The Tell Me Everything series is a spinoff of Ask a Beauty Editor, covering the big, sometimes complicated beauty topics that matter most to you. In these explainer videos, we share our latest reports and update you when there’s new research or breakthroughs to back them up (or related questions). –Jennifer G. Sullivan
I want to write an article about the single absolute best hair loss treatment for women that stops hair loss, makes hair look thicker, and works for everyone. But this panacea doesn’t exist yet. “People ask themselves, ‘Should I use minoxidil? Should I take rosemary oil? Should I use rice water?’ But none of this will help if your hair loss is caused by an autoimmune disease,” says dermatologist Oyetewa Oyelinde, MD, director of the Skin of Color Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine. “The type of hair loss will determine your treatment. If you’re reading this and have been suffering from hair loss for at least six months, you should see a dermatologist to get to the root of the problem.”But if you’re temporarily losing more hair than usual, or you think your hair loss is due to one of these common issues, there are plenty of things you can do at home. Read on to find out the best shampoos for thinning hair (surprisingly, this one isn’t even marketed as a hair restorer!), tricks to make your hair look fuller, and supplements that will make your hair grow, according to dermatologists and hair stylists.
Why does hair thin?
In many cases, you’ll need expert help to figure out the cause of your thinning hair. Jodi Logerfo, DNP, APRN, a nurse practitioner who specializes in dermatology, says that autoimmune diseases, hormonal imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies can contribute to the problem, and many people suffer from several of these issues at once. She also says that androgenetic alopecia, the female pattern baldness condition, is more common than many think, affecting about 40% of women by the age of 50. “Women usually start to notice changes in their 40s and 50s, but it’s gradual, taking place over a period of months to years,” says Logerfo. What are the best supplements for hair growth? One of the most affordable hair growth supplements is one you’ve probably never heard of: pumpkin seed oil tablets, like NutriTion Pumpkin Seed Oil ($23.95 for 180 1,000 mg softgel capsules). “Pumpkin seed oil has been shown to be beneficial for hair growth,” says Oirinde. For example, one study found that people who took 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil daily for 24 weeks saw a 40% increase in hair count, while those who took a placebo saw only a 10% increase. So why isn’t it more widely recommended? “I don’t think there’s as much high-quality research on natural products compared to pharmaceuticals because there’s not as much money to be made from them,” Oyelinde says. “No one’s going to fund a big study on pumpkin seed oil, even if it costs $200,000 for a study, because although it’s available in the grocery store and at the farmer’s market, it’s not leveraged in the same way that drugs are.”
