If your hair is beginning to thin, you may be looking for a natural way to slow down your hair loss. This article will tell you everything you need to know about the best vitamins for thinning hair.
Vitamins are used by many to reverse the effects of thinning hair. From preventing hair loss to helping to thicken up your locks, vitamins can be highly effective.
Can Vitamins Really Treat Thinning Hair?
Many people promote the benefits of taking vitamins to reduce or even prevent hair loss. It's well-known that certain vitamins act as building blocks for healthy hair growth, so it makes sense that vitamins may be able to encourage your hair to grow and treat thinning hair.
But are vitamins really effective enough to slow down or even prevent the effects of hair loss? And which vitamins are most effective at reversing the effects of thinning hair?
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What Causes Thinning Hair?
Before we look at which vitamins can help with thinning hair, we need to understand the causes of hair loss.
Family History
The most common cause of thinning hair is genetics. Hair loss is usually heredity, meaning that it is inherited from your family. This type of hair loss is often referred to as male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness.
Thinning hair which is caused by genetics usually happens gradually and follows a predictable pattern. In men, this is usually a receding hair line or bald spot. In women, the hair along the crown will slowly thin.
Diet
Diet is one of the biggest factors that contributes towards thinning hair. If you aren't getting enough of certain vitamins, minerals or nutrients, it can lead to hair loss.
If your hair starts thinning when you are dieting, it may be that you've cut out some of the most valuable nutrients that your hair requires. Adding the right nutrients back into your diet may help your hair to begin growing healthily again.
Stress
Stress can cause the sudden thinning of hair, especially if you've had a physical or emotional shock. This is because significant stress causes your hair follicles to enter a resting phase. After a few months, you may find that this hair falls out, causing your hair to thin.
Hair loss due to stress is temporary and healthy growth will usually resume once the stress has gone. Taking the right supplements can help your hair to recover after stress.
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Can Thinning Hair Be Reversed?
Those suffering from hair loss often ask whether thinning hair can be reversed. Thankfully, the answer is usually yes.
Depending on the cause of your thinning hair, it’s perfectly possible to prevent hair loss and stimulate your hair to grow back. Even in cases where hair loss can’t be reversed, it can usually be slowed and even stopped.
Reversing the effects of thinning hair can be a lengthy process, so don't be discouraged if when don't see results overnight.
Which Vitamins Should You Take For Thinning Hair?
Taking vitamin supplements can help to slow down hair loss, prevent hair thinning and even stimulate the regrowth of hair that has been lost.
But which vitamins and minerals are best for treating thinning hair?
Biotin
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is one of the most popular vitamins for thinning hair. It’s mostly found in meat, fish, wholegrains and eggs and is required by every cell in your body.
If your levels of biotin are low, it can cause thinning hair, a scaly rash and brittle nails. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may be low in biotin, as well as those following a vegan or vegetarian diet.
There is some research to suggest that taking biotin can help to increase hair growth whilst improving hair thickness. This is because biotin helps to stimulate keratin production in your hair, increasing its strength. When your hair is stronger, it becomes less likely to fall out.
Biotin also helps your hair to regrow after loss. This is because it helps to increase the rate of follicle growth in your hair. When more hair grows, your hair becomes thicker, reversing the effects of hair loss.
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Vitamin D
Vitamin D is often promoted as the vitamin to take for healthy bones. And it’s true – vitamin D is crucial for keeping your bones, teeth and muscles healthy. But did you know that vitamin D is also important for your hair?
In fact, low levels of vitamin D have been linked to hair loss. Although the exact role of vitamin D in hair growth is yet to be established, researchers believe that it may help to create new hair follicles, helping to thicken your hair.
In the UK, it’s recommended that everyone should take a vitamin D supplement, especially during the winter months. Although vitamin D is naturally found in sunlight and in some foods, around 1 in 5 people in the UK is deficient in vitamin D.
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Iron
One of the symptoms of iron deficiency is hair thinning. So, it’s no wonder that iron is recommended as one of the best vitamins for hair thinning.
Haemoglobin is the protein responsible for carrying oxygen around your body. This oxygen helps your cells to grow and repair. Your hair is no different – it requires haemoglobin to grow efficiently.
If your body becomes deficient in iron, it can cause your hair to thin. This is because the cells that stimulate hair growth need adequate levels of haemoglobin to be able to do their job.
Iron is naturally found in red meat, leafy green vegetables and legumes. Menstruating women and those following a vegan or vegetarian diet are most at risk of developing an iron deficiency, also known as anaemia.
Luckily, iron deficiency anaemia can be easily treated with iron supplements. Taking iron supplements can help to improve hair growth and prevent hair thinning in those suffering from an iron deficiency.
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Vitamin C
We’ve just discussed how an iron deficiency can lead to hair loss. But do you know about the crucial role that vitamin C plays in iron absorption?
Vitamin C has been proven to increase the amount of iron absorbed by the body. In fact, the role of vitamin C is so strong that one study found that taking 100mg of vitamin C alongside a meal increased the absorption of iron by up to 67%.
It’s not just iron absorption that vitamin C is useful for either. Your body also needs vitamin C to produce collagen. Collagen is a protein which makes up a vital building block of your hair’s structure. If your body struggles to make collagen, your hair will begin to thin, as well as becoming weaker.
You can find vitamin C in citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables, as well as vitamin C supplements. Taking vitamin C alongside eating iron-rich foods will increase the amount of iron that your body absorbs, helping to boost your hair growth.
