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Certain products and ingredients may help slow down or even reverse hair thinning, depending on the cause. Here are our top picks for the best hair growth products based on price, availability, and the cause of hair thinning.
Hair thinning can happen to anyone, no matter their sex or age.
Luckily, there are certain products and ingredients out there that can help slow down or even reverse the thinning process and keep hair looking thick and healthy.
From prescriptions to over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, we dove into the options, so you can select the best product for your needs.
Always follow the specific instructions given on the box or bottle. Here are a few general tips to help you make the most out of your hair growth products:
Thoroughly massage in scalp treatments to help stimulate the hair follicles.
Don’t overdo it. Using excessive amounts of your product will only cause buildup and block the hair follicles.
Stick with a new product for a few weeks or even a month — results won’t appear immediately.
Take hair supplements with food to avoid side effects.
Some of the most effective ingredients for hair growth include dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blockers and inhibitors. DHT is a molecule derived from testosterone that’s responsible for hair loss.
There are only two ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for hair regrowth. Both are DHT blockers. These two ingredients can be found in various OTC and prescription medications.
Minoxidil is thought to work by partially enlarging hair follicles and lengthening the hair’s growth phase. Finasteride works by decreasing the amount of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in your body.
Biotin: Biotin has been shown to improve hair loss, especially in patients with alopecia.
Zinc: Zinc is a micronutrient that can help with alopecia.
Iron: An iron deficiency is often associated with hair loss. In some cases, iron supplements can help with regrowth.
Collagen:Collagen is a protein that promotes hair health, though few studies indicate that it can help with hair regrowth. Nevertheless, it’s frequently found in hair products.
Niacin: Niacin has been shown to help with hair fullness in older research.
Caffeine: Caffeine is frequently found in hair growth products, as it’s been shown to improve follicle stimulation, especially when applied topically.
Horsetail:Research suggests that horsetail benefits hair growth due to silicon and antioxidant contents.
Saw palmetto:Saw palmetto extract may block 5 alpha-reductase (5AR), an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT.
Ginseng: Ginseng contains saponins, which have been shown to encourage hair growth by inhibiting 5AR in mice, as well as gintonin, which may be a suitable treatment for alopecia in humans.
Depending on the sensitivity of your scalp and hair, some ingredients and products may actually do more harm than good.
If you plan on trying a hair growth supplement, be sure to check the list of ingredients, as many supplements contain ingredients that can cause side effects.
These side effects can include:
nausea
bloating
tiredness
headaches
stomach aches
On the other hand, some hair growth products may result in unexpected benefits, like:
higher energy levels
improved circulation
lower cholesterol
clearer skin
Be sure to check with your doctor before using any new hair growth product. If the product is topical, it’s best to do a patch test before use.
A product’s effectiveness depends on the brand and its ingredients. A more expensive product doesn’t automatically mean that it is more effective.
Factors like the cost of ingredients, the perceived popularity or luxury of the brand name. Not only that, but the product’s target audience can increase or decrease the price completely independent of how effective it actually is.
When looking for effective hair regrowth products, consider the ingredient and if those ingredients have been clinically proven to help regrow or thicken hair.
For example, minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine) has been proven to support hair regrowth for many people and is more likely to give you the results you are looking for than an untested ingredient.
Hair growth products don’t work instantaneously. Most products will start to work within a few months.
Hair follicles take a few weeks to become stimulated by your product, and after that, it will take a month or two before you notice new hair growth.
While physical hair growth may take several months, most products will improve the appearance of your hair’s thickness within a few weeks.
While serums work from the outside in, supplements work from the inside out. Ideally, you’ll be able to use both types of products at once for optimal results.
There aren’t yet studies that show the benefits of serums as opposed to supplements. However, in general, topical treatments tend to work quicker than oral treatments.
In addition to using hair growth products, there are a variety of other methods you can take to improve the thickness and health of your hair.
If you’re looking for a hair growth boost, these products may just do the trick. While many can help improve hair health, they rarely get to the root of the problem.
Always talk with your doctor, so you can find out the medical reason for your hair loss and a more targeted solution.
Meg Walters is a writer and actor from London. She is interested in exploring topics such as fitness, meditation, and healthy lifestyles in her writing. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, yoga, and the occasional glass of wine.
Last medically reviewed on June 30, 2023
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Hu R, et al. (2015). Combined treatment with oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: A randomized and comparative study in Chinese patients. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/dth.12246
