The Truth About Hair Loss Shampoos: Expert Insights from Hair Restoration Centers
Hair loss shampoos are everywhere and they’re selling like crazy. People buy these products with the expectation of curing their hair loss. But do shampoos for hair loss really work?
In a recent interview with People magazine, board-certified dermatologists and hair restoration experts reveal their thoughts on the benefits of hair thinning shampoos and their role in hair regrowth.
Here’s what we can learn from the experts:
Healthy Scalp, Healthy Hair
“Your hair and scalp care regimen and the products that you use are the foundation of having healthy hair and, even more so, if you are experiencing hair thinning and hair loss,” say our surgeons at Hair Restoration Centers.
What this means is that your daily hair care habits and choices really matter, especially if you’re dealing with hair thinning or hair loss. Some ingredients, like sulfates, parabens, and silicones, can do more harm than good by stripping your hair’s natural oils, irritating your scalp, and clogging hair follicles.
Our hair transplant experts emphasize that “the scalp is skin and deserves the same attention that your face and body skin needs — that’s why optimal scalp health is always part of the hair growth conversation.”
They recommend using good-quality hair care products with ingredients like biotin and caffeine, which strengthen, moisturize, and maintain balance in your hair and scalp biome.
Do Hair Loss Shampoos Work?
Our board-certified surgeons emphasize that hair loss shampoos will not fully address the underlying cause of hair loss.
However, they also point out that a good shampoo with the right ingredients can help cleanse your scalp by removing excess oil, dirt, and buildup, reduce scalp inflammation, and some formulas might even encourage hair growth.
Ketoconazole for example, a popular OTC anti-dandruff treatment, has been shown to produce some hair regrowth in some people.
In one study, researchers looked at how ketoconazole 2% shampoo compares against minoxidil 2% topical solution (Rogaine) for treating hair loss. They found that both products improved hair thickness and size at a similar rate.
Another study also compared the effectiveness of oral finasteride, minoxidil 2% topical solution, and ketoconazole 2% shampoo for treating pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia).
Participants were divided into four groups, each using a different combination of these treatments. After a year, those using both finasteride and minoxidil saw the best results.
However, even people using finasteride alone or with either minoxidil or ketoconazole had better outcomes than those using only minoxidil. The researchers also reported no serious side effects during the duration of the study.
Additionally, an independent study suggests that Ketoconazole works similarly to finasteride. It reduces dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the scalp, though not completely.
DHT is the hormone that is linked to pattern baldness. It shrinks healthy hair follicles causing hair thinning or loss.
The idea is that combining ketoconazole 2% shampoo with finasteride may completely stop DHT potentially improving the treatment of pattern baldness.
These studies show some promising evidence that Ketoconazole might actually be effective in reducing DHT and contributing to hair regrowth, but our experts remind patients that more research is still needed to establish its effectiveness and safety.
Hair Restoration Treatments that Actually Work
As a first line of defense against hair loss, Hair Restoration Centers offers advanced and clinically proven hair loss treatments in our state-of-the-art facilities across 27 convenient locations throughout the United States.
Our board-certified surgeons strongly encourage patients experiencing any form of hair thinning or loss to consult with a hair restoration specialist as soon as possible because early detection is key to stopping hair loss in its tracks.
Surgical Hair Restoration Options
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
FUT, also known as the “strip method,” is a proven technique where our surgeons remove a strip of healthy hair from the back of the head. The follicular units of one to four hairs are divided into individual grafts which are then transplanted to areas of hair loss at the top and front of the scalp.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
FUE hair transplant methods offer patients advantages versus the Strip Method (FUT). FUE enables our hair transplant surgeons to harvest finer hair from the nape of the neck, often for use around the frontal hairline or even for facial hair transplant procedures.
Non-Surgical Options
While Hair Restoration Centers specializes in surgical hair restoration, we recognize that many patients benefit from a combination approach. Our Patient Advisors can discuss how medications like minoxidil and finasteride might complement surgical procedures.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a vasodilator that widens blood vessels. When applied to the scalp, it increases blood flow to your hair follicles, providing more oxygen and nutrients that nourish the follicles, and, in turn, encourage hair regrowth.
It also extends the anagen or the active growth phase of the hair cycle, meaning that your hair may grow longer and thicker before it enters into the normal shedding phase.
Finasteride
One of the most common and known oral medications is finasteride. This oral medication reduces DHT levels in the scalp and has been proven to slow down or even stop hair loss in almost 90% of men.
Two out three of these men actually see some hair grow back. Most patients usually start seeing initial results in about 3 to 4 months and more noticeable results with continued use.
Important Considerations Before Choosing Hair Restoration
When considering hair restoration options, it’s important to ask the right questions:
- What are the surgeon’s qualifications and experience?
- What realistic results can you expect?
- Are there before and after photos from similar cases?
- Might you need multiple procedures?
- What is the timeline for additional procedures if needed?
- What post-procedure activity restrictions should you expect?
- What result guarantees and policies are offered?
- What safety considerations exist for travel patients?
- What is the comprehensive fee structure?
Join Thousands of Patients Who Restored Their Hair and Confidence
When you come to one of our 27 nationwide clinics, you will receive the most advanced hair restoration treatments and technologies, all designed to give you natural-looking results. Led by board-certified surgeons specializing in hair restoration, you will have peace of mind knowing that your hair will be in the hands of the best doctors in the field.
Our structured three-step process ensures you receive comprehensive care:
- Photo Evaluation: Submit photographs for professional assessment of your hair transplant requirements
- Patient Advisor Consultation: Speak with a dedicated hair transplant Patient Advisor within 24 hours
- Surgeon Consultation and Procedure: Meet with your board-certified surgeon who reviews all details before performing your procedure
Call us to book a consultation today and join the more than 100,000 patients who have restored not just their hair, but also their confidence through our proven surgical hair restoration techniques.
