Best Hair Growth Shampoos 2018 — Hair Growth Shampoo Review
What makes a good hair growth shampoo? Is it simply its ability to grow hair faster? For some, that might fit the criteria but as we have seen in the past few years, hair growth shampoos mean very little if it doesn’t have a hair regrowth potential. If not that, we at least want a shampoo that can give us healthy and thick hair alongside the length. Let’s review hair growth shampoos and which one takes the crown for 2018!
I will bear in mind that not every product is perfect, each has their own strength and purpose so the ranking isn’t a universal scale of every hair product but instead based on a useful criteria which many users are after.
To better understand how these shampoos are working let’s look at what determines hair growth:
a) The Circulation in Hair Follicles
The hair follicle (embedded in the scalp) is what provides the hair nutrients it needs to grow. In the growth phase of the cycle (anagen), this blood supply will determine how fast and thick it will grow. The time it remains in the growth stage is determined by genetics but obviously environmental factors also play a role. Eventually, the hair follicles move to the transitional and shedding phase where it cuts of supply to the hair strand and the hair falls off.
It’s interesting to know that the capillaries supplying blood to the hair follicles are incredibly thin (no more than a few cells thick) making any minor blockages detrimental to hair growth.
b) Inflammation and Stress
For those affected by some kind of alopecia (bald patches and excessive hair fall), for both males and females, the cause is usually inflammation. This response in the body is ultimately what causes early or excessive shedding of hair. This can either be due to inflammation restricting blood flow or directly damaging the hair follicle. We see inflammation occurring in an extreme form during chemotherapy which is often why patients loss their hair; the radiation inflames the hair follicles.
With this in mind, let’s see how these shampoos fare when it comes to science!
Pura D’or Shampoo
Pura D’or has been gaining some popularity recently and why not, it sounds french and mysterious (getting those J’adore vibes mind you). But in all seriousness, £25 per bottle gets you this hair loss prevention, organic shampoo. It smells of pure heaven and is luxuriously smooth.
It seems to have a long list of benefits such as increasing thickness, strength, volume and shine as well as reducing hair thinning and hair loss. They back up these claims with a clinical study based over 8 weeks which is refreshing to hear. However, upon closer inspection of the study, it appears to be very poorly done.
Are the Claims True?
Firstly, they claim to reduce hair loss as a result of breakage which is a fair claim to make if this was a significant form of hair loss. Most forms of alopecia involve the hair strand fully shedding from the head as opposed to breakage, which is more to do with the quality of hair.
Nonetheless, the measure for this were done by counting the number of hairs broken in tresses, which needless to say isn’t very accurate.
Another weakness of the study is that there is no clear, objective measure of thickness, strength or shine used in the study. The changes in these were determined by a questionnaire by the participant as opposed to any physical measurement. This makes the results vague, more so when you notice the rates of favourable results are fairly low (e.g 50–60%) which suggests it’s just over the majority of the participants. It is already only slightly better than chance but we also need to account for the placebo effect when recording questionnaires.
Other ingredients include anti-oxidants such niacin and biotin however these aren’t much use on the scalp. If ingested as vitamins or in food, they can prove very beneficial for increased blood circulation and keratin production for hair however topical application, as far as studies show, is no more useful than filler contents.
Conclusion
Compared to using a standard shampoo, it won’t cause more inflammation in the scalp as it is free of parabens, SLS and perfumes. It may even reduce it thanks to the aloe vera present in the ingredients.
However, this doesn’t mention anything about hair growth/regrowth. Whilst we can partially rely on the questionnaires about increased shine and thickness, this thickness is simply an artificial, temporary thickening of the hair shaft as opposed to an improvement in the quality of the hair.
Effects aside, it is a nice, fragrant bottle that’s for sure!
Mane N Tail Shampoo
If ever I was to write about hair growth and not mention the Mane N Tail shampoo, I’d be a sinner. If you have never heard about this shampoo before, it has one crazy story; it was originally used to speed up hair growth of a horse’s mane but later adjusted for use on humans.
This is a pretty cheap shampoo at £6 for a 350ml bottle. Why is this even on the list for best hair growth shampoos?
Does Mane N Tail Shampoo Work?
The ingredients act like steroids for hair follicles and can increase the rate of growth giving you longer locks sooner. If it was effective on horses, then there must a physical effect present and not purely as a result of marketing. Users have confirmed this, typically females who are trying to grow their hair out.
