Niacin for Hair: Benefits and How to Use

Niacin plays a major role in maintaining our health—so why have we never heard of it? Well, maybe you have. Niacin, aka vitamin B3, is a water-soluble nutritional element involved in neurotransmission and fatty acid synthesis, oxidation and reduction reactions, and one-carbon metabolism. Though niacin is a key player in keeping the body healthy, our bodies do not naturally produce it. That being said, niacin deficiency is typically rare, as we find it in many foods including red meat, poultry, and fish, as well as nuts, mushrooms, and avocado.

Niacin serves another purpose: assisting in healthy hair growth. It improves blood circulation, and therefore brings oxygen to the hair follicles, resulting in hair development. It's often recommended to those who have alopecia, with the goal of fuller, thicker hair.

We turned to dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, and trichologist Shab Reslan to help further break down the benefits of niacin for hair.

Scroll on to find out what our experts had to say about niacin for hair.

Benefits of Niacin for Hair

Niacin as a supplement can have multiple benefits for both the hair and scalp when properly dosed.

• Promotes blood circulation: Niacin is responsible for converting food into energy. "It’s necessary for healthy blood circulation which is crucial for optimal hair growth as it increases the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicle," Reslan explains. Niacin's nutritional elements are also critical for maintaining cellular metabolism and cellular homeostasis.
• Supports scalp health: Reslan also shares that when used as a supplement, niacin can support a healthy scalp by balancing moisture and creating a protective layer that will enable healthy hair growth.
• Promotes hair growth: Niacin deficiency can impair the hair growth process, Reslan explains. This results in poor hair quality, but on the contrary, niacin can help promote hair growth and enable the process.
• Reduces scalp inflammation: "Nicotinamide has anti-inflammatory and hydrating benefits," Camp says. These properties help to calm and soothe the skin and scalp, reducing irritation and inflammation.
• Promotes thicker hair: "By improving the health of follicular cells, nicotinamide may help keep hair lustrous by maintaining its sheen, body, and strength," Camp says.
  

Hair Type Considerations

In general, niacin can be used with all hair types and textures. However, those battling alopecia issues have more of a reason to reach for niacin as a supplement than those who have healthy, full hair.

"Anyone can use niacin, but it will have the largest impact on those deficient in vitamin B3," Camp explains. "Because B3 is an essential nutrient the body can’t produce, it must be obtained from outside sources."

Breaking down specific hair types, those with dry hair, brittle, or damaged hair can benefit from the strengthening properties niacin provides, as well as the sheen. Thin hair can also benefit from niacin, as it promotes growth and strength. Additionally, because it is anti-inflammatory with hydrating properties, those with an inflamed scalp may also find it helpful.

How to Use Niacin for Hair

Intaking niacin can be as easy as eating a proper meal with meat and leafy greens or ingesting a daily vitamin. That being said, the ingredient is also found in daily hair products for those who need an extra boost.

Weighing the pros and cons of niacin, the experts recommend using supplements beyond daily food intake only when necessary. While niacin displays flashy benefits including healthier, thicker hair, it can also lead to negative side effects when taken at a higher dose. "Niacin should not be used in excess because the body does not store it and using too much or too high of a concentration of the product can cause skin irritation," Camp says.

You should consult with your doctor before adding niacin to your daily routine, and patch test any topical niacin products (as well as diet test any ingestible) when it comes to niacin supplements and treatments.

The Best Hair Products With Niacin

Sunday Riley Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum with Niacinamide $48.00

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Camp shares that niacin can be found as an active ingredient in shampoos. "For shampoos with an active ingredient, it might be helpful to allow the lather to sit on the scalp skin for two to three minutes prior to rinsing to allow enough time for the product to enter the skin," he says. "Remember that you are treating the scalp skin, and not necessarily the hair shaft. If leaving the shampoo on your scalp for too long causes irritation, however, it should be rinsed off shortly after applying it." He recommends the Sunday Riley Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum with Niacinamide.

Ouidad Bye-Bye Breakage Strengthening + Thickening Scalp Serum $30.00

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Nacin can also be found in scalp serums, Camp shares. He recommends the Bye-Bye Breakage Strengthening + Thickening Scalp Serum by Ouidad. Using only one to two drops in each section of the hair, it is recommended you massage the product into the scalp and leave it on, with no rinse out after.

Dove Dry Scalp Care Leave-On Treatment $8.00

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Camp says that leave-in treatments are also a solid topical niacin option. He recommends Dove's Dry Scalp Care Leave-On Treatment, which helps soothe scalp dryness and smooth the hair. In spray form, this leave-in treatment is easy-to-use and should be placed on damp hair and massaged into the scalp.