The annual UK Hair Loss Awareness Campaign, which runs throughout August, aims to provide an opportunity to raise awareness of hair loss and the impact it can have on quality of life.
Male pattern baldness is reported to affect up to 50% of men over the age of 50, while it is estimated that one-third of women will experience hair loss at some point in their lives and up to two-thirds of postmenopausal women will experience thinning hair or bald patches.
Hair health supplements are experiencing significant growth and are expected to reach over $2.86 billion by 2031.
Causes of hair loss
Hair growth involves a complex cycle with four phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), telogen (resting phase) and exogen (hair loss).
Several factors can affect this cycle, including inflammation, thyroid hormones, dihydrotestosterone, and the ratio of estrogen to testosterone. Inflammation can push hair from the anagen phase to the telogen phase, contributing to various types of hair loss.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are linked to hair problems, as are lack of sleep, illness, autoimmune disorders, recent pregnancy, and hormonal imbalances. Strategies to promote hair growth include supporting increased blood flow, follicle stimulation, and growth factors.
Consumer trends
Current trends in hair care supplements emphasize a holistic approach to hair health, focusing on both internal and external factors.
Scalp care is increasingly becoming the focus, offering nutritional supplements that not only promote hair growth but also the general health of the scalp.
“The scalp is a really growing area in the skin microbiome because there is a trend towards skin rejuvenation in hair care and the more you care for your scalp, the more you care for your hair,” Marie Drago, founder of probiotic skincare brand Gallinée, recently told NutraIngredients.
Consumers are also increasingly choosing dietary supplements and hair care products that are free of chemicals such as sulfates, parabens and silicones.
Instead, plant-based, organic and vegan products that promote both hair health and environmental sustainability are preferred, as sustainable consumer attitudes are driven by health concerns and self-preservation, according to data from Mintel.
Consumers also value total wellness, with care regimens now often incorporating lifestyle and nutritional components, promoting a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals to support hair from within, meeting the growing trend toward holistic approaches to beauty and wellness.
Hair care supplements
Many cosmetic and nutritional supplement brands have started to enter the hair care space.
British hair brand Glowwa has launched its first nutritional supplement Hair Food, an all-in-one supplement to support hair growth and reduce hair loss. It contains 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 thinning hair. They contain patented organic pea sprout extract AnaGain, which is proven to reduce hair loss, brown algae extract to support healthy thyroid hormones that can control the growth of healthy hair follicles, as well as zinc, selenium and biotin.
Skincare brand Dr. Barbra Sturm recently launched its Growth Cycle Hair Supplement, which “reaches hair roots directly via the bloodstream and penetrates the follicles to promote fuller, healthier hair.” It contains miliacin, which stimulates keratinocyte metabolism and strengthens collagen, the essential amino acids methionine and cysteine, which are central building blocks of the structural protein keratin, and vitamins C and D, which protect hair follicles from oxidative stress.
UK-based Viviscal has launched Scalp Nourish, which uses hyaluronic acid, biotin and antioxidants to support a healthy scalp and strengthen hair roots. All Viviscal products also contain the marine protein complex AminoMar C, which is proven to promote new cell growth.
Diso, a brand of soluble vitamin strips, offers Diso Derma, a hair health-focused dietary supplement that contains biotin with folic acid and zinc to stimulate hair follicle health, as well as bamboo to improve blood circulation.
Haircare startup Seranoa launched a product earlier this year called The Wonder Pill, which aims to improve hair by tackling the underlying causes of hair loss. It contains saw palmetto, which blocks dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone responsible for shrinking hair follicles, and pumpkin seeds, which provide essential zinc and omega-3 fatty acids to promote a healthy scalp.
And men-focused brand Sons offers a hair growth enhancing kit, including the Hair Growth Complex, which contains Anagain, marine collagen and biotin to combat hair loss, accelerate growth and improve overall hair quality.
