What’s a Good Shampoo for Hair Growth?
If you’re noticing more fallout than usual or start seeing your scalp through your hair, a hair growth shampoo can be a good first step in tackling the problem. Hair loss is a common issue with many potential causes – from stress to hormonal shifts, genetics, and nutritional deficiencies.
But a hair growth shampoo isn’t going to change things overnight. Patience and consistency with your treatment can pay off in the long run. Knowing the cause of your baldness and choosing ingredients that can address it can work in your favour for promoting hair growth.
In this article, we will be talking about what makes a good hair growth shampoo and some of our favourite ones. We’ll also share how Hairy Hair can help if you’re dealing with shedding and want to regain your lost hair.
What You Should Keep in Mind About Hair Growth Shampoos
Hair growth shampoos aren’t intended to be a cure-all, but they have tangible benefits. Here are some things you should be aware of when using hair growth shampoos.
Be Realistic
Hair growth shampoos can reduce breakage and create a healthy scalp environment, but do not induce growth on their own. Hair growth shampoos are not subject to rigorous TGA testing, so advertising claims can lead people to think that they have found a miracle cure. Hair growth shampoos must be used as part of a treatment plan if you are suffering from excessive shedding.
Contact Time
Shampoos are designed to be rinsed out, so there’s only so much they can do to help hair in the short time they’re on your scalp. Leave-in products like oils or hair growth serums stand a better chance of providing a regrowth advantage. Healthy scalp care lays excellent groundwork for hair growth, but hair loss typically must be dealt with using something more targeted.
Consistent and Correct Application
It can take some experimenting to find the right routine for you, but generally speaking, you should use hair growth shampoos 2-3 times a week for about 2 months to assess how effective it is. An oily scalp may require more frequent washing, while a dry scalp needs more conditioning than heavy shampooing.
See a Professional
If you’re worried about increased shedding or thinning, you should talk to a qualified dermatologist or trichologist. Hair growth shampoos can provide limited benefits, and conditions like genetic hair loss or inflammation may necessitate professional help.
What Ingredients Should You Look For?
Hair growth shampoos come in many different formulations. Knowing what your hair needs can help you narrow down your search and find products that contain ingredients that stimulate regrowth. Top contenders are shampoos that contain ingredients to help strengthen the hair shaft, lower inflammation, and cleanse the scalp without stripping it of natural oils.
Here are some of the ingredients that we recommend looking out for:
- Keratin: The primary protein of hair that is used to increase strand strength and prevent breakage.
- Caffeine: Stimulates blood flow to hair follicles so more nutrients reach the strands and extend time to the growth cycle.
- Castor oil: Stimulates blood flow to the scalp and reduces dandruff through antifungal benefits.
- Shea butter: Promotes moisture retention to help tackle damaged strands.
- Ketoconazole: Decreases DHT production, the hormone that causes hair follicles to shrink and eventually leads to hair loss.
Picking the Right Shampoo
Knowing your hair type, scalp condition, and the extent of your hair loss will help you choose the right hair growth shampoo.
- Scalp type: Oily scalps will need a lightweight and clarifying formula to manage sebum production without drying it out. Dry or sensitive scalps require soothing ingredients like aloe vera or shea butter.
- Product quality: Look for products free from sulphates and parabens to prevent irritation and maintain your scalp’s natural barrier. They also work better with time.
- Hair loss type: If you experience general thinning, you can benefit from using products with biotin and collagen to help provide volume and mend broken strands. Patchy hair loss can benefit from using products with saw palmetto or caffeine that block the formation of DHT.
Our Top Recommendations for Hair Growth Shampoo
Now you know what you should look for in a hair growth shampoo, here are our top picks depending on your needs:
Best Overall
The Vegamour Gro Revitalising Shampoo is at the higher end of the price scale but contains powerful ingredients. The centre of the formula is karmatin, a vegan keratin alternative. This bonds to the hair shaft, decreasing breakage and strengthening strands. This product doesn’t rely on harsh chemicals to achieve results and can be used safely when your choices are limited (eg, during breastfeeding).
Karmatin is designed to mimic the silk of the wasp spider Argiope Bruennichi by growing a lab-synthesised version of the protein in a yeast fermentation. Research published in Cosmetics found that spider silk could be used to protect against oxidative stress and support ingredient delivery.
Best for Hormonal Hair Loss
Évolis Professional Promote Shampoo targets the overproduction of the FGF5 protein, which causes the hair growth cycle to shorten. Research published by West Japan Dermatology has found that the active ingredient (Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract) inhibits FGF5.
The product also contains antioxidants, vitamins C and E, and wheat protein to create a healthy scalp condition and encourage strong hair strands. It works well on a sensitive scalp without causing dryness. Even though the lack of sulphates is good, sometimes it can be harder to lather, so it may take some time to get used to.
Best for Scalp Health
Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo assists in improving scalp health and preventing thinning. Plant proteins, rosemary oil, and ceramides are some of the primary components that assist in stimulating hair follicle renewal. Rosemary is great for hair as it encourages growth and stimulates circulation. The gentle ingredients help reduce scalp itchiness and provide a solid foundation for healthy hair growth.
Best for Thinning Hair
DS Laboratories Revita Antioxidant Hair Density CBD Shampoo contains niacinamide (vitamin B3), caffeine, and copper peptides to reduce inflammation and minimise hair shedding. This product can help in the early stages of thinning by tackling scalp issues like irritation, dryness or redness.
Hair Growth Shampoo and Treatments for Hair Loss
Picking the right products to tackle hair loss can make a marked difference in hair health. A balanced hair care routine with gentle shampoos, conditioners, and styling products can ensure that you’re not doing more harm than good when it comes to hygiene. Hair growth shampoos are a solid basis for a treatment plan, as they help manage your scalp condition and improve the health of your existing hair while facilitating healthy hair growth.
However, hair growth shampoos may not be able to address the root cause of your shedding. The formula’s short application time and chemical limitations mean that hair growth shampoos can only create surface-level change. If you’re not tackling the main reasons behind your hair loss, hair growth shampoos will only minimise further damage.
To take control of your hair loss today, contact Hairy Hair. Our targeted hair growth treatment fights the primary causes of hair loss through a comprehensive combination of powerful ingredients. The treatment acts as a DHT blocker and aims to increase nutrient delivery to your follicles so they’re sufficiently nourished.
When you’re ready to begin, just fill in our short online form so we can learn more about you and your hair loss. Once we’ve received this, one of our qualified Australian GPs, who are experts in hair care, will create a personalised treatment plan based on your needs and answer any questions you have. Finally, your prescription will be delivered to your door, giving you a convenient and discreet way to tackle hair loss.
