Buying guide for best hair regrowth shampoo
Two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of hair loss by the age of 35, according to the American Hair Loss Association, and that number jumps to 85% by the age of 50. Women can also experience hair loss, though it’s a little less common. There are a couple of drug-based treatments on the market today, but if you want to try something a little more natural, there are hair regrowth shampoos.
These shampoos work with your body to create optimal conditions for hair growth. This can include introducing nutrients that your body is missing or clearing up conditions, such as buildup on your scalp, that might be impeding the natural growth of your hair.
Understanding your hair loss
The first step in properly treating hair loss is understanding the cause. In many men and some women, the condition is hereditary, but it can be caused by other conditions, including extreme stress, hypothyroidism, and inadequate nutrition. Reversing your hair loss might require properly treating one of these conditions as well. If you’re unsure as to why you’re losing your hair, it’s a good idea to consult with your doctor and see if you have an underlying condition that is causing the hair loss.
Understanding why you’re losing your hair can also guide you in your choice of hair regrowth shampoo. For example, if your hair loss is triggered by inadequate nutrition, you might want to look for a nourishing shampoo that gives your hair and scalp back the nutrients it has lost, in addition to getting yourself on a healthier diet.
Hair loss shampoo ingredients
It can be difficult at first glance to assess how well a hair regrowth shampoo will work because it often takes several weeks of regular use before you begin to notice a difference. Choosing a product that has the right ingredients for your situation is key, but it’s impossible to tell just by looking at the product label if the shampoo possesses those ingredients in sufficient quantities to make a difference.
That’s why it’s important to read customer reviews before you buy a hair regrowth shampoo. This can give you a good sense of how well the product works for most people. However, you should note that results will always vary from person to person, depending on how much hair someone is trying to regrow and the reasons for the hair loss in the first place.
Here are some of the key ingredients you can expect to find in hair regrowth shampoos, along with a brief overview of what each one does:
B vitamins
Deficiency in certain B vitamins, including riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 has been linked to hair loss. Shampoos that contain these vitamins can help give your scalp the nutrients it needs to begin growing stronger, healthier hair.
Biotin
Biotin is another B vitamin, but it deserves a special mention because it is known to be one of the best vitamins out there for improving the strength and health of your hair. Your hair is made up of a protein called keratin, and biotin helps to improve your body’s keratin infrastructure to better support hair strength. It also works to combat hair dryness and breakage, which can be a contributing factor in hair loss.
Caffeine
Caffeine is one of the most popular ingredients in hair regrowth shampoos. Studies have shown that when it’s applied topically to the scalp, caffeine can stimulate your hair follicles and encourage them to grow new hair. It’s a good idea to look for a hair regrowth shampoo that contains this if you already have noticeable balding and you need something to jump-start new hair growth.
Ketoconazole
Ketoconazole can help combat hair loss in two ways. First, it can serve as an antifungal treatment if you have a scalp infection that is causing your hair loss. But more importantly, it helps to fight DHT sensitivity. DHT is the hormone that causes male-pattern baldness by shrinking the hair follicles on top of the head. If you’re genetically sensitive to DHT, you will experience hair loss. But choosing a hair regrowth shampoo that contains ketoconazole can help to reduce your sensitivity to DHT so you can keep your existing hair for longer.
Saw palmetto
Saw palmetto is another good choice if you suffer from male-pattern baldness. But rather than reducing your hair follicles’ sensitivity to DHT, it works to stop your body from converting testosterone into DHT in the first place. This works to slow the shrinkage of the hair follicles that leads to male-pattern baldness in the first place. If you’re just beginning to notice hair loss or you know it runs in your family, you should look for a hair regrowth shampoo that contains saw palmetto to help keep your hair follicles functioning optimally.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that when applied topically to your scalp can reduce inflammation and repair damaged hair follicles. It also helps to balance the pH of your hair and scalp to help them remain healthy and properly moisturized.
Hair regrowth shampoo prices
Hair regrowth shampoo can cost anywhere from $5 to $50 and up per bottle. As a general rule, the more you spend, the better the quality of the ingredients. But you might not need to go all out on a top-of-the-line product if your hair is just starting to thin. Think about what you actually need from your hair regrowth shampoo – for example, regrowing new hair or just strengthening and holding onto existing hair – and let that be your guide.
Because shampoos come in bottles of all sizes, it’s important to compare them by price per ounce rather than the cost of the bottle. You can figure this out by dividing the cost of the product by the number of ounces.
Tips
Use the shampoo every day. This will help you get the best results.
Consider combining your shampoo with a nourishing conditioner. This will help give your hair the moisture and the vitamins it needs to remain healthy.
Let the shampoo sit on your scalp for several minutes before you rinse it out. This gives the ingredients time to sink in.
Choose a shampoo carefully if you have color-treated hair. Check ingredients, manufacturer’s recommendations, and online reviews to make sure that the hair regrowth shampoo you choose won’t strip your hair of its color.
- Be patient. It can take several weeks or even a few months before you notice significant results from using a hair regrowth shampoo.
FAQ
Q. Are there any ingredients I should avoid in hair regrowth shampoo?
A. Stay away from sulfates. These ingredients are designed to strip buildup out of hair, but they can be harsh and drying on the hair and scalp. Plus, sulfates can damage hair follicles, which could trigger further hair loss.
Q. Is this product the same as hair regrowth serum?
A. No. Hair regrowth serums like Vegamour Gro+ Advanced Hair Serum are to be used separately from your regular hair care routine. Some of them, like the Vegamour product just mentioned, are vegan formulas for those who feel strongly about not using animal-based hair products. You apply the product after you use your normal shampoo. It's a matter of preference which type you use.
Q. What if I don’t know what’s causing my hair loss?
A. You have two choices. You can either consult a doctor to help you figure it out and then use this information to pinpoint a good hair regrowth shampoo for you, or you can pick a good general hair regrowth shampoo with a number of the ingredients listed above and see how it works for you.
Q. The shampoo manufacturer says that its claims haven’t been evaluated by the FDA. Does that mean they’re not true?
A. Not necessarily. While some manufacturers are unscrupulous, making up lies about what their products can do, most are not. However, because these shampoos contain natural ingredients that aren’t regulated by the FDA, the manufacturers are legally required to put this notice on their products.
