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Hair Care, simply explained
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is used as a conditioning ingredient in shampoo and haircare. Here’s what it does in a formula and how to choose a product for your scalp and lengths.
Biotin is used as a hair-conditioning ingredient in shampoos, treatments and styling products. Look for a formula made for your hair type and the finish you enjoy.
Biotin is also used to condition skin, which is why it can appear in products designed for the scalp as well as the hair lengths.
Biotin is vitamin B7, one of the water-soluble B vitamins. It is found in foods and helps the body use carbohydrates, fats and proteins. That nutritional role explains why biotin is widely associated with hair, but a vitamin in your diet and an ingredient applied to your hair have different jobs.
In cosmetics, biotin is used as a hair- and skin-conditioning ingredient. You may find it in shampoo, conditioner or a leave-on scalp product as part of a blend with cleansing agents and other conditioners. Biotin is a small vitamin molecule, unlike keratin, the structural protein that makes up much of a hair strand. A biotin shampoo is therefore vitamin-containing haircare, rather than a protein treatment or a dietary supplement.
On the ingredient list: Biotin.
Also known as: Vitamin B7.
Choose your shampoo for your scalp: how oily it gets, how often you wash and the cleansing feel you prefer.
Massage shampoo gently into wet scalp, then rinse well. Let the lather travel through your lengths.
Follow with conditioner where your hair needs it. Fine hair often needs care mainly at the ends; dry or curly lengths may enjoy more.
Use a scalp serum or leave-in only as directed. Keep detangling gentle and use lower heat when styling.
Build around the basics: a shampoo for your scalp and a conditioner for your lengths.
A conditioning protein found in products for the feel of dry or damaged lengths.
Often included in moisturizing hair and scalp formulas.
Choose one for your hair type to make detangling and styling easier.
Biotin helps the body turn food into usable energy. Most people get enough from their diet. In haircare, the useful distinction is simple: a conditioning product cares for the hair you can see and touch.
Dermatologists recommend choosing shampoo for your scalp and conditioning your lengths after washing. Gentle cleansing, slip for detangling and careful styling all help make hair easier to look after.
Biotin shampoo is best chosen for cleansing and conditioning. It is not an established hair-growth treatment. If growth or shedding is your main concern, a dermatologist can help you choose a treatment for the cause.
Choose your washing schedule around your scalp and the product's directions. An oily scalp may need more frequent washing than dry, curly or textured hair.
No. Biotin is a vitamin; keratin is a protein. Hydrolyzed keratin is broken into smaller pieces for use in conditioning hair products.
Cosmetic conditioning is the basis of this guide. Research on high-dose supplements or specialized scalp serums does not establish hair regrowth from ordinary shampoo.
2023-12 · DOI 10.1177/10915818231204258
An updated cosmetic safety assessment covering biotin's use in hair and skin products.
2025-05-26 · DOI 10.1002/hsr2.70862
A 22-person study of a specialized encapsulated biotin serum had no comparison group. It is not evidence for a hair-growth claim about ordinary shampoo.
2024-08-12
Dermatologist advice on choosing shampoo for your scalp, conditioning your lengths and handling wet hair gently.
Accessed 2026-09-17
Hair-loss patterns can have different causes; supports seeking diagnosis rather than relying on a conditioning shampoo.
Usually, yes. Shampoo cleanses, while conditioner helps detangle and care for your lengths. Choose a lightweight or richer conditioner to suit your hair.
No. Shampoo is a topical wash-off product. Supplements are swallowed and have different uses and precautions. Tell your clinician if you take biotin supplements, because they can affect some blood-test results.
Yes. You may see Biotin in facial products for its skin-conditioning role. Follow the directions for that product rather than using haircare on your face.
Accessed 2026-09-18
Identifies vitamin B7 as biotin; used for the familiar vitamin name only.
2021-01-15
Explains dietary biotin, the limited evidence for beauty supplements and their potential to interfere with some laboratory tests.
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