But, and this is a big but, you get what you pay for. A cheap bottle of Mane N Tail does what it says but unfortunately, only what it says on the tin. In most cases, user feedback showed hair quality deteriorated overall with hair feeling sticky as if residue was left inside. The hair also became more coarse with multiple cases of worsening hair loss and hair thinning, so not a great trade in the end.
The strong chemicals in it can aggravate inflammation which explains the increased hair loss but generally, a shampoo designed for horse hair is bound to come with side effects. Admittedly, the formula has changed since the earlier versions of the stuff but it is essentially trading off less hair growth with fewer negative side effects.
Conclusion
If you are lucky enough to not experience these side effects, using this as a short term hair growth booster may work, but keep the doses small if you have any love for your hair!
Taoist Soap
The Taoist Soap seems to be a good all round option with positive effects in most departments. Though it doesn’t boast super fast hair growth, it’s more popular for improving the length, quality and thickness of the hair from the inside out.
Unlike the other shampoos, the ingredients and logic behind this soap (shampoo) are fairly straightforward. The Korean clay used to make the soap contains powerful anti-inflammatory and circulation boosting ingredients which form the perfect concoction for hair.
The circulation improvement ensures a good supply of nutrients to the hair follicles for natural increases in thickness and length. On the other hand, the anti-inflammatory effects would slow down the rate at which hair falls out.
Luckily, these are all documented effects by clinical trials that confirmed an increase in the width of the hair strand over 3 months as well as the number of hairs falling per week. Unlike other forms of hair thickening, which is a result of residue in the shampoo, this type of hair thickening results from constantly better blood flow and stronger roots.
The anti-oxidants packed in this soap are easily absorbed through the skin and can partially reverse the damage to hair follicles from the inflammation potentially making this a hair regrowth shampoo that works.
Since, the mechanism the soap works through isn’t based around blocking DHT production but rather the physiological causes of hair conditions, it makes it suitable as a female hair loss shampoo too.
An equally important part of Taoist soaps magic is in what it doesn’t do. It avoids the usual mistakes many top shampoo brands make for the sake of marketing. Firstly, it is fragrant free meaning there are no perfumes added. Fragrant shampoos often cause inflammation when it comes in contact with the scalp and it is no different when using essential oils.
Essential oils can have their antibacterial/antiseptic qualities but it is neurotoxic even when absorbed through the skin which inevitably can lead to a flare up of the skin which in this case is the least of your concerns. Inflammation does occur as a result but if enough is absorbed it can disrupt your central nervous system leading to long term nerve damage. It is currently an unregulated market so there is no control on safe usage.
But it can’t be all good, can it?
Well yes and no.
User reviews have confirmed that it really works for many individuals with no problems on suitability (side effects) but this shampoo isn’t designed for dangerously fast growth but more oriented on quality growth; improving thickness and hair regrowth too.
Another point is the price, at £30 per bar. This may seem excessive to some but considering how long it lasts as a shampoo for hair growth and thickness, it sounds about right.
Conclusion
Everything you want in a hair growth shampoo at a decent price with only natural ingredients. Sure it doesn’t have the lavish descriptions Pura D’or does but it guarantees results!
Ultrax Labs Hair Surge Shampoo
The new kid on the block, aka Hair surge ultrax labs shampoo, is quite a mouthful to say. But whilst it’s a new name, it’s a very familiar formula adding to the existing line caffeinated shampoos.
It’s marketed as a hair loss and hair thinning shampoo giving it a very ‘Alpecin touch’. For a whopping £80 per bottle, it contains surprisingly few ingredients, namely caffeine, ketaconazole and saw palmetto, but all known ingredients to be effective with hair.
Unfortunately, the reviews haven’t been all that great. A few positive reviews have shown some improvement in the rate of hair loss for some but many have claimed it has been ineffective which isn’t good news if you are paying that much for a shampoo. The odd review also shows it worsening hair loss, but why? To find out, let’s take a look at the ingredients.
Caffeine: In vitro studies have shown that hair follicles submerged in caffeine for up to 10 minutes can lead to a decrease in hair shedding. Good news so far, but when you dive a little deeper you understand why it can be a little hit and miss.
This was an in vitro experiment which will always have its limitations (as opposed to in vivo) since it’s in a test tube environment. For one, the role of DHT and other hormones in the scalp are largely ignored which is the most significant trigger for hair loss in males.
