Why We Chose MSM, Biotin, and Zinc: A Deep Dive Into Our Hair Formula

Hair Code's formula reads like a short list rather than a long one — that's intentional. Here's the reasoning behind each of its core actives.

MSM and silicon: the structural pair

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is an organic sulfur compound, and sulfur is a key building block of keratin's disulfide bonds — the same bonds that give hair its strength. We paired it with a silicon complex, since silicon is concentrated in the connective tissue surrounding hair follicles and nail beds.

Biotin: precise, not exaggerated

Biotin's EU-approved claim is specific: it contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. We include it at a meaningful, research-aligned dose rather than an inflated "1000% RDA" number designed to look impressive on a label — with a water-soluble vitamin like biotin, more than your body needs simply isn't absorbed.

Zinc, selenium, and copper: the mineral trio

Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, skin, and nails, and plays a role in protein synthesis — directly relevant to keratin production. Selenium supports normal hair and nail maintenance through similar pathways. Copper has a more specific role: it contributes to normal hair pigmentation, which is a genuinely underrated reason to keep intake adequate.

The amino acid layer

L-Lysine, L-Cystine, and L-Methionine round out the formula as the direct raw materials for keratin itself, alongside B vitamins that support the cellular energy needed for hair follicle activity.

What we left out

No proprietary blends, no ingredients included purely because a competitor has them, and nothing at a dose too small to plausibly do anything. That's the whole design philosophy in one sentence.