What a hair growth supplement is: a capsule, tablet or powder taken by mouth that supplies nutrients the hair follicle uses to build hair, such as biotin, collagen, keratin, vitamins or plant extracts. It can correct a shortfall in your diet; it is not a medicine for pattern hair loss, which has its own treatments.
Comparison of 5 Hair Growth Supplements
| Supplement | Key Ingredients | Clinical Evidence | Dose Transparency | Price/Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hairgenetix Hair Growth Complex Our product | Biotin, B-vitamins, fish collagen, hydrolysed keratin | Collagen and keratin have been tested for hair in placebo-controlled trials of other products; our formula has not been tested as a whole | Biotin and B-vitamins dosed on the label; collagen and keratin in an 890 mg blend | €34.95 |
| Nutrafol Core | Ashwagandha, saw palmetto, marine collagen, tocotrienols, keratin | Several published trials on the Nutrafol formula itself, the most of any product here | Two proprietary blends; individual doses not published | ≈ $88, or ≈ $79 on subscription |
| Viviscal Pro | AminoMar marine complex, biotin, zinc, vitamin C | Several published trials on the Viviscal formula itself | Vitamins dosed; AminoMar blend dose not published | ≈ $37 to $53, depending on pack and subscription |
| Biotin on its own | Biotin only | Helps mainly when you are deficient; limited evidence in healthy people | Single ingredient | Low cost |
| Collagen powder on its own (for example Sports Research) | Collagen peptides, vitamin C | General collagen research; not a hair-specific formula | Usually a single main ingredient | Varies by retailer |
Our Verdict: Evidence, Dose, and Value
Nutrafol and Viviscal have the strongest published trial records in this category, and we say so plainly. The Hairgenetix Hair Growth Complex is a different proposition: a lower monthly cost, biotin and B-vitamins at doses printed on the label, and collagen and keratin, the structural building blocks of hair. It has not been tested as a formula in its own clinical trial. The specific differences:
- Lower monthly cost: €34.95 a month, less than half Nutrafol Core's one-time price of about $88.
- Structural ingredients: collagen and keratin, the proteins hair is built from, with biotin as a supporting co-factor.
- Clearer on the vitamins, not on everything: our biotin and B-vitamin doses are on the label. Our collagen and keratin sit in an 890 mg blend, smaller than Nutrafol's two blends, but not individually dosed either.
If you have significant pattern hair loss, Nutrafol and Viviscal have more trial data on their own formulas, and prescription and topical treatments have stronger evidence than any supplement. If you want a lower-cost daily supplement alongside a topical routine such as copper peptide treatment, ours is built for that.
Looking for a Nutrafol alternative?
Nutrafol has the most published clinical research of any hair supplement brand, with several trials of its formula in women and men. If that trial record matters most to you, and you have stress-related or hormonally driven thinning that its ashwagandha and saw palmetto are aimed at, it may be worth its price.
The trade-off is cost and visibility. Nutrafol Core costs about $88 a month one-time, or about $79 on subscription, and its actives sit inside two proprietary blends, so you cannot see how much of any single ingredient you take. Viviscal Pro costs less, about $37 to $53 a month depending on pack and subscription, and also keeps its AminoMar complex in an undisclosed blend.
Our Hair Growth Complex costs €34.95 a month. Its biotin and B-vitamin doses are printed on the label, and its collagen and keratin sit in a smaller blend that is not individually dosed either. The honest way to choose:
- The most formula-level trial evidence: Nutrafol.
- A published formula at a mid price: Viviscal Pro, if you eat fish and shellfish (it is made from shark and mollusc extracts).
- The lowest monthly cost with structural proteins and disclosed vitamin doses: the Hairgenetix Hair Growth Complex.
One month of the Hairgenetix Hair Growth Complex: 60 capsules, two a day.
What Does Science Say About Hair Growth Supplements?
Hair is made mainly of keratin, a structural protein built from amino acids such as cysteine, glycine and proline. The hair follicle is one of the most active structures in the body, cycling through growth (anagen), transition (catagen) and rest (telogen). A nutritional shortfall can push follicles into the resting phase early, which shows up as more shedding.
What the trials on these ingredients actually show:
- Hydrolysed collagen: a 12-week placebo-controlled trial of a drink containing hydrolysed collagen and vitamin C found a 31.9% increase in the clinical score for hair appearance, a significant result. Counted hairs rose 27.6% compared with placebo, but that result was not statistically significant, and hair was one of several skin and scalp measures in the study (Reilly 2024).[3]
- Keratin: a 90-day randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a keratin supplement (Cynatine HNS) found statistically significant improvements in hair loss, strength and shine compared with placebo (Beer 2014).[2]
- Biotin (vitamin B7): its evidence for hair is strongest in people with a confirmed deficiency. A 2017 review found 18 reported cases of improvement, all in patients with an underlying cause of poor hair growth, and cautioned that evidence in otherwise healthy people is limited (Patel 2017).[1]
These trials tested specific products at their own doses. Our Hair Growth Complex contains collagen and keratin within an 890 mg blend, so it has not been tested at the doses used in these studies.
The Role of Supplements in a Complete Hair Protocol
Supplements work from the inside, by filling gaps in the nutrients the follicle draws on. Topical treatments such as copper peptide serums and mesotherapy work on the scalp directly. The two can be used together.
Checking for a nutritional gap is a reasonable, low-risk first step, and a blood test can confirm a deficiency such as iron or biotin. For pattern hair loss itself, a supplement is a support, not a treatment: combine it with a topical routine such as the Hairgenetix copper peptide serum or the at-home mesotherapy kit rather than relying on a capsule alone.
