Vitamin B6 for Hair: What the Research Shows

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has a small body of hair research: a clinical study in women with diffuse hair loss, where injected B6 improved hair condition in a number of women, and a lab study in which pyridoxine combined with other vitamins promoted hair shaft elongation. It also has a real safety limit, because too much pyridoxine can damage sensory nerves.

Here's what each study found and what to know about safety.

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Key Takeaways

• In a study of 46 women with diffuse hair loss, daily injections of vitamin B6 for 20 to 30 days improved hair condition in a number of women and reduced hair loss, especially in telogen-type loss. Oral calcium pantothenate did not clearly help.
• In mouse hair follicle culture, a combination of panthenyl ethyl ether, tocopherol acetate and pyridoxine promoted hair shaft elongation and raised hair matrix cell proliferation 1.9-fold.
• Excess pyridoxine intake can cause sensory peripheral neuropathy, and cases linked to supplements have risen.
• We found no trial of oral vitamin B6 alone for hair.

What Is Vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 is commonly taken as pyridoxine, in supplements and multivitamins.

Does Vitamin B6 Help Hair?

In one clinical study, injected B6 helped some women. Oral B6 alone has not been tested for hair. And the evidence for more being better is the opposite: excess B6 is a recognized risk.

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Using Vitamin B6 Safely

• Stay within recommended amounts. Excess pyridoxine can damage nerves.
• Check your multivitamin labels. B6 shows up in several products.
• Ask your doctor before taking B6 supplements.

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What The Research Shows

Injected B6 In Women

In 46 women aged up to 30 with symptoms of diffuse alopecia, calcium pantothenate was given orally (100 mg twice a day for 4 to 5 months), and vitamin B6 was injected daily for 20 to 30 days and repeated after 6 months. Clinical and trichogram evaluations showed B6 given parenterally for several weeks improved hair condition in a number of women and reduced hair loss, especially in loss of telogen mechanism. Calcium pantothenate did not show a clearly positive effect (Brzezińska-Wcisło, 2001). The abstract describes no control group.

Pyridoxine In Hair Follicle Cultures

In mouse whisker follicle culture, a combination of panthenyl ethyl ether, tocopherol acetate and pyridoxine significantly promoted hair shaft elongation and raised hair matrix cell proliferation 1.9-fold, through upregulation of placental growth factor. Human hair follicle cell culture was used to assess clinical relevance (Hu et al., 2022). It was a lab study of a three-ingredient combination.

Too Much B6

A review of pyridoxine toxicity notes that PN-containing supplements have been linked to peripheral neuropathy, that reported cases of adverse effects have increased, and that excessive PN intake induces neuropathy through preferential injury of sensory neurons (Hadtstein & Vrolijk, 2021).

See also: Vitamin E Oil for Hair: What the Research Shows · Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) for Hair: What the Research Shows

To see how this fits with the other nutrients hair needs, read our guide to the best vitamins for hair growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does vitamin B6 help hair growth?

In one study of women with diffuse hair loss, injected B6 improved hair condition in a number. Oral B6 alone hasn't been tested for hair.

Can too much vitamin B6 be harmful?

Yes. Excess pyridoxine can cause sensory peripheral neuropathy.

Should I take B6 for my hair?

Talk to your doctor first. A deficiency test is a better starting point.

References

1. Brzezińska-Wcisło L. [Evaluation of vitamin B6 and calcium pantothenate effectiveness on hair growth from clinical and trichographic aspects for treatment of diffuse alopecia in women]. Wiad Lek. 2001. PubMed
2. Hu L, Kimura S, Haga M, et al. Vitamins and their derivatives synergistically promote hair shaft elongation ex vivo via PlGF/VEGFR-1 signalling activation. J Dermatol Sci. 2022. PubMed
3. Hadtstein F, Vrolijk M. Vitamin B-6-Induced Neuropathy: Exploring the Mechanisms of Pyridoxine Toxicity. Adv Nutr. 2021. PubMed