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Biotin, or vitamin B7, is an essential nutrient that helps to break down the protein, fat, and carbohydrates in the foods we eat.
However, biotin is most well-known for its purported role in supporting hair and nail growth and skin health.
While there isn’t much solid evidence for the use of biotin supplements in those without a deficiency, many people report improvements in hair and nail health when taking them.
If you do decide to take biotin, it’s important to ensure you’re getting a high-quality product, as there are hundreds of biotin supplements on the market—and we’ve got you covered with the six best biotin brands out there.
Our top pick is NOW Biotin 5000mcg for its high quality and affordability but you can also choose from higher-dose biotin, gummy and powdered versions, and comprehensive hair, skin, and nail formulas containing other beauty-supporting compounds.
Best for: People wanting an affordable supplement with higher doses of biotin for hair and nail growth.
If you’re looking for a higher dose of biotin, the NOW Biotin 5000mcg is an excellent choice from a trusted supplement manufacturer.
With just one active ingredient—biotin—plus cellulose fillers and a capsule made out of vegan ingredients, NOW’s biotin supplement is an affordable option at just $0.15 per serving.
At 16,667% of the Daily Value (DV) of biotin per capsule, this supplement is great for people looking for higher doses of the vitamin—typically those wanting additional hair and nail growth support.
However, keep in mind that while taking excessive biotin is not known to cause toxicities, consuming more than the recommended amounts—which is just 30mcg for adults—can cause false results in some lab tests, especially those that are hormone- or thyroid-related.
Best Budget Biotin Supplement: Natrol Biotin Fast Dissolve 5,000 mcg
Pros
Quick-dissolve tablets helpful for people who don’t like taking pills
No water necessary
Strawberry flavor sweetened with xylitol
Affordable
Cons
Not gluten-free
Contains some additives (maltodextrin, natural flavors, modified food starch)
Best for: People looking for a biotin supplement that don’t like taking pills; people looking for a fast-acting and high dose of biotin.
With over 16,000% of the Daily Value for biotin, the Natrol Biotin Fast Dissolve supplement is great for people wanting a high dose of the vitamin.
The Natrol Biotin claims to dissolve up to 30 times faster than competitors, making it a perfect high-dose biotin supplement for people who don’t like taking pills—or don’t like waiting too long for tablets to dissolve.
Plus, it has a xylitol-sweetened strawberry lemonade flavor and doesn’t require any water to take.
Best Hair, Skin, and Nail Biotin Supplement: Garden of Life Vegan Collagen Builder
Pros
Multiple nutrients to stimulate collagen production for hair, skin, and nail growth
Organic food blend and “beauty” antioxidant blend
All vitamins and minerals from whole food ingredients
With over 30 ingredients from organic, whole food sources, this Garden of Life supplement contains nutrients and compounds thought to restore or maintain collagen, keratin, and elastin levels—three proteins that support healthy hair, skin, and nails.
In addition to biotin, some of these ingredients include vitamins A, C, and E, chromium, silica, bamboo extract, pomegranate extract, and green tea.
The myKind Organics line from Garden of Life is the first to utilize Clean Tablet Technology, a patent-pending process thatuses only organic, whole-food ingredients rather than synthetic vitamins and minerals.
Plus, this is the only brand of vitamins currently available that is dual certified, meaning it is both Certified USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified.
Best Biotin Gummy: Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Hair & Skin Gummy Chews
Best for: People who don’t like taking pills; those looking for a biotin gummy without sugar or additives.
With zero sugar and a strawberry lemonade flavor, the Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Hair & Skin Gummy Chews are a perfect choice for people who don’t like taking pills—but don’t want to consume any additives or sugar in their gummy vitamins.
In addition to 10,000% of the DV for biotin, these Nordic Naturals gummies also contain borage seed oil, which is rich in the omega-6 fat GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), which is thought to promote a healthy balance of fats in the skin.
Plus, the gummies are individually sealed in a blister pack, avoiding the annoying issue of gummies getting stuck together in the bottom of the bottle.
However, these gummies are more expensive than most on this list and only 27 (we agree, strange number) servings per container.
Best Biotin Powder: NeoCell Beauty Infusion Collagen Cranberry
Pros
Contains collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and alpha lipoic acid
Best for: People who want their biotin in beverage form; people looking for a pill-free comprehensive skin, hair, and nail formula.
With a refreshing cranberry flavor, the NeoCell Beauty Infusion Collagenis a powdered drink rich in ingredients thought to support hair, skin, and nail health.
