Buying guide for best biotin shampoos
Biotin supports healthy hair, nails, and skin, making it one of the most popular beauty supplements on the market. You can take it in pill form, but if your main goal is longer, stronger hair, a biotin shampoo may be your best bet. In addition to cleaning your hair, these shampoos introduce biotin and other hair-nourishing ingredients into the strands, boosting hair health and shine with continued use.
With so many options on the market, how do you know which shampoo to choose? It starts with understanding the needs of your hair. Choose the wrong one and you could end up weighing down or drying out your hair instead of helping it.
Key considerations
In order to choose the right biotin shampoo for your locks, you need to understand what type of hair you have and what ingredients to look for.
Hair type
Biotin shampoo can help hair of all types grow longer and healthier, but some formulas are suited to one hair type more than another. For example, some shampoos can be drying. This might not be an issue if you have oily hair, but it could be a crisis if your hair is dry to begin with. Furthermore, some biotin shampoos are designed to thicken hair, and this might not be what you need if you already have thick hair.
Before you purchase a biotin shampoo, think about what you hope it will do for you and what you’re trying to avoid. Then carefully read the manufacturer’s claims and the ingredient list (see below). It’s also smart to read through some customer reviews of the shampoos you’re considering to find out if there are any common complaints.
Ingredients to look for
These are some of the hair-nourishing ingredients you should watch for when choosing a biotin shampoo:
Biotin: Biotin helps improve hair health, strength, and thickness. It also boosts the speed of hair growth over time. As an added bonus, biotin improves the health of your skin and nails as well.
Collagen: Collagen is an amino acid that helps renew cells and maintain strength and elasticity in skin, hair, and nails. Your body gradually begins to lose its ability to produce collagen starting around age 30, so introducing more of it through your shampoo can help to make up for what your body can no longer produce on its own.
Aloe vera: Aloe vera locks in moisture. It contains proteolytic enzymes to help stimulate dormant hair follicles into growing and repair damaged hair cells, which can improve hair growth and thickness. Aloe vera is also soothing and antifungal, so it’s a great choice if you struggle with dandruff.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids and helps your hair retain its natural proteins, which keeps it healthy and improves texture and shine.
Hydrolyzed wheat protein: Hydrolyzed wheat protein can reduce moisture loss and improve the strength and elasticity of hair. It also helps add body and shine.
Saw palmetto: Saw palmetto has received attention as a popular hair-loss supplement, and there is some evidence to suggest that it may even encourage new hair growth.
Zinc: Zinc is a mineral with dozens of benefits for the body, one of which is stronger hair and nails. If your zinc level is low, it can cause your hair proteins to deteriorate. Introducing more zinc through your shampoo may help to combat this if zinc deficiency is part of your issue.
Ingredients to avoid
Here are a few ingredients you don’t want in your biotin shampoo:
Sulfates: Sulfates strip oils out of hair, but sometimes they can work a little too well and leave hair dry, brittle, and frizzy. Watch for sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, or ammonium lauryl sulfate on the ingredients list.
Parabens: Parabens are a popular preservative used in many shampoos and cosmetics, but they can be harmful when absorbed through the skin. They can disrupt your hormone function, and some studies have suggested a link between parabens and breast cancer.
- Formaldehyde: Believe it or not, some shampoos use formaldehyde as a preservative. But it should be avoided at all costs because it’s a known carcinogen.
Did you know?
Biotin deficiency can cause hair loss and thinning of the hair. Fortunately, it’s a rare condition because most people consume enough biotin in food.
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Biotin shampoo features
The above considerations are the most important when choosing a biotin shampoo, but if you’re struggling to choose between two formulas, these additional factors may help you decide:
Organic ingredients: Some people believe organic shampoos and beauty products are safer than synthetic ones. This is a personal choice, but if you’re trying to go the natural route, be sure you choose a product that is certified organic. Don’t be fooled by products claiming to be “all natural.” Unlike organic, there is no regulation on the term “all natural,” so any manufacturer can use it with no evidence to back it up.
Lather: Some biotin shampoos lather up better than others. If yours doesn’t lather well, you might need to use more shampoo each time you wash your hair. This could result in you going through a bottle more quickly than you’d anticipated. You can develop a sense of whether or not a shampoo lathers well by reading through customer reviews online.
Scent: Scent is a personal preference. Choose the one that you like the best. If you have sensitive skin, you might be better off choosing a fragrance-free product or one that uses essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances, which can be irritating to some people.
Money-back guarantee: Some biotin shampoo manufacturers will refund your money if you’re not satisfied with the results you see. This is a nice option, especially if the shampoo you’re interested in is expensive, but it’s important to understand the terms of the guarantee before you buy.
Biotin shampoo prices
Biotin shampoos range in price from around $5 to $50, but it’s important not to focus on the overall price alone.
Price per ounce gives you a better indicator of the worth of the shampoo. Check how many ounces a bottle contains and divide the total cost by the number of ounces. This is your price per ounce.
Biotin shampoos cost anywhere from $0.50 to $5 per ounce, but most fall in the $1 to $2 per ounce range.
Tips
Follow the manufacturer’s directions for use. For best results from your biotin shampoo, only use it as often as the manufacturer suggests.
Don’t take a biotin supplement in addition to using a biotin shampoo. You consume plenty of biotin through food. Only take a biotin supplement if it’s recommended by your doctor.
Wait a minute or two between lathering and rinsing. Let the biotin shampoo really soak into your hair before you rinse it out.
- Pair your biotin shampoo with a biotin conditioner. Biotin conditioners are less common than biotin shampoos, but they are out there.
Other products we considered
If you want to reduce hair loss in addition to promoting new hair growth, try the Honeydew Biotin Shampoo. It uses biotin, keratin, and zinc to promote hair health and strength, plus it can help to block DHT, a common cause of hair loss, especially in men. Users rave about the pleasant scent and how well it works.
Another great affordable pick is the Renpure Biotin and Collagen Shampoo. It comes in a surprisingly affordable 32-ounce bottle that lasts a long time. It contains biotin, collagen, and keratin to strengthen hair and promote hair growth, and it’s free of harsh sulfates, parabens, and dyes.
FAQ
Q. Do biotin shampoos actually work?
A. They certainly can work, but results vary depending on what’s causing your hair to be brittle or unhealthy in the first place. If you’re concerned about how well the shampoo will work, choose one with a money-back guarantee or one that includes a combination of hair-nourishing ingredients.
Q. Is biotin shampoo meant to be used every day?
A. You may be able to use it every day, depending on your hair type, but some manufacturers recommend that you only use the biotin shampoo once or twice per week. Check the product label for usage guidelines for your particular shampoo.
Q. Can biotin shampoo reverse hair loss?
A. Biotin alone can’t do anything about hair loss, but it can help to promote the strength and growth of existing hair. Shampoos that combat hair loss may contain biotin, but they have other ingredients that actually stimulate the dormant hair follicles.
