We've all seen them – adverts scattered across the internet promising lustrous, shiny hair if you just take this or that supplement.
Hair supplements have traditionally targeted men worried about a receding hairline, but women worry about hair health too, particularly hair that's grown thinner or more brittle due to stress, illness, or simply getting older.
So, do hair supplements actually work? The honest answer is: it's complicated. There's no single cure for hair thinning or male pattern baldness, and no one supplement is a guaranteed fix – hair is a genuinely complex part of the body, influenced by multiple overlapping factors. That said, there's real reason to believe certain nutritional supplements can support healthier hair, specifically when addressing an actual deficiency.
What Kinds of Hair Supplements Are Available?
Browse any health food shop or pharmacy and you'll find products claiming to reduce stress, balance hormones, provide antioxidants, or reduce inflammation.
Others take a more straightforward approach, aiming to address specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies – and it's this latter category that has the strongest evidence behind it. In practice, hair supplements are most likely to help if you have a genuine, underlying nutritional deficiency, rather than as a blanket solution for everyone.
Key vitamins and minerals linked to hair health include:
Iron
Iron plays a genuine role in hair growth. Women are more prone to iron deficiency (anaemia) due to menstrual blood loss, which can lower ferritin levels, the protein responsible for carrying iron through the bloodstream. It's worth noting that excess iron intake carries its own risks, including potential liver damage, so supplementing should be based on a confirmed deficiency rather than guesswork – our iron test can confirm your levels.
Vitamin A
Low vitamin A levels can contribute to dry skin, which can in turn affect hair growth and condition.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports several processes in the body, including those involved in healthy hair growth.
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Niacin deficiency can affect skin and hair health, and in more severe cases can contribute to skin rashes.
Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Low biotin levels are associated with brittle, easily breakable hair.
How to Find Out If You Have a Deficiency
Rather than guessing which supplement might help, confirming an actual deficiency first is a more reliable approach. At-home testing has made this genuinely accessible – our vitamin D self-test and iron self-test can help identify whether either of these common deficiencies is contributing to your hair concerns.
It's still worth seeing a GP in some cases, though. Hair thinning or loss can be a sign of an underlying health issue, including dermatological conditions or hormone imbalances, so it's worth seeking medical advice if hair changes appear suddenly or significantly over a short period.
