A group of 80 otherwise healthy women with mild female pattern hair loss (picture thinning in a horseshoe-like shape, starting at the crown) took fish oil, blackcurrant seed oil, vitamin E, vitamin C, and lycopene supplements every day for 6 months. The result: hair density increased for 62% of the women, hair became measurably thicker in diameter, and 90% of the women reported a decrease in overall hair loss. (A control group didn’t supplement at all—and didn’t see the same results.) According to the study, 92% of the women who took the supplements were happy with the outcome. Before and after shots of 3 study participants. Photo courtesy of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. Though women’s hair loss typically stems from hereditary, inflammatory, and hormonal factors, the researchers believe the fatty acids and antioxidants found in the supplements likely support the health of the blood vessels, cell membranes, cell growth, and anti-inflammatory activities in and around hair follicles. While many vitamins that claim to boost your hair only work if you’re seriously lacking in key nutrients, you don’t have to be a slacker in the diet department to see a benefit from this combo—researchers excluded any women with nutritional deficiencies. If you’re interested in giving it a try, be sure to check with your doctor first (blackcurrant seed oil can lower blood pressure further in people who already have low blood pressure, and it can also slow blood clotting). Here are the supplements and doses the women in the study took: Fish oil: 460 mgBlackcurrant seed oil: 460 mgVitamin E: 5 mgVitamin C: 30 mgLycopene: 1 mg Don’t worry if you can only find the supplements in larger doses (especially lycopene and vitamin E, which are almost always sold in amounts larger than those used in the study)—a little extra won’t hurt. Also keep in mind that, like any hair loss treatment, you’ll likely need to keep up with the supplement cocktail to maintain the results. MORE: 3 Stunning Makeovers For Thinning Hair
