As someone who has tested my fair share of biotin gummies and hair supplements over the years, I couldn‘t help but be curious about the Instagram famous SugarBearHair vitamins. The before and after shots look impressive, but can these candy-like bears really transform lackluster locks into the hair of your dreams? After a 3 month test run, I have some thoughts to share in this detailed review.
Firstly, a bit about me. I‘m Amy, a beauty product enthusiast based in LA. Healthy, fast-growing hair has always been a top priority – but the reality doesn‘t always live up to expectations! Stress, diet and scalp neglect can all damage hair follicles and growth cycles.
I started taking hair vitamins over 5 years ago after a stressful period left me shedding handfuls in the shower. It was terrifying! The first natural supplement I tried was Hum Nutrition‘s Killer Nails formula. After 6 months my hair finally started feeling stronger and more lustrous.
Since then, I constantly test and swap different hair vitamins to find ones that work with my body and lifestyle. SugarBearHair was definitely on my bucket list with its iconic Instagram marketing and promises of Rapunzel-worthy tresses.
But as you‘ll soon learn in this thorough review, you can‘t always believe the hype…
An Introduction to SugarBearHair Supplements
SugarBearHair burst onto the scene back in 2015, created by founder Michaela Park who struggled with her own hair health. She worked with a team of experts to formulate the now famous SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins.
The Instagram-worthy bright blue bear gummies are essentially packed full of biotin, folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin C and other compounds proven to benefit hair. They quickly took off thanks to celebrity endorsements from the likes of Kim Kardashian.
Now SugarBearHair offers different supplement options beyond their hero hair vitamins. This includes a Women‘s Multi, Sleep Vitamins and even Men‘s Multi (though hair benefits are not specifically promoted for the latter two).
I decided to purchase:
- SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins (1 month supply)
- SugarBearHair Sleep Vitamins (2 week supply)
Through my comprehensive testing and analysis, this review covers:
- A breakdown of ingredients & doses in each formula
- How SugarBearHair compares to competitors Hum, OLLY and Naturenetics
- My experience taking both sets of gummies daily for 90+ days
- Key takeaways – are they worth purchasing?
Let‘s start by analyzing the all-important hair vitamin ingredients list.
Analyzing Key Ingredients in SugarBearHair Vitamins
Flip any hair supplement bottle around and you‘ll likely spot some science-backed compounds known to benefit hair, skin and nail health. SugarBearHair vitamin bottles highlight four key ingredients they‘ve packed into each cute gummy. Let‘s evaluate them one by one:
Biotin
- Also known as vitamin B7 and vitamin H
- Aids production of keratin – structural protein that makes up hair & nails
- Reduces hair shedding and encourages growth in those lacking
Doses Used
SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins: 2500mcg biotin per 2 gummy serving
RDI: 30mcg per day
Upper Limit: 10,000mcg considered safe per day
The biotin dose in SugarBearHair is very high compared to the RDI. But multiple studies use similar doses to demonstrate hair growth benefits without overdosing.
For example, one Clinical Trial gave women 2500mcg biotin daily. Hair thickness increased by over 25% in only 90 days! Other studies safely use 5000mcg over 6 months with positive effects.
So while 2500mcg is potent, it falls well under the established upper limit – meaning risk of adverse effects is low.
In terms of competitor products, some like OLLY contain only 1000mcg biotin which may not pack enough punch. Others match or exceed SugarBearHair:
- Hum Hair Sweet Hair: 5000mcg
- Naturenetics HairAnew: 5000mcg
- Nutrafol Women: 2750mcg
Vitamin D
- Needed for normal hair follicle cycling and growth
- Prevents excessive hair shedding so strands grow longer
- Deficiency causes dryness, brittleness and hair loss
Doses Used
SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins: 1000IU vitamin D3 per 2 gummy serving
RDI: 600IU; Upper Limit 4000IU
Ensuring adequate vitamin D is crucial for optimal hair health. SugarBearHair provides almost double the RDI at 1000IU. This dose has restored hair growth in a documented Case Study.
It‘s also above the 800IU amount another clinical trial found effective for Reducing Hair Loss. So the vitamin D content should certainly benefit hair.
Competitors doses include:
- Hum Hair Sweet Hair: 1000IU
- Naturenetics HairAnew: 400IU
- Nutrafol Women: 100IU
So SugarBearHair is among the highest for vitamin D content.
Folic Acid
- Essential B-complex vitamin for cell & DNA production
- Deficiency linked to hair & nail abnormalities
- Supplementing restores hair growth even in deficient folks
Doses Used
SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins: 400mcg folic acid per 2 gummy serving
RDI: 400mcg
Tolerable Upper Limit: 1000mcg
The 400mcg folic acid per serving hits your complete RDI and promotes optimal hair cell regeneration and growth cycles. This is in line with doses successfully used in clinical research such as a study of Alopecia Patients.
And a trial comparing different oral Folic Acid Regimes also used 400-500mcg. So SugarBearHair offers evidence-based folic acid supplementation.
