Most people are pretty passionate when it comes to their hair. The average person spends countless hours washing, drying, cutting, and styling their locks throughout their lifetime. Unfortunately, your hair isn’t guaranteed to stay luscious and thick just because you take good care of it. Hair loss can happen to anyone at any time. Depending on its underlying cause, it could be mild or severe.
Whether your missing locks are from a genetic condition or excessive stress, you may be wondering what to do next. Is it possible for your hair to grow back like your nails do after you cut them? Or could it be that your condition is permanent and you have to learn how to deal with the new you? The answers to these questions may not be the same for everyone. But here are a few things you should know about available hair loss treatments and their effectiveness for regrowing hair.
Effectiveness of Available Hair Regrowth Treatments
Over the years, scientists and researchers have tried to “crack the code” to hair loss and regrowth. Through meticulous study and research, they have learned much about the top causes of balding. In response, they have developed products to help combat thinning hair caused by common conditions such as male pattern baldness and telogen effluvium. These products aren’t guaranteed to work for everyone, but they offer hopeful hair regrowth results for many people.
The following list of hair regrowth treatments isn’t a comprehensive one. But it includes some of the most well-known products and procedures available. Learn more about the details and effectiveness of each option. That way, you can make an informed decision about which one you want to try first.
Topical Solutions
Topical hair regrowth products are very popular because they’re effective, easy to use, and often easily accessible. Topical minoxidil is one of the most popular topical solutions for stopping hair loss and stimulating regrowth. It’s FDA-approved and works for many people. When it comes to the effectiveness of topical minoxidil products, concentration can matter. In one study, men who used 5% minoxidil for 48 weeks experienced 45% more hair regrowth than study participants who used 2% minoxidil. Women typically can see fairly decent results with a 2% solution though.
Finasteride is another popular hair loss solution for men. It is available in both oral and topical forms. Many men choose the topical form because it’s associated with fewer side effects. Topical finasteride can help regrow scalp hair by reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels by up to 75%. DHT is one of the key hormones linked to male pattern baldness. Finasteride often isn’t recommended for women because of the possibility of birth defects.
Supplements
In addition to hair regrowth medications, you also have the option to take nutritional supplements for your thinning locks. Most hair supplements contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, or herbs believed to slow hair loss and promote new growth. Nutrafol and Viviscal are two popular options. Nutrafol contains biotin (a B vitamin), vitamins A and C, and an herb called saw palmetto. Many users report improved hair growth after about six months of consistent use.
Viviscal is another supplement with a similarly good track record. It contains marine collagen, which provides amino acids that the body can use to create hair. Like Nutrafol, it also contains biotin. The body uses this vitamin to produce keratin, which is a key component of hair. A biotin deficiency can lead to hair thinning, so it’s important to supplement with this vitamin if you have hair problems.
Hair Transplants
A hair transplant is a type of surgery that moves hair from one portion of the head to another. It’s also commonly referred to as hair replacement or hair restoration. For many people, hair transplants are a last resort for hair regrowth. They’re more invasive than the other treatments mentioned here. However, they’re also highly effective and offer permanent results.
Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) is a method that moves a skin flap from the rear of the head to the top areas experiencing thinning. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a method that takes follicles one at a time from one location and implants them to another. When it comes to effectiveness, high-end clinics report that both options have around 99% success rates. However, FUE is often preferred because it’s less invasive and causes less noticeable scarring.
Prosthetics
Of course, if all other treatments fail, there’s always the possibility of using hair prosthetics. These are wigs or hairpieces that may cover the entire head or only the balding portions. There is nothing wrong with wearing a wig, especially if you’re dealing with irreversible hair loss.
The nice thing about prosthetics is that they are very effective at covering up balding areas. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about spending money on a method that may not end up working well for you.
No matter what’s causing your hair loss, you don’t have to settle for thin or balding hair. Give the hair regrowth treatments above a try. In many cases, taking quick action could be the difference between reversible and irreversible balding. Don’t wait to see if your hair stops falling out on its own. Be proactive to increase your chance of being able to regrow your beautiful locks.
