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5 Must-Have Hair Vitamins for Age-Related Thinning, Shedding & Breakage

Registered Dietitian shares what to look for in a quality hair growth vitamin + check out our favorite hair growth supplements for longer, thicker hair

  • Fact Checked by: Melissa Mitri, MS, RD
As women age, maintaining hair health and vitality can become a challenge. In fact, approximately four in ten women struggle with age-related hair loss by the time they reach age 50. 

No wonder there are hundreds of supplement brands promising long-term solutions to combat shedding and thinning hair. And it’s true, a high-quality hair supplement can help provide your body with a steady supply of various nutrients to support fuller hair. 
"As a registered dietitian, I've helped patients resolve a number of issues they've faced with their hair simply by using the power of nutrition,” says Registered Dietitian Lauren Cornell.  
However, not all hair vitamins are equal, so it’s important to make an informed decision when choosing the right supplement. To help streamline the process, our team has created this guide, including which ingredients to look for, what to avoid, and the list of our 5 hair growth vitamin recommendations.

Hair Vitamins Can Benefit People with the Following Symptoms as You Age

  • Thinning & shedding

  • Areas where the scalp is more visible

  • A widening part or receding hairline

  • Hair that feels sparse, fragile, or brittle

  • Finding hair in your brush or shower drain

Nutrition, age, hormones, and stress all play a significant role in hair growth. Quality hair growth supplements are scientifically formulated to address these various causes of age-related, thinning hair, offering a multi-faceted approach. Here’s what to expect when taking a quality hair vitamin.

What to Expect from a Quality Hair Vitamin

Month One
You might notice a decrease in common shedding when brushing or showering as your hair follicles are properly nourished. 

Month Two 
You’ll likely see an increase in volume in your part within a couple of months of providing your hair with the nourishment it craves. 

Month Three 
People who stick with a supplement routine for a minimum of three months often experience the satisfaction of thick, revitalized hair.
However, the beauty industry often makes bold claims, especially regarding hair growth supplements. “Many hair care brands claim their products will help, but not all hair growth solutions are created equal,” warns Lauren Cornell. To find a truly effective hair vitamin, focus on products containing these key ingredients in meaningful doses.

Key Ingredients in a High-Quality Hair Growth Vitamin

Saw Palmetto for hormone support

Saw palmetto is a potent berry extract that supports supports the regulation of hormones associated with thinning hair due to hair follicles shrinkage with age.

Biotin to boost keratin

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a popular supplement among women that can help make hair stronger and more resilient. It also supports healthy, glowing skin and nail strength.

Hydrolyzed Collagen for stronger hair, skin & nails

Collagen is the key structural protein responsible for the strength and elasticity of our hair and skin. As we age, our body's natural collagen production declines, making it all the more important to harness this beauty-boosting ingredient.

Tocotrienols to strengthen follicles

These immune-bolstering vitamin powerhouses, made from a potent form of vitamin E, not only help protect against environmental threats, but also promote healthy hair growth from the inside out by strengthening follicles.

Reishi Mushroom for scalp stimulation

Promotes healthy blood circulation, strengthens your immune system, and combats environmental threats. And the best part? When included in a hair vitamin, it can even support circulation to your scalp for luscious locks.

Flaxseed Oil to nourish hair

Nourish your scalp and enhance the beauty of your hair with this rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Watch Out For

Titanium Dioxide

Widely relied upon in vitamin manufacturing as a coloring agent and binding mineral, titanium dioxide can cause health issues in the immune system in large amounts.

“Other” Ingredients

When considering a hair growth supplement, paying attention to more than just the main ingredients is crucial. Look out for any "other" ingredients in the formula that are not necessary such as sweeteners, allergens, and ingredients that may not align with your dietary restrictions. These may also include animal-derived ingredients, preservatives, or unnecessary fillers.
Now that you know what to look for and avoid in your hair vitamins, it’s time to shop. Check out our Brilliant recommendations below, including our very own supplements: Hair La Vie® Clinical Formula Hair Vitamins and Essential elements® Hair hero™.
HLV-Clinical-Formula-Comparison-Chart2

2024’s Must-Have Hair Vitamins

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What is lorum ipsum?

