Key takeaways
- Vitamins A, D, and E as well as biotin and collagen are key nutrients for healthy skin, hair, and nails.
- We’ve curated a list of the best supplements for skin, hair, and nail health, consulting our team of nutritionists to select the most trustworthy and effective products.
- Our top choice is Nature’s Bounty softgels with biotin. Other favorites include Double Wood Supplements collagen peptides and Olly gummies with keratin and vitamin C.
Healthy hair, nails, and skin require sufficient nutrients, including vitamins A, D, and E. While these are commonly found in a balanced diet, some people — such as those with specific dietary restrictions or unique needs — may require more.
It’s important to acknowledge that for most people with good health, there’s limited evidence that taking targeted vitamins solely for hair, skin, or nails results in noticeable improvements.
However, if you have concerns about your nutritional intake and wish to ensure your hair, nails, and skin receive optimal support, our team of nutritionists has curated a selection of quality multivitamins and individual supplements designed to promote overall well-being, including the health of your hair, nails, and skin.
A note on price
- $ = under $0.25 per serving
- $$ = $0.25 to $0.50 per serving
- $$$ = over $0.50 per serving
Our dietitians weighed in on the best hair, skin, and nail vitamins, picking the best options for hair growth, collagen, the postpartum period, and more.
To help you decide which products are worth considering, Healthline researched the best hair, skin, and nail vitamins using the following criteria:
- Vetting: All the products included have been vetted to ensure that they meet Healthline’s medical and business standards. These products meet the allowable health claims and labeling requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and they’re manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs).
- Ingredients: We aimed to include several options that are free from potentially unwanted ingredients like artificial flavors or sweeteners, certain allergens, and additives and preservatives.
- Price: We included supplements to fit a wide range of budgets.
- User reviews: All the vitamins on this list have mostly favorable customer reviews.
- Trustworthiness: We also chose products only from medically credible companies that follow industry best standards. Many also provide objective measures of trust, like third-party certifications.
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We fact-check health claims, evaluate ingredients, and look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the brands on this page, we considered all the vitamin brands that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further.
The ingredients below are common in hair, skin, and nail supplements, but be cautious with how much you take, as very high doses can cause side effects.
- Collagen: This is a very popular ingredient in supplements for skin health, especially those aiming to reduce the signs of skin aging. Studies
suggestTrusted Source that it can be effective and may have few side effects. - Vitamin A: Vitamin A is considered essential for skin and hair health. However, too much vitamin A can have negative effects on the body, such as nausea, vision problems, dizziness, muscle aches, and more.
- Vitamin D: This vitamin plays crucial roles throughout the body and has been
shownTrusted Source to help new hair follicles grow. However, research is lacking, and taking too much vitamin D cancauseTrusted Source side effects such as vomiting, dehydration, excessive thirst, and kidney stones, among others. - Biotin: Although biotin deficiency can
causeTrusted Source problems with the hair, skin, and nails, there are only a few studies that support its use for improving health in these areas. It is often included in very high doses in hair, skin, and nail supplements.
Other vitamins and minerals to consider include vitamins C and E, iron, zinc, and copper. Read our expert’s take below to find out more.
Jerlyn Jones, RDN
We spoke to registered dietitian Jerlyn Jones, owner of The Lifestyle Dietitian LLC, to find out which vitamins and minerals she recommends for skin, hair, and nail health.
Skin
For skin health, Jones cites a 2023 review and recommends vitamins A, C, D, and E.
“Vitamin C is important for collagen (a key structural protein in the skin), helps fight free radicals, and protects the skin against oxidative damage related to ultraviolet light exposure and pollution. Vitamin E, like vitamin C, is an antioxidant that helps prevent oxidative damage in the body, including the skin.
“Research shows that vitamin A may help decrease acne. Adequate vitamin D levels may improve psoriasis because vitamin D deficiency is linked with psoriasis.”
Hair
“The
“A healthy individual can expect to see improvements in hair volume and thickness, scalp coverage, smoother, more moisturized skin, and stronger nails if a vitamin is taken consistently for 1 to 3 months.”
Nails
For nail health, Jones recommends biotin and vitamin E. “These help to improve the appearance and strength of the nails.”
Expectations
Jones emphasizes that people should balance their expectations when using supplements to treat health or aesthetic concerns.
