What Vitamin Should I Take for Hair Loss?

The nutritional needs of our bones and bodies change as we age. We require fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight and more calcium to feed our bones. If only there were a vitamin for hair loss that could aid our aging hair. 

It turns out there are several.

Your scalp has nearly 100,000 hair follicles, and of these, 90% reside in the growing (anagen) stage and require micronutrients like vitamins to sufficiently forge a robust head of hair.

If you’re dealing with hair loss, a vitamin deficiency could be at the root of your thinning. You may even be deficient in more than one vitamin—so knowing the culprits is key. Keep reading to learn all about vitamins for thinning hair and hair loss.

The Anatomy of Your Hair

Your hair’s primary building block is a protein called keratin and comprises up to 95% of your total hair fiber by weight. 

Your hair also consists of water and natural oils, called lipids, and has three essential structures: the outermost layer, called the cuticle, is made of overlapping shingle-like cells that give your hair its shine; the middle layer known as the cortex contains protein filament bundles; and the medulla, a honeycomb-like, spongy core inside the cortex.

What Causes Aging-Related Hair Loss?

According to Cleveland Clinic, about 30 million women in the U.S. will suffer the most widespread type of alopecia called female pattern hair loss. 

With age, your hair and scalp undergo physiological changes. Your follicles shrink and create skinnier, shorter hair shafts. Thin, gray or white hairs replace your thicker hairs. Some of your follicles may even shut down and stop regenerating new hairs completely, leading to hair loss. 

Aging changes in hair also include protein loss that affects your hair's color, strength and elasticity. Reduced elasticity means more hair breakage when it is pulled or brushed, leading to more hair in your brush.

What Vitamin Should I Take for Hair Loss?

In your 40s and beyond, your tresses often need a nutritional boost. Many women cannot absorb the vitamins because of their evolving gastrointestinal physiology, and your hair, among other vital organs, can benefit from taking a vitamin- and mineral-packed supplement. 

While there is no silver bullet when it comes to vitamins and tackling hair loss, there are a few that together help support healthy hair and reduce shedding. B vitamins (these include niacinamide and biotin) and vitamins C and D are some of the best vitamins for hair loss. 

We formulated our Significant Other Hair, Skin & Nails Supplement + Retinol Boost to address your hair biology requirements and deliver nutrients you need most, including 

B vitamins. Our gummies are designed to vitalize your follicles to reduce hair loss and promote healthier, more lustrous hair. Some of the micronutrients found in our Significant Other gummies include: 

• Vitamin A (Retinyl Acetate): Vitamin A is not a single vitamin, but a group of fat-soluble compounds called retinoids. Every tissue cell in your body requires Vitamin A for growth, including the fastest-growing tissue, your hair. Diets deficient in Vitamin A can lead to hair loss. Vitamin A also spurs your sebaceous glands to pump out more sebum oil to moisturize your scalp and maintain healthy locks.
  
  
• B Vitamins: B vitamins help produce the red blood cells that transport nutrients and oxygen to your hair follicles and scalp, making B-vitamins critical for healthy hair. Some of the  B vitamins in our Significant Other gummies include:

• Biotin: Biotin is the most well-known B vitamin for hair growth, and studies have linked biotin deficiency to hair loss. Many protein-rich foods contain biotin.
  
  
• Vitamin B5 (Calcium D-Pantothenate): Calcium D-Pantothenate is a form of B5 pantothenic acid proven to alleviate hair loss problems and premature graying related to menopause. It also accelerates melanin creation and regulates sebum oil production and hair moisture. Vitamin B5 can also support hair regrowth.
  
  
• B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride): B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that your body cannot produce; therefore, you must get it through foods or supplements. B6 boosts red cell production and could aid hair growth by converting amino acids into keratin. 

• Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid): Folic acid influences cell growth, including the fast-growing cells in your hair follicles. If you lack folic acid or associated folates, you may run into premature grays.
  
  
• B12 (Cyanocobalamin): Your body needs B12 to manufacture red blood cells, and low levels of B12 can bring about anemia and hair loss. As a vegan or an aging woman, your hair and body may be lacking vitamin B12. Our Significant Other gummies have 100% of the B12 you need each day (based on a 2,000-calorie diet).
  
  
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Vitamin C plays a pivotal role in helping your body absorb iron, making it helpful for women suffering from iron-deficiency-related hair loss. 

• Vitamin D3: Low vitamin D3 levels are associated with alopecia and premature graying. 

• Vitamin E: A proven antioxidant, vitamin E reduces oxidative stress in hair follicles and may promote hair growth. 

• Zinc: Adequate zinc intake is crucial for hair growth and follicle health. Studies have shown that supplementing zinc can reverse hair loss caused by this mineral's deficiency.
  
  

Better Not Younger’s Fortifying Vitamins for Hair Loss

If you have discovered hair thinning, delve into your diet. Eating sensible foods with proteins and antioxidants, including leafy greens, eggs, salmon, berries, avocados and carrots should be priority number one. Your tresses need vitamins to thrive, after all. 

But you can still have the hair of your dreams, even if you are unable to consume a balanced diet by supplementing your food intake and nourishing your scalp and hair with our Significant Other gummies. They are vegan, cruelty-free and delicious! 

Tell Us: Are you experiencing hair thinning and taking a vitamin for hair loss? Share in the comments below! 

Better Not Younger has solutions to all your hair-care needs related to hair thinning and hair loss. Visit our shop page to find the perfect hair products and vitamins for thinning hair that are formulated just for you and your healthiest hair.