trouble sticking to a routine of taking vitamins on a daily basis, it will take you much longer to get any results.
Final Thoughts
If you want to grow your hair longer and give it more volume, adding the right vitamins into your diet can help you get the hair you have always wanted. It is always the best idea to get your vitamins from food as much as possible, so adding more variety of foods to your diet that has the above vitamins will help the best.
Vitamins through food are absorbed by your body much easier compared to supplements. However, if you do find it hard to add certain foods into your diet, using a high-quality supplement to help increase those vitamins in your body is a fine option as well.
This article was last updated on May 9, 2024 .