The other day, I was looking back at photos from high school (for this TikTok video), and I sat there for a second. I couldn’t believe how much I actually loved my hair. Ok, not the styles, but the quality, the texture, and the shine! It looked so full and healthy. I didn’t realize just how much I missed that hair until I dealt with a lot of hair loss after having my kids. But I think I’ve finally found the secret to hair regrowth for women. Read on to see what I’ve learned.
Female Hair Loss
I’ve always had fine hair, but in my youth, I had a lot of it. After having kids, I lost a significant amount of hair. That’s actually a very common thing for women. As we age, many women will lose their hair. More than 50% of women experience hair loss. Childbirth and aging, in general, really affect our hair growth.
And then something kind of crazy happened. Suddenly my hair started growing. I didn’t even realize it at first. I had noticed some little baby hairs sprouting around my hairline, but nothing that dramatic. But then, I recently went to get my hair done and my stylist actually pointed it out to me. She was shocked by how much new hair growth I had. At that point, she asked me what I was doing to regrow so much hair.
So here’s my secret. I started taking a bunch of supplements that I’d heard of from DrTok. What can I say? TikTok is where I get a lot of my news and information. Then, I do my own separate research on reputable sites (like webmd) to verify what I’ve seen on TikTok. I do not suggest you take total strangers’ advice. I suggest you use TikTok (or whatever other social media platform you choose) for information, but then fact-check that information.
Nonetheless, armed with some new names of supplements I probably should be taking for optimal health, I did my own research and added quite a few new supplements to my diet. So what, exactly am I taking? Well, a lot of things, but which ones are positively impacting my hair growth? I think it’s these things.
Supplements For Hair Regrowth for Women
Vitamin D3 – Vitamin D is involved in the production of new hair follicles. A deficiency in D is one of the major culprits in hair thinning.
Multi-Vitamin – A good multivitamin will go a long way in eliminating any vitamin deficiencies you may have. It will also encourage hair growth because it contains many of the essentials needed for hair growth, including biotin, vitamins C and D, zinc, and iron.
Other Supplements that Help with Hair Regrowth for Women
L – Cystine – is an amino acid that is a protein building block that can help with protein structures in the body. It is one of the most important amino acids for hair growth.
Biotin – Biotin is water-soluble which helps to produce keratin. It helps with hair, skin, and nail growth.
Iron – I do not take a single iron supplement, but it is part of my multivitamin, and as I mentioned in the multivitamin section, it is also important to fair growth. Also, iron helps the body to produce hemoglobin, which is the protein in your red blood cells. Iron carries oxygen to your body for growth and repair, including hair growth.
Vitamin C – I do not take this as a stand-alone supplement unless I feel a cold or other illness coming on. However, it does seem to have a positive impact on hair growth. Vitamin C helps with the production of collagen, which is a protein that can help strengthen skin at your hair roots and keratin. Both your skin at the root and keratine play an important part in the hair’s strength, luster, and elasticity. and, ultimately, keratin in the body.
Zinc – Zinc is helpful for overall immunity. But don’t overdo it on zinc. It hasn’t been shown to have a major impact on hair growth, but in people with a deficiency, it has been shown to lessen hair shedding.
To be clear, I’m not a medical dr. So please take any recommendations for supplements with a grain of salt. I would highly encourage you to do your own research and talk to your healthcare professional. Further, my advice is antidotal. I started taking a handful of new supplements all at the same time, so I can’t say for sure which ones are the exact ones impacting hair growth. However, since there is a plethora of other research on the topic, I can say it is likely these supplements that are having an impact. If you’re looking for other hair stories, click here.
Best Hair Growth Serum and Oil for Hair Growth
Any products that contain minoxidil (rogaine) are going to be the gold standard for hair regrowth for women. These products are not just for men. This is the best product for topical hair regrowth. This article talks about 15 hair oils that can help with hair regrowth.
Rice Water for Hair Growth
You may have seen the viral TikToks about using rice water for longer, fuller hair. Although it is not completely proven as to whether this hack works, rice water does contain vitamins, minerals and the hormone inositol, which can make your hair feel smoother and longer. It also contains vitamins B and E which help fight oxidation and aging. Its definitely an inexpensive at-home option worth trying. Rice water will not stop hair loss, but it might make your hair feel and look healthier. You can read more about rice water and your hair here.
Rosemary for Hair Growth
Another hack I’ve seen going around TikTok is using rosemary oil for hair regrowth for women. Research says this hack definitely does work. Rosemary oil is equivalent to 2.5% minoxidil, which is pretty amazing. You can read more about the benefits of using rosemary oil for hair regrowth here.
Best Hair Growth Shampoo for Women
I personally haven’t tried many hair growth shampoos. If you’re looking for a comprehensive article about the best hair growth shampoos, here is a great article with 20 recommendations.
These are just some of the ideas I’ve read about or found for optimal hair regrowth for women. I’ve tried lots of things over the years, but the thing that’s been the most impressive for me is adding Vitamin D3. Clearly, I’ve had a deficiency for awhile given how quickly my hair started to grow in when I added this essential vitamin. If you’re not sure where to start, I would just suggest starting with a multivitamin. Even if you do get your blood work to check your levels of vitamins, it may not be accurate for your body. I know my body didn’t show a deficiency in D, but I am sure that’s the supplement that made all the difference for me.