Read about the most popular treatments for hair growth, from the less invasive ones to stepping into the prescription strength territory.
From bad habits and styling products to medical and genetic conditions, many could be the reasons your hair is shedding. Since it’s not a one-size-fits-all condition, identifying the causes is the first step that’ll bring you closer to fuller, thicker hair. One thing is for sure: each person needs to address hair loss according to their hair needs. Otherwise, all the effort may be in vain. Does hair lack nourishment? Add some supplements to your daily diet. Do hormones weaken hair follicles? Introduce DHT blockers to your haircare regimen. You get the point.
But while targeted treatments have the role of addressing thinning hair at the root causes, taking constant care of your scalp is where healthy hair comes from — regardless of the condition. So yep, hydrated, nourished, and stimulated scalp is always the springboard for hair growth. Now that you know what you should look for, the most popular treatments to fight hair loss are here. Read on and prep to get your hair back.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is the first drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss and is expected to work for 2 out of 3 people. It’s sold as a liquid or foam and is found in two strengths, 2% and 5%, respectively. As it’s classified as a vasodilator, minoxidil opens the blood vessels at the applied area, stimulating blood flow and increasing nourishment delivery in the scalp. By driving more nutrients and oxygen to hair follicles, minoxidil not only supports better and thicker hair but reduces breakage as well — and there’s a lot of research proving it. Although you need a prescription for minoxidil, it’s worth a shot, especially if OTC products haven’t helped you.
Finasteride
Finasteride is another FDA-approved treatment for hair growth, commercially found under the name of Propecia. Finasteride was found to minimize hair loss by prohibiting testosterone conversion into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone with powerful androgenic properties that makes hair follicles shrink, weaken, and eventually die.
Redensyl, Capixyl and Procapil
Procapil, Redensyl, and Capixyl are some of the most powerful active ingredients used to formulate serums for hair growth. Redensyl was developed by Induchem Laboratories in Switzerland and is a complex of botanical ingredients possessing properties to stimulate cellular activity and awaken dormant hair follicles. On the other hand, Capixyl and Procapil are two breakthrough formulas obtained from International Flavors and Fragrances Laboratories (France) respectively Sederma Laboratories (France). They have a DHT-blocking mechanism and are known to increase hair growth by offsetting cellular damage.
The best part is yet to come. It turns out that the combination of Redensyl, Capixyl, and Procapil is the same or even more effective than minoxidil in the long term while having fewer side effects.
Natural remedies
Botanical plants, herbs, and essential oils have been used to keep hair growing healthy since ancient times. Natural remedies might not bring you transformative results (as they’re not that potent to change a person’s natural growth cycle), but they can complement both your scalp and hair. You should look for those rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals like castor oil, jojoba, and argan oil, as well as for compounds with anti-androgenic activities like saw palmetto.
Haircare products
The same goes with haircare products, they may not have much of an impact on the hair growth rate, yet using targeted products can intensify the effects of other treatments while adding extra nourishment and moisture. As they represent a part of our daily routine, you need clean products free of chemicals to ensure your hair won’t be exposed to hair-weakening compounds. Instead, go for leave-on products filled with hair-strengthening ingredients such as Redensyl, Capixyl, Procapil, caffeine, amino acids, vitamins, to name a few.
These serums for hair growth are a special treat.
Hair Growth Supplements
The deficiencies of micronutrients in the body are one of the most common causes of hair loss. If the hair is not fed with the necessary nutrients, it’s hard to keep its cuticle integer and hold enough water in its fibers to stay elastic, so it breaks easily. Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, iron, selenium, and zinc — your hair needs all of them. In one study, the use of oral supplements in case of deficiencies was associated with a visible increase in hair growth after 90 to 180 days, without adverse events. However, supplements are not without risks, as in the absence of a deficiency, supplementation may be harmful to hair. In fact, over-supplementing certain nutrients, like vitamin A, vitamin E, and selenium, have been linked to hair loss.
If you lack essential nutrients and want to start a supplement diet, start with these hair growth supplements. Unfortunately, the U.S. FDA does not have the authority to review dietary supplements for safety & effectiveness. Yet, since the FDA does not regulate supplements, it’s your responsibility to review their efficacy and safety. Websites such as the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database or the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements’ PubMed Dietary Supplement Subset and Dietary Supplements Ingredient Database may be of help in this exploration.
