biotin
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How Biotin boosts hair growth

How Biotin boosts hair growth

Biotin is a water soluble B Vitamin, also known as vitamin H and has been the buzzword in the hair and beauty industry for years, albeit without any clinical proof of its actual ability to reduce hair loss.  So today, let’s unpack the actual benefits of Biotin and how it assists you achieve your long hair goals.  Shall we?

What slows down hair growth

Keratin production is a natural process in the body.  As babies, our keratin production was incredibly fast and had your poor parents precariously and tentatively snipping away at your little nails almost every day. 

 

As we get older, this process slows down, and some of those on chronic medications would tell you their nails and hair have stopped growing altogether!  There is a link there, and a very simple summary which is; keratin production slows down due to age, diet and medication.

 

So diet and medication factors are pretty straight forward and can be reversed, but the elephant in the room is; age.  Is it possible to speed up hair growth as we get older, and if so, how?  Let’s take a closer look, metaphorically if you will.

 

Think of a brick layer who is building a house with a pile of bricks (keratin).  Our brick layer specifically wants to use these bricks to create a chimney (aka a strand of hair), but close by there is another builder who needs bricks to build a perimeter wall (strengthening your immune system) and is helping himself to the same pile of bricks.  The builder who is putting up the defence wall is regarded far more important than the little chimney man, and therefore has full priority on the few bricks available. No bricks, no building.  

 

But when you supplement vitamins, minerals and aminos that your body needs for faster hair growth; imagine a truck delivering more bricks to both builders so that they can happily work alongside each other to finish their building projects simultaneously.

 

So what does this have to do with hair growth and will your age affect this process?  The short answer is; your hair will grow regardless of your age, but if you don’t have sufficient nutrients and vitamins needed, then the building process stops altogether.  It is important to understand that giving your body a healthy dose of all the materials it needs (Biotin being one of them) will result in your body producing hair at its fastest rate.

 

Wait! Wait! Before you rush off to buy 3000mcg of Biotin, we must talk about the actual role of Biotin in the keratin production process to fully understand Biotin’s role in this scenario.

Biotin's role in hair growth

Biotin’s role in speeding up keratin production is linked to its ability to break down amino acids (protein synthesis) causing your cells to create new proteins (aka keratin production).  This is extremely important especially when we consider that over 80% of our hair is made up of protein keratin.

 

But let’s circle back for a second; Biotin breaks down amino acids causing your cells to create keratin.  That means that high levels of Biotin is almost irrelevant if your body doesn’t have a surplus of amino acids to be broken down into keratin by Biotin.  Understanding this bursts the Biotin bubble and helps us understand the importance of adopting a more holistic approach to hair growth.

 

So the summary is that we need to eat (or supplement) amino rich foods in with Biotin in order to speed up keratin production in the body. 

Biotin and amino rich foods

biotin-rich-foods

Foods that are rich in Biotin and aminos include beef liver, chicken liver, eggs, peanuts, seeds, nuts, fish and bone meat (ox tail).  For those following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, there are plenty of food sources that are rich in Biotin and protein including soy, quinoa, chia seeds (a complete protein containing all 9 essential amino’s) and cottage cheese to mention just a few options.

 

Here are some examples of Biotin rich foods;

Screenshot-2021-02-10-at-15.52.00

Image from Wikipedia

Biotin and amino rich products

capsules

Let’s take a closer look at the Quick Grow range and how they work together to assist your body produce hair at its fastest rate.

Advanced Amino Capsules

Quick Grow Advanced Amino Capsules contain a proprietary blend of aminos, vitamins and minerals that work together to assist the body and follicles to produce keratin at its fastest rate and supports stronger, healthier hair, skin and nails from the inside out.

 

Key Ingredients:

  • Biotin
  • Folic Acid
  • Inositol
  • Ginseng
  • Grape Seed Extract
  • Horsetail Silica
  • All 9 essential amino acids
  • 18 amino acids
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Iron
  • Manganese 
  • Iron
  • Selenium
  • Vit C
  • Vit B6

Advanced Amino Shampoos and Conditioners

Shampoo and Conditioner key ingredients:

  • Advanced Amino Complex
  • Biotin
  • Horsetail silica
  • Ginseng
  • PCAs (conditioning agent)

These products are:

  • Sulphate free
  • Sodium Chloride free
  • Not tested on animals
  • Packaged from responsibly sourced materials
  • Recyclable packaging

Safe to use on children from the age of 2 years. Avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with cool water.

Advanced Amino Hair Shake

Our NEW delicious Strawberry Hair Shake is packed with powerful amino’s, vitamins and minerals that your hair LOVES!  

Key Ingredients:

  • Vit B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 B9 and B12
  • Vit A, C, D3 and E
  • Choline
  • Inositol
  • Selenium
  • Zinc
  • Calcium
  • Potassium
  • All 18 amino’s
  • All 9 essential amino acids
  • Omega 3
  • Co-Enzyme Q10

These products are:

  • Sugar free
  • Gluten free
  • Low Calorie
  • Contains MCT Oil
  • Diabetic safe
  • KETO safe

Suitable for all ages, but always consult with a medical practitioner.

Summary

Biotin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of proteins, but does not act as a stand alone solution to faster growing hair. A combination of amino's, minerals and vitamins in a holistic approach will assist the body in producing faster growing hair. this unique blend is found in our entire range of Quick Grow products, and formulated by our resident Tricholgist.

8-aminos-that-boost-hair-growth
CategoriesExpert Advice by

How to grow your hair faster

Aminos that boost hair growth

Your body uses amino’s for thousands of functions, but in this article we are going to focus on how your body converts amino’s into keratin.  There are 21 amino’s, 9 of which are known as essential which means they cannot be synthesised from food and must be supplemented to assist in faster growing hair. 

