Article: Niacinamide for Hair: Benefits and How to Use It (B3)
Niacinamide for Hair: Benefits and How to Use It (B3)
Niacinamide is best known as a skincare hero, but this form of vitamin B3 is just as useful in your hair routine. Used in a shampoo or scalp product, it helps keep the scalp calm and comfortable, supports moisture, and creates a healthier-looking base for your hair. Here is what niacinamide actually does for hair, and how to use it.
Key takeaways
- Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3 used in both skincare and hair care.
- On the scalp it is valued for supporting comfort, moisture and a healthy-looking environment for hair.
- It pairs well with biotin, caffeine and rosemary in a hair-growth shampoo.
- It is a cosmetic ingredient that supports the look and feel of fuller hair, not a medical treatment.
- For a persistently itchy, flaky or sore scalp, see a GP or pharmacist.
What is niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3, a nutrient your body needs to function. In skincare it is well known for supporting a calm, even-looking complexion. Applied to the scalp in a shampoo or treatment, it brings several of those same comforting, conditioning qualities to your hair routine.
What does niacinamide do for hair?
Used topically as part of a hair product, niacinamide is valued for a few things:
- Supports the scalp: it helps the scalp feel calm and comfortable, a good base for healthy-looking hair.
- Helps with moisture: it supports the scalp's moisture barrier, so hair can look less dry and dull.
- Supports keratin: as a B vitamin it plays a part in the building blocks behind the hair's main protein, keratin.
- Smoother, shinier look: a comfortable, well-moisturised scalp and hair simply tend to look sleeker.
It is worth being realistic: niacinamide is a supportive cosmetic ingredient, not a medicine. It helps create a healthier-looking environment rather than acting as a treatment.
How do you use niacinamide for hair?
The easiest way is a daily shampoo that already contains it, alongside other scalp-friendly actives. A simple routine looks like this:
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Cleanse | Use a niacinamide shampoo, massaging gently into the scalp |
| Condition | Follow with a conditioner to protect the lengths |
| Be consistent | Use regularly and give it several weeks |
Grow Me® Hair Growth Shampoo
Our sulphate-free Grow Me shampoo is enriched with niacinamide alongside biotin, caffeine, rosemary, argan oil and hydrolysed lupine protein. Together they cleanse gently and support a comfortable scalp and the look of fuller, healthier hair.
Shop Grow Me ShampooGrow More® Scalp Elixir
For a little extra scalp care, this leave-on overnight serum also features niacinamide with caffeine, rosemary and biotin, supporting a healthy-looking scalp where hair appears thinner, such as the parting or crown.
Shop Grow More ElixirWatermans is a UK family business that has sold over 5 million bottles since 2012. The range is vegan and cruelty-free.
Frequently asked questions
Is niacinamide good for hair?
Yes, as a supportive cosmetic ingredient. On the scalp it helps with comfort and moisture and creates a healthier-looking base for your hair.
Does niacinamide help hair grow?
It supports a comfortable, well-conditioned scalp, which is a good environment for healthy-looking hair, but it is not a medical growth treatment.
Can I use niacinamide every day?
Yes. A daily niacinamide shampoo is a simple way to include it, used consistently over several weeks.
Is niacinamide the same as niacin?
They are both forms of vitamin B3, but niacinamide is the form most commonly used in skincare and hair care for its gentle, conditioning qualities.
My scalp is itchy and flaky, will niacinamide fix it?
It may help a scalp feel more comfortable, but a persistently itchy, flaky or sore scalp should be checked by a GP or pharmacist.
Niacinamide is a quiet all-rounder: gentle, well-tolerated, and a lovely supportive ingredient for both skin and scalp. The easiest way to enjoy it is a daily shampoo that already includes it. Explore the niacinamide-enriched Watermans Grow Me Shampoo and the Grow More Elixir.
