How to Help Your Hair Grow Back: Are Natural Remedies Beneficial?

Hair loss is a very common condition, but you will certainly be very upset when it comes to hair loss, and of course want to deal with this problem as soon as possible. You can find many home remedies on the internet that promise to help your hair grow back, but for the most part there isn’t much research to back up these claims. However, there are also some effective therapies that you can try. Unfortunately, if hair loss is genetic, home remedies won’t help much. Fortunately, there are medications and minor tricks that can help your hair grow back. See your doctor if home remedies don’t work.

Table of Contents

Topical therapies and lifestyle modifications

Besides good nutrition, a few home remedies can stimulate hair growth. As with dietary changes, topical treatments or lifestyle modifications have shown mixed results and may not be effective if your hair loss is genetic. Even so, you can still try the change and see if it works as this won’t hurt either.

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Daily scalp massage. This can stimulate the hair follicles to grow more hair. A study has shown that a 4-minute massage a day makes hair thicker. Try rubbing your scalp with your fingertips for a few minutes a day to see if it helps. ^{[1] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

This therapy takes a long time to take effect. Results are assessed after 24 weeks or nearly 6 months.
You can also use a scalp massager.

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Use lavender oil when massaging your scalp. Lavender oil has shown limited results in promoting hair growth, especially in people with alopecia areata. When massaging your scalp, try using lavender oil. Rub the oil into your hair follicles and see if it works. ^{[2] X Research Source}

When applying lavender oil to the skin, remember to dilute it with a concentration of 2-3% to prevent skin irritation. If using undiluted oil, you need to mix it with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil. Mix 3 drops of lavender oil with each teaspoon (5ml) of carrier oil to make a 3% oil blend. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Stop using the oil immediately if there is any sign of itching or irritation.

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Reduce stress to avoid hair loss. Stress has a significant impact on hair loss. If you are under extreme stress and notice your hair falling out, get your stress under control as soon as possible. Some positive changes can help reduce hair loss. ^{[4] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Try taking time each day to practice relaxation exercises like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga.
Doing things you love is also a good way to relieve stress, so you should also schedule time every day for your hobbies.
If you are having difficulty, it can be helpful to have therapy with a psychologist or psychiatrist.

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Quit smoking or don’t smoke in the first place. Smoking can interfere with blood flow to the scalp, making hair loss worse. If you smoke, stop smoking as soon as possible to avoid health problems. If you don’t smoke, it’s best not to practice smoking. ^{[5] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Passive smoking can also damage your health, so don’t allow anyone to smoke in your home.

Proper hair care

Taking good care of your hair is an important part of hair loss treatment. While it won’t help hair regrow, a hair care regimen can prevent hair loss from getting worse. Follow the steps below to prevent further hair loss and keep your scalp healthy.

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Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and moisturizing conditioner. Keeping hair clean is important, but some products can strip your hair of nutrients and oils. You should use a mild alcohol-free shampoo to retain the nutrients of your hair, then use a moisturizing conditioner after each shampoo to keep your hair moisturized. ^{[6] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Use products that are alcohol- and fragrance-free. Products marked “hypoallergenic” that are formulated for sensitive skin are usually the best.
Dry conditioner can also protect hair throughout the day.

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Comb your hair gently. Constant brushing is also a damaging factor for hair and scalp. You should only brush your hair just enough to style, not too much. ^{[7] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

If you have a habit of pulling your hair all day, try to quit this bad habit. Any pressure will cause more hair loss.

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Stop dyeing, steaming, or chemically straightening your hair. These hair treatments all use harsh chemicals that can strip nutrients from the hair. It’s best to avoid using these methods, especially when you start to experience hair loss. ^{[8] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

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Avoid exposing your hair to high temperatures. The heat from a hair dryer or curling iron can damage your hair if you use it regularly. You should be very limited in using these products to avoid damage and hair loss. ^{[9] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Let your hair dry naturally whenever possible. If you use a hair dryer, you should set it to low heat.
It’s okay to use a curling iron or straightener from time to time, as long as you don’t use it every day.

Change your diet

Our bodies need enough nutrients to produce hair, so diet and nutrition are very important in supporting hair growth. However, there is no single change in diet and nutrients that will help hair regrow. These changes usually only work in cases of nutrient deficiencies. If you are in good health, your hair loss is probably genetic. If you need a supplement, the changes below may help.

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Get tested for nutrient deficiencies before starting corrections. Although nutrients play a big role in hair growth, nutritional adjustments are often only effective if you are lacking in nutrients. A simple blood test can determine if you have a deficiency. If you have unexplained hair loss, see your doctor for a blood test. The test results will tell you if you need to make changes. ^{[10] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Unfortunately, dietary changes won’t help much if you don’t have a nutrient deficiency. Still, there are some topical treatments or medications that can help.

