For a long time, whenever I walked into my gym for an early morning sweat, I found myself staring at the other women working out around me. Not because of their matching workout outfits (though they are cute) or their deadlifting skills (though they are impressive). Instead, I’d be staring at their hair—the long, lush ponytails, thick braids, or twisted top knots. My own gym ‘do could only be described as frizzy and lackluster. Was it too much to ask for longer, shinier, healthier-looking hair?
This is the story of how switching up my supplement routine finally transformed my locks from depressed to best-dressed.
My Hair Journey
I have been trying to grow my hair out since my senior year of high school, but once it hits my shoulders, it simply refuses to grow another millimeter, stopping like a stubborn toddler. My parents both have pretty thin hair, so I’ve always chalked up my lackluster locks to genetics, though my routine highlights, regular swim workouts in chlorine pools, and use of hot tools probably haven’t helped.
Over the years, I have tried countless hair supplements, but nothing has ever worked for me. Instead, trips to the salon have always been marked by my hairstylist’s comments on the rough shape of my hair.
The situation hit an all-time low last September, when my hairstylist said my hair basically needed life support. My hair had always been thin, but now, out of nowhere, it seemed like my locks were disappearing. My entire head looked frayed and frazzled, and my ends were shredding so quickly that my once long, grown-out bangs were creeping back up to my forehead.
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I know what you’re thinking: Take a break from the highlights! Well, let me tell you: I tried that (for an entire year!) and nothing happened. I even stopped using heated hair tools, ditching blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons. Still, nothing seemed to help. I felt completely hopeless. Would I be doomed to clip-in hair extensions for the rest of my life?
Clearly, something had to be done. I finally invested in the targeted hair-care products my stylist recommended—but it was a simple supplement I discovered soon after that really turned everything around.
Meet MaryRuth’s Liquid Morning Multivitamin + Hair Growth
Thanks to Instagram ads and online wellness influencers, the supplement brand MaryRuth’s had been on my radar for a while. But when I decided to get real about improving my hair health and noticed my favorite content creator’s hair looking particularly sleek and long, I got curious.
She credited it all to MaryRuth, specifically MaryRuth’s Liquid Morning Multivitamin + Hair Growth. Instantly, I decided to try it. After all, what did I have to lose? I snagged a sample (perks of being a health and wellness writer!) and committed to taking it daily. If I saw results by the time I finished the bottle, I’d keep the supplement in my routine. Still, after trying so many other hair supplements, I was slightly skeptical. Scratch that; downright skeptical.
Now, I am not going to lie; I am generally not a fan of liquid vitamins. I’d much rather swallow capsules or tablets than drink my supplements. That just takes me back to having to gag down bright bubblegum pink medicine as a kid.
Still, I began downing two tablespoons of MaryRuth’s morning-specific multi each morning. (I kicked off my routine with the Dragon Fruit Melon flavor—which is exclusive to The Vitamin Shoppe and bursting with bright, fruity sweetness.)
Read More: 6 Things Your Hair Can Tell You About Your Health
In those two tablespoons (which are vegan and sugar-free, by the way), you get not only your daily dose of vitamins, but the bonus of an ingredient called Lustriva®, which combines a highly-soluble form of biotin and a form of silicon that work together to support hair growth.
Could that one ingredient really make a difference? Well, Lustriva® has been shown to help women grow thicker, fuller hair in as little as three weeks. You read that right, folks: three weeks! A 2021 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Current Developments in Nutrition reported that after using Lustriva® for three months, 92 percent of women reported an improvement in overall hair volume, 82 percent reported an improvement in hair thickness, and 75 percent reported an improvement in hair shine. Sign me up! (Granted, these women used both supplements and a hair serum using this ingredient, but the results still wowed me.)
Besides hair health, Lustriva® also supports skin health and can potentially help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Ummm, no qualms there!
The Results
After one month of my new routine, my hair looked a little more vibrant, so I snagged another bottle of my MaryRuth’s morning multi (this time in the Peach Mango flavor) and kept chugging along.
After two months of consistently taking my MaryRuth’s multi and hair growth supplement, my hair is noticeably longer, softer, and healthier in both look and feel. Having had thin hair my entire life, I am thrilled to report that my ponytails are thicker than ever. I have yet to reach my desired length, but there is no denying my hair is growing quicker—and looks all-around better.
My most recent hair appointment was a huge victory. Before even touching my hair, my hairstylist commented that my hair looked healthier. He could not believe how soft and thick my locks felt. The ends no longer split in ten different directions. In fact, my hair finally hung past my shoulders! I had officially been moved out of the Hair ICU and deemed stable. Talk about a sigh of relief.
There is still work to be done, but so far I am thrilled with the results. Clearly, my upgraded hair-care routine is working—and MaryRuth’s is the star of the show.
One thing I should probably mention here: When this supplement says it supports hair growth…it really does support all hair growth. Mhm, I’ve definitely noticed I need to shave my legs more often throughout the week. To me, it’s a small sacrifice that I’m perfectly willing to make.
I also still don’t looooove liquid vitamins, but the results from my MaryRuth’s morning routine are so undeniable that I will happily continue to start my day with a shot glass of it.
I still may never be the girl at the gym who dons the matching leggings and sports bra, and maybe my hair will never be slicked back in the perfect pony like you see on a billboard for athletic wear, and I am okay with that. To see my hair health improve like it has with just one supplement in such a short amount of time is nothing short of a miracle.