9 Best Vitamins and Supplements for Hair Growth in Men
Many men stare at their combs more than usual, hoping they don’t notice more and more hair in the comb and less and less hair on their heads. Yet even if you do have plenty of hair, this does not mean baldness is inevitable.
While hair loss can occur due to genetics, it can also be caused by an underlying health condition. For this reason, more men today take better care of themselves, invest in their wellness, get tested for low testosterone, undergo medical checkups to discover hidden conditions, and so on. Vitamins and supplements are readily available to help with hair growth, so the battle for fuller and healthier hair is not lost.
If you’re curious about the best vitamins for hair growth and the best supplements to promote hair health, here are some you’ll want to learn more about and discuss with your doctor.
1. Vitamins B6 and B12
If you experience hair loss, a deficiency in certain B vitamins may be causing your problem. Thus, if you can get more of these vitamins into your body daily, there’s a good chance they can help you keep as much of your hair as possible.
If you are a guy past age 65 or who chooses to follow a strict vegan or vegetarian diet, you are at greater risk of experiencing a vitamin deficiency. Fortunately, if you eat a balanced diet consisting of a variety of meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables, you’ll likely have enough Vitamins B6 and B12 in your system to keep your hair healthy.
If you’re wondering how these B vitamins work their magic in your hair, it has to do with producing red blood cells that carry oxygen to your scalp. The more blood flowing to your scalp, the greater the likelihood that your hair follicles will still be able to generate new hair continually. In fact, if you want faster hair growth, these vitamins are often considered some of the best hair supplements for faster growth.
2. Vitamin C
If you love having a glass of orange juice each morning, you know Vitamin C is making a significant contribution to you having a full head of hair and healthy skin, for that matter. This vitamin affects your hair’s health in many ways, such as
- Allowing for greater iron absorption,
- Protection from oxidative stress,
- Helping build collagen and keratin.
Producing enough collagen and keratin is especially crucial to maintaining healthy hair, since collagen contains powerful amino acids that increase keratin production, a necessary aspect of the hair structure. You may have previously considered Vitamin C just as a supplement that could help you prevent getting a cold. Now you know it is also one of the best vitamins for hair growth in men.
3. Iron:
If your body is low on iron, you’ll have less energy, and hair that is getting thinner and losing its luster. Seen as one of the best hair growth supplements for men, iron is primarily responsible for carrying oxygen to the roots of your hair. As this happens, it helps stimulate hair growth and keeps your hair looking shiny and feeling soft.
If you suspect you have an iron deficiency, it’s always best to visit your doctor for some blood tests. When it comes to iron, too much of a good thing can lead to various health issues, including
1. Nausea,
2. Diarrhea,
3. Stomach cramps,
4. Organ damage.
By working with your doctor to take the correct dosage of an iron supplement, you may find yourself once again having a head of hair that is fuller and thicker and others needing sunglasses to truly appreciate its shine.
4. Vitamin A
When you have enough Vitamin A in your body, you’ll have plenty of healthy cell growth, which will be a key component to ensuring your hair continues growing. One of the best vitamins for hair growth, this one is also essential for sebum production. Sebum is the oil that helps keep your scalp moisturized and your hair looking and feeling its best.
However, just as it is with taking an iron supplement, you don’t want to overdo it with Vitamin A. If you get too much of it in your system, it will have the opposite effect on your hair, meaning you may experience hair loss. Suppose you’re already dealing with this problem. In that case, you sure don’t want any additional hair loss brought on by too much Vitamin A.
5. Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral involved in numerous physiological processes in the body, including hair growth. In fact, zinc deficiency is associated with a range of hair problems, including hair loss, thinning, and dullness. Here are some of the benefits of zinc for men’s hair:
1. Promotes hair growth, as it is an important component in the synthesis of proteins, including keratin, which is the key structural material in hair. By aiding in keratin production, zinc promotes hair growth and may help reduce hair loss.
2. Dandruff is a common scalp condition characterized by flaking and itching. Zinc has antifungal and antibacterial properties that may help prevent the overgrowth of yeast on the scalp, which is one of the causes of dandruff.
3. Zinc helps regulate sebum production, the natural oil that moisturizes the scalp and protects the hair from damage. Proper sebum production can help to prevent dryness, breakage, and split ends.
4. Zinc also has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce inflammation and irritation on the scalp. This can help improve scalp health and prevent conditions like eczema and psoriasis, which can lead to hair loss.
5. Lastly, zinc is essential for a healthy immune system, which can help prevent infections and illnesses that can affect hair health.
Zinc supplements are available in various forms. The recommended daily zinc intake for adult men is around 11 mg daily. Taking zinc supplements within this range is generally safe, although excessive zinc intake can lead to toxicity.
