Biotin hair spray has entered the arena, taking social media by storm. With over 571,000 views on TikTok alone, biotin spray is certainly making waves and generating tons of interest in the world of social media. Many individuals who have used biotin sprays claim they have seen great benefits to their hair, like improved length, texture, and shine, but is this true? While biotin is often taken as an oral supplement, what exactly is biotin spray?

Does biotin improve hair quality? Are there any studies that support the use of biotin for hair? Research indicates that biotin may benefit hair growth, strength, and overall quality.

What Is Biotin?

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin belonging to the complex B-vitamin family. Since its discovery in 1927, biotin has proved to be an integral part of nutrition for optimal wellness.

For example, biotin is necessary for a whole host of functions in the body, including metabolizing glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids. Biotin also plays a role in regulating gene expression. Studies also suggest that biotin may even be an important nutrient for maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails.

The human body does not synthesize biotin by itself. This means that biotin must be obtained from synthesis in the intestines by the gut microbiome or via the diet. Foods high in biotin include beef liver, salmon, sunflower seeds, and sweet potatoes.

What Is Biotin Spray?

Biotin spray is a liquid product that contains biotin and is applied topically to the skin of the scalp for hair growth.

Biotin spray often contains other healthy hair-promoting ingredients like collagen and panthenol.

With regular application, biotin spray may help to promote increased hair growth, increase the strength of the hair, and improve overall hair health. 

Biotin Spray Hair Benefits

1. Biotin May Help Promote Healthy Hair Growth

Almost everyone wants a healthy, shiny, full head of hair, although to obtain this many think they have to win the genetic lottery. Since hair growth is often due to a combination of genetic makeup and diet, many individuals who suffer from unhealthy hair may look to biotin spray for some relief.

Hair growth commonly occurs in 3 cycles: anagen, catagen, and telogen phases.

  • The anagen phase is when hair growth occurs and can last for as long as five years. Studies suggest that up to 90% of the hair on the head is in this phase at any given time. After the anagen phase is the catagen phase.
  • The catagen phase involves a transition from the hair growing to a resting phase. In this stage, the hair is cut off from its blood supply in preparation to fall out. The catagen phase can last up to 6 weeks.
  • The final stage of the hair growth cycle is the telogen phase. In the telogen phase, the hair sheds from its follicle and falls out of the scalp. The telogen phase often lasts between 3 to 5 months.

Studies suggest that biotin may help to promote healthy hair growth, especially by affecting the anagen phase of hair growth.

Biotin deficiency, although considered rare, may also contribute to hair loss. One study done by the Centers for Dermatology and Hair Diseases measured the levels of biotin in the serum of women who came to the clinic for treatment of hair loss.

The study found that 38% of the women experiencing hair loss were deficient in biotin. Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study focused on the effects of a supplement that contained biotin as well as ashwagandha and curcumin for hair growth. The study followed 40 women for 6 months and found that the women in the treatment group reported a significant increase in both hair growth and hair quality.

Another quasi-experimental study found unexpected results when it focused on the effects of biotin in individuals taking isotretinoin for acne. A quasi-experimental study is a study that separates participants into groups to understand the effects of a certain intervention, but no randomization occurs, and there may not be any blinding of the researchers or participants. The study involved 60 participants divided into 2 groups. One group just took isotretinoin, while another group supplemented with both isotretinoin and biotin. The group that was supplemented with biotin reported better skin hydration and longer anagen hair growth times than the isotretinoin-only group.

2. Biotin Spray May Prevent Hair Loss

Biotin spray may help promote stronger hair by possibly preventing hair. Biotin is a necessary part of the production of keratin. Keratin is a protein that helps to form the nails, outer layer of skin, and hair. Interestingly, one study found that biotin use helped to improve hair health over keratin supplementation.

The randomized clinical trial involved 120 female participants ranging from the ages of 18 to 60 years old. Each participant had been diagnosed with telegenic effluvium and had struggled with the condition for at least 6 months.

Telogen effluvium is a condition in which the hair excessively sheds from the head. This can be due to stress, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, or even from taking certain medications.

