Hair Loss Awareness Month: The supplement brands tackling the roots of hair health

The UK’s annual Hair Loss Awareness campaign, which runs the month of August, aims to provide an opportunity to raise awareness about hair loss and the impact it can have on quality of life.

Male pattern hair loss reportedly affects up to 50% of men by age 50​, while it is estimated that one-third of women experience hair loss​ at some time in their lives, and up to two-thirds of post-menopausal women will experience hair thinning or bald spots​.

Hair health supplements are an area of substantial growth and are projected to reach over $2.86 billion by 2031​.

Causes of hair loss​ 

Hair growth​ involves a complex cycle with four stages: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), telogen (resting) and exogen (shedding).

Various factors can influence this cycle, including inflammation, thyroid hormones, dihydrotestosterone and the ratio of estrogen to testosterone. Inflammation can push hair from the anagen stage to the telogen stage, contributing to different types of hair loss. 

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies​ are linked to hair issues, as are poor sleep, illness, autoimmune conditions, recent pregnancy​ and hormonal imbalances​. Strategies for promoting hair growth include supporting increased blood flow, follicle stimulation and growth factors. 

Consumer trends​

Recent trends in haircare supplements emphasize a holistic approach to hair wellness​, focusing on both internal and external factors.

There is a growing focus on scalp care, with supplements designed to support not just hair growth but also overall scalp health.

“The scalp is a really rising area in the skin microbiome because there is a trend for skinification of hair care and the more you treat your scalp the more you treat your hair,” Marie Drago, founder of probiotic skincare brand Gallinée, recently told NutraIngredients​.

Consumers are also increasingly opting for supplements and haircare products that are free from chemicals​ like sulfates, parabens and silicones. 

Instead, there is a preference for plant-based, organic and vegan products that support both hair health and environmental sustainability, as sustainable consumer attitudes are driven by health concerns and self-preservation according to data from Mintel​. 

Consumers are also seeking comprehensive wellness​, as regimens now often include lifestyle and dietary components, promoting a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals to support hair from the inside out, in keeping with the growing trend of holistic approaches to beauty and wellness. 

Haircare supplements​

Many beauty and supplement brands have begun to tap into the haircare space.

UK hair brand Glowwa launched its inaugural supplement Hair Food as an all-in-one supplement to support hair growth and reduce shedding. It includes biotin, B12, folic acid, zinc, lysine, MSM, niacin, B5, B6, vitamin C and coconut water.

Similarly, Australian wellness brand Vida Glow’s once-daily Hairology Capsules are designed to reduce hair thinning. It includes patented organic pea sprout extract AnaGain which has been found to reduce hair loss​, brown seaweed extract to support healthy thyroid hormones​, which can help control the growth of healthy hair follicles, and zinc, selenium and biotin. 

Skincare brand Dr. Barbra Sturm launched its Growth Cycle Hair Supplement recently to "reach the hair roots directly through the bloodstream, penetrating the follicles to promote fuller, healthier hair." It includes miliacin found to stimulate keratinocyte metabolism and strengthen collagen​, essential amino acids methionine and cysteine, which are central building blocks of the structural protein keratin​, and vitamins C and D to protect the hair follicle from oxidative stress​. 

UK-based Viviscal launched Scalp Nourish, designed to support a healthy scalp with hyaluronic acid, biotin and antioxidants to fortify root follicles. All Viviscal products also include the marine protein complex AminoMar C, which has been found to help new cell growth​. 

Dissolvable vitamin strip brand Diso has a hair health-focused supplement Diso Derma, which contains biotin with folic acid and zinc to stimulate follicular health and bamboo to improve circulation.

Haircare startup Seranoa has one product, The Wonder Pill, launched earlier this year to improve hair by addressing the underlying causes of hair loss. It contains saw palmetto, which blocks dihydrotestosterone (DHT)​, a hormone responsible for shrinking hair follicles, and pumpkin seed, which provides essential zinc and omega-3 fatty acids to promote a healthy scalp.​

And male-focused brand Sons has a regime kit for improving hair growth, including its Hair Growth Complex, which includes anagain, marine collagen and biotin to address hair thinning, enhance growth rate and improve overall hair quality.