Does Hair Growth Shampoo and Conditioner Actually Work?

Are you looking for a product to help combat thinning hair? If so, you’re not alone – around 1 in every 2 men over the age of 40 experience male pattern baldness.

While medical treatments like minoxidil are the go-to solution for those experiencing significant loss, hair growth shampoos and conditioners offer a more accessible alternative. But do they actually work to make your hair grow faster?

Keep reading as we explore the facts surrounding these products and explain the benefits they offer for your tresses.

What Causes Hair Loss in Men?

One of the most common reasons why men struggle with healthy hair growth is male pattern baldness.

Also called androgenetic alopecia, the condition is typically triggered by dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is a sex hormone that shrinks existing hair follicles and causes thinning hair. Those with a sensitivity to DHT are more likely to develop pattern baldness, which is determined by genetics.

The early indications of male pattern baldness include a receding hairline and thinning at the crown. These signs eventually lead to partial or total baldness.

Other common causes of hair loss include:

• Poor diet
• Increased stress
• Hormonal changes
• Medical conditions like alopecia areata
• Medications used for cancer, high blood pressure, or arthritis
• Heat damage
• Tight hairstyles

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What Are Hair Growth Shampoos and Conditioners?

Many hair growth shampoos and conditioners are marketed as DHT blockers when applied to wet hair. These products contain ingredients that may stop the action of the 5-alpha-reductase (5AR) enzyme, which converts testosterone into DHT, such as:

• Ketoconazole: An antifungal ingredient used to treat microbial scalp infections like dandruff. Ketoconazole may also contribute to lowering DHT levels, therefore preventing hair loss.
• Caffeine: A naturally occurring chemical found in seeds and leaves. Dermatology studies show that caffeine may extend the anagen, or growth, stage of the hair cycle.
• Saw Palmetto: A plant extract commonly found in traditional medicines to improve prostate health. It also works as a DHT-blocker in many hair growth shampoo products.
• Rosemary Oil: An essential oil with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Rosemary may stop DHT from binding to androgen receptors and shrinking hair follicles.
• Pumpkin Seed Oil: This oil contains phytosterols, anti-inflammatory plant compounds that work as DHT blockers to treat both prostate enlargement and male hair loss. In a 2014 study, 40% hair growth was experienced by men using pumpkin seed oil for 24 weeks, compared to 10% in the placebo group.

Do Hair Growth Shampoos and Conditioners Work?

Ultimately, there is no shampoo or conditioner on the market that’s clinically proven to support healthy hair growth. This is particularly true for men experiencing hair loss due to genetic conditions like male pattern baldness.

Although DHT-blocking products contain active ingredients that may promote hair growth, there aren’t yet any solid studies to support these claims. However, they can help to create the ideal conditions for regrowth in the following ways:

Boost Scalp Health

Ketoconazole shampoos may prevent hair thinning or loss caused by seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) or psoriasis.

These conditions create inflammation, triggering your immune system to attack the hair follicles. The hair roots can’t receive the nutrition they need to grow while under attack, meaning you may experience thinning hair. Irritation can also lead to excess scratching, which loosens hair from the root and causes even greater hair fall.

Prescribed shampoos with topical steroids or over-the-counter products, which contain dandruff-busting, antifungal agents, improve scalp health, which is essential for optimal hair growth.

Improve Circulation

Hair growth shampoos and conditioners made with essential oils such as rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and thyme can boost blood circulation to the scalp. This ensures that your hair follicles receive the oxygen and essential nutrients they need to properly grow.

These oils also have antimicrobial and antifungal properties that prevent scalp infection and remove any dirt or product buildup that may be disrupting hair growth.

Strengthen Strands

Rather than speeding up the anagen stage of the hair cycle, hair growth shampoos and conditioners reinforce the strength of your strands. This makes them less dry and brittle, meaning they’re unlikely to fall out and leave you with damaged, thin hair.

A good hair growth shampoo therefore features nourishing ingredients like argan oil, which is key for hydration. Argan oil also has smaller molecules than other types, allowing the oil to penetrate hair fibres more deeply.

As a type of protein that makes up your hair fibres, keratin is another key ingredient that makes strands more resilient against damage. It also smooths down the hair cuticle, creating glossier-looking, thicker hair.

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How to Promote Hair Growth

Even with the best hair growth shampoo and conditioner, failing to support your overall hair health can result in thin, limp locks.

Here are other effective ways to strengthen hair and promote healthy growth:

1. Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Stress and poor diet are two key factors that cause hair loss. To prevent nutritional deficiencies and hormonal changes that restrict healthy hair growth, be sure to eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and incorporate regular exercise into your routine.

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can also disrupt the hair growth cycle, so avoid these activities too.

2. Build a Haircare Routine

Shampoos and conditioners infused with nourishing ingredients can help to hydrate and strengthen hair, but only with consistent use.

Avoiding heat styling, vigorous brushing, and tight hairstyles also promote healthier hair, particularly if yours is already damaged.

3. Consider Hair Growth Supplements

Over-the-counter supplements contain ingredients like biotin, vitamin D, zinc, and folic acid, which can encourage hair growth caused by deficiencies in these nutrients.

However, these products should only be supplementary to a healthy hair growth routine, particularly for those suffering from significant hair loss.

4. Use Proven Hair Growth Treatments

As we’ve mentioned, even the best hair growth shampoos and conditioners aren’t enough alone to combat hair loss from male pattern balding.

Medications like minoxidil and finasteride are the only products approved by the FDA to treat this condition and can be used in oral or topical form. While minoxidil widens blood vessels, allowing more nutrients to reach hair follicles, finasteride is an effective DHT inhibitor.

However, long-term treatments like the Hairy Hair plan, which combine clinically proven ingredients, target the root causes of male pattern baldness, making them the best choice for ongoing hair loss management.

Unlike prescription medications, Hairy Hair delivers a single daily pill straight to your door, so you won’t ever need to visit a clinic. Along with a personalised hair growth plan, you’ll also receive free consultations with a qualified Australian GP and access to 24/7 support.

Final Thoughts

Hair growth shampoos and conditioners don’t provide a long-term solution for male pattern baldness. However, they may help to stimulate hair growth by strengthening strands and improving scalp health.

The best hair growth shampoos and conditioning products contain ingredients that create the optimal scalp and strand conditions for healthy growth. However, only clinically proven medications are effective in treating the effects of male pattern baldness.

Combine these treatments with a regular hair care routine to see consistent growth.