The study focused on the effects of hair, skin, and nail supplements on telogen effluvium. The women were separated into 2 groups. One group was supplemented with keratin, calcium, and thiamine. The other group was supplemented with biotin, collagen, iron, zinc, and a multivitamin. After 6 months, the study found that the biotin group had a significant improvement in the amount of hair loss, hair density over the scalp, and hair volume. The study even found that those in the biotin group had stronger and shinier hair than those in the keratin group.

3. Biotin Spray May Help Improve Hair Quality

With many manufacturers specifically formulating biotin sprays to include other healthy hair-promoting ingredients, the time to see healthy hair benefits may be significantly decreased.

For example, many biotin sprays include healthy oils like coconut oil or olive oil, which may help moisturize and nourish the scalp. Other biotin sprays may include soothing ingredients like mint or rosemary, which may help to stimulate blood flow to the scalp.

Increasing the blood flow to the scalp may increase the speed of hair growth while also improving the strength and quality of the hair.

Since biotin spray is formulated to be used directly on the scalp, it may allow for the penetration of the vitamin into hair follicles deeper and more readily than an oral supplement to help improve hair quality. For example, taking a biotin supplement orally may help to increase hair growth and improve hair quality but it may take a few months to see results.

Using a biotin spray may result in seeing improvements in hair quality in a shorter amount of time.

4. Biotin Spray May Offer More Convenience

For some individuals, it may be hard to remember to take a daily multivitamin or supplement. For others, taking supplements may not be feasible due to a tight or hectic routine.

Using a biotin spray may circumvent these situations. This is because using a biotin spray is as easy as applying the product to the scalp and styling the hair.

Making biotin spray a part of a normal morning hair styling routine may be easier than trying to remember to take an oral biotin supplement or squeeze in the time to take one.

Can Biotin Be Absorbed Through the Skin?

Since oral biotin supplementation is the most common way to take biotin, there may be a concern that the topical use of biotin by way of a biotin spray may not be effective. Studies suggest that biotin can be effectively absorbed through the skin.

One quasi-experimental study focused on the efficacy of the absorption of a biotin ointment on both healthy individuals and individuals suffering from atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is a condition marked by itchy, dry, red, and inflamed skin. While it is commonly found in children, anyone can suffer from atopic dermatitis.

The study found that both those suffering from atopic dermatitis and those with healthy skin who used a topical biotin ointment had higher levels of biotin in their serum than at the beginning of the study. This indicates that the topical biotin application was able to cross the skin barrier and enter into the blood.

Biotin spray is a viral cosmetic product that may promote longer, stronger, shinier, and healthier hair. Biotin spray may promote healthy hair, prevent hair loss, increase hair quality, and even offer a greater sense of convenience for those seeking to improve their hair quality. Making biotin spray a part of a healthy hair routine may improve overall hair health for years to come.

References:

  1. Ablon G., Kogan S. (2018). A six-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of a nutraceutical supplement for promoting hair growth in women with self-perceived thinning hair. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 17(5), 558–565.
  2. Aksac S. E., Bilgili S. G., Yavuz G. O., Yavuz I. H., Aksac M., Karadag A. S. (2021). Evaluation of biophysical skin parameters and hair changes in patients with acne vulgaris treated with isotretinoin, and the effect of biotin use on these parameters. International Journal of Dermatology, 60(8), 980–985. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.15485
  3. Asghar F, Shamim N, Farooque U, Sheikh H, Aqeel R. Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Literature. Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8320. Published 2020 May 27. doi:10.7759/cureus.8320
  4. Makino Y, Osada K, Sone H, et al. Percutaneous absorption of biotin in healthy subjects and in atopic dermatitis patients. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1999;45(3):347-352. doi:10.3177/jnsv.45.347
  5. Sant'Anna Addor FA, Donato LC, Melo CSA. Comparative evaluation between two nutritional supplements in the improvement of telogen effluvium. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018;11:431-436. Published 2018 Sep 10. doi:10.2147/CCID.S173082
  6. Trüeb RM. Serum Biotin Levels in Women Complaining of Hair Loss. Int J Trichology. 2016;8(2):73-77. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.188040
  7. Zempleni J, Wijeratne SS, Hassan YI. Biotin. Biofactors. 2009;35(1):36-46. doi:10.1002/biof.8