What slows down hair growth?

 

As we get older we tend to eat less nutritious foods or unbalanced diets or we experience stress and take medications, and every time we do any of these things we strip the body of amino’s.  Picture a tall glass of water (the water representing your amino levels within your body), and now picture the water levels lowering.

 

Additionally, most women who have children often don’t take post-natal supplements, get very little sleep and also eat very poorly for the first 2 years after giving birth, and as a result see a visible difference in their hair, skin and nails. 

Collagen and hair growth explained

It is usually at this point that we rush to the nearest pharmacy and grab a tub of collagen and 1500mcg jar of Biotin which are both great, but no matter how many thousands of milligrams of Biotin and collagen you take, if you don’t adopt a holistic approach including supplementing specific minerals to assist in the breaking down and synthesising of collagen; we are back where we started.  

 

Collagen contains 19 amino acids, with a particularly high content of hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline. The abundance of hydroxyproline is noteworthy because this amino acid isn’t found in other proteins.  However, collagen has long been considered an inferior protein because it lacks tryptophan, one of the nine essential amino acids.  In order for collagen to work in the body, you would also need to supplement tryptophan to help your body break this amino down.

 

The body can’t absorb collagen in whole form; rather, the protein must be broken down (this is the role of Biotin) before it can be converted into keratin. And to increase collagen’s bioavailability, collagen supplements typically are hydrolysed, meaning that collagen’s long amino acid chains are broken down via a chemical or enzymatic process into peptides resulting in just two or three amino acids strung together.

 

Additionally, when we supplement collagen it doesn’t mean the body is going to use it for your hair, skin and nails either.  Collagen (aka incomplete proteins and aminos that the body must still break down) are used for a wide array of functions in the body, and the body will always prioritise health and cellular functionality over wrinkle reduction longer hair.

It is also very important to note that specific minerals such as Vitamin B, C, D and E as well as minerals such as copper, potassium, zinc and magnesium are vital in the synthesising (breaking down) of amino’s in the body. 

A prescriptive approach to hair growth

trichologist-prescription

A trichologist is a hair specialist who understands the symbiotic holistic nature of hair growth through internal supplementation, topical solutions and healthy lifestyle habits.  A trichologist will carefully select a unique blend of vitamins, minerals and amino’s that work together to boost hair growth and prescribe this to his or her patients along with topical solutions and lifestyle recommendations. 

 

Quick Grow is a specialised range of products that have been formulated by a trichologist to achieve a daily prescriptive dose of vitamins, minerals and amino’s delivered orally and topically that work together to increase keratin production.

 

When our ‘metaphoric’ glass is full, your body achieves what we refer to as an excess of amino’s, which your body is happy to use for non-essential functions such as hair, skin and nail production. 

Our entire brand ethos is based on this holistic approach and built on the understanding that when a healthy environment is created on the scalp, and a surplus of carefully selected amino’s, vitamins and minerals are supplemented, up to 3 times faster growing hair is achieved (our recorded average).

Here are the 8 Aminos that are directly linked to increased hair growth speed

 

Here are the 8 amino’s that are directly linked to improving and speeding up hair growth;

  • Cysteine
  • Cystine
  • Methionine
  • Lysine
  • Glysine
  • Tyrosine
  • Glutamine
  • Proline

L-CYSTEINE

A German research study from 2000 examined the role of L-cysteine in hair loss and hair regrowth. Dermatologists linked L-cysteine to promotion of natural hair growth and hair regeneration. So there you have it; L-cysteine benefits are in fact crucial for a healthy growth and for strong and healthy hair.

METHIONINE

To manufacture keratin in the hair shaft, you need the sulfur. And methionine is one of four amino acids that contain sulfur (L-Cysteine being the other one). Methionine is also one of only three amino acids that help your body to build creatine, a protein that is necessary for your muscle growth and energy.

L-LYSINE

L-lysine is also present in the hair’s root, and it is responsible for the shape and volume of the hair. An L-lysine deficiency can cause hair loss, but getting enough of this amino acid can prevent this issue and promote regular hair growth. People can take L-lysine supplements.

METHIONINE

L-Tyrosine aids in the production of melanin, which is the pigment that gives us are skin and hair color and it acts as a mild antioxidant. It has been known to reverse graying of the hair. It is also needed for the healthy functioning of the adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary glands.  

PROLINE & GLYSINE

Glycine supports hair growth and hair health, as it plays a major role in Keratin metabolism and is a major component of collagen. Proline is formed in the body from L-Glutamate and is mainly present in meat and dairy products. Proline deficiency can cause brittle, dry hair and hair loss.

GLUTAMINE

With regard to our hair, glutamine is important for supplying the hair follicles with energy and sulphur for strong growth. Tyrosine has a direct effect on hair within the amino acid metabolism. The acid promotes the formation of Melanin, which is responsible for the pigmentation and thus the colour of the hair.

Amino rich Quick Grow products

Summary

Aminos are the building blocks of hair, skin and nail as well as the body and its functions. Your body will always prioritise healing and repair over longer hair. That is why it is important to achieve an abundance of amino's in the body, and to teach the body to better absorb and utilise these building blocks by supplementing a prescriptive blend of vitamins and minerals that assist in synthesis and optimal absorption and utilisation of vitamins and aminos. Our entire product range is formulated by a Trichologist and specifically designed to assist in replenishing and abundance of aminos, vitamins and minerals that work together to produce hair skin and nails at its fastest rate.