What supplements really help hair and nails?

Definitely biotin!

A lot of people seem to recommend Biotin but I've only found mixed medical support, apart from anecdotal evidence. It's part of the B vitamin which itself is good for hair and skin and is easily supplemented in a good diet.

calcium, vitamin E and B and kortin 

I have been using the hair, skin and nails 30 day packs from GNC and supplement it with extra biotin. I think it is working. I am taking it mostly for thinning hair.

I take biotin and it has helped

I have been taking biotin for about six months now. I used to have very thick, fast growing hair and it was starting to get alarmingly thin (to me anyways, family and friends thought it was not as thick as before, but still 'normal/average'). It also seemed to stop growing and to become more brittle.

It does seem as though it is making a difference, although it's hard for me to tell because it has been gradual, and I probably forget exactly what it was like before compared to now. It does seem that when I circle my hands around it that the 'tail' is not as thin as it was before. And there seem to be new, shorter hairs around the hairline where I had noticed it thinning.

Even though I can't really see a difference, except that it doesn't seem as dry and brittle, I did have a co-worker make a comment the other day which was heartening. We had never talked about hair before, she didn't know I have been displeased with mine, or that I have been taking anything. But she said that my hair was looking thicker and longer and was healthy looking. Since it was a random comment and she didn't know I'd been taking anything, I figure there must be some kind of visible difference.

I take 10,000 mcg a day. I recently started adding folic acid, after reading on pinterest that it might help with hair length. I try not to wash it every day so that I don't have to blow dry and straighten it which I know damages it. And when I remember (which isn't often) I massage my scalp, as I had also read that this helps stimulate the follicles.

I haven't had any negative issues with my skin. In fact, I think it might be good for my skin and my rosacea does not seem as pronounced (between flare ups caused by something specific). I haven't noticed any changes in my nails, but they have always grown quickly and been relatively healthy. And it is hard to note changes in them because they break frequently because of my job.

I will continue taking the biotin and folic acid. I haven't had any negative consequences and they are both inexpensive so I figure I have nothing to lose. Plus I figure it will probably take many months, at the rate hair grows (or mine at any rate) to really be able to see differences if there are going to be any.

Good luck finding something that works for you!

Pregnancy? I was never sure if it was being preganant or the parental vitamins.

After I went vegan I noticed my nails starting to split easily where they never seemed to do that before. I happened to be at my annual physical with my doctor who I love. He's an integrative medicine doctor. He mixes traditional medicine with natural approaches and alternative strategies. The first thing he does every year is have me do a complete blood test to see what's going on.

Anyway, when I mentioned the nail issue he told me it was a mineral issue, and sold me (yes he does sell supplements, but he isn't making a huge profit and for me I find it a convenience) a Complete Mineral Complex. Don't know if you can get it online somewhere, but it's made by designs for health-it says for professional use only. Looking down the list of ingredients it's got Calcium 200 mg. (as a vegan I no longer drink milk or eat anything dairy), that's 20% of my normal daily value it says on the bottle. It also has Iodine-150 mcg, Magnesium-200 mg, Zinc 20mg, Selenium 150 mcg. Copper 2mg, Manganese 2mg.,
Chromium 200 mcg, Molybdenum 150 mcg. Potassium 150mcg, Boron 2 mcg and finally Vanadium 100 mcg.

I did notice a big difference in my nails getting a lot stronger once I started taking this supplement after about a month. So that's what I'm using. Like I said, I don't know if you can get it on the open market. If you happen to live anywhere near here (I live in Annapolis, MD.) and are looking for an excellent doctor pm me and I'll give you more info. Bad news-he doesn't take insurance. He doesn't have to. He's that good. His waiting list is always full and people come from hours away to see him.

About hair-what is it you are looking for with hair? To make it grow or to make it look better? The best things I can advise for hair is to use products with NO sulfates, or silicones and to throw your dryer and heat tools out of the window. I threw my hair dryer away (literally, I really did) a few years ago and my hair has never looked better. But I work at home and I realize that it's not practical at all! So, use your heat tools as little as possible. They are so damaging to your hair! If you are a curly girl (or wavy) stop fighting nature and thank Mother Nature for what she gave you. Did you know all angels have curly hair? Embrace those curls and throw that hot iron that makes your hair straight in the trash. It is damaging and frying your hair! Check out this site first www.frizzoff.com (I adore these products!) and www.naturallycurly.com.

Hope that helps.

Debbie in MD.

Yes, that's exactly it! Nice to see I can now order it from Amazon with free shipping!

But, I'm not a doctor so I'm not telling you to take it! Proceed forth with your own caution. Just wanted to get that in-I'm not sure if it's like vitamins where sometimes too much can get you into trouble. It has certainly helped my nails, but I also am taking it on advice of my doctor who knows I'm a vegan and also had my blood test results in front of him.

Debbie in MD.

I started taking biotin three years ago for my nails. I don't think it made any difference whatsoever in my nails but I noticed that my hair is much healthier, and it's thicker (noticeably) and shinier.

That's true, biotin can cause some people to break out. Not me, though. My skin runs to dry so I'm definitely not breakout prone.

This cracked me up!

OP - I recently started taking prenatals and my nails are incredibly strong.