The Power of Biotin
Ahhh, Biotin. If youâve ever been even remotely interested in growing your hair out more quickly, adding shine to your strands, or even just getting your hair to a healthier place, thereâs no doubt youâve come across Biotin.
Though youâve surely seen it in a wide variety of hair products, Biotin isnât an ingredient used in haircare products alone; itâs known to help improve fine lines and wrinkles and encourage stronger and healthier nails.
But what is Biotin, exactly, and why does it seem like the magic ingredient for hair growth and skin health?
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Your Body & Biotin
The word Biotin is actually derived from the Greek word âbiotosâ, which translates to âlifeâ or âsustenanceâ, and Biotin functions as just that: sustenance. Biotin is formally known as vitamin B7, and it is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that assists enzymes to break down and metabolize fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in foods.
In other words, Biotin helps your body convert food into energy. Biotin also plays a key role in gene activity regulation and cell signaling, which is a fancier way of saying itâs a vitamin that makes sure all of your bodyâs functions are operating normally. On a more surface level, Biotin has the power to keep your liver, nervous system, metabolism, digestive tract, hair, eyes, and skin healthy.
So, how does it work? To begin, Biotin is a vitamin found in foods, and itâs up to us to get enough of those foods to reap all the benefits of Biotin as our bodies do not produce it on their own. Most of the Biotin that exists in foods are bound to proteins. Our bodies break down this protein-bound Biotin, which is then released in our bodies and absorbed by the small intestine then stored in the liver.Â
Itâs recommended that the adequate Biotin intake for both men and women over aged 19 is right at 30 micrograms daily and while Biotin deficiencies are not generally common, they can lead to hair loss and skin or nail problems.
Look to these foods which are rich in Biotin and can help make sure your body is getting all that it needs to keep your hair, skin, and nails looking healthy and strong:Â
- - Eggs (with the yolk!)
- -Â Beef Liver (probably not a fave but it has one of the highest concentrations of Biotin)Â
- -Â Salmon
- -Â TunaÂ
- -Â Sweet Potato
- -Â Pork Chop
- -Â SpinachÂ
- -Â BroccoliÂ
- -Â Legumes
- -Â MushroomsÂ
- -Â Cauliflower
- -Â Nuts snd SeedsÂ
If you feel like you donât incorporate enough of these foods into your diet or youâre really looking to jump-start healthier hair growth, Biotin supplements have been a popular option for many years now, though the National Institute of Health hasnât deemed additional supplement intake as a guarantee for longer, healthier hair (or healthier skin and nails).
Biotin supplements donât hurt, though, and you wouldnât need to worry about taking too much Biotin; because itâs a water-soluble vitamin, any excess amounts of Biotin will pass through your body when you urinate.Â
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Why Your Hair Should CareÂ
Just like Biotin breaks down proteins in foods, it also helps metabolize the amino acids in our bodies that produce the hair-loving protein keratin. Keratin is comprised of 18 different vital amino acids that play an important role in hair growth, resiliency, and long-term hair health.
On an even larger scale, this family of structural proteins is found in many different parts of our bodies, from our skin and nails to even some of our internal organs. In terms of hair (thatâs why weâre all here, right??), this important protein is produced through the multiplication of cells present beneath the scalp.Â
When our bodies are replete with Biotin, it makes way for more Keratin production, which in turn helps hair to grow and remain strong and healthy. So, in a way, itâs not exactly the Biotin itself thatâs changing the game for your hair, but its ability to help produce more Keratin, which is the big gamechanger for hair.Â
The hairs on your head consist of 90% Keratin, and because this protein occurs in long chains, it aids in elasticity, hair strength, and allows hair to bend and fold without breaking. When your hair is lacking Keratin, however, hair is prone to breakage, thinning, and hair loss. Thankfully, our bodies naturally produce Keratin, and Biotin is sort of the secret weapon behind it, making sure we have enough to keep hair healthy and strong.
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BOLDIFY & BiotinÂ
We work hard with formulators and labs to source ingredients that are clean and safe, but perform like conventional hair growth products. We like to think of Biotin as our holy grail ingredient or our mild and non-toxic version of minoxidil; itâs the ingredient that encourages major hair regrowth and resilience but skips on the irritating chemicals and additives.
Biotin is included in our bestselling Hair Thickening Serum, which has been proven to help thicken hair over time and encourage new hair growth. Itâs also in our Thickening Shampoo and Thickening Conditioner so that youâre covering all of your hair-boosting bases.
Biotin works in conjunction with some of our other clean ingredients like sage, coconut oil, and lemongrass extract, among others, to naturally stimulate hair growth, nourish the scalp, and thicken patchy or thinning hair.
To make sure weâre really going the extra mile in helping hair, we packed our Hair Gummies with Biotin as well as vitamin A and vitamin C, making it a potent daily supplement designed to encourage faster hair growth, protect against oxidative stress, and strengthen the hair follicles.
Overall, Biotinâs powerful properties lay the foundation for longer hair, and with regular use help to maintain locks that are resilient, thick, and healthy.Â
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