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Eat the right amount of calories each day. Hair can fall out if you eat too few calories, such as when you’re on a strict diet or on an accelerated weight loss diet. This will make the body malnourished and unable to grow hair. Talk to your doctor to determine how many calories you need to eat each day to maintain a healthy body and based on that to create a daily diet. ^{[11] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

In general, women can eat up to a minimum of 1,200 calories per day, and men 1,500 calories per day without problems. Calorie intake less than this can lead to undernutrition. ^{[12] X Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Go to Source}
Use extreme caution if you are on a diet. Watch your calorie intake to avoid malnutrition.

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Add iron in the diet. Iron deficiency is a common nutrient deficiency that will inevitably lead to hair loss. If you have an iron deficiency, adjust your diet or take a supplement to get the recommended amount of iron. ^{[13] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

In general, men need 8 mg and women need 18 mg of iron per day. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Good sources of iron include lean meats, fish, beans, nuts and green leafy vegetables. You can also take an iron supplement if your doctor determines it is safe.

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Add zinc to your diet. Zinc helps the body produce enzymes that aid in hair growth, a deficiency of which has been linked to baldness. If you have a zinc deficiency, you need to get zinc in your diet or through a supplement. ^{[15] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Adults need 8-11 mg of zinc per day. ^{[16] X Research Source}
Food sources of zinc include oysters and other shellfish, red meat and poultry, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and dairy products.
Zinc deficiency is common if you have certain digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. This condition can also happen to vegetarians.

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Eat foods rich in omega-3 and omega-6. These fatty acids can help maintain healthy hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. ^{[17] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source} Sources include fish and shellfish, nuts and vegetable oils, nuts, legumes and soybeans. ^{[18] X Trusted Source Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute Go to Source}

You can also get these fatty acids from fish oil supplements, but their effect on hair growth is unknown.

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Biotin supplement. Biotin is a B vitamin that supports hair growth. If you don’t get enough of this nutrient, your hair will begin to thin. You need to get enough biotin through your daily diet. ^{[19] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

You only need a small amount of biotin per day, about 25-30 mcg. The best sources of biotin are organ meats, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds and red meat. ^{[20] X Research Sources}
Biotin deficiency is quite rare, so it’s less likely to be the cause of your hair loss.

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Get selenium from food instead of taking a supplement. Selenium is a protein that plays a significant role in hair growth. That’s why selenium is present in many hair growth products. However, too much selenium can cause selenium toxicity, which also carries the risk of hair loss. It is best to get selenium from your regular diet rather than taking a supplement to avoid overdosing. ^{[21] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Adults need about 55 mcg of selenium per day. You can get selenium from meat, eggs, and whole grains. ^{[22] X Research Source}

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Don’t get too much vitamin A or E. Excessive amounts of vitamins A and E in the body can actually cause hair loss. Keep these two vitamins in moderation to avoid possible problems. ^{[23] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source}

Usually you won’t be afraid to get too many vitamins through your diet. The cause of excess vitamins is often due to the abuse of supplements, so you need to make sure you use them exactly as directed.

Specialized treatments

Home remedies to stimulate hair regrowth give ambiguous results, so specialist treatments are much more reliable. There are a number of medications or procedures that you can use to stimulate new hair growth, even for hereditary hair loss. Talk to your dermatologist to determine the methods that work best for you.

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Apply hair growth medication to the scalp. The most popular brand name hair growth pill is Rogaine. It comes in the form of a foam or shampoo, applied to the scalp 1-2 times per day, depending on the instructions. It can take up to 6 months to see results, but this drug is very effective in treating hair loss. ^{[24] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Rogaine is sold without a prescription.
Be careful not to get the medication on areas of your skin where you don’t want hair growth.

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Inject corticosteroids into the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles. This is a common treatment for people with patchy baldness. Steroid injections can reduce inflammation of the hair follicles and help with hair growth. Your dermatologist may give you injections every 4-8 weeks, so you need to maintain regular treatment for best results. ^{[25] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

This method can show results within 12 weeks if you do it regularly.

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Use a laser hair loss treatment. Laser treatments can stimulate hair follicles to grow more hair. Treatments are done in a dermatologist’s office, so talk to your dermatologist if you want to give this treatment a try. ^{[26] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

This method requires you to be patient. You may have to go to therapy several times a week for several months to see results. ^{[27] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}
You can also use laser treatments at the same time as other hair-stimulating therapies, such as medications.

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Try a hair transplant if you still have some hair on your head. Hair transplantation involves taking healthy hair follicles from another area of the scalp and transplanting them into bald areas. Your scalp will be numbed by a surgeon or dermatologist and a hair transplant will be performed. You can go home immediately after the procedure is complete. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

Follow your doctor’s instructions for post-operative care for best results.
You may need follow-up surgeries to transplant the bald parts.

⧼Medical Information⧽

Some home remedies can help if you start to experience hair loss. However, these therapies mostly only work if you are nutritionally deficient. If you have hereditary hair loss, home remedies may not work. Luckily you still have other options. If you have no luck with home remedies, see your doctor to discuss medications or a hair transplant procedure to restore your hair.

Warning

Sudden hair loss could be due to an underlying health problem, so it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible.
Niacin is a popular hair loss product, but there is currently no evidence of its effectiveness. You should not use this product. ^{[29] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Steps