I have decided to start using biotin (which is a b vitamin) to try and grow my hair faster.  My hair is currently in a mid range phase and I'm getting annoyed by how long it's taking to get long.  I have heard plenty of anecdotal evidence that claims biotin can help speed hair growth, but I don't know if that's just the impact of effective marketing tricking people into thinking it works.  I imagine any effects it has is much smaller than the typical hype.  Still, I want to give it a shot.  So, has anyone tried it?  If so, do you feel it worked? 

Thanks.

I've tried it - it helps but only slighty.

On its own its kinda useless but it does help a little, with the skin, nails and the hair.

Havent tried it in a while since starting HRT. Maybe combined with HRT it might be more effective?

But I dunno I don't have the money to spend on meds apart from my HRT so it might take some time before I know for myself...
Sorry to bounce the question but has anyone tried it along with HRT?

I take a 1,000 mcg biotin pill every day. Can't hurt, not sure if it works. My nails grow long and strong, my hair has always grown like weeds. (For clarity, not my hair in the avatar)

What's good for changing a male hairline, HRT? Or is there another method?  I'd like something to do both, change my hairline AND increase the growth rate. I have naturally curly hair and it sucks.

When I was taking 5,000mcg of Biotin, I didn't notice a huge difference with my hair, but my nails became DIAMONDS - when I tried cutting them (around 1" long by then), they broke my clippers right in half!  I tried upping my dosage to 7,500mcg to see what kind of effect it would have, and I ended up shedding hair like crazy.  Seriously, I thought I was balding!  I'd be untangling, notice a few loose hairs, and BAM!  Thirty hairs sitting in my hand.  Scary stuff 

As with anything medical, YMMV.  I can say it does wonders for developing lovely nails, though!

So i asked my sister who is a cosmetologist, and yes Biotin will help.....but you have to get a dose of at least 5,000mcg and you have to take them twice a day. I have found since it helps your body process protein more efficiently sadly if your vegetarian or vegan the plant based proteins won't be enough. If your  normal person and eat meat, take the biotin either before or after meals and you will see results. My results were so phenomenal i had to stop taking it because when i was working i couldn't afford to constantly be coloring my hair because of how fast it was growing.

I usually took mine with breakfast and dinner just cuz it was easier and i didn't have to explain what i was taking to my boss (i used to work in factories so safety was a major concern.)

I hope in the end the 10,000mcg helps you out like it helped me.

Quote from: kariann330 on May 12, 2013, 05:22:09 PM
So i asked my sister who is a cosmetologist, and yes Biotin will help.....but you have to get a dose of at least 5,000mcg and you have to take them twice a day. I have found since it helps your body process protein more efficiently sadly if your vegetarian or vegan the plant based proteins won't be enough. If your  normal person and eat meat, take the biotin either before or after meals and you will see results. My results were so phenomenal i had to stop taking it because when i was working i couldn't afford to constantly be coloring my hair because of how fast it was growing.

I usually took mine with breakfast and dinner just cuz it was easier and i didn't have to explain what i was taking to my boss (i used to work in factories so safety was a major concern.)

I hope in the end the 10,000mcg helps you out like it helped me.

Well, I am a vegetarian and there is no way I can eat meat.  The thought of doing so again would be too difficult for me as it has been years.  Is there any particular reason why the protein source matters?  I can't see why it would be too problematic as long as I also make sure my other b vitamin levels are sufficient.  Well, I will try anyway.  I just bought some 5,000 mcg pills, so maybe I will try taking two a day.

Quote from: learningtolive on May 12, 2013, 06:21:37 PM
Well, I am a vegetarian and there is no way I can eat meat.  The thought of doing so again would be too difficult for me as it has been years.  Is there any particular reason why the protein source matters?  I can't see why it would be too problematic as long as I also make sure my other b vitamin levels are sufficient.  Well, I will try anyway.  I just bought some 5,000 mcg pills, so maybe I will try taking two a day.

As long as your diet provides you all of the essential amino acids, the actual source of protein should not make any difference. If you are including eggs and / or milk products in your diet (which I assume you are, as a vegetarian), then you're getting everything anyway.

Quote from: Theo on May 12, 2013, 06:26:18 PM
As long as your diet provides you all of the essential amino acids, the actual source of protein should not make any difference. If you are including eggs and / or milk products in your diet (which I assume you are, as a vegetarian), then you're getting everything anyway.

Well, I try to be as vegan as possible.  I really avoid eggs and milk as much as I can.  I am a bit of an animal rights hippie,lol.  Still, I do cheat and don't fully commit to the vegan lifestyle.  So, you can call me a vegatarian if that makes sense. 

Nonetheless, I do my best to get protein so I guess it isn't an issue.