Another reason why it may not work is the hair follicles need to be submerged in caffeine and for a duration of 10 minutes. Our scalp is very rarely submerged in shampoo nor do we stand in the shower for ten minutes waiting for it to soak, so what little remaining effect it might have goes down the drain (pun intended).
These factors might explain the ineffectiveness of using a caffeinated shampoo but not why users have complained it worsened their hair loss. To see why that might be true, take a look at the process through which caffeine works: vasoconstriction. This is the narrowing of blood vessels, particularly in the scalp, which can temporarily reduce the inflammation that is causing hair fall. But, it essentially cuts off the circulation ergo less nutrients reaching the hair follicles.
In this way, long term use is always bound to worsen hair fall if not hair quality since continued vasoconstriction is depriving your follicles of the much needed nutrition.
The other two ingredients can in fact be useful for many scalp conditions and popularly used by shampoo brands to add a ‘natural touch’ however, their ability in hair growth/regrowth/loss is limited.
Ketaconazole: This is an anti-fungal ingredient which can be useful if there is any fungal growth in the scalp as it very much could be causing inflammation.
Saw Palmetto: Another ingredient for its antiseptic properties but also for its proposed use as a DHT blocker. Studies done on saw palmetto have shown limited efficacy but more research is being done.
Conclusion
A fairly expensive choice of hair growth shampoo which may be useful in treating bad inflammation in the short run but quite the opposite with long term use. Many pharmaceutical drugs like minoxidil and even alternative therapies all look to increase blood flow to reduce hair loss and increase hair growth but the caffeinated approach comes at it the wrong end.
Lee Stafford Hair Growth Shampoo
Lee Stafford brings a much needed colour in our lives. The bright, flashy bottle with the early 2000s style internet capitalisation screams edginess. It is designed to encourage hair growth and add some volume to thinning hair.
Going through its uses and ingredients it’s clear to see this shampoo appeals to a certain niche. It allows you to grow hair in a short period of time and add some volume to do more with your hair. Whether you’re after covering up bare patches or looking to bun up your hair like a pin you saved on Pinterest, apparently Lee Stafford can make it happen.
It increases blood circulation to the follicles to speed up the rate of hair growth using its “Pro-growth complex” but whilst there is no experimental evidence to support this, users have claimed that hair has grown faster than normal.
However, for optimal results, the company states you need the Lee Stafford treatment and conditioner bottle too, so if you are looking to buy the whole set, it would cost you £21.
What About Hair Thickness and Hair Loss?
While the use of the shampoo does increase hair thickness and volume, it again works in a similar way Pura D’or does. Adding a fatty acid into the shampoo enlarges the strands to give a thicker feel but not a genuine thickness of the root. It essentially means that thickness can only be maintained whilst using the product but if that’s the effect you are after, then it still delivers.
Unfortunately, Lee Stafford doesn’t make any claims on hair loss. Improving circulation is one thing but simultaneously counter-acting inflammation is another and a required step in reducing hair fall.
In terms of reviews of this product, there have been a few alarming experiences of it accelerating the amount of hair that falls. This shampoo may be a tad strong in the substances that are being used so suitability on your skin type may need to be considered.
Lastly, the bulk of the negative reviews claimed it did nothing for them but this is an understandable complaint as varying genetics and lifestyle factors are at play in every individual.
Conclusion
If you are after a quick fix for slow growth and thinning hair, Lee Stafford can help even if it’s not exactly holistic or natural. Though it’s best to be wary of side effects and compatibility on your scalp.
Bonus Tips
Now this is an article about the best shampoo for hair growth not a ‘how to’ guide but you should remember before getting any of these products that it’s truly a combined effort for hair growth. Simple techniques in improving circulation and reducing inflammation is a natural solution that can go a long way in getting healthy hair.
Some examples include regularly massaging the scalp for improved circulation or washing your head with cold water to temporarily reduce inflammation. It’s also a good idea to cut down on foods that prolong chronic inflammation; things like sugary drinks and food, carb loaded diets etc.
Adding a source of collagen, the main protein present in hair and skin, can help in protein synthesis to produce better quality hair. This can be through food such as red meat but also from hydrolysed collagen supplements.
But, a good shampoo is still vital in your hair care routine because it’s something you are potentially using everyday, directly to your scalp — so make sure it’s the good stuff!
