If you’re like us, we’re always searching for additional ways to keep our hair healthy and strong. We are partial to hair masks and high-quality products, and try to minimize the frequency of  using heat tools on a regular basis. While these are fantastic ways to take care of your hair from the outside in, we especially love Biotin for working the strands from the inside out.

Biotin is often credited with helping to achieve picture-perfect hair, nails, and skin, but how exactly does it work?

Biotin, also known as Vitamins H or B7, is a water-soluble vitamin that turns fats, carbs, and proteins into energy, and that energy helps your body’s natural systems work effectively and stay healthy.  When your body is biotin deficient, you aren’t able to absorb the proper amount of nutrients from your food intake and this can result in brittle fingernails, thinning or hair loss, and skin rashes. To put it simply,  ensuring you are getting enough biotin in your diet can help increase the strength and life of your hair. It can also aid in helping your hair grow long and strong, and has even been shown to lessen hair loss and thinning. 

Where can you find Biotin?

Thankfully, this little vitamin is found in many protein-rich foods, making it pretty easy to get it right from your daily diet. These foods include:

• Meat
• Eggs
• Fish 
• Nuts
• Dairy Products 

If your diet includes some of those listed above, it’s likely you’re getting at least close to the recommended amount of daily Biotin and won’t need to add it to your daily routine. 

Should I Take a Biotin Supplement?

In general, if you are eating a well-rounded diet, the answer is probably ‘no.’ But if your diet includes a lot of processed foods, or you’ve been told by a physician that you are Biotin deficient, you could unintentionally be preventing your hair, skin and nails from being as amazing as they could be. Adding a daily Biotin supplement (either orally or topically) could give them the boost that they deserve! Prior to adding Biotin to your daily routine, check any multivitamins or strengthening beauty products you use — many of them already contain Biotin. We also recommend checking with your physician the next time you’re in for a checkup to see if this is a good idea for you to add Biotin supplementation to your diet. 

The Bottom Line

If you’ve been struggling with thin or weak hair, Biotin may be the perfect addition to your routine. As always, consult with your doctor before starting on any new vitamins to ensure it’s safe for you.