In-Depth Reviews
Hairgenetix Hair Growth Complex: €34.95/month
A daily supplement of two capsules, 60 capsules per pack. The label lists biotin at 5,000 mcg with B-vitamins, calcium and vitamin D at stated doses, and an 890 mg blend of fish collagen, hydrolysed keratin, MSM, bamboo extract, coconut oil, nettle extract, grape extract and sodium hyaluronate. The blend is not individually dosed. It contains fish, so it is not suitable if you avoid fish. Its strength is price and a focus on the structural proteins of hair; its limitation is that the formula has not been tested in its own trial.
The label: biotin and B-vitamins are dosed individually; collagen, keratin and six other ingredients share an 890 mg blend.
Nutrafol Core: ≈$88/month
Nutrafol has the most published clinical evidence of any supplement brand in this category, with several trials of its formula. Its ingredients include ashwagandha (aimed at stress-related shedding), saw palmetto (aimed at DHT), marine collagen and tocotrienols, held in two proprietary blends whose individual doses are not published. It costs about $88 a month one-time, or about $79 on subscription. For stress-related or hormonally driven thinning, its targeted ingredients may justify the premium.
Viviscal Pro: ≈$37 to $53/month
Viviscal's AminoMar marine complex is one of the most studied proprietary hair supplement ingredients, with several published clinical trials reporting improvements in hair count and thickness. The formula also includes biotin, zinc and vitamin C. AminoMar is made from shark and mollusc extracts, so it is not suitable for vegetarians, vegans or people with a shellfish allergy. Its price depends on pack size and subscription.
Biotin on its own: low cost
High-dose biotin is one of the best-selling hair supplements, largely thanks to marketing. The evidence shows benefit mainly in people who are deficient; in people with enough biotin in their diet, extra biotin has not been shown to grow more hair. It is a co-factor among many, not a hair growth driver on its own.
Collagen powder on its own: price varies
Collagen powders such as Sports Research Collagen Peptides combine collagen peptides with vitamin C. Collagen has been studied mainly for skin; the one hair-related trial cited above tested a different collagen drink. A collagen powder is a reasonable general supplement, but it is not formulated for hair and does not include keratin or B-vitamins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do hair supplements take to work?
Allow at least three to six months. A new hair takes weeks to reach the surface after a follicle starts a new growth cycle, and the trials cited here ran for 12 weeks or 90 days. If you see no change after six months of consistent use, a supplement is unlikely to be the answer on its own.
Should I take hair supplements with food?
Follow the directions on the label. Taking supplements with a meal is usually easier on the stomach, and fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D are absorbed better with food that contains some fat.
Is biotin alone enough for hair growth?
Only if you have a confirmed biotin deficiency, which a blood test can show. In people who are not deficient, biotin alone has not been shown to improve hair density.
Do hair supplements work for men and women?
They can help both when hair loss is linked to a nutritional gap. For pattern hair loss, the most common cause in both men and women, treatments applied to the scalp or prescribed by a doctor have stronger evidence than any supplement, so a supplement is best used alongside them. Our guide to minoxidil alternatives compares those treatments on the evidence.
Can I take hair supplements alongside topical copper peptide treatments?
Yes. A supplement works from the inside and a copper peptide serum works on the scalp, so they can be used together. If you take prescription medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement. Our bundles combine a serum, shampoo and supplement.
Is Hairgenetix a good Nutrafol alternative?
It depends on what matters most to you. Nutrafol has more published trials on its exact formula, and its ashwagandha and saw palmetto target stress-related and hormonally driven hair loss. The Hairgenetix Hair Growth Complex costs less than half as much per month, prints its biotin and B-vitamin doses on the label, and combines collagen and keratin. It has not been tested as a formula in its own trial.
Does Hairgenetix disclose all its ingredient doses?
Not all of them. Our biotin and B-vitamin doses are listed exactly on the label. Our collagen and keratin sit with six other supporting ingredients in a combined 890 mg blend, so the exact amount of each is not shown. That is a smaller blend than Nutrafol's two proprietary complexes, but it is not full disclosure, and we would rather say so.
Related Reading
- Best copper peptide serums for hair growth: the buyer's guide: an eight-product comparison of GHK-Cu and AHK-Cu serums.
- Copper peptides for hair growth: what the evidence shows, and what it does not.
- Hair mesotherapy: what it is and how it works: mesotherapy delivery and at-home routines.
- Best Copper Peptide Shampoos for Hair Loss Compared: shampoo-based delivery of GHK-Cu.
- Best At-Home Hair Mesotherapy Kits Compared: pens, microneedle kits and serum vial systems.
References
- Patel DP, et al. "A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss." Skin Appendage Disord. 2017;3(3):166-169. PubMed
- Beer C, et al. "A clinical trial to investigate the effect of Cynatine HNS on hair and nail parameters." ScientificWorldJournal. 2014;2014:641723. PubMed
- Reilly DM, et al. "A Clinical Trial Shows Improvement in Skin Collagen, Hydration, Elasticity, Wrinkles, Scalp, and Hair Condition following 12-Week Oral Intake of a Supplement Containing Hydrolysed Collagen." Dermatol Res Pract. 2024;2024:6654117. PubMed
Conclusion
A hair supplement is a support, not a cure. Nutrafol and Viviscal have the strongest published trial records for their own formulas and are worth considering if that matters most to you. For a lower monthly cost, with biotin and B-vitamin doses on the label and the structural proteins collagen and keratin, the Hairgenetix Hair Growth Complex is a reasonable daily supplement to pair with a topical routine. Whichever you choose, give it at least three to six months of consistent use.
Nourish your hair from within.
Shop Hairgenetix Hair Growth ComplexWritten by the Hairgenetix Editorial Team · Medically reviewed by Dr. Esther Bodde, MD, Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon · Last updated: 24 September 2026
References: Patel et al. 2017 · Beer et al. 2014 · Reilly et al. 2024