“Supplements won’t help hair and nails grow more quickly, but they can help prevent hair loss and brittle nails.
“Taking a large dose of a certain vitamin will not result in more benefits. Consumers should avoid high doses of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B6, and niacin (vitamin B3) supplements.
“If people try vitamins for their hair, skin, or nails and don’t see an improvement in their condition, strength, or appearance, they should see their medical doctor to check for vitamin deficiencies or other underlying health conditions.
“A poor diet, medications, kidney or liver disease, and limited sun exposure can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Obvious changes people might see are excessive hair shedding, patchy hair loss, thinning hair, premature graying, brittle nails, acne, skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis, and dry, itchy skin.”
Shopping for hair, nail, and skin supplements can be overwhelming. Here are a few key factors to consider.
Ingredient quality and effectiveness
Look for products with a minimal list of unnecessary additives and fillers.
Some additives and preservatives, like soybean oil, glycerin, and soy lecithin, serve a vital role in extending a vitamin’s shelf life, but it’s essential to differentiate them from fillers. Fillers are ingredients that contribute little or no nutritional value but are added to bulk up a product and can ultimately dilute the essential nutrients in a supplement.
While complete elimination of additives isn’t necessary, prioritize supplements with essential nutrients without unnecessary extras.
Additionally, hair, skin, and nail vitamins often contain proprietary blends, and manufacturers don’t disclose the exact amounts of the ingredients used in the blends. If the product contains proprietary blends of ingredients you have to be cautious of, it may be best to choose a different product.
It’s also worth noting that while some ingredients in these supplements have shown effectiveness in other areas, research on their direct benefits for hair, nails, and skin remains limited. For example, a
The multifaceted nature of these supplements means that while they may contribute to overall well-being, specific outcomes related to hair, nails, and skin can vary.
Brand reputation and third-party testing
Anytime you purchase supplements, it’s important to buy from a trusted source. Registered dietitian Jerlyn Jones notes:
“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not check the safety or effectiveness of dietary supplements, so it is important to choose a reputable brand that undertakes third-party testing to prove the purity and quality of their products.”
Organizations that offer quality testing include:
This guarantees that the product contains the types and amounts of ingredients listed on the bottle.
The availability of third-party certification can depend on various factors, including the manufacturer’s commitment to rigorous testing standards and the specific certification programs applicable to the products.
Potential contraindications
Some ingredients may be unsafe if you’re pregnant or nursing. Additionally, some commonly used ingredients, such as
Useful supplement shopping guides
There’s some research to support the use of certain ingredients for hair growth and health, such as DHA omega-3s. Deficiencies in other nutrients, like B vitamins, iron, and vitamins C and D, have been linked to poor hair growth.
However, there’s currently insufficient evidence to confirm the benefits of supplementing with these nutrients specifically for hair growth.
The best supplement for hair and nail growth can vary from person to person, as individual needs and bodily responses to supplements differ.
Some commonly used ingredients, like biotin, actually lack sufficient evidence in terms of promoting hair and nail growth. However, ingredients like omega-3 DHA, collagen, and hyaluronic acid may be effective.
Nutrafol has been shown to promote hair growth in women with self-perceived hair thinning, though it’s worth noting the clinical trial was self-funded, which may be a conflict of interest.
Some ingredients commonly found in hair, skin, and nail vitamins, like collagen and hyaluronic acid, have more research to support their effectiveness than others.
Still, it’s important to keep in mind that the overall research on these supplements is limited. As a result, more robust studies are needed before we can confidently say whether hair, nail, and skin vitamins are effective.
Vitamin D may be helpful for hair growth, as it plays a role in the growth of new hair follicles. Iron is also an important nutrient for healthy hair, as it carries oxygen to your follicles.
While not all supplements are created equal, some contain ingredients that may be beneficial for your hair, skin, and nails.
With so many options to choose from, it’s important to do your research ahead of time to know which product is the best fit for you.
Especially if you’re taking other supplements or prescription medications or are pregnant or nursing, it’s wise to talk with a healthcare professional before trying any new supplements.
Remember that supplements are not meant to replace other healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, managing stress levels, and getting quality sleep, all of which also contribute to healthier hair, skin, and nails.
