Hair thinning is one of the most common yet overlooked health concerns facing women today. In fact, nearly 40% of women experience visible hair thinning by age 50, and more than half of all women experience some form of hair loss by age 70.1 Up to 66% of postmenopausal women report significant hair thinning or bald spots.2
The emotional impact on these women is significant: More than 70% of women with hair loss report reduced self-confidence and increased anxiety.3
In this blog post, we discuss the most common causes of hair loss and hair thinning as well as the best hair growth products and vitamins for hair growth.
The Hair Growth Cycle
The hair growth cycle is made up of four stages. In the growth—or anagen—stage, hair follicles produce new hair shafts. Most of your hair is in this stage at any time. In the transition (catagen) phase, hair growth stops. The telogen (resting) phase lasts for a couple of months, and some shedding begins. The shedding (exogen) phase is the final stage of the hair growth cycle.
Causes of Hair Loss/Thinning
In women, thinning hair and hair loss doesn’t come down to a single factor. Most cases of women’s hair loss stem from five often interrelated causes:
- Hormonal shifts: Life stages like menopause and postpartum can disrupt the hair growth cycle, as can thyroid dysfunction and androgen imbalances.
- Chronic stress: Stress is associated with elevated cortisol levels and HPA axis dysfunction, both of which can trigger premature shedding.
- Nutrient deficiencies: Inadequate levels of iron, zinc, B vitamins, and vitamin D impair follicle function.
- Oxidative stress and inflammation: Inflammatory signals damage the scalp environment and shorten the growth phase.
- Medical conditions and medications: Autoimmune diseases and certain prescriptions can interfere with healthy hair growth.
How hair growth products work (topicals, medications, therapies, supplements)
One of the best-known treatments for hair loss is minoxidil, a topical product that works primarily by increasing blood flow to hair follicles. It also helps to prolong the hair growth phase. Topicals don’t address the root cause of hair loss, but they can help to encourage new growth and slow down hair loss.
On the other end of the spectrum is the keratin hair treatment or Brazilian blow-out. In this process, keratin is applied directly to the hair through a chemical process that leaves it smoother and with less frizz. While a keratin hair treatment can strengthen hair strands to reduce breakage, it does not stimulate growth and has no effect on the hair growth cycle. In addition, the process can be expensive and carries some health risks due to the additional chemicals used.
Like topicals, medications require a prescription and work by increasing hair growth. There are side effects and risks associated with these hair growth products, which should never be taken by women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, so talk to your healthcare practitioner about whether this is the best route for your needs.
There are also therapies that can aid in stimulating hair growth. Light therapy uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to stimulate the hair follicles to spur hair growth. Another process, called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, uses an injection of your own blood, which has been drawn and then spun in a centrifuge to isolate the plasma. This cosmetic procedure helps to prolong the growth phase of the hair cycle.
Supplements offer the benefit of addressing the root causes of hair loss. In fact, several nutrients have been clinically studied for their capabilities of restoring the natural hair cycle. Adding these nutrients to your daily regimen can lead to visibly thicker, fuller, stronger hair.
Key ingredients to promote hair growth and thickness
When it comes to nutrients known to support healthy hair, people are commonly aware of ingredients like collagen, keratin, and biotin. But there are other nutrients that also work to address the common causes of hair thinning and hair loss in women. When it comes to the best vitamins for hair growth, consider these natural hair growth supplements:
Hops extract
Hormonal shifts can disrupt the hair growth cycle. There is a specific constituent of hops extract that supports estrogen balance and promotes healthy estrogen receptor activity to lessen this disruption.5 Look for hops extract as 8-PN (8-Prenylnaringenin; standardized extract from hops [Humulus lupus] at >0.15% 8-PN or specialized hops extract (standardized to 8-Prenylnaringenin [8-PN] >0.15% 8-PN in a balanced ratio to xanthohumol of 1:100).
Ashwagandha extract
Commonly promoted for its stress-reducing benefits, Ashwagandha supports the regulation of cortisol, the “stress hormone,” as well as HPA axis balance. This herbal extract mitigates stress-related hair loss and helps rebalance hormone signaling.6
Astaxanthin
This powerful antioxidant protects hair follicles from oxidative stress and when combined with selenium provides powerful antioxidant protection to preserve the hair cycle growth phase and reduce inflammation.7,8
Collagen hydrolysate
Certain collagen ingredients include key amino acids and peptides important for hair health, including proline and hydrozyproline. A commonly recognized ingredient for supporting hair health, collagen hydrolysate enhances follicle metabolism and improves hair thickness and strength. It does so by improving hair shaft integrity and resilience.9
Polyamines
Based on scientific studies, polyamines derived from rice ceramides and standardized to > 0.2% promote follicle regeneration and reentry into the growth cycle.10,11
Keratin
Made of amino acids, keratin is a structural protein that plays a key role in forming the structure of hair. Supplementing with keratin supports hair shaft structure, strength, and resilience. B vitamins (including biotin), zinc, selenium, vitamin D, and iron support keratin synthesis, scalp circulation, and nutrient delivery to follicles.12,13
Hair Growth Complex For Women: A science-backed solution
The majority of solutions are either drug-based, overly simplistic, or designed for both men and women. Women deserve better—a comprehensive, hormone-free formula tailored to the unique biological causes of female hair thinning.
Hair Growth Complex For Women targets the most common underlying contributors. Clinically formulated to decrease hair shedding by up to 43%, improve hair thickness by up to 52%, and increase hair growth by more than 10%, this multitarget formula addresses multiple root causes of female hair loss.1-12 This innovative new formula contains advanced specialized hops extract, Ashwagandha, astaxanthin, along with collagen hydrolysate, keratin, biotin, polyamines, and more.
Drug-free, hormone-free, and developed with practitioner-trusted ingredients, Hair Growth Complex For Women restores the natural hair cycle for visibly thicker, fuller, stronger hair.*
Conclusion: Choosing the right hair growth products for you
If your hair loss is recent and excessive, be sure to talk to your healthcare practitioner to determine if the thinning is due to a concerning cause. Your practitioner can also help you choose the best route to protecting the hair you have and for getting your hair growth cycle back on track.
Learn More About Hair Growth Complex For Women
References:
1. Fabbrocini G et al. International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. 2018;4:203-211.
2. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/treating-female-pattern-hair-loss. Accessed July 8, 2025.
3. Reid EE et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;66:397-102.
4. Rinaldi F et al. Biomedicines. 2023;11:3041.
5. Rad M et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2006;62(3):288-296.
6. Lopresti AL et al. Medicine. 2019;98:37.
7. Du F et al. J Cell Mol Med. 2024;28:e18486.
8. Davinelli S et al. Nutrients. 2018;10:522.
9. Oesser S. Nutrafoods. 2020;1:134-138.
10. Ramot Y et al. Experimental Dermatology. 2010;19:784-790.
11. Ramot Y et al. PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e22564.
12. Almohanna H et al. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9:51-70.
13. Labrozzi A. Hair Ther Transplant. 2020;10(1):150.
