12 Best Vitamins for Hair Growth, According to Dermatologists

This B vitamin is an ingredient in many different hair supplements—for good reason. “Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that supports the growth of hair, skin, and nails by helping to break down fats and carbohydrates,” says Dr. Engelman. Run low and you may notice your hair is weak, or you may start to lose it.

You can expect the vitamin to increase the speed of hair growth, but it won’t increase thickness, she says. However, it is far cheaper than other supplements, making it a good starting point. For one good biotin supplement, Debra Jaliman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and the author ofSkin Rules, recommends Nature’s Bounty Biotin.

Biotin, zinc, B12, PABA, and folic acid are all packed into these adorable little chews. “I’m a highly skeptical person, but I took these gummies for a month and there’s been an obvious improvement to my hair,” one Sephora reviewer wrote. “First thing I noticed was how long my hair was getting, a bit faster than normal. next, was how soft my hair seemed. Lastly, and probably my favorite result, was how little I was shedding. I usually shed a handful in the shower, and it’s been significantly less lately!”