SugarBearHair Vitamins

Instagram influencers and the Kardashian clan have made them world-famous. Beauty gurus everywhere have pushed them to the top. Their unique appearance made them appealing to consumers all over the world. These famous hair vitamins look like candy gummy bears and have taken the beauty industry by storm. Establishing themselves as the leading brand when it comes to hair vitamins.

The cute packaging and the gummy bear appearance made Sugarbearhair stand out from the crowd, but do these vitamins actually do anything for your hair, skin, nails, and overall health? That is exactly what we are going to look into today.

Sugar Bear Hair Vitamins Breakdown

According to SugarBearHair, their vitamins are vegetarian, cruelty-free, made in the USA, and flavored with natural berries, so you can consume them without water (unlike most vitamins on the market). They are shaped and as gummy bears for the aesthetically pleasing effect and formulated to be easily consumed. They do not contain hormones, gelatin, dairy, or gluten, and the bottle contains 30 pills, enough for a month’s worth of usage.

The serving size of two gummies contains 15 calories, 10mg of sodium, three grams of sugar and the following vitamins:

Vitamin A: Palmitate – 2100 IU
Vitamin C: Ascorbic Acid – 20mg
Vitamin D: Cholecalciferol – 400 IU
Vitamin E: dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate – 16.5 IU
Vitamin B6 – 2mg
Folic Acid – 260 mcg
Vitamin B-12 – 6 mcg
Biotin – 5000 mcg
Pantothenic Acid – 5.2 mg
Iodine – 42 mcg
Zinc – 2.7 mg
Choline – 40 mcg
Inositol – 40 mcg

The most prevalent ingredients are glucose syrup and sugar. Which is a bit of a red flag, as supplements are not generally comprised mostly of sugar. It is worth noting that the product has not been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and is in no way a substitute for medicine. However, the question still stands, do these hair vitamins work and what do their ingredients do?

Vitamin A Palmitate

Vitamin A Palmitate is a pre-formed version of Vitamin A that the body can absorb easily. It is usually found in animal products and is beneficial to your immune system and vision. It is also known as retinyl palmitate and has a higher bioavailability than carotenoids (another form of Vitamin A). This means that the body can convert these vitamins to their active form more easily than their counterparts. How does this work?

Vitamin A Palmitate, as well as carotenoids such as beta-carotene, are first converted to retinol before the body converts it to retinoic acid, at which point the vitamin is activated and the body can use it. Apart from supplements available on the market, you can find Vitamin A Palmitate in foods of animal origin, especially fish and liver, as well as fortified dairy products.

As with any other vitamin, the issue of overconsumption is ever present when it comes to Vitamin A Palmitate. The current upper intake level for vitamin A is 10000 IU (International Units), or 3000 micrograms, and SugarBearHair vitamins contain 2100 IU. If your diet is rich in the above-mentioned foods that already contain Palmitate, be wary of exceeding your recommended daily intake. The side effects of too much of this vitamin can include liver damage, bone loss, joint pain, upset stomach, as well as skin irritations. Pregnant women should steer clear of any supplements that contain Vitamin A in any form, since it has been linked to birth defects. If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, speak with your doctor before taking this supplement.

Biotin

Biotin falls under the umbrella of Vitamin B. It is considered to be essential when it comes to the health and growth of nails, hair, and skin, and deficiency in biotin can lead to hair loss or rashes on the skin. However, it is very hard to become deficient in Biotin in the modern world. Most of the time, you would meet your daily needs through food, and still many people choose to supplement and up their daily intake. Why is that?

Biotin is known to improve the body’s ability to create keratin. Keratin makes up skin, nails, and hair. Although research has shown that no apparent link exists between biotin and increased hair growth. The FDA does not even offer a recommended daily intake.

Biotin is water soluble, which means that it is usually excreted from the body in urine. Most supplements place a warning on their bottles saying that excess biotin can alter lab results. Especially if you are testing for thyroid, hormone, cardiac troponin, or vitamin D levels. This can lead to misdiagnosis and can be detrimental to one’s health.

Even though the FDA does not offer it, the recommended daily intake is only 30 micrograms per day, and SugarBearHair contains 5000 micrograms, which is well over the adequate intake. Doctors and researchers agree that supplementing for biotin is unnecessary, especially because it can easily be found in foods such as organ meats, egg yolks, nuts and seeds, legumes, whole grains, cauliflower, mushrooms, and bananas.

So…Bear or No Bear?

Will SugarBearHair vitamins make your hair grow like Rapunzel’s? Honestly it’s not very likely. However, they can be a good supplement for someone who does not eat a wide variety of foods that contain the vitamins that this product offers. When it comes to supplementing your body nothing can beat a balanced diet of whole foods. The best path to gain healthy glowing long hair is to take care of your body from the inside out.

Speak to a nutritionist and let them know about your health goals and let them advise you on what kind of dietary changes will make you feel amazing both inside and out. This will help you achieve more than just long luxurious hair. When you take care of your body focusing on high-quality food, and supplement with the key nutrients you’re missing out on from your diet, (as opposed to sugar, and nutrients we have in abundance.) The results will be noticeable for your skin, hair, and nails. Whichever way you sway, read the labels carefully and don’t let Instagram influence you when it comes to your health and well-being.

Christy is a licensed cosmetologist with 10 years of experience working for one of the top 20 Paul Mitchell Salons in the US. She is also an experienced Brand Advisor, and Beauty Blogger.