I'm in the process of trying it right now. I've been using it for about 2 weeks and haven't noticed much yet. I take one 10,000 mcg pill every morning right after breakfast.

I have been taking them for almost two months, to me it seems like my hair is growing slightly faster. but that is everywhere on the body. That means I have to shave more often.

Quote from: learningtolive on May 12, 2013, 02:26:49 PM
I have decided to start using biotin (which is a b vitamin) to try and grow my hair faster.  My hair is currently in a mid range phase and I'm getting annoyed by how long it's taking to get long.  I have heard plenty of anecdotal evidence that claims biotin can help speed hair growth, but I don't know if that's just the impact of effective marketing tricking people into thinking it works.  I imagine any effects it has is much smaller than the typical hype.  Still, I want to give it a shot.  So, has anyone tried it?  If so, do you feel it worked? 

Thanks.

I currently use a supplement called "Viviscal," which contains Biotin as part of its formulation.

Vitamin C - 59 mg
Niacin - 12 mg
Biotin - 120 mcg
Iron - 10 mg
Zinc - 11 mg
AminoMar Marine Complex - 450 mg
Horsetail (stem) extract - 36.7 mg
Millet seed extract - 7.5 mg

"AminoMar Marine Complex" is derived from shark and molluscs

I tried it and stopped immediately when I noticed body hair growing in areas I never had body hair before, I noticed my  thin little blonde hairs on my body turning darker. I was never a hairy person and I wasn't going to start now. Just be careful and know you have been warned. You will Probably be shaving more too

Quote from: learningtolive on May 12, 2013, 06:21:37 PM
Well, I am a vegetarian and there is no way I can eat meat.  The thought of doing so again would be too difficult for me as it has been years.  Is there any particular reason why the protein source matters?  I can't see why it would be too problematic as long as I also make sure my other b vitamin levels are sufficient.  Well, I will try anyway.  I just bought some 5,000 mcg pills, so maybe I will try taking two a day.

Nuts, yogurt, and beans are great sources of protein for us non-carnivores. 

Quote from: kasihnya on May 12, 2013, 11:39:43 PM
I have been taking them for almost two months, to me it seems like my hair is growing slightly faster. but that is everywhere on the body. That means I have to shave more often.

Quote from: Yennifer on May 13, 2013, 10:50:32 AM
I tried it and stopped immediately when I noticed body hair growing in areas I never had body hair before, I noticed my  thin little blonde hairs on my body turning darker. I was never a hairy person and I wasn't going to start now. Just be careful and know you have been warned. You will Probably be shaving more too

This does not bode too well then.  I guess I will use this for the short term and stop once I am happy with the progress.  Body hair has always been one of the worst parts of my body dysphoria. 

Quote from: JennX on May 13, 2013, 10:59:42 AM
Nuts, yogurt, and beans are great sources of protein for us non-carnivores. 

Yay, another vegetarian girl on the board

Protein from soya beans is the most complete and closest to animal protein. That's why tofu is pretty good for it.

I thought about going vegetarian, but to get enough Omega 3 fat in my diet I need to eat oily fish. Omega 3 from just vegetables won't convert to enough of the quality you need.

I'm very late to this Biotin party, but I wanted to say that I started taking a hair and nail supplement that contains Biotin at the beginning of Dec. In Aug, about 12 months into hrt I noticed that my hair started shedding. My T and E levels were fine, and I was considering going on Finasteride. About 10 days to two weeks into taking the supplement, I noticed that my hair loss was appreciably slowing. Now, it seems to have stopped altogether. It could be coincidence. I had just separated from my spouse in Aug., and stress might have caused the hair loss. But I'm not going to stop taking the supplement anytime soon.

I'm not sure if it will help with regrowth, but not shedding will give cycling hair a chance to catch up.

Oh, and I'm only taking 2000 mcg a day. I only take 2/3 the recommended dose.

In Belgium, we sell a product rich in vitamin B. it will appeal to beer yeast. It is made with yeast Trappist Chimay. I do not know if we can get them out of belgium and it is used from mother to daughter for many years.

Wow, weird to see this thread return, lol.  In any case, I've been taking biotin since the initial post.   My hair has grown in substantially (shoulder length at this point) which makes it much easier to style.  Unfortunately, I need to straighten and blowdry my hair almost everyday.  The only downside to biotin is that I've seen body hair grow back quicker, but this was tempered by hrt and no longer an issue.  At the time of this post, I wasn't on hormones (just in case I mentioned any of that before).  So weird to revisit the past, lol. 

Hi, I was just researching and wanted to post the (so-far) success. I haven't had increased body hair yet. But if I do, that can be zapped or shaved (unless it's really bad). I didn't quite think my little success was worth a new thread, although the original post about hair regrowth certainly is!