Low-level laser therapy
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) showed great potential in treating the genetic forms of hair loss since Endre Mester discovered it in 1967. At this very moment, LLLT is a non-invasive, safe, approved, and effective treatment that stimulates hair follicles to grow fuller and thicker hair. It turns out that when hair follicles absorb the laser energy, their cellular activity is stimulated, resulting in better hair growth. The LLLT couldn’t be performed at home until 2007 when the FDA has cleared the first device for home use that used low-level lasers to stimulate hair growth. It’s about HairMax LaserComb, a handy and comfortable brush-like device designed with 9 medical-grade lasers. Now the market is cornered with at-home laser hair growth devices, with prices ranging from $40 to $2,500.
Hair transplants
It’s been a while since the first hair transplant has been performed, in 1952, in New York City, by Dr. Norman Orentreich. Briefly, this type of cosmetic surgery involves moving hair to thin or bald areas. There are two popular methods for hair transplant: follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
FUSS method starts with a linear incision across the back of the scalp, allowing for removing the donor follicles. The harvested area is then separated to create tiny units for transplantation. All the follicles are placed into the desired area using micro incisions. On the other hand, the FUE procedure requires the removal of individual hair follicles for grafting into the balding patch. The removed hairs are then treated and prepared to place into the thinning area to produce a natural hair growth process.
The process might take between 4 to 8 hours, depending on the size area, and can be repeated. However, for consistent results, the procedure requires to be performed once in a decade. Hair transplants are viral among A-list, too. Naomi Campbell, Fergie Duhamel, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey are just a few of the famous celebs who did it.
What to avoid
The cumulative effects of environmental factors, such as UV exposure, humidity, wind, and chemicals in hair products can hurt the physicochemical hair structure. Grooming habits have a strong impact on hair fibers too. Daily shampooing cleanses off the protective layers of sebum covering the hair, causing the shaft to dry out, becoming more prone to friction. Briefly, the critical aspects of preventing hair weathering include avoiding unnecessary damaging hair styling techniques, daily shampooing & conditioning, and excessive use of photoprotection.
What else
First of all, quit smoking if you didn’t yet. Besides being the single most preventable cause of significant morbidity in the population, tobacco smoking has adverse effects on hair health. This observational study indicates a significant association between smoking and hair loss.
Late nights? Such a bad idea. Have you ever asked how do sleep influences hair’s health and growth? While sleeping, the epithelial hair follicle stem cell goes to work. Only good nights of rest can help ensure that the process occurs seamlessly. Contrarily, lack of sleep hinders the cells from doing their job, and the result can lead to hair loss. When we lack sleep, the stress level increases, and cellular functioning is reduced, resulting in hair loss. On the other hand, certain hormones are secreted when we sleep, repairing and restoring all body cells’ work, including hair cells.
Last but not least, consider having an active and healthy lifestyle. A sedentary lifestyle where sitting all day in front of your T.V. or computer won’t benefit your hair. How can sport help hair grow faster? While exercising, the scalp’s blood circulation increases, allowing more nutrients to reach the follicles to promote hair growth. When the scalp is sweating, it helps open the pores, giving room for new hair to grow.
Can you get rid of hair loss forever?
It’s no secret that preventing is much easier than treating. Natural remedies are a good way to enhance and revitalize your hair every day, so it won’t be prematurely prone to fall. Don’t count on shampoos and serums to treat severe conditions like androgenic alopecia Still, it’s essential to use quality and exclusive products for hair growth because it won’t make your hair fall more. Try the ones formulated with Redensyl, Capixyl, or Procapil. These are the most potent active ingredients that can make your hair grow faster.
More or less, Minoxidil and Finasteride remain the most solid treatments for hair growth. These are the only two treatments cleared by the FDA and proven to promote new hair growth. Don’t expect miraculous results overnight. It can take up to three years to see visible changes using Minoxidil and Finasteride. Low-level laser therapy is another great alternative you should consider. It’s safe and very effective in stimulating hair growth naturally. Modern devices are incredibly comfortable and easy to use at home. In the end, if none of the above treatments have results for you, the hair transplant might be the last solution you’ve got for now.