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What is lorum ipsum?

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What We Like:

    • Get 10% off with code First10
    • 20+ clean ingredients
    • USPlus® Saw Palmetto
    • Biotin
    • TocoGaia™ Tocotrienols
    • Reishi mushroom
    • Flaxseed
    • Iron
    • No unnecessary fillers
    • Cruelty-free
    • Featured in Oprah Daily, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Forbes, Women's Health & Byrdie
    • 90-day money-back guarantee

Room To Improve:

    • Sold exclusively online

Final Thoughts

Named "Best Hair Growth Products That Actually Work" by Oprah Daily, Hair La Vie's Clinical Formula Hair Vitamins is our Brilliant Choice for hair vitamin blends on the market today.

This hair growth supplement contains biotin, zinc, iron, and B-Vitamins with science-backed USPlus® Saw Palmetto and TocoGaia™ Tocotrienols to help support healthy hair growth. Our formula also includes a proprietary blend of amla, reishi mushroom, flaxseed oil, bamboo stem, and horsetail. 

Hair La Vie uses clean ingredients without any harsh compounds, fillers, or binders. Plus, the 90-day money-back guarantee means you can try them risk-free.

Product Specs

  • Get 10% off with code First10
  • 20+ clean ingredients
  • USPlus® Saw Palmetto, Biotin & TocoGaia™ Tocotrienols
  • Also includes: amla, reishi mushroom, flaxseed oil, bamboo stem, and horsetail.  
  • Formulated for all hair types & textures
  • No unnecessary fillers, non-dairy, non-GMO, gluten-free, preservative-free, and cruelty-free
  • Price: $$

What We Like:

    • Unique hair growth-supporting components
    • Saw palmetto
    • Biotin
    • Iron
    • Hydrolyzed collagen
    • Flaxseed
    • 365-day return policy

Room To Improve:

    • Sold exclusively online

Final Thoughts

Hair hero by Essential elements is a holistic, proprietary blend that features important vitamins and minerals shown to nourish and replenish hair for healthy growth support. Plus, this formula is also suitable for all hair types.

Hair hero is designed to specifically address the hormonal changes, nutrition inadequacies, and everyday stresses associated with age-related thinning.

Our formula features the research-based hair-enhancing ingredients mentioned above, including iron, saw palmetto, and hydrolyzed collagen.

Users reported substantial growth with regular use over time, as well as improved hair texture. Additional reports are that hair became both silkier and shinier, making Hair hero our Brilliant Buy.

Product Specs

  • Saw Palmetto, Biotin & Hydrolyzed Collagen
  • Also includes: MSM, horsetail, and flaxseed
  • Formulated for all hair types & textures
  • No unnecessary fillers, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, soy-free, peanut-free, shellfish-free
  • Price: $

What We Like:

    • Biotin
    • Tocotrienols
    • Hydrolyzed collagen
    • Saw palmetto

Room To Improve:

    • High price point 
    • Only 30-day return policy

Final Thoughts

Nutrafol Women has a vast array of healthful ingredients found in the product's proprietary blend, including 3000 mcg of biotin, a slew of vitamins, and many nutrients that complement the overall hair blend.

Nutrafol is also physician-formulated to address the underlying causes of thinning hair in women, like stress, lifestyle choices, or nutrition, to effectively promote healthier hair growth and reduce shedding.

And even though it may be a bit pricier than other options out there, the incredible results shared by countless satisfied customers are undeniable. Plus, Nutrafol offers a 30-day return policy if the results don't meet your expectations.

Product Specs

  • 100% drug-free, naturally derived ingredients 
  • Backed by clinical studies
  • Key ingredients: biotin, saw palmetto, vitamin E, hydrolyzed collagen
  • Formulated for all hair types & textures
  • Cruelty-free
  • Price: $$$

*We earn a commission if you click on this link to make a purchase of Nutrafol Women.

What We Like:

    • Biotin
    • Marine collagen complex 
    • Iron
    • Name brand recognition

Room To Improve:

    • Only 30-day return policy

Final Thoughts

The Hair Growth Supplements by Viviscal contain a nice assortment of vitamins and other compounds to help stimulate existing hair growth, like biotin, a marine collagen complex, and iron.

