The best products for hair loss 2023, plus the expert tips on causes and treatment
Looking for the best products for hair loss? Many of us have or will experience a degree of hair loss at some point in our lives, be it from being too abrasive when removing extensions or over-brushing our tresses, or due to internal causes like stress or unbalanced hormones. It is very common – but when hair loss is excessive, continuous and very noticeable, it can send us into a flurry of panic and self consciousness, leading us to seek out formulas to restore our scalp to optimum health.
As daunting as it sounds, we all naturally shed 50-100 strands a day, but if you're noticing significantly more than this it's worth looking into an underlying cause. I forfeited my strands a while ago, but during my time as a fully-fledged naturalista, I experienced my own fair share of hair loss. At times, it seemed as though no matter how much care I put into my hair, the shedding would continue, and so I enlisted the help of hair growth products.
As there are many causes of hair loss, there are also many solutions and when it comes to effectiveness, results will definitely vary. In addition to the basics, a healthy diet and styling your hair with care, there are some products that can stimulate hair growth and aid in follicle repair. But before we get into that, we asked experts for some insight into the causes of hair loss.
What causes hair loss?
“40% of women experience hair loss over the course of their lives,” Dr Bessam Farjo, hair restoration surgeon at Farjo Hair Institute, tells us. “There are two main types of hair loss – genetic and reactive. Genetic hair loss means that you are naturally predisposed to hair loss, as certain hair follicles are sensitive to male hormones, which causes them slowly shrink and produce increasingly finer and shorter hairs with each growth cycle. Around 80% of hair loss is genetic.
“Reactive hair loss is due to a specific trigger, such as nutritional deficiencies, stress, hormonal imbalances, weight loss or an illness," he continues. “Using harsh chemicals, such as peroxide or perming solution, can also damage the hair and cause it to break.” Farjo also notes that, with reactive hair loss, there is no follicular damage and the hair should grow back once you've tackled the root cause.
“Common causes [of hair loss] I regularly see in clinic include male pattern or female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium (excess shedding), traction alopecia, alopecia areata and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA),” adds Dr Sharon Belmo, consultant dermatologist and hair loss specialist.
What are the treatment options for hair loss?
It's always worth speaking to your GP or a trichologist for advice if you're experiencing hair loss, but there are some lifestyle changes you can make to help matters. Protect your hair and scalp from friction – a silk scarf or pillowcase at night is the perfect place to start. “Avoid hairstyles such as tight ponytails that put a strain on the hair follicles, as well as hair extensions that pull on the root of the hair," Dr Farjo adds. "A hair lotion containing Minoxidil can help treat female-pattern baldness, either slowing down or stopping the balding and promoting thicker hair.” Our doctor also recommends eating foods rich in protein and iron.
"As a dermatologist, I often use medications such as minoxidil, finasteride, steroids and platelet rich plasma, depending on the cause of the hair loss," Dr Belmo adds. "Modifying hair styling practices is also important when treating traction alopecia.
"I see a lot of patients with excessive dandruff or seborrhoeic dermatitis, which can impact hair growth," she continues. "I therefore regularly recommend anti-dandruff shampoos. Dry hair leads to hair breakage resulting in further hair loss. I therefore recommend rinse out and deep conditioners after washing and daily leave-in conditioners to keep the hair strands supple and moisturised. This helps to prevent breakage."
“If you’re still finding that nothing is helping your hair loss, it may be time to look into hair transplant surgery,” he continues. “Follicular Unit Transplant (strip-FUT) and Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) surgery are long term solutions to female hair loss, whereby hair follicles are removed from the back of the scalp and transplanted on the balding areas, producing a natural-looking result.”
Treating hair issues takes time, patience and consistency. Miracles do not happen overnight so it is always important to leave a significant amount of time before expecting results, but below are some of the best products for hair loss to help you on your way.
Viviscal Supplements, £29.99, Boots
One of the go-to hair supplements on the market, and widely considered to be one of the best products for hair loss, Viviscal’s hair supplements are incredibly research-backed – 25 years of research and seven clinical trials, to be more precise. Containing biotin, zinc and a unique marine protein complex, they work to support the hair growth cycle and contribute to thicker-looking, more voluminous hair. The brand also offers a range of a haircare products to help promote fullness.
Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil, £5.50, Boots
Jamaican black castor oil has been used for centuries to thicken and rejuvenate hair, in addition to stimulate growth in bald spots or damaged areas of high manipulation. The castor seeds used are roasted, ground and then boiled to extract the liquid goodness that will restore your scalp! I also love this oil on a clean spoolie brush and applied to my lashes to thicken and lengthen them.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil Hair Growth Serum, £13.49, Shea Moisture
This product has rave reviews for a reason. Not only is it perfect for the scalp, but also works to treat over processed hair thanks to an addition of hydrolysed keratin. Of course, the product is loaded with Shea Moisture’s signature ingredient, shea butter, known to nourish and product the hair and skin.
Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Scalp Hair Growth Oil, £10.99, The Mane Choice
This lightweight oil makes it undetectable on the scalp and perfect for everyday use without a heavy feeling. A combination of vitamins, chamomile and aloe vera calm the scalp whilst nettle and rosemary extracts encourage hair growth. It’s a perfect choice all round!
Rosemary Mint Scalp Hair Strengthening Oil, £12.99, Mielle Organics
This oil is great for your hair and scalp as its nourishing formula coats your tresses whilst a dose of essential oils and biotin, renowned for its hair growth properties, which provides your scalp with all of the nutrients needed to moisturise and invigorate.
Accompanied by a light tingling sensation due to an infusion of mint, this rinse-off treatment is perfect for an array of hair issues. It stimulates the hair follicles and instantly brings dull hair to life. For ease of use, it also washes off in a very gentle foam, leaving behind vibrant and healthy hair. In an unfortunate instance of over-plucking, I use this on my brows, too!
