Hair supplements seem like the golden ticket to great hair: all you have to do is pop a pill, sit back, and wait for glossy, thicker hair to reveal itself, right? The reality is a little more complex. When supplements do work, they take time to work, and not all supplements are created equal. Supplements arent regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which means its difficult to tell which brands are using the highest quality ingredients and which rely on a lot of inexpensive fillers that may sound impressive, but arent going to target your hair follicles in any meaningful way. Unfortunately, a supplements price tag doesnt always tell an accurate story, either.

So, how much should you expect from a hair supplement and what are its limitations? Do supplements actually help hair growth? We asked an expert.

First and foremost, no one treatment will work for all people. Its important to consider the reason why you are shedding hair before finding a solution that works for you (and thats something that should ideally be determined with the help of a board-certified dermatologist).

Hairsupplementsshould be customized to the cause ofhairloss, says Dr. Yoram Harth, board certified dermatologist and medical director ofMDhair. Women with postpartum or stress-relatedhairloss should get a different kind ofsupplementthan women after 40 with post-menopausal or genetic-relatedhairloss. Well-chosensupplementscan help provide the first group with the micronutrients essential forhairregrowth. The second group should look forsupplementsthat include,in addition to essentialvitaminsand minerals, DHT blockers that counteract the effect of dehrdotestoren on thehairfollicles, and plant-like ashwagandhaand reishi and maitake mushrooms can helphairregrowth by reducing inflammation and stress.

There are no miracles in a bottle. And many supplement brands try to skate by adding less-than-effective filler ingredients to their formulas. Knowing the limitations of certain supplements can help temper your expectations and save you money.

Unfortunately, some overhypedhairsupplementscan do more damage than good, says Dr. Harth. Examples are sugary gummysupplementsthat maintain high amounts of biotin. Biotin is a good ingredient, but there is evidence that using it as a single ingredient significantly affectshairregrowth. The high amount of sugar in most of these gummies can hurthairregrowth and its other health disadvantages.

In people with pregnancy, stress, or nutrition related, the most effective ingredients to look for arevitaminsand minerals, according to Dr. Harth. Good addition in these cases in collagen peptide, preferably sourced from wild-caught fish. People with genetically relatedhairloss need to look forsupplementsthat contain natural DHT-blockers combined with thesevitaminsin minerals.

Ready for a shock? Despite how often we hear about the benefits of biotin, it is one of the most hyped hair growth ingredients. Biotin is a good ingredient, but there is evidence that using it as a single ingredient significantly affectshairregrowth, Dr. Harth says. In very high amounts, it can also cause acne breakouts.

The common causes forhairloss in women are genetics, postpartum (pregnancy), crash diets, wrong hairstyling, autoimmune diseases, and hormonal imbalances Dr. Harth says.

The bestsupplementsto help regrowhairare the ones that target the root cause of yourhairloss, Dr. Harth says. Here are some ingredients that Dr. Harth says can aid in hair growth for a number of different hair shedding culprits.

The best naturalsupplementsfor genetic, age, and hormonal-relatedhairloss are plants that can reduce the effect of male hormones, mainly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), on thehairfollicles, Dr. Harth says.

Examples of those plants are:

Saw palmetto is a plant extract believed to block the effects of male hormones on thehairfollicle and reduce excessivehairshedding. These ingredients can be found in topical scalp serums and oralhairsupplements.

Ginseng: A few types of ginseng are believed to help withhairgrowth. For optimal results, look forhairsupplementsplants-based serum that contains the Panax Ginseng Root.

Pygeum Bark Extract: Rich in phytosterols that block the effect of DHT onhairfollicles to enhancehairgrowth.

Broccoli Powder contains antioxidants that reduce free radical damage to the scalp. Bvitaminsin broccoli extract help reduce stress, contributing tohairloss.

The best naturalsupplementsfor Postpartumhairloss will need to replenish thevitamins, minerals, and micronutrients that were depleted during pregnancy, Dr. Harth says and these samesupplementsshould also be safe for breastfeeding women.

Examples of ingredients needed:

Iron helps boost circulation and carries oxygen to the roots of thehair, which allows thehairto grow faster and longer. An iron deficiency can lead tohairloss.

VitaminsC, D, E Having the right amount of thesevitaminsis required for a healthy scalp and regrowth of healthier, thicker newhair.

Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Helphairfollicles regenerate and heal faster to produce new healthierhair.

Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Manganese, and Chromium Having the right amount of these minerals is required for a healthy scalp and regrowth of healthier, thicker newhair.

Calcium An essential mineral that helps reducehairbreakage, dry scalp, and brittle nails.

Vitamin K2 By stimulating blood flow to the scalp, it enhances healthyhairregrowth.

Combiningvitamins, minerals, and adaptogens can reduce this type ofhairloss, Dr. Harth says. Examples of natural adaptogens are the Maitake and Reishi Mushrooms. Potent adaptogens, immunomodulatory, and inhibitors of 5-reductase, these mushroom extracts support a healthy scalp and regrowth of newhair.

Hair supplements can be extremely helpful but only if they are targeting your hair loss concern and contain effective ingredients for your personal needs. Before you start any new supplement, check with your doctor. Get a thorough exam to determine the cause of your hair loss and be patient it can take time to experience the benefits of a quality supplement.

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Do Supplements Help Hair Growth? We Asked An Expert - SheFinds

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