Hair loss is all too real. And finding a hair loss shampoo can be a real pain too. Hair loss can be a result of many other underlying issues in the body. For me, these issues have been increased levels of anxiety and hormonal changes. Both of these issues have wrecked havoc on my health, causing a multitude of issues – the biggest being hair loss.
Over the last 12 years, I’ve tried over 50 different types of hair loss shampoos in an effort to curb my own hair loss. Although, shampoos aren’t the only thing you need to change to get your hair loss to normalized levels. Diet, reduced stress, and possibly a visit to a Trichologist would be a good combination to start. If you are not able to do some of those things, lets start with what you can immediately control. Below are the 5 best hair loss shampoos that have worked for me over the past few years. I swear by them and continue to use them today.
Disclaimer: Every product works different for different people. While these are recommendations, these are opinions and experiences of my own and in no way meant to diagnose or treat any health condition. Please speak to a licensed doctor for specific treatment.
1. Biolage Hydrasource Shampoo
This shampoo has a very cooling effect on your scalp. This is due to the aloe in the shampoo, which is a cooling product. This hair loss shampoo not only provides a ton of moisture to your hair, it gently cleanses your scalp too. This prevents any residue blocking your follicles. Also helps that it is paraben free, and smells really good too!
My take: I saw a reduction of about 30% of my hair loss, less frizz, and increased shine. I use this on alternate days with another shampoo below. With medium length hair, I use 2 quarter size dollops in a cup. Use with a quarter cup of luke warm water. Mix it up and then pour over hair, massage in gently, and wash out with cool water.
2. Hask Keratin Shampoo
This is the best shampoo I have found that is not only safe on your hair but smells amazing too. Even though they don’t state it being a hair loss shampoo, it is. It also boasts being free from parabens, sulfates, drying alcohol, phthalates, gluten and artificial coloring. Not only is it great at cleaning the scalp, it is one of the best shampoos to remove hair masks that leave an oily residue.
My take: I use this one regularly when I’m not looking for as much moisture as the Biolage one provides. I have medium length hair, so I use 3 quarter size dollops in a cup. Use it with about a quarter cup of luke warm water, mix it up and then pour over hair. Massage gently, and wash out with cool water.
3. Philip Kingsley Body Building Weightless Shampoo
Philip Kingsley was a Trichologist who spent countless years on managing hair conditions and hair loss. He was able to create his formulas for hair loss that treated Hollywood celebrities. His various systems of hair care give you options to suit your needs. The body building weightless shampoo is a very light shampoo but a little goes a long way. And while this shampoo may be on the pricey side for some, it’s a small price to pay for the benefits of a clean, healthy, and stronger scalp. The hydrolyzed keratin is the key ingredient that defines this one from the other PK shampoos.
My take: I love this one. It’s a close second to the Hask shampoo, but it’s climbing the ranks. I have just started using this and it’s showing promising results with about 60-70% reduction in hair loss. For medium length hair, use 2 quarter size dollops in a cup with about a quarter cup of luke warm water. Mix it up and then pour over hair, massage in gently, and wash out with cool water.
4. Nioxin’s Cleanser Shampoo System 1
While the Nioxin Systems are built for specific types of hair loss, I think the System 1 is your go to. They have various hair loss shampoos that may work, but stick with system 1, until you are sure. This is if you suddenly see a loss of hair that may be from trauma or any stress induced situation. The shampoo is heavily cleansing on the scalp. Making sure that your follicles are not only clean, but the peppermint oil additions adds a nice tingling sensation.
My Take: I used this as a recommendation from a friend. While I saw some benefit from it (I cant tell what percent of reduction in loss), I did notice that it helped mostly with stress induced hair loss. So if your hair loss is temporary, this is a good option for you. I used 2 quarter size dollops directly only my scalp and hair. Massaged for about a minute and washed out with cool water.
5. Peter Lamas Hair Solutions Energizing Shampoo
This hair loss shampoo has been another great find. It uses apple stem cells as one of its main ingredients. This may feel slightly heavy on the hair, but when diluted a little, balances it out. It claims to remove follicle blocking sebum and work on preventing DHT build-up. If the DHT hormone is a problem for you, this may be your pick. Also happens to be vegan, sulfate and paraben free as well. Win-win.
My take: This is a great shampoo but slightly pricey. However, what’s the cost of losing your hair for a few extra bucks? If you can afford it, and if you have hormonal issues or are dealing with the dreaded DHT, this is your pick. For medium hair, 2 quarter size dollops directly only my scalp and hair massaged for about a minute and washed out with cool water.
Note: The reason I dilute most shampoos above is that the SLS’s in shampoos are really harsh on your hair. So while you want to get the most from your shampoo, directly applying it to your hair is harsh. Also, when you do dilute it, you get the perfect amount of lather for your entire scalp and hair, avoiding the use of more product.
Conclusion
Hopefully you are able to not only find the right shampoo for you, but find the root cause of your hair loss. Hair loss affects us not only physically, but emotionally too. And there are so many products out there that know this truth. They will try to abuse your trust for an extra buck, so beware. While I have had so many trial and errors over the years with shampoos and products to help my hair growth, these 5 have helped me more than any other shampoo. In conjunction with these hair loss shampoos, I oil my hair once a week to help decrease my body’s internal sebum production. Check out this post on what hair oil is good for you. Good luck on your journey to hair recovery.
Featured photo courtesy of unsplash.com
Article last updated on September 21st, 2021
