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And why the ingredient is so complicated.

Take it from someone who has tried every biotin supplement and hair serum and didn't see noticeable hair growth until I started using minoxidil (that's a story for another day): Biotin is not the magic hair-growth ingredient it's touted to be, especially in biotin shampoos. Can it do great things for your hair? Sure, particularly if you're deficient in biotin. But is it the only ingredient to seek out in your haircare products? Nope—and if you were to only base your choices on biotin, you'd miss out on all the other hair oils and ingredients that are proven to do wonders for your hair.

So if you're looking to buy a biotin shampoo, all I'm saying is find a formula that's got a bunch of other hero ingredients to give your hair all the nutrients it needs. For some advice on how to choose the best biotin shampoo, followed by a convenient lil' shopping guide of the best products to try, scroll on.

Biotin might not do all that people claim, but that doesn't mean it's bad, either. “Biotin is a B vitamin, specifically B7, and all B vitamins—especially biotin—are believed to be important for healthy hair growth,” says Gretchen Friese, a certified BosleyMD trichologist. Why? Because B vitamins encourage keratin production in hair, Friese continues.

Soooo about that. You'll find a lot of thickening shampoos for fine hair are also biotin shampoos, but biotin doesn't really deserve all the credit it gets. “Though some studies have shown that topical biotin helps encourage hair growth and health, it has not been clinically proven,” Friese says. That doesn't mean that these shampoos are a total waste, though. You could use one of these and notice thicker-looking, voluminous hair, but it could be thanks to all the other ingredients in the formula, too (more on those below).

Biotin is a start, but there's more to it than just that. Friese says that biotin could potentially help nourish the hair follicle, but also points to other studied ingredients that may help prevent hair loss and help keep a healthy scalp environment for hair to grow, including niacin, zinc, iron, B-12, rosemary extract, saw palmetto, caffeine, pumpkin seed extract, and panthenol, to name a few.

That said, manage your expectations and know that you won't see results overnight. If you're looking for hair growth, Friese says, “The only clinically proven ingredient to regrow hair is minoxidil.” And Dominic Burg, trichologist and chief scientist at Evolis Professional, previously told Cosmo that even hair-loss treatments that actually work take time, so you usually won’t see results for three to four months. But since you'll likely need to wash your hair during those few months while you wait, you might as well use one of these biotin shampoos in the meantime, right?

Which brings us to the full breakdown on the 13 best biotin shampoos to try today. Keep scrollin' for the goods.

For those with hair-loss concerns, Friese would “encourage them to use a shampoo/conditioner that contains biotin along with a leave-in treatment,” and recommends trying this trio set. Between the Nourishing Shampoo, Volumizing Conditioner, and Thickening Treatment, your hair and scalp will reap all the healthy-hair benefits from ingredients like biotin, saw palmetto, panthenol, pumpkin seed extract, and rosemary extract.

Wonder why the number 14 is in the name? Because that's the amount of active ingredients packed into this biotin shampoo formula for a moisturized, exfoliated, happy little scalp. In addition to biotin, it's got salicylic acid and zinc pyrithione to address psoriasis and dandruff, panthenol to soothe and moisturize, niacinamide to nourish.

It's a battle of the hair-health buzzwords with this formula, like hydrolyzed wheat protein, collagen, and of course, biotin. This sulfate-free shampoo gently rinses away all the dirt, grime, and buildup that makes your hair look flat and lifeless, and you'll love how light and bouncy your hair feels after a wash.

If you have fragile hair and tend to stick to silicone-free shampoo (smart), grab yourself a bottle of this biotin shampoo with added collagen and coffee to make your hair look thicker. Fun fact: Caffeine encourages your hair to grow, too, so it's worth a shot (of espresso? Nvm.)

With the antifungal and antibacterial properties of tea tree oil combined with the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of aloe vera, you already know this shampoo is a dream for happy scalps, and that's just the start. This biotin shampoo also contains rosemary, which BTW is shown to be as effective for hair growth as minoxidil, and moisturizing panthenol.

Got thin hair? This biotin shampoo with zinc PCA (which balances the scalp) will give hair that extra oompf for those who wish they had a little more volume and lift. It's got an impressive 4.5 stars on Amazon and customers who rave about the boost this one gives their roots and how well it helps with frizz, too.

What baby fine hair needs is a shampoo that moisturizes—but not so much so that it weighs the hair down. This formula uses biotin, hydrolyzed keratin, and chia seed oil to moisturize, smooth, and soften the hair without making it fall flat and turn greasy fast.

A favorite for volumizing limp hair, this blend of biotin, argan oil, ginseng, and ginger root works to encourage blood flow and stimulate the scalp—all of which contribute to a happy, healthy scalp, and as a result, the happiest, healthiest hair.

Curly-haired peeps, listen up. This curly hair shampoo deeply conditions the hair with ingredients like B vitamins, plant butters, and argan oil to restore and moisturize the hair without weighing the curls down.

As someone from Dallas with fine hair that needs thickening, this shampoo speaks to me. And once you apply this nourishing mixture of biotin, hydrolyzed rice protein, pro-vitamin B5, saw palmetto, and coconut oil, you'll understand what all the hype is about.

One of the best Oribe products if ya ask me (and thousands of other people), this shampoo will lure your in with its luxurious scent and keep you ordering more bottles for the reparative benefits, thanks to amino acids, argan oil, bioitn, maracuja oil, and niacinamide in the formula.

Usually, when you think of detanglers for curly hair, shampoo is the last thing that comes to mind, but this hydrating shampoo uses castor oil and vitamin E along with biotin to keep your curls smooth, moisturized, and knot-free—even after a thorough scrub down.

Aside from the fact that the black seed oil in this formula is incredible for soothing a dry scalp, thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, this biotin shampoo also contains argan oil, which is ah-mazing for hydrating, moisturizing and sealing the hair.