Ashwagandha hasn’t been shown to cause hair loss, and it hasn’t been proven to treat it either. A couple of small trials suggest it might reduce shedding. One small study found it raised testosterone in men, which is where the DHT worry comes from, but no one has measured whether it affects DHT or pattern hair loss. Meanwhile, UK regulators are still reviewing whether it’s safe.
That’s a less exciting answer than you’ll find on social media, where ashwagandha is sold both as a hair-saving adaptogen and as a hidden cause of balding. Both claims draw on the same small pool of studies. This guide looks at what those studies actually show, where the safety questions sit, and what to do if your hair is thinning.
Key Takeaways
- There is no good evidence that ashwagandha causes hair loss, and no strong evidence that it treats it.
- Two short trials from the same research group reported less shedding with ashwagandha, but the results haven’t been repeated independently.
- The DHT concern comes from one small study in which testosterone was 14.7% higher in men taking ashwagandha. DHT and hair loss were never measured.
- The Food Standards Agency says no safe level has been established for ashwagandha supplements. Reviews have linked it with thyroid and liver effects.
- An overactive thyroid can itself cause hair thinning, so anyone whose shedding worsens after starting ashwagandha should mention it to a clinician.
What is ashwagandha, and why is it linked to hair?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a herb from Ayurvedic medicine, sold in the UK as a food supplement and marketed mainly for stress, sleep and energy. Its reputation rests on small trials showing lower cortisol levels, and the hair claims follow on from that. Stress can trigger temporary shedding, so the argument goes that a supplement which eases stress should ease shedding too.
The opposite claim comes from its apparent effect on male hormones. If ashwagandha raises testosterone, the thinking goes, it could also raise DHT, the hormone behind male pattern hair loss.
Neither story has been properly tested. It’s also worth knowing that ashwagandha has no authorised health claims in the UK, as Which? points out, so the hair benefits promoted online haven’t been approved by any UK regulator.
Can ashwagandha help with hair loss?
The most direct evidence comes from one research group in India. A 2023 trial in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine gave 68 adults with mild to moderate hair loss either an ashwagandha scalp serum or a placebo for 75 days. The 61 who finished saw less shedding and small gains in hair density and thickness with the serum. A 2026 follow-up in Phytotherapy Research, with overlapping authors, tested ashwagandha capsules over the same period and reported similar improvements.
Those results are interesting, but limited. Both trials were short, both involved the same researchers, and the extract used in the 2023 study was supplied by its manufacturer. Neither was designed to show whether ashwagandha changes the course of pattern hair loss. Until independent teams repeat the findings, they’re best treated as early signals.
The stress route is plausible rather than proven. The NHS lists stress among the causes of temporary hair loss, and this kind of shedding tends to recover by itself once the trigger passes, supplement or no supplement.
Does ashwagandha raise DHT?
DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is made from testosterone, and in people with a genetic predisposition, it gradually shrinks the hair follicles, as the British Association of Dermatologists explains. That’s why any supplement said to boost testosterone draws attention from people worried about their hairline.
The study most often quoted is a 2019 trial in the American Journal of Men’s Health. It gave 57 overweight men aged 40 to 70 an ashwagandha extract and a placebo for eight weeks each. Testosterone, measured in saliva, was 14.7% higher while they took ashwagandha. The effect faded after they stopped, and the study was funded by the company that makes the extract.
The researchers didn’t measure DHT, and no trial has looked at whether ashwagandha speeds up pattern hair loss. The chain from supplement to testosterone to DHT to thinning is a theory with missing links. It’s a familiar story: a modest hormone change in one small study becomes a widely repeated warning, just as it did with Creatine and hair loss claims.
If you’re genetically prone to pattern hair loss, your genes remain the main driver either way.
Is ashwagandha safe to take in the UK?
