Key ingredients: biotin, keratin, gooseberry oil, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, glycerin, sunflower seed oil, caviar | Scent: mint
What causes hair thinning?
Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, says that thinning hair can be linked to many things. “It could be from over-processing color, medication, medical conditions like anemia and vitamin deficiency, menopause, or it could just simply be your genetics,” Dr. Gohara explains.
Stress is directly linked to hair thinning as well. When confronted with a major physical or emotional stressor, the body eventually responds by pushing more hairs than usual into the telogen, or resting, phase of the hair cycle, Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, previously explained. Over time, this signals them to stop growing and then, months later, fall out simultaneously.
Telogen effluvium is the name given to temporary hair loss caused by a shock to the system. For example, the jolt of postpartum or menopause—and the hormonal swings associated with these conditions—will commonly trigger telogen effluvium in women, according to Nazanin Saedi, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. But in terms of demographics, hair loss “does not discriminate,” Corey L. Hartman, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Alabama School of Medicine previously said. “It can be seen across races, ethnicities, skin types, and hair textures,” he affirmed.
Do hair thinning shampoos really work?
No products are cure-alls but experts agree that cleansing your scalp regularly and boosting scalp circulation are key to healthy, fuller hair—and shampoos targeted towards thinning hair, especially those with exfoliating ingredients, are essential. Not doing so “can lead to buildup on the scalp and contribute to seborrheic dermatitis, which may lead to redness and inflammation,” Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, told Allure.
Incorporating scalp massages is a great practice as well “Scalp massages can help boost circulation, remove the buildup of dead skin and excess oil, as well as help to enhance penetration of certain products such as scalp serums, oils, foams, and shampoos,” Dr. Garshick previously explained. “Circulation to the scalp is important to help promote hair growth as the hair follicles depend on nutrients from the blood, so this helps to keep the hair follicles in their growing phase,” Dr. Garshick adds. Here you have it, folks. Shampoos are just one part of the equation, so take note.
What ingredients should I look for?
Dr. Sadick says an ideal shampoo for thinning hair needs to not only improve the volume of your strands but also encourage the growth and circulation of hair follicles. “Amino acids provide the building blocks to build new strands, while biotin, part of the B-vitamin complex, is required by hair to metabolize amino acids and can help strengthen hair,” he says. Additionally, Dr. Sadick notes that antioxidants, such as vitamin E and ginseng, are beneficial for promoting hair growth “because they reduce free radicals from sun, stress, or overprocessing and have anti-inflammatory properties.”