Men taking zinc supplements may experience improvements in hair growth, thickness, quality, scalp health, and dandruff. However, it is important to note that individual results may vary and may take several months of consistent use before improvements are noticeable. As with any supplement, it is best to consult a healthcare provider before taking zinc supplements, particularly if you have any underlying medical conditions or are taking other medications.
6. Biotin
If you embraced a keto diet, like to have your share of alcoholic beverages, or have been overweight and had bariatric surgery, there’s a chance you may be low on biotin (vitamin B7), and this could be contributing to your hair loss. Research done by the American Academy of Dermatology has shown over the years that a lack of biotin can be a catalyst for hair loss and fungal infections in men of all ages.
Though research is still being completed on the benefits of biotin, some studies have shown that getting enough of this vitamin may help stabilize or even reverse hair loss in some men. Long touted for its benefits to the skin and nails, biotin may help solve your hair loss problem.
7. Combo Supplements
Becoming increasingly popular with today’s men dealing with hair loss, combo supplements are seen as some of the best solutions for hair growth. The biggest advantage of a combo supplement is that you get many of the essential vitamins and minerals for hair growth compounded into one capsule. This makes it a safer and more convenient option than trying to track multiple pills daily.
Combo supplements can be compounded to target specific reasons for your hair loss by containing vital ingredients such as folic acid, selenium, zinc, amino acids, protein, and antioxidants. For example, suppose your hair loss is attributed primarily to stress. In that case, you may get a combo supplement that combines ingredients to reduce your DHT levels. DHT is a byproduct of testosterone, and if you have high levels of it in your body, your hair follicles can start to thin out over time.
If you’ve been looking at the best vitamins for hair growth and wished you could get all of what you need in a single capsule, talking about combo supplements with your doctor and pharmacist may surprise you as to the possibilities regarding your hair growth.
8. Topical Serums
Yes, the best supplements and vitamins for hair growth don’t always have to be a pill or capsule. In fact, they can come in the form of a topical serum.
Focusing on the health of your scalp, topical serums usually contain ingredients like ginseng, which helps boost blood circulation to hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. These serums may also contain oat bran extract and pumpkin seed, which are good for reducing scalp dryness and irritation.
Damaged hair follicles can also be helped with topical serums since the serum will contain lilac stem cells, zinc, and burdock extract, all of which help reduce the growth of bacteria and keep your scalp’s oil production at healthy levels. Since you likely will not be familiar with many of these ingredients, learn everything possible from your doctor and pharmacist.
9. Anti-Stress Supplements
If you don’t want your hair to start thinning out and falling out more rapidly than you ever thought possible, try to alleviate the stress related to professional and personal life issues.
Rather than let the stress leave you with less hair on your head, try taking an oral destressing supplement. Made with ingredients that will help you stay calm during the day, these supplements also ensure stress does not significantly damage your body and hair during high-tension situations.
Before you rush out to get an anti-stress supplement, talk to your doctor beforehand to ensure its ingredients will not react adversely to any medications you may already be taking. If you don’t, you may be creating something else for you to worry about in your life, which will keep the vicious cycle of stress, worry, and hair loss going indefinitely.
The Bottom Line
Since more and more men have now chosen to embrace self-care and take better care of themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally, it’s time for you to do the same. Instead of seeing all those hairs in your comb each day and looking in the mirror at thinner and thinner hair, be proactive and do all you can to keep your hair growing full, thick, and shiny. After all, taking vitamins and supplements is just one of the many natural solutions to prevent hair loss.
As the availability of vitamins and supplements continues to expand, chances are that by working with your doctor and pharmacist, you’ll find the perfect combination of ingredients that will have your hair looking better than it has in years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best vitamins for hair growth in men?
The best vitamins for men’s hair growth are literally a trip through the alphabet since the best ones are Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. While you can usually get an adequate amount of these vitamins by eating a healthy diet, it’s always possible you may need to take a multivitamin or specific supplement, especially if you have an underlying medical condition. When visiting your doctor, blood tests and other health checkups can determine what causes your hair loss and which vitamins may be best for your situation.
The vitamins that will work best for your hair growth can often depend on your own unique health status and any conditions you may be experiencing. For example, if your body has trouble absorbing iron, your doctor may recommend you get more Vitamin C into your system to help your hair. However, should you suffer from a dry scalp that is making it difficult for you to grow new hair, additional amounts of Vitamin A may prove effective.
What are the best supplements to take for hair growth?
Men can take many great types of supplements to improve hair growth. Combo supplements are becoming very popular with men with thinning hair or hair loss since a doctor or pharmacist can customize these supplements to target specific problems. Supplements can also be used not only orally but also topically as well to help with scalp health and hair growth.
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