Many people suffering from hair loss are overwhelmed by the volume of remedies available. It can be difficult to know where to begin. There is no single optimal treatment because effectiveness depends on the cause of the hair loss and each individual’s body chemistry. Before spending a lot of money, time, and frustration on the many commercial remedies available, why not begin by trying something that is cheap and natural: hair growth vitamins.
Certain vitamins are well-documented to help with hair loss. Drugstore shelves are quickly becoming overcrowded with vitamins for hair loss. Here is some advice you can keep in mind when choosing hair growth vitamins.
Ingredients to look for: Any of the B vitamins, particularly B7 and biotin. Biotin is by far the vitamin with the best results on hair loss. It may also be referred to as Vitamin H. Any B-complex combination is going to improve the condition and growth of hair, but definitely make sure you get something with biotin. Folic acid (also known as Vitamin B9) and zinc are also linked to hair growth and found in many multivitamins.
There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Some hair vitamin labels boast as much as 500% of the recommended daily amount of certain vitamins. Too much of any vitamin can be harmful or at the very least, a waste of money because your body cannot absorb such high levels. In particular, you should avoid excessive amounts of Vitamin A, which can actually make hair loss problems worse.
Should you buy pills that are specifically marketed as hair growth vitamins? While a good multivitamin may be enough for most people, it is easy to be drawn to these products when you are scanning the vitamin aisle. They are usually specially formulated for hair, but as always, read the labels carefully. Many of them are not much different from multivitamins but the price tag can be significantly higher. That’s why it is important to be an informed consumer. Don’t pay extra for the special hair vitamins if you can find the same ingredients in a cheaper product.
One case where it may be worth spending a bit extra is organic vitamins. These vitamins are more natural and healthier for your body. The body also absorbs them more easily because they are more similar to the vitamins found in healthy food. These vitamins have a higher price tag but your body will put them to better use than the synthetic types.
How much should you buy? It does take a month or two to see the results of using vitamins for hair loss, but it’s best to start with a smaller bottle to make sure you don’t have any reactions to those particular vitamins. While they are unlikely to cause any side effects, make sure the vitamins you buy are a good match for your body’s chemistry before investing in a larger bottle.
Avoid topical hair vitamin treatments. There is no evidence that vitamins have any effect on hair loss when used topically. That means creams, shampoos, and other treatments that you apply to the hair or scalp are generally a big waste of money. One exception may be Vitamin E oil hair growth products, which can boost circulation to the hair follicles when massaged into the scalp on a regular basis.
Be sure to check out our reviews page if you are looking to buy biotin for advice on where to find good formulations.
