Remedy Routes
    Beauty
    Moderate Evidence

    Hair Follicle Stimulation

    Promoted hair growth through follicle activation.

    TL;DR

    Hair loss has a cause — androgenetic, nutritional, thyroid or telogen effluvium — and treatment depends on which. Correcting iron and thyroid problems works; biotin only helps if you are genuinely deficient.

    Why It Matters

    Sudden diffuse shedding usually reflects telogen effluvium from illness, surgery, childbirth, crash dieting or iron deficiency, and typically recovers. Progressive patterned thinning is androgenetic and needs different treatment.

    How to Measure

    Biomarkers

    Ferritin
    TSH and free T4
    Full blood count
    Vitamin D
    Hair pull test
    Standardised photographs

    Optimization Protocol

    Test ferritin, thyroid function and full blood count before supplementing, and aim for ferritin above 50 ng/mL if shedding is diffuse. Ensure adequate protein and total energy intake. For patterned loss, topical minoxidil and medical review are the evidence-based options. Take photographs monthly, since regrowth takes three to six months to become visible.

    Supporting Supplements

    Iron

    Mineral
    Strong yes
    Strong Evidence
    Effectiveness 4/5

    The single highest-yield thing to check in diffuse hair shedding.

    Biotin (Vitamin B7)

    Vitamin
    Not supported
    Limited
    Effectiveness 2/5

    Only works in genuine deficiency, which is rare.

    Saw Palmetto

    Herb
    Mixed evidence
    Limited
    Effectiveness 2/5

    Plausible for patterned loss, but far weaker than established treatments.

    Supporting Research

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do hair supplements regrow hair?
    Rarely, unless a deficiency is driving the loss. Correcting low iron, vitamin D, zinc or protein intake can help; supplementing beyond sufficiency has little evidence.
    Does biotin help?
    Only in genuine biotin deficiency, which is uncommon. High-dose biotin also interferes with thyroid and troponin blood tests, so stop it 2-3 days before testing.
    What has the strongest evidence?
    Topical minoxidil 2-5% and, for male pattern loss, oral finasteride. Both are medicines with defined effect sizes rather than supplements.
    Is low ferritin relevant?
    Yes. Ferritin below roughly 30 micrograms/L associates with telogen effluvium in women, and correcting it can improve shedding over 3-6 months.
    What about saw palmetto or rosemary oil?
    Both have small trials suggesting modest benefit in androgenetic alopecia, with weaker evidence than minoxidil. Reasonable adjuncts, not replacements.
    When should hair loss be assessed?
    Sudden or patchy loss, scalp scarring, itching or scaling, or loss with fatigue and weight change should be seen by a clinician.

    Typical Timeframe

    3-6 months

    Research Summary

    Studies9
    Supplements3
    Evidence
    Moderate Evidence

    My Notes

    Sign in to add personal notes

    This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.