Quercetin for Hair Growth: What the Latest Research Shows

Quercetin is a plant flavonoid found in everyday foods like onions and apples, and it's quickly becoming one of the most exciting ingredients in hair research. Recent studies show quercetin can wake up resting hair follicles and support the blood supply around them, at least in laboratory models.

Here's what the science shows, where to find quercetin, and how to use it safely.

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Key Takeaways

• Quercetin is a polyphenol with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
• In a 2023 study, quercetin applied to the skin stimulated resting hair follicles to start growing and boosted the tiny blood vessels around them in mice.
• Onions, apples, citrus, grapes and parsley are good dietary sources.

What Is Quercetin?

Quercetin is a polyphenol made by plants. Laboratory and animal research shows a wide range of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory activity. It's also widely sold as a supplement.

What Benefits Does Quercetin Offer Hair?

Quercetin's hair results so far come from animal studies, which we describe below. They're among the most promising results for any plant compound in hair research, but human trials are still needed.

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How To Get More Quercetin

From Food

Eat plenty of onions, apples, citrus fruits, grapes and parsley.

From Supplements

Quercetin supplements are widely sold, and it's also included in hair formulas alongside other antioxidants and nutrients.

Topically

The most exciting hair results so far come from applying quercetin to the skin, which is why it's starting to appear in scalp serums.

How Quickly Can You Expect Results?

Hair grows slowly, and any ingredient that supports the growth phase needs time to show. Give a new routine at least three months and track your progress with photos in the same light every few weeks.

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What The Research Shows

Waking Up Resting Follicles

In a 2023 study published in Protein & Cell, researchers applied quercetin to the skin of mice. It stimulated resting hair follicles to enter the growth phase, with rapid growth of follicle cells, and it replenished the tiny blood vessels around the follicles. Using single-cell analysis, the team traced part of the effect to blood vessel cells: quercetin activated a signal called HIF-1α, which encourages new blood vessel growth (Zhao et al., 2023).

Calming Inflammation Around The Follicle

In a mouse model of alopecia areata, an autoimmune form of hair loss, quercetin injections led to hair regrowth in the affected areas of all treated mice, but in none of the untreated mice (Wikramanayake et al., 2012). These are animal studies, and human trials are still needed.

Food Sources

Fruits and vegetables such as apples, citrus, grapes, onions and parsley are the main dietary sources of quercetin (Devi et al., 2024).

Is Quercetin Safe?

Talk to your doctor before taking high-dose quercetin, especially if you have a health condition, take medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Hesperidin is a related plant flavonoid; see hesperidin and hair.

See also: Rutin for Hair: What the Research Shows · L-Glutamine for Hair: What the Research Shows

Frequently Asked Questions

Does quercetin help hair growth?

In mice, quercetin applied to the skin stimulated resting follicles to grow and supported the surrounding blood vessels. Human trials are still needed.

Has quercetin been studied for hair loss?

Only in animals so far. In a mouse model of autoimmune hair loss, hair regrew in all quercetin-treated mice. It hasn't been studied in people yet. If you're losing hair, see a dermatologist to find the cause.

What food has the most quercetin?

Onions, apples, citrus, grapes and parsley are good sources.

References

1. Zhao Q, Zheng Y, Zhao D, et al. Single-cell profiling reveals a potent role of quercetin in promoting hair regeneration. Protein Cell. 2023. PubMed
2. Wikramanayake TC, Villasante AC, Mauro LM, et al. Prevention and treatment of alopecia areata with quercetin in the C3H/HeJ mouse model. Cell Stress Chaperones. 2012. PubMed
3. Devi V, Deswal G, Dass R, et al. Therapeutic Potential and Clinical Effectiveness of Quercetin: A Dietary Supplement. Recent Adv Food Nutr Agric. 2024. PubMed