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Can A Hair Growth Shampoo Really Make Your Hair Grow?

12 Min Read

It sounds too good to be true: Use this hair growth shampoo and watch as your thinning hair returns in full force. Unfortunately, many products claiming to promote hair growth don’t really work. However, there are some shampoos for hair growth out there more effective than other ones on the market for a variety of reasons. Some claim to help with hair growth, while others don’t promise to do anything beyond helping hair to appear thicker and healthier. With so many different kinds of hair growth shampoo available, how can you know which ones are worth it?

The trick to finding the best hair growth shampoo is to get one that contains ingredients shown to aid healthy hair growth. So what are some of the ingredients to look for in shampoos for hair growth?

Some key ingredients in shampoo for hair growth are zinc, biotin, niacin or caffeine. These ingredients have been shown to affect the body in ways that can help hair to grow, such as by increasing circulation. It’s worth noting that even if a shampoo on its own doesn’t do the trick in promoting hair growth, the action of massaging the scalp when you use the shampoo can still help. Other ways to fight against hair loss include focusing on how to improve your hair health, such as by adding nutrients to your diet or even directly to your hair.

Let’s take a closer look at shampoo for hair growth. Is there really a kind of shampoo that helps hair grow faster? What ingredients should you look for the best hair growth shampoo, and how do they work? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.

What is Hair Growth Shampoo?

Different kinds of hair growing shampoo have different claims about what they can do. Many brands claim to sell shampoos that will make your hair grow faster or thicker, and some even claim they can halt or even reverse hair loss. Others tout benefits for hair health that help hair grow stronger — so they support hair growth, but they don’t necessarily increase the number of follicles that are actively producing hair along the scalp.

In general, shampoo for hair growth is any shampoo that is designed to help your hair grow. Whether those hair growth benefits are intended to be in terms of better health and strength, faster growth or an increase in the number of strands is open to interpretation.

Do Hair Growth Shampoos Really Work?

Whether hair growth shampoo really works depends on several things, including which hair growing shampoo you use and what benefits you expect to receive from it. Any shampoo that helps keep your scalp and hair healthy can be considered a hair growth shampoo. If you’re looking strictly to increase the number of hairs on your head, you may be disappointed, as research at this time suggests there’s no magical shampoo that will reverse hair loss.

Keep in mind, that an effective hair growth shampoo does not simply make your hair grow. Instead, it helps to keep your hair healthy by delivering ingredients that can benefit your hair when applied topically to the scalp. Some of the ingredients found within hair growing shampoo are also found in supplements that promote hair health.

What Ingredients Are in Hair Growth Shampoo?

Let’s take a closer look at a few ingredients found in hair growth shampoos that help with hair growth:

Biotin is a B vitamin that plays an essential role in the health of our skin, nails, and hair. It has an important role in the formation of keratin, the protein that’s the main building block of hair. It’s a common ingredient in nutritional supplements and hair growth shampoo.

Niacin is another ingredient commonly found in hair growth products. This is a B3 vitamin that helps transport the energy from the foods we eat into all the cells of the body. It converts carbohydrates to energy and prevents that energy from turning into fat. Niacin also improves blood circulation, increases keratin production and repairs DNA. It has been found to induce hair growth even when applied topically, which is why it is commonly included in hair growth shampoos. You can make your own niacin hair mask by using avocado.

Caffeine may also be a relevant ingredient in the battle against hair loss, according to dermatologists from the University of Jena in Germany. This is because it stimulates weakened hair roots and protects them from testosterone, which can have a harmful impact on hair growth. However, there are some doubts over whether it is actually effective to apply caffeine topically to the scalp, meaning it may be ineffective as an ingredient in hair loss shampoo. Even so, it appears on the ingredients lists for several products.

Zinc helps fight dandruff and keeps the scalp healthy, which promotes healthy hair growth. It’s an ingredient in most name-brand dandruff shampoos.

Last but not least, a very common ingredient in hair growth shampoo is ketoconazole, an antifungal medication. This is scientifically proven to be effective in fighting hair loss, but it also comes with side effects. If you are sensitive to antifungal medications, it could cause skin rashes, headaches, abnormal hair texture or dry or oily scalp.

Some shampoos also contain minoxidil (brand name Rogaine). While research suggests this may be effective in helping the fight against hair loss, we always recommend going for a shampoo with natural ingredients that help nourish healthy hair growth from within. The all-natural approach is less likely to leave you with any unpleasant side effects that can accompany using drugs to promote hair growth.

Can a Hair Growth Shampoo Really Make Your Hair Grow?

Additional Tricks to Help Hair Growth

No matter what kind of hair growth shampoo you use, it is always helpful if you massage the scalp when you apply a hair growth shampoo. Massaging the scalp stimulates the skin and increases the blood circulation, which makes sure the hair follicles receive all the nutrients and oxygen they need to be healthy. It also keeps the scalp free of any leftover hairspray and other product buildup. This, in turn, promotes healthy hair growth and reduces the risk of dandruff or scalp acne, which can impede hair growth.

Taking a hair supplement can also help ensure your hair is able to maintain healthy growth. Unlike a topical treatment, a good hair supplement will give you all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need from within, such as biotin. It can also benefit your skin and nails. Many people who take Nutrafol report side benefits such as clearer skin, less stress, better sleep, and increased libido.

As always, when something seems off in your health, take a look at your lifestyle. Are you stressed? Are you too busy to eat healthy foods? When was the last time you worked out? Adding some exercise, sufficient sleep and a healthier diet to your lifestyle will have a positive impact not only on hair but also on your entire body. If you suspect a serious health issue may be at the root of your hair loss, seek help from a medical professional.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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