Hair growth is a goal for many — here, a dermatologist weighs in on the best ingredients to promote length and volume and avoid shedding.
“Patients come to me with hair-loss concerns every single day — literally,” says Dr. Neera Nathan, a Boston-based dermatologist. “For years, I’d offer the same two or three treatments in my clinic — minoxidil, platelet-rich plasma and sometimes spironolactone. I’d never heard of plant-based ingredients that could actually help.” In 2020, Nathan was introduced to hair-care brand Vegamour, which launched at Sephora Canada this January.
“I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there is data showing that topical ingredients like caffeine, turmeric and red clover can stimulate hair growth.” In addition, Vegamour’s Gro Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner are formulated with Karmatin, a vegan alternative to keratin. “It coats the hair, making it instantly look thicker, and stays on for three or four washes,” she says.
Vancouver-based hair-care brand Xyon also offers products to “stimulate hair growth and reduce shedding, using natural DHT-blocking ingredients like saw palmetto,” says Dr. Simon Pimstone, clinician and founder of the brand. “DHT is a form of testosterone that can contribute to female pattern hair loss, and our Nourish Hair Oil is designed to reduce inflammation and lower levels of DHT in the scalp.”
Continue reading to learn more about our favourite at-home hair growth products.
Noughty Get Set, Grow Conditioner
Formulated with the brand’s signature Pea Complex, which is a blend of organic garden pea sprouts, green robusta coffee beans and scalp health hero piroctone olamine, this conditioner promotes a healthy scalp to create the optimum environment for hair to grow.
In fact, garden pea extract has been shown to restore hair’s vitality, helping to stimulate growth at the root and even prolong the life cycle of hair.
XYON Activate Performance Shampoo
Formulated with natural ingredients that block DHT and support longer and fuller hair growth, this XYON shampoo gently cleanses the hair and scalp while nourishing strands from root to tip.
It uses hair-strengthening ingredients like white nettle, chamomile flower extracts, ginseng and honey locust seed to get the job done.
Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo for Thinning Hair
The phytoactives in Vegamour’s mega-popular shampoo are clinically proven to make hair appear fuller, longer, denser and reduce the signs of shedding.
BondiBoost Procapil Hair & Scalp Tonic for Thinning Hair with Horsetail Extract
Formulated with three per cent Procapil to strengthen hair at the root and target hair loss, plus aloe vera and vitamin B5 to hydrate and nourish strands, this scalp tonic helps fight the follicle aging process, targeting hair loss and strengthening hair from the roots.
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
Thanks to a combination of Redensyl, Procapil and Baicapil, this hair serum from The Ordinary not only feels great, but it helps to increase blood flow to the scalp, improve hair density, and make hair look fuller, healthier and thicker.
A version of this article first appeared in FASHION’s March 2024 issue. Find out more here.
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