How Much Biotin Is Safe to Take for Hair Growth?


You might have heard about using biotin to help your hair grow fuller and longer. But perhaps you are a bit skeptical of a magical pill that can help your hair- it almost sounds too good to be true. Is it safe to take biotin for hair loss and if so, how much should you take? Biotin supplements usually come in doses of 1000 mcg or 5000 mcg and which one you should take is dependent on a few factors.

First of all, let’s talk about what biotin is and what it does. Biotin is a member of the B-vitamin family known as Vitamin B7 that helps with cell growth and blood sugar maintenance. It has been proven to help hair grow stronger and longer and it also helps strengthen your nails.

If you are wondering if biotin is safe, consider this: you already have biotin in your body! Yes, that’s right- your intestines naturally produce biotin every day and your body uses it. The problem occurs when you do not have enough of it. A lack of biotin in the body can actually cause hair loss, not only from your scalp but also eyelashes and eyebrows. Some conditions that might make your body produce less biotin than normal include extreme exercise, excessive alcohol consumption, pregnancy, lactation, seizure disorders, and old age. Not only is biotin safe, it is also natural and you already have some in your body. But like all vitamins, sometimes you need to give your body a boost.

Biotin is so safe that doctors recommend it to both children and adults who are suffering from hair loss and other skin conditions on the scalp such as eczema and cradle cap. So how much biotin is safe to take for hair loss? Can you take too much biotin? There aren’t any known adverse reactions to taking large amounts, but use good sense. It’s not necessary to take very large amounts of biotin to have effects on your hair, mostly because your body produces some anyway, but even if you suspect you may have a biotin deficiency, you still don’t need to go overboard. If you take a multivitamin, check the label because many multivitamins contain biotin so perhaps you are already taking it.

biotin vitamins for hair

Some people take up to 5000 mcg of biotin hair growth vitamins daily but that should really be the maximum to work up to if smaller dosages don’t work. Many people start with around 1000 mcg daily and wait about a month before deciding whether to adjust the dosage. Click to find reviews and good prices on 5000 mcg biotin and 1000 mcg biotin.It’s also better to take half in the morning and half in the evening because if you take too much, your body will simply get rid of the excess and will therefore be wasted. If you have any health conditions, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor to find out how much biotin is safe to take.

Check out our biotin reviews page to see some safe options that we recommend if you want to take biotin for hair loss.

How to Shop for Hair Growth Vitamins


Many people suffering from hair loss are overwhelmed by the volume of remedies available. It can be difficult to know where to begin. There is no single optimal treatment because effectiveness depends on the cause of the hair loss and each individual’s body chemistry. Before spending a lot of money, time, and frustration on the many commercial remedies available, why not begin by trying something that is cheap and natural: hair growth vitamins.

Certain vitamins are well-documented to help with hair loss. Drugstore shelves are quickly becoming overcrowded with vitamins for hair loss. Here is some advice you can keep in mind when choosing hair growth vitamins.

Ingredients to look for: Any of the B vitamins, particularly B7 and biotin. Biotin is by far the vitamin with the best results on hair loss. It may also be referred to as Vitamin H. Any B-complex combination is going to improve the condition and growth of hair, but definitely make sure you get something with biotin. Folic acid (also known as Vitamin B9) and zinc are also linked to hair growth and found in many multivitamins.

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Some hair vitamin labels boast as much as 500% of the recommended daily amount of certain vitamins. Too much of any vitamin can be harmful or at the very least, a waste of money because your body cannot absorb such high levels. In particular, you should avoid excessive amounts of Vitamin A, which can actually make hair loss problems worse.

Should you buy pills that are specifically marketed as hair growth vitamins? While a good multivitamin may be enough for most people, it is easy to be drawn to these products when you are scanning the vitamin aisle. They are usually specially formulated for hair, but as always, read the labels carefully. Many of them are not much different from multivitamins but the price tag can be significantly higher. That’s why it is important to be an informed consumer. Don’t pay extra for the special hair vitamins if you can find the same ingredients in a cheaper product.

One case where it may be worth spending a bit extra is organic vitamins. These vitamins are more natural and healthier for your body. The body also absorbs them more easily because they are more similar to the vitamins found in healthy food. These vitamins have a higher price tag but your body will put them to better use than the synthetic types.

How much should you buy? It does take a month or two to see the results of using vitamins for hair loss, but it’s best to start with a smaller bottle to make sure you don’t have any reactions to those particular vitamins. While they are unlikely to cause any side effects, make sure the vitamins you buy are a good match for your body’s chemistry before investing in a larger bottle.

Avoid topical hair vitamin treatments. There is no evidence that vitamins have any effect on hair loss when used topically. That means creams, shampoos, and other treatments that you apply to the hair or scalp are generally a big waste of money. One exception may be Vitamin E oil hair growth products, which can boost circulation to the hair follicles when massaged into the scalp on a regular basis.

Be sure to check out our reviews page if you are looking to buy biotin for advice on where to find good formulations.