the Bio on Biotin

Okay, we’ve all heard about the latest vitamins, shampoos, conditioners, and oils that claim to boost hair growth. For Naturalistas, this is great news! We know that growth takes time, but how wonderful it would be if we could speed it up a little….

Promoting Hair Growth

First off, it’s important to know that hair growth DOES NOT happen over night, but IT DOES happen. There are a few things that can help promote hair growth, water being the most basic and one of the most critical of all components. Trimming is a must. And you are what you eat, right? So a healthy diet is also a good idea. And it doesn’t hurt to take a multivitamin whether you’re natural or not. Take a look at the labels. There are a ton of minerals and beneficial vitamins that our body benefits from. When it comes to hair, a multivitamin will help in that area as well.

B-complex vitamins (BIOTIN aka vitamin H)

The most popular for hair growth are the B-complex (aka vitamin H) vitamins that help to restore shine and thickness, most notably is Biotin which has become quite the vitamin among Naturalistas. While Bitotin is usually taken when there is a vitamin B deficiency (which is rare), there are claims that Biotin offers several benefits, one being hair growth. Biotin comes in different dosages. Unless you have a true deficiency, there’s really no need to go crazy with the stuff. Start with a small dose of 1000mcg or 2500mcg.

Topical Biotin? Uhh…I don’t think so

Many women swear by it, but beware. Some manufacturers claim to include Biotin in their hair products, but it’s important to understand that most vitamins are most beneficial when ingested. The chemical make-up of Biotin is way too complex (pun intended) for it to penetrate through hair strands, follicles, the scalp, etc. There are a few exceptions, however, where topical applications of some vitamins are just as beneficial as the oral route like vitamin E, for example, which includes properties that help improve the skin. Biotin, however, is not one of those vitamins, so products that claim to give you a boost of Biotin in their shampoo or conditioner, for example, should raise an eyebrow or two.

Do Your Research!!

Before taking any vitamin, over the counter or not, it’s a good idea to do your research. While vitamins are typically safe, they may interfere with other medications you might be taking and may have mild side effects. Biotin is pretty safe regardless of its dose, but it’s still a wise idea to do some research on it.

So Does Biotin Really Work?

I’m going to go with a “yes” on this one….for now. I’ve been taking Biotin for roughly 3 weeks now. Have I noticed a difference? Yes, especially with my nails which tend to break easily and become very brittle, my eyelashes have grown as well. In terms of my hair, I have noticed a difference to my edges which for a very long time, even when I was relaxed, tended to recede quite a bit. Now I notice my hair filling in more. But I’ve also stopped wearing my hair up in tight buns and have also been using more oils, so it could be a combination of all three.

What are your go-to products for your natural hair growth?

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