If you’re into haircare, chances are you’ve seen two words before biotin and keratin. Both of these ingredients are in almost every product that has to do with growing thicker, stronger hair.

For instance, you can take vitamins specifically marketed for luscious hair, and we can almost guarantee they’ll contain biotin and/or keratin.

You’ve probably also seen shampoo that advertises straight on the bottle that their product is chock-full of biotin and keratin.

But what happens if you take biotin and keratin together? Do they help or harm your hair?

In this article, we’ll go over some of the biotin plus keratin benefits, and why you should combine the two for luscious hair and nails.

What is Biotin?

Before we go any further, we should explain what biotin and keratin are on their own.

First and foremost, biotin is a vitamin that is less commonly known as vitamin B7. If you take a B-complex, it most likely will include biotin in it. Biotin itself helps the body break down fats. It can also help the body break down carbohydrates.

If you have low biotin levels, you’ll likely know by your brittle nails and dull hair. Therefore, taking biotin is thought to help you grow thicker and stronger nails, as well as thicker and stronger hair.

You can take biotin as a supplement, but it is also found in eggs, bananas, and milk.

Keratin

Keratin is not a vitamin, but a protein that exists in your body. It also exists in the bodies of animals, and scientists have found that bird feathers and animal horns are often derived from the same substance.

The protein itself is what your hair, skin, and nails are made of, which is why keratin is thought to help your hair and nails look and feel stronger. Your body also creates keratin to protect your organs and glands. As this substance is protective, it means it doesn’t scratch as easily as many other cells in the body.

You can take keratin as a supplement, but it can also help tame frizz and helps smooth the cells that overlap your hair.

Taking Biotin Plus Keratin Benefits

While we know there are benefits to both of these vitamins on their own, is there any benefit to taking them together?

Yes! Both the vitamin and protein help create strong hair and nails, meaning that taking them together will only make them look and feel stronger than ever.

Let’s go over some of the benefits of using both of them together.

1. It Can Help with Hair Loss

Some data supports that taking biotin and keratin, in addition to creams provided by your doctor, can help curtail hair loss or thinning hair. This is, of course, if your doctor cannot find another underlying cause for it, such as an illness or alopecia.

2. Biotin Improves Keratin

Yes, you read that correctly.

Biotin itself helps improve the keratin infrastructure in your body, making it even stronger and impenetrable. If your hair is feeling limp or difficult to tame, using the supplements together can help build up the keratin in your body to make it more difficult to penetrate the cells of the hair. Thus, it will become more difficult for the hair to break.

With strong hair, your hair is more likely to grow rather than snap off (as can happen if you bleach your hair often, or you’re devoid of certain vitamins and minerals). As such, you’ll reach your hair goals much more quickly than you would without combining the two.

3. Helps Hair Stay on the Scalp

How often have you combed or brushed your hair, only to find a handful of it falling out onto your comb or brush? For most women, this is a relatively common occurrence, and most women will have a few pieces of hair left on their brushes after combing their hair. But, the weaker the hair, the more likely your hair will come out at the root when brushing it, which can lead to thinning of the hair.

According to a 2014 study, women between the ages of 40 and 70 who took keratin supplements in addition to B-complex vitamins found that their hair was 47% more likely to stay on their heads when brushing. It was also less likely to come out of their scalp when their hair is pulled.

4. Improves Your Nails

Brittle nails can not only be unsightly, but they can also break off easily and make it difficult to perform daily tasks. For example, with brittle nails, you may find them breaking off when you scratch yourself or when you attempt to open a bottle or a can.

In the same 2014 study referenced above, the women found a 50% improvement in the hardness of their nails, which speaks volumes.

Harder nails can also mean that your nails will grow longer, as there is less of an opportunity for them to break off during your regular workday.

Taking Biotin and Keratin Together

After you’ve read the biotin plus keratin benefits, you may be interested in purchasing a supplement that can help you achieve your gorgeous hair, skin and nail goals.

Currently, Patch MD sells a Biotin Plus patch that can help you achieve gorgeous nails and hair. Simply put your patch on as instructed, and let your skin absorb the necessary nutrients to help you get a mane to rival Rapunzel’s luscious and envious locks.

Other Resources: