Long, thick, flowing Rapunzel hair is a goal many of us strive for, but achieving it can often be challenging, if not seemingly impossible. As many people seek effective solutions for addressing various hair concerns, numerous serums, supplements, vitamins, and who knows what else have become available on the market that claims to accelerate hair growth, reverse hair loss, and improve overall hair health, it's difficult to decipher false marketing promises from real remedies. There is one truth to carry with you - there is no magic bullet.
So before you start adding products to your cart, let’s get the lowdown on the benefits and risks of these solutions to our fine hair problems.
Hair grows at an average rate of less than 1 inch a month. When it comes to health, your body will prioritize your hair last. So if you’re not healthy in other aspects of your being, your hair is going to take the back seat until these ailments are resolved. It’s also important to note that a change in your hair density or texture could be a sign of something going awry in your health. Could this be a lack of essential vitamins, stress, or environmental changes? These are the first steps to look into before reaching for hair growth serums.
Understanding Hair Growth Serums:
Hair growth products are specifically formulated and designed to aid the natural growth process by nourishing the hair follicles and promoting healthier strands. Often made with active ingredients such as collagen, and amino acids, they work together to provide a host of benefits for hair growth and scalp health.
Typically applied directly to the scalp or roots of the hair, hair growth serums work by stimulating the hair follicles and improving the flow of blood to the scalp, which can boost overall hair and health.
Benefits of Hair Growth Serums:
Hair Loss - One significant benefit of using a hair growth serum is its ability to increase the thickness and volume of the hair. Hair loss, thinning hair, and baldness are usually caused by nutrient deficiencies in the body. Hair growth serums contain vital nutrients such as biotin, keratin, and collagen, which may restore hair thickness and promote hair growth.
Scalp Health - Hair growth serums contain a host of proteins, vitamins, and natural oils that can promote hair and scalp health. They may help to nourish and moisturize the scalp, reduce inflammation, dandruff and flakiness, and improve overall scalp health.
Stimulates Blood Circulation - Certain serums contain ingredients that promote blood flow and circulation in the scalp, which can contribute to improved hair growth by “waking up” hair follicles.
Active Ingredients:
It’s important to understand the only FDA-approved over-the-counter medically topical ingredient for the treatment of hair loss is Minoxidil (aka Rogaine). Unless it contains minoxidil, hair growth serums won’t increase the number of strands on your scalp. But even this ingredient is designed for certain hair loss, and not for general use.
The majority of minoxidil-free hair growth products support scalp health instead, in which case, this can help in promoting healthy hair growth.
Biotin - Biotin is a popular ingredient in hair growth serums. It is a B vitamin that helps the body convert food into energy and promote hair growth. Biotin promotes protein synthesis and helps to strengthen hair strands and increase hair thickness.
Keratin - Keratin is a protein found naturally in hair and nails. It is a key ingredient in hair growth serums. Hair strands are mostly made up of keratin, and including it in a hair growth serum can help to strengthen the hair, reduce hair breakage, and promote hair growth.
Collagen - Collagen is another protein that is essential for maintaining healthy skin, nails, and hair and helps to promote hair growth. Collagen gives the hair its elasticity and strength and can help improve hair thickness and reduce hair breakage.
Amino Acids - Amino acids, such as arginine and cysteine, are essential protein building blocks found in hair growth serums. These amino acids help to improve hair health by promoting the production of keratin, the strengthening of hair strands, and the healing of damage.
Risks of Hair Growth Serums:
Despite the many advertised benefits of hair growth serums, and beauty influencers who swear by them, there is limited scientific evidence to support these claims. While hair growth serums can provide improvement in hair health and appearance, it is important to approach them with realistic expectations.
Adverse Reactions - While rare, some individuals may experience allergic reactions or scalp sensitivity to certain ingredients present in hair growth serums. This can happen due to the ingredients being too concentrated.
Ineffectiveness - As we have already mentioned, there isn’t enough evidence to prove that there is a magic serum to give us hair equivalent to a Disney princess. More often than not beauty brands boast about their miracle products with very little results. But as we said, this can still help promote healthy hair growth.
Limited Regulation - Unlike the FDA-approved minoxidil, hair growth serums fall into the category of cosmetics, meaning they are not as heavily regulated. It's crucial to be cautious when selecting a serum that promises so much.
Keeping A Healthy Scalp Environment:
Washing hair regularly to remove buildup is the most important step in maintaining a happy, healthy scalp. Just like the ingredients in hair growth serums, you should be looking for shampoos with the same. Do use a conditioner, but avoid massaging it into your scalp, this can clog pores after just cleansing. We all now know the dangers of using dry shampoo in excess, if you do use a dry shampoo, always make sure to wash your hair that day to prevent your follicles from suffocating. Stimulating blood flow is equally vital when it comes to having a healthy scalp, use a shampoo brush to massage your scalp as you wash your hair!
Protip: Use TO112 Biotin shampoo and let it sit in your hair and on your scalp for 2- 3 minutes to let the ingredients absorb into your skin. Rinse well.
Hair growth serums may offer a host of benefits to promote scalp health, and hair thickness, and reduce hair loss. They contain vital ingredients such as biotin, keratin, collagen, amino acids, and natural oils that can enhance hair texture. However, it's essential to note that they are not a miracle solution for hair loss and should be taken with a grain of salt.
What our experts recommend is using a caffeine based shampoo to stimulate hair growth by energizing hair follicles and blocking the DHT hormone from damaging hair follicles. Follow with a fortifying conditioner to improve hair’s structural integrity and prevent breakage.
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