This is where the more concrete concerns lie. The Food Standards Agency says no safe levels have been established for ashwagandha in food supplements, and that reviews have linked it with effects on thyroid hormone levels, thyroid toxicity and potential liver toxicity. The government’s Committee on Toxicity is still working on a formal safety statement and discussed a third draft in September 2026.
While that review continues, the FSA told Which? that people with existing liver conditions and pregnant women should avoid ashwagandha supplements.
The thyroid question matters for anyone taking ashwagandha for their hair. An overactive thyroid can cause patchy hair loss or thinning, according to the NHS. Reported thyroid effects from ashwagandha are uncommon, but if your shedding starts or worsens after you begin a new supplement, it deserves a place on the list of possible causes.
Here’s how the most common claims stand up:
| The claim | What the evidence says |
| Ashwagandha helps hair grow | Two short trials from one research group reported less shedding. The results haven’t been repeated independently. |
| Ashwagandha raises DHT and causes balding | One small study found higher testosterone in men. DHT and hair were never measured. |
| It’s natural, so it’s safe | UK regulators haven’t set a safe level and are reviewing possible liver and thyroid effects. |
In short, the case for ashwagandha as a hair treatment is thin, the case against it as a cause of balding is thinner, and the safety questions are the part UK regulators are taking most seriously.
Should you take ashwagandha for thinning hair?
If your main aim is to stop hair loss, the evidence doesn’t justify it. The more useful step is finding out why your hair is thinning, because the cause decides what will actually help.
If you already take ashwagandha, or want to try it for stress, a few sensible precautions apply:
- Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you take regular medication or have a thyroid, liver or autoimmune condition.
- Don’t take it if you’re pregnant.
- Stop and speak to a GP if you feel unwell while taking it, particularly if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes.
- Tell any clinician assessing your hair about every supplement you take. It’s all part of the picture.
FAQs
Does ashwagandha cause hair loss?
There’s no good evidence that it does. The concern comes from one small study in which men’s testosterone rose while taking ashwagandha. The study didn’t measure DHT or hair loss. Ashwagandha has been linked with thyroid effects in rare cases, and an overactive thyroid can cause thinning, so any new shedding is worth checking.
Does ashwagandha increase DHT?
It hasn’t been shown to. A 2019 trial found testosterone was 14.7% higher in men taking ashwagandha than on placebo. DHT wasn’t measured, and the effect faded once they stopped.
Can ashwagandha help hair grow back?
Two short trials from the same research group in India reported less shedding and small gains in density with an ashwagandha serum and capsules. The findings haven’t been confirmed by independent researchers, so it isn’t a proven treatment for hair loss.
Is ashwagandha safe to take in the UK?
It’s legally sold as a food supplement, but the Food Standards Agency says no safe level has been established. The government’s Committee on Toxicity is reviewing possible effects on the liver and thyroid. The FSA has advised people with liver conditions and pregnant women to avoid it while that review continues.
Should I stop taking ashwagandha if my hair is thinning?
Speak to your GP or a hair loss specialist rather than guessing. Pattern hair loss, stress, thyroid problems and low iron are all more common causes of thinning. A proper assessment will show whether a supplement could be playing a part.
When should you have your hair assessed?
Losing some hair every day is normal, and the NHS puts typical shedding at 50 to 100 hairs a day. It’s worth booking an assessment if you notice:
- a widening parting or visible scalp at the crown
- receding temples or a changing hairline
- smooth, round bald patches
- heavy shedding that has lasted longer than three months
- thinning alongside a family history of hair loss
At MHR Clinic, a consultation starts with a close examination of your scalp under magnification and a full review of your health history, including any supplements you take. Where it’s relevant, blood tests can check for common contributors such as thyroid problems and low iron. From there, treatment can range from non-surgical options such as low-level laser therapy to FUE and FUT hair transplants, planned by GMC-registered surgeons. Our clinics in Manchester and Harrogate are CQC-registered, and our surgeons are members of the ISHRS and BAHRS.
You don’t need to guess from social media what’s behind your thinning. Book a private consultation at MHR Clinic and get a clear answer.