Viviscal’s AminoMar collagen complex helps support healthy hair growth from within. Many users have reported results in just 90 days. Plus, Viviscal offers a 30-day return policy if the results don't meet your expectations.

Plus, Viviscal's name-brand recognition and customer base secured this brand as the one to watch for hair vitamin blends.

Product Specs

  • Biotin & Marine Collagen Complex
  • 100% Drug-Free
  • Formulated for all hair types
  • Price: $$

*We earn a commission if you click on this link to make a purchase of Viviscal Hair Growth Supplement.

What We Like:

    • Biotin
    • Natural flavors
    • Vegan
    • Cruelty-free

Room To Improve:

    • Contains added sugar
    • Provide refunds ONLY on unopened bottles

Final Thoughts

Rounding out our list are SugarBear Hair Vitamins. Endorsed by celebrities and widely sampled by users, it's worth highlighting this growth-promoting blend with its assortment of vital nutrients and vitamins. Their formula includes favorites like biotin, vitamin E, and zinc.

SugarBear Hair, unfortunately, misses out on the benefits of hydrolyzed collagen, saw palmetto, and omega 3’s. However, the results seem to speak for themselves.

The product is made of sugar and syrup-based gummies, which makes them taste like candy, which many faithful customers love and find easier to take than a capsule or tablet.

Product Specs

  • Key ingredients: Biotin & Vitamin E 
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan gummy formula
  • Formulated for all hair types
  • Price: $

*We earn a commission if you click on this link to make a purchase of Sugarbear Hair Vitamins.

The Brilliant Process

How We Choose Products

Like you, we’re picky about products — and serious about quality

Whether we’re featuring an award-winning product from one of our five beauty and wellness brands — or somebody else’s — a Brilliant recommendation doesn’t see the light of day until it has been medically reviewed by our Fact Checkers for accuracy and has fulfilled our Brilliant Criteria. 

At Brilliant, although we often feature products that we sell, we’re not afraid to highlight and celebrate other brands who are doing things right.

Brilliant Criteria

We take great care in handpicking high-quality products to feature on Brilliant. Here’s how we choose them:
  • Research-Based Ingredients: We dig deep into the latest research and look for products that contain science-based ingredients for optimal impact.
  • Pure, Holistic Formulas: We prioritize products that contain clean, wholesome ingredients shown to be effective. A product should only contain what it needs and nothing else — period.
  • Brand Credibility: Each product on our list is produced by a company with trusted credibility. We've also verified that each brand adheres to labeling requirements set forth under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
  • Value: We evaluate products based on industry averages and price per serving or application. We also consider quantity and return policy.

Why Trust Us?

As veteran leaders in the wellness space with an award-winning brand portfolio of 100+ health and beauty products, we are committed to honesty and transparency, providing thoughtful insights into the benefits and limitations of the information and products we evaluate — including our own. Every Brilliant Buying Guide is thoroughly vetted for medical accuracy by our Fact Checkers prior to publication. 

With our discerning selection process, you can feel confident that the products we recommend meet the highest benchmarks of quality, transparency, and efficacy. If we wouldn’t use a product ourselves, it’s not Brilliant.

Citations

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2. Ramadan R, Tawdy A, Abdel Hay R, Rashed L, Tawfik D. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2013;26(1):2–7.
3. Arca, Ercan & Açıkgöz, Gürol & Yeniay, Yıldıray & Caliskan, Ercan. (2014). Turkish Journal of Dermatology / Türk Dermatoloji Dergisi. 8. 210-215. 10.4274/tdd.2302. 
4. Rossi, A et al. International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology vol. 25,4 (2012): 1167-73. doi:10.1177/039463201202500435
5. Evron, Evyatar et al. Skin appendage disorders vol. 6,6 (2020): 329-337. doi:10.1159/000509905
6. Le Floc'h C, Cheniti A, Connétable S, Piccardi N, Vincenzi C, Tosti A. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015 Mar;14(1):76-82. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12127. Epub 2015 Jan 8. PMID: 25573272.
7. Racovita AD. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 6;19(9):5681. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095681. PMID: 35565075; PMCID: PMC9104107.
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