In addition to biotin (15,000% of the DV per scoop), this powder contains Type I and III hydrolyzed bovine collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and alpha lipoic acid.
The collagen supports firmer skin and strong nails, hyaluronic acid is thought to increase skin hydration and renewal, and vitamin C and alpha lipoic acid fight against oxidative damage in the skin.
At 10g protein per serving, this is the most hearty biotin supplement on the list—but it’s not inexpensive, setting you back $2.33 per scoop with only 15 servings per container.
Best High-Dose Biotin Supplement: Sports Research Extra Strength Vegan Biotin
Pros
Softgels made with organic coconut oil
Non-GMO Project Verified
Certified Vegan and third-party tested
Cons
Extremely high dose of biotin may cause digestive issues
This supplement has many attributes, including softgels made with organic coconut oil, ample third-party testing, and being Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan.
But these excessive doses of biotin may cause digestive problems in some people—and may not be necessary.
As biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, we don’t store excess amounts in the body—it flushes out through urine.
However, this is a top-rated biotin supplement—having a 4.6 rating with over 91,000 reviewers—and many people report reaping the benefits to their skin, hair, and nails from this supplement.
What Is Biotin?
Biotin is in the B-vitamin family (vitamin B7, or sometimes called vitamin H) and plays an important role in breaking down food for energy and other metabolic processes.
However, biotin is most well-known for its association with hair, skin, and nail health—although this link isn’t entirely well-founded.
While being deficient in biotin can cause hair loss and skin or nail problems, the evidence behind using supplemental biotin for hair or nail growth in non-deficient people is inconclusive.
Some evidence suggests that biotin stimulates keratin protein production and can increase the rate of follicle growth, which would be supportive for hair strength and growth.
In a 2017 review of 18 studies on biotin and hair or nail health, people with biotin deficiency, brittle nail syndrome, or “uncombable hair” saw benefits from biotin supplements, while the healthy population did not.
As you can find biotin in many commonly consumed foods, including meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, spinach, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, many people consume adequate amounts of biotin in their typical diet.
Therefore, biotin deficiency is rare in the United States—although it can cause thinning hair, skin infections, brittle nails, skin rashes, fatigue, and nervous system disorders if it does occur.
However, most biotin supplements contain much more than 30mcg—often reaching or exceeding 5,000-10,000mcg.
Fortunately, there aren’t significant side effects of taking excessive amounts of biotin, and researchers have not set a tolerable upper intake level (UL)—the maximum daily dose that is unlikely to cause adverse effects.
However, excessive doses of biotin can cause inaccurate results in some lab tests, especially in those related to the thyroid hormone, and can sometimes cause digestive upset.
Therefore, it’s important to tell your doctor if you’re taking biotin supplements.
Plus, some people report anecdotally that high doses of biotin cause acne—sometimes the very symptom people are trying to avoid or correct when they take skin, hair, and nail supplements.
This may happen because biotin increases keratin production, and hyperkeratinization is a key element in acne development.
FAQs About Biotin Supplements
Is It Good to Take Biotin Everyday?
If you are deficient in biotin, you could consider taking a biotin supplement—or ensure adequate daily intake of biotin from foods like meat, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds.
It’s typically not harmful to take biotin every day, although excessively high doses (10,000% of the DV or more) can cause digestive problems in some people.
What Kind of Biotin Is Best for Hair Growth?
Although different types of biotin exist in nature and the body—known as stereoisomers, or the same molecule with a different spatial arrangement of atoms—you won’t need to look for different types of biotin in supplements.
Biotin supplements will all contain the same type; differences arise from dosage and form, including capsules, tablets, liquid, powdered, or gummy.
Generally speaking, liquid or dissolving tablets are more quickly absorbed than pills, capsules, or gummies.
How Much Biotin Should I Take Daily for Hair Growth?
Supplements containing at least 500mcg of biotin are typically recommended for hair growth, although there is no solid evidence supporting this claim.
How Long Does It Take for Biotin to Work for Hair Growth?
There is no concrete research on this, but anecdotal reports suggest that some benefits might be seen after 30 days, while other people may take 3-6 months to see hair growth—if at all.
Key Takeaways
Biotin is an essential vitamin commonly used to support hair, skin, and nail health.
People with biotin deficiencies see increases in hair growth and nail strength from taking biotin, although the results in the non-deficient population are inconsistent.
While high doses of biotin are generally safe, excess biotin can cause false lab results, digestive issues, and possible increases in acne.
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