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Zinc
One of the main symptoms of zinc deficiency is hair loss. That’s why zinc supplements are often recommended to help to prevent hair thinning. In fact, studies have proven that taking zinc supplements can help to increase hair growth in those who are deficient in zinc.
Zinc is a vital mineral when it comes to the growth and repair of your hair. It plays an important part in making the proteins that support your hair’s healthy growth. That explains why a zinc deficiency can lead to hair thinning and loss.
Zinc is also important for the oil glands around your hair follicles. It helps to improve the strength of your hair, along with its overall health.
You can find zinc in shellfish, legumes, nuts and seeds. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a bowel or kidney disease, you may be at risk for a zinc deficiency. Taking zinc supplements can help to ensure that your body has the optimum level of zinc, helping to avoid hair thinning and improving the overall health of your hair.
Vitamin A
Every cell in your body relies on vitamin A for growth and repair. Your hair is no different, with vitamin A an essential nutrient to support its healthy growth. If your body is deficient in vitamin A, you may notice that your hair begins to thin or fall out.
Sebum is an oily substance which is produced by skin glands. Sebum is your scalp’s natural moisturiser, helping to keep your scalp nourished and your hair healthy. Vitamin A plays an essential role in the production of sebum.
You can find vitamin A in milk, eggs and yogurt, as well as vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and kale. However, too much vitamin A can be dangerous, so it’s important to make sure that you don’t take too much.
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Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which plays an important role in healthy hair growth. This is because it can help to prevent oxidative stress in your scalp, one of the main causes of hair loss.
This vitamin is also thought to improve circulation in the scalp by increasing blood supply. This can help to encourage hair growth, as well as improving the health and strength of your hair.
The benefits of vitamin E mean that it is often found in hair products such as shampoo and conditioner. It is said that vitamin E can improve the appearance of hair, leaving it shiny and smooth, making it popular amongst celebrities.
You can find vitamin E in leafy green vegetables, avocado, sunflower seeds and almonds. Luckily for our hair, it’s rare to be deficient in vitamin E. However, you can give your hair a boost by taking vitamin E supplements or adding more vitamin E to your diet.
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How To Take Vitamins For Hair Thinning
Taking vitamin supplements is a great way to ensure that you are giving your hair all of the nutrients it needs to grow healthily and to prevent thinning.
When you take vitamins for hair thinning, you should always follow the dosage instructions which are printed on the label. This is because different brands of vitamins may be different strengths, so it’s important that you get the dosage right.
Some vitamins, such as vitamin C or iron, are best taken with food. Others may be best taken in the evening. The best time of day to take your hair loss vitamins will depend on the type of vitamin that you’re taking. Always follow the instructions which are printed on the label.
If you’re concerned that you may have a vitamin deficiency, it’s always best to seek expert advice from a doctor or medical professional.
Can Taking Vitamins Really Help To Prevent Thinning Hair?
Vitamins and minerals play an essential role in promoting healthy hair growth, so it makes sense that taking the right vitamins can help to stop your hair from thinning or falling out.
Due to the role that many of these vitamins play in supporting healthy hair growth, a deficiency could cause your hair to thin. Taking supplements of the right vitamins has been clinically proven in studies to reduce hair loss and promote optimum growth.
The right vitamin combination to take will depend on your own health, as well as your diet. You may choose to take individual vitamin supplements to support your hair, or you might decide to opt for a multivitamin which combines many of the vital nutrients that your hair needs.
Multivitamins To Stop Hair Thinning
You may choose to take individual vitamin supplements to support your healthy hair. However, taking a multivitamin supplement is also a good choice. Not only will it help to prevent your hair from thinning but it will also support your overall health.
Our one-a-day multivitamin supplements contain vitamins A, C, D and E, along with iron and zinc. This makes them one of the most comprehensive multivitamin supplements for hair on the market. With a vegan-friendly formula, these supplements are suitable for a wide range of people who are dealing with thinning hair.
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Related Questions
What Vitamins Am I Lacking If My Hair Is Thinning?
If you’re suffering from thinning hair or hair loss, you may be deficient in certain vitamins or minerals. These could include biotin, iron, zinc or vitamins A, C, D, or E. If you think you may be deficient in a vitamin or mineral, you should consult your doctor who may offer blood tests to find out the underlying cause of your thinning hair.
Can Hair Grow Back After Thinning?
It’s perfectly possible for hair to grow back after thinning. However, it depends on the cause of your hair loss. Hair which has thinned as a result of stress or a vitamin deficiency is often temporary and will grow back quickly with the right treatment.
Hair which has thinned due to genetics can be more difficult to reverse, although taking the right vitamins can help to slow down hair loss and, in some cases, can encourage the hair to grow back.
How Do You Decide Which Vitamins To Take For Hair Thinning?
Biotin, iron, zinc and vitamins A, C, D and E can all be beneficial for those suffering from thinning hair. You may choose to take a multivitamin which combines some of these vitamins, or to take them separately.
If you think that you may have a vitamin deficiency, it’s best to consult your doctor in the first instance. They may be able to offer a blood test in the first instance, to check your vitamin levels.
Try Our One-A-Day Multivitamins For Thinning Hair
Hair thinning is a problem that affects both men and women, with a range of causes. If you’re looking for a natural way to stop your hair from thinning and to encourage regrowth, taking multivitamin supplements is a great option.
If you’re ready to try multivitamin supplements to treat your hair loss and thicken your hair, you can purchase one-a-day multivitamin supplements from our online shop.
