Vitamin supplements for hair growth are a popular remedy among men experiencing all different types of hair loss. But do they really work?
Evidence shows that hair vitamins for men can work in some circumstances. But they’re not a miracle cure for male pattern baldness or any other hair loss condition.
Discover everything you need to know about hair vitamins for men here, including:
Vitamins are essential for all kinds of bodily functions. From hair growth to bone development, we need an adequate amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to stay healthy.
Eating a balanced diet for healthy hair provides most of the essential nutrients your hair needs to grow.
But if you don’t get enough vitamins and minerals in your diet, your hair may suffer. Male pattern baldness, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium have all been linked with low levels of certain nutrients (telogen effluvium is more commonly seen in women, but can also affect men).
Studies have shown a possible link between certain vitamin deficiencies and hair loss in men [1-5]. A lack of any of the following nutrients may contribute to the development of your hair loss condition:
Supplements may help your hair regrow if you have low levels of any of the nutrients listed above.
But many men have healthy levels of all these vitamins and minerals. In this case, hair vitamins for men are unlikely to help.
Studies have shown that vitamin supplements don’t promote hair growth in people with healthy nutrient levels [6]. In fact, in some cases, taking too many or unnecessary vitamin supplements can cause or contribute to hair loss.
Over-supplementation of Vitamin A, selenium, and vitamin E can all lead to hair loss [6]. Researchers have noted that many bestselling hair supplements contain all these nutrients. In addition, the supplement industry is largely unregulated, so it’s important to be wary of claims made on packaging and marketing campaigns.
If you have a clinical nutritional deficiency or inadequacy — that is, it’s been diagnosed by a doctor or trichologist — consider taking hair vitamins to increase your nutrient levels and stimulate hair growth.
Your doctor or trichologist can advise you on which supplements you need to take. Multivitamins contain nutrients that may hinder hair growth, so try to stick with specific supplements.
If you don’t have a clinical deficiency, hair vitamins are unlikely to help. Instead, it’s a good idea to use a proven hair loss treatment, such as Minoxidil or Finasteride.
A few small studies have shown that the following supplements may help improve male hair growth, even in the absence of a vitamin deficiency.
While it’s true that too much vitamin E can contribute to hair loss, it’s also been shown that vitamin E is the only supplement that can help with hair growth even in the absence of a clinical deficiency [3].
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that fights oxidative stress, a known factor in several types of hair loss, including male alopecia.
Considering taking a vitamin E supplement for male hair growth? Seek advice from a trichologist to ensure you’re taking the right amount.
Omega-3 is a fatty acid that plays an important role in hair growth. Research shows that supplements containing omega-3, 6, and 9 increased hair density in both men and women with hair loss [7].
The NHS recommends that everyone in the UK takes a vitamin D supplement in autumn and winter when hours of sunlight are shorter. Regular exposure to sunlight is necessary for your body to create vitamin D. (However, too much sunlight can be bad for your hair.)
Animal studies have also shown that vitamin D supplementation may help promote hair growth [8]. While it remains to be proven that this is the case in humans, it’s a good idea to take a vitamin D supplement if you live in the UK in line with NHS guidance.
Very few vitamin supplements for men are proven to work for hair loss unless you have a nutritional deficiency. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternative hair loss solutions that can help.
Minoxidil is a topical hair loss treatment that should be applied to the scalp regularly. It works by opening up the blood vessels in the scalp, allowing more nutrients to reach the follicles. This enables the follicles to grow strong, healthy hair.
Men are usually advised to use Minoxidil 5% twice a day, morning and evening. Minoxidil is suitable for treating a range of conditions, including male pattern baldness, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium.
Like Minoxidil, Finasteride is a licensed male hair loss treatment in the UK. It works by blocking the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for hereditary hair loss in men.
Finasteride is usually taken as a 1mg tablet once a day. Unlike Minoxidil, it can only be used to treat male pattern baldness.
Caffeine shampoo is a cheap, easy way to promote hair growth. Caffeine is a stimulant that may counteract the effects of DHT, protect the outer root sheath of your hair to prevent damage, and increase hair growth regulators.
Not sure which shampoo to try to stimulate hair growth? Check out our list of the best hair loss shampoos that work for men.
For more extensive or severe hair loss, you may want to consider hair transplant surgery. FUE and FUT are safe, successful, permanent solutions to male pattern baldness.
Hair vitamins can be useful for men who are lacking in specific nutrients, but they’re not a magic formula for hair regrowth. They won’t work for most people, so avoid being taken in by marketing campaigns.
To find the right solution for your hair thinning or balding, speak to a qualified hair loss specialist. We can talk through all your options with you and formulate a tailored treatment plan that tackles your specific hair loss.
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