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Hair loss and hair thinning affect millions of people and are dependent on a host of varying underlying factors. Whether you’re experiencing hair loss, hair thinning, or just want more volume or length, you may be overwhelmed by the staggering number of hair growth product options out there. I’ll help you understand what to look for and then you can check out my top picks. Laser Hair Growth Helment
To help narrow your search, there are a few things to consider before you start looking.
Since hair thinning and hair loss aren’t the same thing, you’ll want to know which condition you have. Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, thinning is when the shaft of the hair itself becomes thinner than usual and it occurs in the early stages of hair loss. Hair loss is when hair has been shed and the affected hair follicles no longer produce new hair.
Either can be caused by a number of reasons, including genetics, age, illness, stress, or diseases like alopecia areata. Each of these factors causes hair loss to a different degree, and requires different treatment. Before you begin looking for treatments for your own hair, it’s best to consult a physician in order to understand what’s causing your hair loss or thinning so you’re not taking shots in the dark.
Products for hair loss come in both topical formulations like serums which go on top of the skin, or oral, such as capsules, which work from the inside out. Which is best for you may be influenced by the type of hair loss or thinning you’re experiencing, but also your lifestyle and your preference.
When it comes to ingredients, Dr. Samuel Hetz, Medical Director of Concept Medical, an Ontario-based physician-led medical aesthetic and cosmetic dermatology practice, recommends keeping scalp nourishment a top priority, and looking for products that use oils (castor, rosehip, coconut, argan) as a base. On top of that, here are some ingredients to seek out:
The GRO Hair Serum from Vegamour is a daily topical product targeted toward thinning hair. Its natural ingredients increase the appearance of hair density, stimulate and nourish the scalp, and promote strength and resilience. Shopping tip: Vegamour also makes a lash growth serum.
Vegamour’s GRO Hair Serum for Thinning Hair is a plant-based solution for all types that’s designed to target hair thinning and promote healthy-looking hair.
Making sure your scalp is happy is key in promoting hair growth, and the ACV Exfoliating Scalp Detox by dpHUE can help. It’s formulated with natural, vegan ingredients designed to exfoliate, remove excess oil and build up, and stimulate the follicles on your scalp.
dpHUE’s ACV Exfoliating Scalp Detox is a vegan scalp exfoliant designed to unclog hair follicles and promote growth.
Nutrafol’s Hair Growth Supplement for Thinning is a daily oral supplement made with natural ingredients and it targets hair thinning. According to Nutrafol, 90% of users reported improvement in thin areas within six months, and some as little as three months.
Nutrafol’s Hair Growth Supplement for Thinning is an oral product targeted toward hair thinning with high reported levels of user success.
Your dry scalp (and the accompanying build-up) could be one reason why you’re seeking a volumizing, detoxifying shampoo, and the Virtue Flourish Thickening Shampoo can help. Formulated with proteins and plant-based ingredients that are targeted toward hair growth, lightweight hydration, and scalp nourishment, this shampoo can restore the microbiome on your scalp to see positive results.
The Virtue Flourish Thickening Shampoo is an affordable hair-growth solution for thin to medium hair and dry scalps.
If you’re concerned about a sensitive scalp, the Ranavat Mighty Majesty Fortifying Hair Serum uses a few, natural ingredients to avoid overwhelming your skin and aims to calm your scalp. Its jasmine, amla, and sunflower oil contain antioxidants and hydrating components to relax and relieve your scalp.
Ranavat’s Mighty Majesty Fortifying Hair Serum promotes hair growth and tackles a sensitive scalp by keeping its ingredient list short and natural.
If you’re feeling a splurge, the Act+Acre 2% Stem Cell Serum uses an ingredient called H2-Grow Complex™, which is formulated from clinically validated apple stem cells to protect your hair follicles and promote thicker looking hair. It also promotes hydration, making it good for dry scalp sufferers, to create an optimal environment for hair growth.
The Act+Acre 2% Stem Cell Serum uses apple stem cells and other ingredients to hydrate and protect hair follicles and promote fuller-looking hair.
If you prefer a topical solution, the Nue Co. Supa Thick Scalp Serum with Rosemary is used pre-wash two to three times a week. It uses a patented follicle technology that stimulates growth and decreases shedding. The essential oils enhance circulation and cleanse while reducing dandruff and dry scalp.
The Nue Co. Supa Thick Scalp Serum with Rosemary is a pre-wash, topical solution designed to promote circulation and prevent shedding and dryness.
If you’re willing to spend a little more on your hair, the popular brand OUAI has a scalp serum targeted toward dry scalp sufferers. The natural ingredients protect the skin barrier and promote hydration, especially during styling. Users report significant growth within several months and the appearance of fuller, thicker, and healthier hair.
The OUAI Scalp Serum is designed to soothe dry scalps, hydrate, and protect the skin barrier.
Oil to fight oil? Moroccanoil’s Oily Scalp Treatment combats oily scalps through a combination of naturally-derived oils and peptides. As with all of their products, argan oil is the star of the show, but this serum also uses ginger root oil to calm the scalp, regulate oil production, and stimulate hair growth.
Moroccanoil’s Oily Scalp Treatment uses soothing, natural oils to regulate oil production and promote hair growth.
If you’re worried about accommodating color-treated hair, the dpHUE ACV Daily Scalp Serum provides all the benefits of a hair growth serum while being gentle enough for daily use without making color-treatments fade. The natural ingredients combine to promote hydration, pH balance, reduce signs of shedding, and stimulate dormant hair follicles.
The dpHUE ACV Daily Scalp Serum promotes hydration and hair growth and is gentle enough for daily use on color-treated hair.
Rogaine has been a leader in the hair loss industry for several decades and offers products targeted to both men’s and women’s hair loss. The primary ingredient is minoxidil, which increases blood flow to the hair follicles and revives shrunken follicles, therefore promoting hair regrowth. Though users report high rates of success, this product is longer term and requires sustained use.
Women’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam is a daily topical mousse designed to direct blood flow to the hair follicles, reviving them and promoting hair growth.
For a soothing product, the Fable & Mane SahaScalp Cooling Scalp Mud Mask revives, clarifies, and moisturizes the scalp to ease irritation and promote healthy hair growth, all with a warm spice and vanilla scent. Its middle-of-the-road price point is made to be paired with other products from the line before and after use.
The Fable & Mane SahaScalp Cooling Scalp Mud Mask is a great product to soothe your scalp and promote growth.
Drawing on medical professionals’ expertise, I reviewed a selection of online and traditional retailers to make my recommendations for the best hair growth products, with an emphasis on price, natural ingredients, oil-based solutions, and formulation for all hair types. All of my picks are cruelty-free products, are priced under $100, and prioritize financing options and accessibility.
A hair growth product is a topical or oral formulation designed to stimulate and promote hair growth by targeting the underlying cause of hair loss.
The answer to this depends on the underlying cause of hair loss, and therefore varies from person to person. Promoting growth and strengthening hair can be much more manageable than recovering hair loss caused by genetics, for instance. Dr. Michael May, Medical Director at Wimpole Clinic, a hair transplant clinic in the UK, emphasizes that products usually require consistent and prolonged use to see results, so users need to be patient with the process.
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