The Hair Health Hotline provides direct access to dermatologists, trichologists, hair stylists and other beauty professionals. Each story in this series addresses common hair and scalp concerns and offers science-backed solutions for taking care of your strands.
The appeal of shampoos that promise to promote hair growth is pretty clear.
However, the question of how effective a shampoo is is less obvious, and comparing all available options with different ingredient highlights can easily be a waste of time. Read our rundown on how to find the best shampoo for hair growth from Wendy Roberts, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in Rancho Mirage, CA.
Q: I am suffering from hair loss and would like to start using a shampoo that works for hair loss. How do I find the best shampoo for hair growth and thickening?
A: According to Dr. Roberts, choosing the right formula for your scalp type is a top priority in finding the best shampoo for hair growth. Certain shampoo ingredients may help promote healthy hair by boosting circulation, she says.
How to find the best shampoo for hair growth
If you’re after a formula that promotes healthy hair growth, follow these steps when choosing your shampoo.
Choose the right formula for your scalp.
According to Dr. Roberts, a healthy scalp is the ideal environment for hair growth, so it’s important to find a shampoo formula that meets your individual needs. Or do you have an oily scalp that becomes shiny a day or two after washing? Next, choose a shampoo that’s meant for dry or oily hair, she suggests.
A wrong choice can hinder hair growth. “An example of this is someone with very dry hair. [Black people] Dr. Roberts said: [the hair] Tears, which will contribute to hair loss. ”
Conversely, if you have an oily scalp, you want to avoid products rich in conditioning ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and silicones. According to Dr. Roberts. Excess oil and hair product build-up can negatively affect hair growth. shape Previously reported. “If the follicle is not clean, the hair can face impedance as it grows out of the follicle,” says Dr. Roberts.
Some scalp conditions, such as severe psoriasis, require special shampoos, notes Dr. Roberts. When in doubt, check with a dermatologist who can help find the right shampoo and overall treatment plan.
Learn which ingredients are and are not related to hair growth.
When looking for the best shampoo for hair growth, you can also look for certain promising ingredients. “The shampoo stays on the hair for so short a time that these ingredients don’t even penetrate the scalp and hair,” says Dr. Roberts. It’s very thick.”
One ingredient worth noting is the star of everyone’s favorite morning drink. “Caffeine increases circulation, so it may actually have some effect,” says Dr. Roberts. “Caffeine dilates blood vessels, increasing blood flow.” This, she says, boosts the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles, promoting hair growth.
Biotin is also a common ingredient in shampoos that promise to fight hair loss, says Dr. Roberts, but when used topically, biotin probably won’t provide any hair-growth benefits. “It’s a myth surrounding biotin. In fact, it doesn’t do anything unless you ingest it. Biotin is great for hair, but it’s ingestible biotin.”
Keratin can condition hair and make it look fuller, says Dr. Roberts, but know that it doesn’t actually affect hair growth. I liken it to the use of the product. “It forms a coating, but I don’t like it going into the hair and helping it grow,” she says. can.”
How to use shampoo for hair growth
I don’t want to focus all my energy on choosing the best shampoo for hair growth. Instead, you should adjust your hair washing routine to promote a healthy scalp. When you apply shampoo, give yourself a scalp massage, recommends Dr. Roberts. It is very important as it helps the penetration of the
For healthy hair growth, it’s important to strike a balance between washing your hair often or not enough. “If you have a problem with hair loss, don’t wash your hair too much, because every time you manipulate it, you lose it,” she says. Shampooing doesn’t shed a lot of hair, but if you have a problem with hair loss for reasons X, Y, Z, you don’t need to shampoo too often.” , stress, and endocrine disorders.) Here’s a guide to how often you should wash your hair, depending on your hair type.
On the other hand, not washing your hair enough can lead to build-up that inhibits hair growth. You can also use products that incorporate exfoliating ingredients (salicylic acid, lactic acid, enzymes, etc.) to help.
One important thing to note is that many factors can affect hair growth, from genetics to diet. is smaller, but consider the group that bows third. But there is still a role, says Dr. Roberts. So finding the right formula can help, but if you’re trying to deal with hair loss or thinning hair, you don’t want to ignore the big picture.
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