The 9 Best Hair Growth Products That Work, According to Dermatologists

Can we all agree that 2020 was a stressful year? So perhaps it comes as no surprise that there has been an uptick in people reporting hair loss, which can be triggered by stress, among other things.

To shed some light on how to best treat shedding hairs, we spoke to two board-certified dermatologists—Annie Chiu, who is the founder of The Derm Institute in Los Angeles and Tess Mauricio in Beverly Hills, and Dr. Sophia Kogan, co-founder and Chief Medical Advisor of Nutrafol—as well as Jen Atkin, a celebrity hairstylist, for some advice.

For starters, you’ve got to try and relax as much as you can. “Right now [due to COVID-19], we are living through a prolonged period of stressful events, so this type of stress-induced hair loss is occurring at a higher rate than usual,” explains Chiu. “Time almost always helps, but in the meantime, you can find ways to help you manage your stress, like journaling, aromatherapy, taking long baths, and drinking chamomile tea.”

Kogan also recommends incorporating activities like reading a book, meditating, yoga and dance into your day. “Stress can be a trigger for hair thinning in many people, particularly women who tend to be more sensitive to its effects. Incorporating stress reduction techniques into your routine can do wonders for your body, mind and hair health.

“When you are experiencing telogen effluvium, or sudden hair loss due to physical or mental stress to your body, it’s important to supply it with a well-balanced diet,” says Chiu. “Iron and biotin in particularly are very important. I also like collagen, overall vitamins, as well as saw palmetto extract.”

You should also check your shampoos and other styling products. Chiu recommends staying away from drying and harsh ingredients like denatured alcohol and heavy silicones that can cause breakage and weigh your hair down. And avoid heat-styling your hair and being too rough with it when brushing. Both can lead to more breakage, which amplifies the look of hair loss.

Another consideration from Atkin: “Switch to using a silk pillowcase, because ordinary pillowcases (which are typically made of other fabrics like cotton) can cause your hair to pull and tangle while you sleep. Also, it’s important to care for your hair with weekly masks and trims every three or so months to keep the ends healthy and prevent any splitting.”

“The ingredients to look for can vary based on the specific needs of an individual, and I always recommend consulting with your physician before adding anything new to your routine,” cautions Kogan. Given the proliferation of products available to us, "it’s important to note that not all vitamins and supplements are created equal, so you want to pay close attention to the sourcing, quality and dosage of the ingredients contained in the products you are ingesting," she adds.

With that said, Mauricio shared some ingredients that have been shown to help with hair health and growth:

• Biotin: This is perhaps the best-known ingredient. It protects and helps rebuild hair from damage due to over-styling or environmental conditions.

• Saw Palmetto: A berry extract that has been shown to play a key role in naturally blocking certain hormones that cause hair loss.

• Hydrolyzed Collagen: Collagen is not only important for healthy skin, but it is also important for healthy hair. It works to build keratin (the protein that makes up most of your hair) and increases blood circulation to the scalp. This process helps create new hair follicles and also repairs and strengthens damaged or thinning hair.

• Antioxidants: Vitamin C and other antioxidants can help protect hair follicles from damage and slow the natural aging process of the follicular unit.

• Flaxseed Oil: As a source of Omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed oil promotes a healthy scalp and improves the shine and appearance of hair.

• Tocotrienols: A highly potent form of vitamin E that have been shown to enhance the immune response and promotes healthy hair growth from within, while strengthening hair follicles.

What results can you realistically expect from taking hair growth vitamins or supplements?

“Most people report that their ponytail is thicker than it was previously and that their hair is growing much faster,” says Chiu. However, all of the experts we interviewed agree that there is no single miracle cure for hair thinning and loss and treating it is a long game that requires patience and consistency.

“Any product that claims to cure hair loss overnight or in a number of weeks should be viewed with skepticism,” adds Kogan. “Supplements can support hair growth and help build healthier hair, but they cannot bring dead follicles back to life. Nothing can.”

“When we are young and healthy, hair follicles contain and produce multiple hairs at once. With age, hair quality and growth can change due to multiple factors,” explains Kogan. “In some people, hair follicles can shrink, go dormant, die and then be replaced. Some dormant follicles have potential for regrowth, but others do not. A board-certified dermatologist can help distinguish what type of hair disorder is present and what may help.”

Bottom line: Healthy hair growth is a slow and steady process that can be supported by promoting wellness from within the body, which is where supplements and vitamins come in. On their own, they don’t solve the issue of hair loss, but they can support growth “by creating an optimal environment for hair health” and by “targeting the underlying causes of hair thinning such as stress, hormones, gut health, nutrition and other environmental factors.”

“Because of the hair cycle (on average, your hair grows up to one inch in two months), it may take a few months before you see results from taking hair supplements,” says Mauricio. “There is no instant gratification. You have to be dedicated and patient.”

“The exact timeline varies from person to person, but ideally you’ll see results within six months,” says Chiu, “at which point you’ll notice more baby hairs coming in and your scalp will be less visible.”

These supplements are best for people experiencing sudden hair loss due to a temporary shock to their body, whether it’s from stress, illness (like a bad cold or flu), or post-partum. If you’re experiencing hair loss due to a more serious issue, supplements might help but it’s best to consult your physician first.

“If you have any food allergies, I would take caution,” says Chiu. “For some people, biotin supplements can lead to acne. Also, if you’re getting bloodwork done for anything, let your physician know that you are currently taking biotin as it can interfere with certain lab tests,” she adds. “Depending on the test, your physician may ask that you stop to ensure accurate results.”

Kogan, who is the co-founder and Chief Medical Advisor of Nutrafol (a hair supplement), cautions that it's for adult use only and also recommends that pregnant or breastfeeding women refrain from taking [their] supplements. “We likewise recommend that anyone on medications (especially blood thinners) or with medical conditions check with their primary care physician before starting a new supplement regimen.”

Mauricio agrees, adding that because there are many reasons for hair loss and thinning, which can include underlying medical conditions, it’s important to consult with your doctor because treating the underlying condition can result in the reversal of hair loss altogether.

“Topical scalp serums like Foligain’s Triple Action Hair Total Solution can help stimulate follicles to help with hair growth,” says Chiu. “And if seeing a board-certified dermatologist is an option, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections can be effective for many types of hair loss.”

Luckily, this is a growing field. “We now have many more potential treatments for hair loss than ever before,” says Mauricio. “In addition to nutritional supplements, there are prescription medications like Finasteride, topical treatments like Rogaine and exosomes, at-home laser devices, and regenerative therapies like the use of patient’s own growth factors from platelet-rich plasma, platelet-rich fibrin matrix, and fat-derived stem cells. When used in combination, you can get the best results.”

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