Many people experience stress-related hair loss and thinning, particularly during COVID-19, but it is rarely discussed. Vegamour and Nutrafol products are wildly popular these days, offering thicker, healthier hair in just a few months. However, they aren’t cheap, and do they really work? We spoke with dermatologists to get their take on the most common hair regrowth products currently on the market.
Consultation with a board-certified dermatologist is important before selecting a product or combination of products to cure hair loss (from supplements to topical treatments).
Rose Dermatology’s founder and medical director, Lilly-Rose Paraskevas, told HuffPost, “Hair loss is what we prepare for and treat all the time.” “While not all of us are qualified to perform hair transplant surgery, we all see, diagnose, and treat all forms of hair loss.”
Pattern hair loss, also known as male or female pattern hair loss, is the most common form of hair loss, according to Paraskevas. If you have stress-related hair thinning, this isn’t likely what you’re feeling.
“Pattern hair loss is characterized by the transition from thick terminal hair to fine vellus hair,” she explained. “Hair loss is most often seen on the frontal and vertex sides of the scalp.”
Telogen effluvium is a transient and stress-related form of hair loss that varies from pattern hair loss.
“While it’s common for 10% of hairs to shed during the shedding phase of the hair cycle, more than 10% of hairs shed in telogen effluvium, resulting in the increased shedding that patients notice,” Paraskevas explained. “We are seeing an outbreak of telogen effluvium with the pandemic, which is a temporary type of hair loss that occurs after a traumatic incident, such as a COVID infection or the complete shutdown of business as usual with social isolation that we’ve all been experiencing.”
Working with a specialist from the beginning will help you avoid spending money and time on unsuccessful products or products that don’t address the root causes of your hair loss.
Women’s Nutrafol
Marine collagen, sensoril ashwagandha, saw palmetto, curcumin, tocotrienol complex, horsetail, resveratrol, and kelp are among the active ingredients.
Expert opinion: It’s successful.
The nutraceuticals in Nutrafol are anti-inflammatory, anti-androgen, and help provide building blocks for hair growth, according to Paraskevas, who also mentioned that saw palmetto inhibits dihydrotestosterone (DHT). “[DHT] is a powerful androgen that has been linked to pattern hair loss.”
“The adaptogen ashwagandha in Nutrafol promotes homeostasis and improves the system’s ability to withstand stress,” Paraskevas added. Vitamins A, C, and D, as well as zinc and selenium, are all present in Nutrafol.
Scientific studies back up Nutrafol’s efficacy.
According to Rina Allawh, a board-certified dermatologist at Montgomery Dermatology LLC, “Nutrafol has been studied in many multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, which have shown clinical progress and were correlated with a high degree of patient satisfaction.” “Studies have also shown that the product has a good safety profile.”
Rogaine 5 percent Minoxidil Foam for Women
Minoxidil is the active ingredient.
Expert opinion: It’s successful.
“I can confidently suggest Rogaine because the active ingredient, minoxidil, has been shown to be effective in hair regrowth and maintenance for decades,” Paraskevas said. “It’s so successful that the only side effect is excessive hair growth in other parts of the body!”
According to Allawh, an ideal hair growth product should not only extend the hair growth process but also increase hair density by gradually enlarging miniaturized hair follicles to mature thicker terminal hairs.
“Topical minoxidil (Rogaine) is useful for both male and female pattern hair loss, as well as encouraging faster hair regrowth after chemotherapy,” she said.
Rogaine is available in both 2% and 5% topical solutions, with the latter being more effective, according to Allawh.
“Despite the initial shedding, long-term usage of Rogaine has been shown to produce positive results,” she said.
When taken orally, minoxidil is used to treat high blood pressure, although it shouldn’t have the same effect when applied topically (though definitely consult with your doctor before using products with minoxidil, especially if you have other skin issues, heart disease or hypertension). To see results, you must continue to use minoxidil-containing products, because if you stop using it, hair loss will return within a few months.
Dietary Supplement Viviscal Extra Strength
AminoMar C marine complex, biotin are the active ingredients.
Expert opinion: It’s successful.
A trademarked AminoMar C marine complex, which includes a patented mix of shark and mollusk powder, is the main ingredient in Viviscal.
“There is evidence that the proprietary marine complex in Viviscal promotes hair growth and thickens hair,” Paraskevas said, citing a six-month placebo-controlled study from 2016 that looked at Viviscal’s efficacy in promoting hair growth in men with thinning hair.
Viviscal’s AminoMar marine complex and apple extract (procyanidin B-2) have also been shown to increase hair density, according to Allawh. Viviscal also includes biotin, a vitamin that aids in the growth of healthy hair, as well as vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps to prevent hair damage.
Keranique Hair Regrowth System is a hair regrowth system developed by Keranique.
Minoxidil is the active ingredient.
Expert opinion: It’s successful.
Keranique’s Hair Regrowth Treatment, one of four items in the company’s Hair Regrowth System, contains 2% minoxidil, the same active ingredient in Rogaine that has been proven in clinical trials.
According to Allawh, “this ingredient has been scientifically shown to stimulate hair growth in both men and women.” “This spray formulation makes this substance easy to apply to the scalp.”
If you want Keranique’s Hair Regrowth Treatment, you must use it on a regular basis to keep the effects.
Gummies for Hair, Skin, and Nails from Nature’s Bounty
Biotin, vitamin E, and vitamin C are the active ingredients.
Expert opinion: It could work.
“This product can aid in hair regrowth, strengthening the hair shaft, and preventing hair loss and thinning,” Allawh explained.
Clinical trials are needed to demonstrate the efficacy of these gummies. Experts say that just because a product contains ingredients that have been proven to affect hair growth doesn’t mean it will be safe.
GRO Hair Serum by Vegamour
Red clover, mung bean, curcuma longa, nicotiana benthamiana, caffeine are the active ingredients.
Expert opinion: It could work.
Although Vegamour is made up of plant-based active ingredients that have shown promise in clinical trials, there is no clinical evidence to back up the exact formula.
“This product contains red clover, which has been shown to inhibit the development of dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that has been shown to inhibit hair growth, resulting in crown thinning and receding hairline,” Allawh explained. “This hair serum is generally favorable and can encourage hair regrowth.”
A board-certified dermatologist, Dhaval G. Bhanusali, has concerns about this $52 hair regrowth product.
“While I like the turmeric and caffeine, both of which have been shown to help with hair loss,” he said, “I’m not sure I’d recommend this as an alternative, particularly at the price point.”
Hair Vitamins by SugarBearHair
Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B-6, folic acid, vitamin B12, biotin, pantothenic acid, iodine, zinc, choline, and inositol are all active ingredients.
Expert opinion: It could work.
SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins has a cult following and has been lauded by social media influencers, but the product’s formulation lacks the clinical trial evidence required to back up its efficacy.
“While it may be a good vitamin,” Bhanusali said, “countless patients have come in using it and had no results.”
Hair Growth Starter Bundle by Shedavi
Vitamin (bamboo extract, amla, kamut, MSM sulfur, kelp, moringa seed, manjistha, saw palmetto, biotin), elixir (bamboo extract, amla, kamut, MSM sulfur, kelp, moringa seed, manjistha, saw palmetto, biotin) (grapeseed oil, castor seed oil, argan oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, macadamia nut oil, clary sage oil, MSM sulfur)
Expert opinion: It could work.
Although this product contains some trendy ingredients, it does not guarantee that it will be safe.
“Amla is a fantastic antioxidant, and saw palmetto and castor oil for hair loss are getting a lot of buzz,” Bhanusali said. “Having said that, I’m not sure there’s enough here for hair growth.”