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Hair loss can stem from a number of frustrating causes, but regardless if your locks are thinning from stress and anxiety, or even a health condition, the desire to find a solution is likely still top of mind. There are a variety of topical solutions on the market which can help to spark hair growth from the root, but certain vitamins can offer a natural and gentle solution that work from inside the body to remedy thinning hair and strengthen your existing locks while minimizing future fallout. If you’re looking for a supplement to take each day which will keep hair loss at bay and stimulate new hair growth, there’s one vitamin that experts agree you should be relying on for your strongest possible locks.
An offshoot of the B vitamin family, biotin is one of the best supplements to rely on for not only strengthening thinning hair, but also improving your skin and nails as well. While you naturally consume this vitamin in your daily diet, a deficiency of biotin could cause hair loss and scalp irritation, although this is rare. “Biotin helps with existing hair follicles but does NOT regrow hair. It can increase the look and health of existing hair, so taking it can help strengthen the hair you currently have,” explains hair loss coach Hannah Maruyama. If your hair loss is severe, you may have to turn to outside solutions to spark regrowth, but for strengthening thinning locks, biotin can be incredibly helpful.
The role that biotin plays in hair strength is still being researched, but it all stems back to keratin which is the primary protein found in your strands. “Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that's a part of the vitamin B family. It stimulates keratin production in hair and can increase the rate of follicle growth,” explains celebrity hairstylist Martino Cartier. While hair growth cannot be attributed to biotin intake alone, studies have shown that women suffering from thinning hair who regularly took a protein supplement containing biotin as an active ingredient boasted significant improvement in hair growth with minimized shedding. Another earlier study found similar results, showing that biotin can indeed strengthen hair follicles and limit fallout.
If you’re looking to offer your locks a strengthening boost and are considering integrating a biotin supplement into your daily routine, it’s important to check with your doctor first to make sure it will be a good fit for you and your health needs. You may experience minor digestional side effects when beginning to take biotin, but according to Healthline, these issues can be tempered by taking your vitamin with food. Although you may be turning to biotin primarily for hair growth and strength, other potential benefits of the supplement may include lessened inflammation in the body and more even blood sugar levels.
Thinning hair is no doubt frustrating, but with a combination of topical solutions, a vitamin rich diet, and the addition of a biotin supplement to your morning routine, you should notice visibly stronger and healthier locks in no time. If you suffer from more severe fallout, it’s certainly worth addressing with a hair loss professional, but if your thinning stems for simply growing older or other low level concerns, a biotin supplement may be all you need to ensure stunning locks in your future. Take your supplements with your breakfast each morning, and pair it with a vitamin B rich food source such as egg whites and avocado for adding hair growth benefits to start your day.