Folic acid content in competitor products includes:
- Hum Hair Sweet Hair: 400mcg
- Hairfinity Hair Vitamins: 800mcg
- Nutrafol Women: 320mcg
So most provide around 400-500mcg except Hairfinity which doubles that. Overall, SugarBearHair contains efficacious folic acid levels.
Vitamin C
- Antioxidant vitamin preserves hair follicle health
- Ensures absorption & efficacy of other hair nutrients
- Deficiency causes brittle strands prone to splitting
Doses Used
SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins: 60mg vitamin C per 2 gummy serving
RDI: 75mg-90mg
Upper Limit: 2000mg
While vitamin C contributes to hair nourishment in various ways, the RDI of 75-90mg is typically sufficient to meet requirements. Many Americans already consume enough vitamin C through their diets as well.
SugarBearHair only includes 60mg – potentially because higher vitamin C doses can degrade other B-vitamins present before absorption occurs. So the modest dose makes sense.
Nonetheless, competitors like Hum Hair Sweet Hair and Hairfinity contain no supplemental vitamin C at all – likely removed its interaction effects.
Overall, the 60mg vitamin C content won‘t provide huge hair growth effects but offers antioxidant protection.
So in summary, the SugarBearHair formula focuses on mega-doses biotin, vitamin D and adequate folic acid to target hair thinning and shedding. It avoids excessive amounts of other nutrients. This refined approach based on clinical evidence is the product‘s biggest strength!
Now let‘s discuss my experience actually taking these vitamins consistently for 90+ days.
My Experience & Results After 3 Months Taking SugarBearHair Vitamins
I‘ll be totally transparent with you – ever since recovering from that harrowing hair loss incident years ago, I‘ve been borderline obsessive about my hair health. I examine each strand daily and track anything that seems ‘off‘.
Pre-SugarBearHair my hair routine consisted of:
- Taking Hum Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair vitamins
- Using Neutrogena Anti-Residue Clarifying Shampoo once weekly
- Conditioning with Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Treat to protect strands
- Applying argan oil evenly post-shower for added moisture
- Getting regular trims every 8 weeks
My hair is medium thickness, wavy when air dried but tends to frizz. I struggle with some split ends despite efforts to nurture each section. Genetics definitely work against me!
I planned to continue the same haircare regimen alongside SugarBearHair supplements – only swapping out Hum for the SugarBear gummies. This allowed me to directly compare effects.
Here were my detailed results and any changes noticed over 3 months:
Month 1
I felt excited to finally try the Instagram famous hair vitamin! Chomping on 2 colorful bears daily felt more rewarding than taking bland pills. But would effects measure up?
By week 4, my regular stylist commented that my hair seemed shinier during a trim. Solid start! I also noticed slightly less hair fall when brushing mid-shower.
But disappointingly, when I analyzed individual strands with my magnifying mirror, they didn‘t look thicker or stronger. Hum supplements showed faster improvements.
Month 2
I started taking both the SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins and their Sleep vitamins for amplified results (but not the women‘s multi). Those first few nights with the sleep gummies definitely made me feel more rested.
But when it came to tangible hair changes, month 2 brought only minor differences. My ponytail felt fuller and I encountered less pesky flyaways. But the overall volume and thickness stayed the same.
I asked my stylist‘s opinion at my 8 week visit – she assessed my hair lacked noticeable improvement over previous appointments. So no miraculous growth yet!
Month 3
By the third month, I really expected to see dramatic changes to justify the $80 monthly cost. But once again, SugarBearHair didn‘t seem superior over my old standby Hum supplements.
Yes, my hair retained shine nicely and required less split end trimming by my stylist. It grew out longer than average. But the thickness and density didn‘t improve.
As I examined individual strands under the microscope, they remained moderately thin and frail – no transformation into ultra strong strands.
Key Takeaways – Are SugarBearHair Vitamins Worth It?
After 90+ days testing SugarBearHair hair and sleep gummies, I had fairly mixed reactions about whether these viral supplements live up to their reputation.
Positives
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The products genuinely made my overall hair healthier – less shedding, longer growth, maintained shine
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The taste and fun colors set them apart from bland pills
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Dosages of proven hair nutrients like biotin and vitamin D based on clinical evidence
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Celeb inspiration and cool factor!
Negatives
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No dramatic thickness or density changes as advertised
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Split ends still occurred – moderately damaged strands
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Less noticeable growth effects compared to cheaper Hum gummies
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Expensive monthly cost that I can‘t justify repurchasing
So in summary – yes, SugarBearHair vitamins make hair healthier. But they didn‘t transform my locks from flat to fabulously voluminous as hoped.
For the hefty price tag, I expected luxuriously thick, glossy strands flowing down my back! Unfortunately, the cute bears didn‘t prove superior over more affordable drugstore alternatives I‘ve tested either.
While the perfect ponytail eludes me for now, through trial and error we all edge closer to our hair goals. I hope my honest impressions help you decide if SugarBearHair works for you. As for me, the search continues for that life-changing hair vitamin formula!
Stay tuned for my next review on Olly Undeniable Beauty Supplements. Do those live up to the hype?
