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Hair & scalp· in 3 products

Biotin

Also listed as Vitamin B7, Vitamin H, Coenzyme R and D-biotin

Emerging evidence Supplements commonly 1,000–10,000 mcg, far above the 30 mcg adequate intake for adults

Biotin is a B vitamin heavily marketed in hair, skin and nail supplements and shampoos. There is no good evidence that it helps hair in people who are not biotin deficient.

Shop 3 with biotinAll ingredients
3BiBiotinHair & scalp

What it does

The short version.

Biotin is a cofactor for enzymes in fat, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, and true deficiency can cause hair thinning and rash. Deficiency is rare because biotin is in many foods and made by gut bacteria. Reviews find hair improvement mainly in case reports of people with deficiency or genetic conditions, not in healthy people. Topical biotin in shampoos acts mostly as a conditioning ingredient.

Emerging evidence

Benefit is documented only in deficiency; reviews find no quality trials supporting biotin for hair loss in people with normal levels.

In our directory: It’s a key ingredient in 3 products we review, most often treatments and wash day. Those products are mostly built for shine, split ends and damage repair. In formulas, it most often shares the label with panthenol, argan oil and rosemary oil.

Reach for it for

Hair growth supportDamage repair

Usually a good fit for

All hair types

How to use it

Getting it right.

Topical biotin products are used like any shampoo or conditioner. Before taking high-dose supplements for hair loss, ask a clinician to look for the actual cause.

Layering

Friends & frenemies.

Pairs well with

CaffeineKeratin & proteinsRosemary oil

Before you start

The FDA has warned that high-dose biotin can interfere with many lab tests, including troponin tests for heart attack and thyroid tests, causing falsely high or low results. Tell your clinician and the lab if you take biotin.

References

  1. 1A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss — Skin Appendage Disorders (2017), via PubMed Central
  2. 2Biotin for Hair Loss: Teasing Out the Evidence — Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology (2024), via PubMed Central
  3. 3Biotin Interference with Troponin Lab Tests - Assays Subject to Biotin Interference — U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Educational, not medical advice. Ingredient guides summarise published research and expert guidance; formulas and concentrations differ between products.

3 products

Every product with biotin.

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