If you’ve ever experienced hair loss or hair thinning, rest assured you’re not alone. Experts estimate that over two-thirds of men and half of women experience declining hair volume at some point in their lives. Neera Nathan, MD, MSHS, a Harvard-trained dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon, says she regularly works with patients struggling with hair thinning and adds that she has even experienced it herself. But while this can be disheartening, you do have options.
“I’m a dermatologist and I know firsthand how it can feel when your hair is falling out,” Nathan said in a recent TikTok post. According to the dermatologist, choosing the right shampoos can make a world of difference in slowing hair loss and restoring hair growth. In fact, she recommends three shampoos for people with thinning hair.
RELATED: 9 Surprising Things That Can Cause Hair Loss, Experts Say.
1. Nizoral
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“Over here, we used dandruff shampoos for more than just dandruff. Nizoral has DHT blocking properties, so it’s going to reduce hormonal hair loss, and it also can help slow down hair shedding,” Nathan said in a separate TikTok video. DHT refers to Dihydrotestosterone, a male sex hormone that has been linked to male pattern hair loss.
2. Dove Scalp+ Hair Therapy
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For a color-safe alternative to Nizoral, Nathan recommends a popular Dove product.
“Dove Scalp+ Hair Therapy contains peptides which support the hair root as well as zinc and niacinamide, which can soothe the scalp to support healthy hair and healthy growth,” Nathan says.
3. Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo
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In the video’s caption, Nathan discloses that she has collaborated with the Vegamour brand on developing some of their products. However, she says she stands by those formulations and recommends one particular product to patients experiencing hair loss.
“For instantly fuller-looking hair, try GRO Revitalizing Shampoo from Vegamour. It contains a vegan keratin, which can coat the hair to make it look thicker and smoother, and it also contains caffeine, an ingredient that’s been shown to counteract both hormonal and stress-induced hair loss,” she says.
Here's why your hair might be thinning.
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It's nice to have a few options to help encourage hair growth, but you might be wondering why your hair is thinning in the first place. According to Nathan, there are three key reversible reasons this could be happening.
First, Nathan notes that vitamin or mineral deficiencies are common culprits behind hair loss. If you don’t know why your hair is thinning, she recommends requesting a blood test from your doctor to check for low iron levels, vitamin D deficiencies, low zinc, and hypothyroidism, any of which could affect hair volume.
Next, she says that both acute and chronic stress have been linked to hair thinning, meaning that releasing that stress through meditation, exercise, better sleep, mindfulness, or deep breathing practice may improve symptoms.
Finally, wearing your hair in the wrong hairstyle, such as a tight ponytail or adding extensions, may cause traction alopecia (hair loss caused by pulling on the hair) by putting too much tension on the hair follicle. The dermatologist says wearing your hair down or in looser hairstyles can help reverse this issue.
So, if you’re experiencing thinning hair, be sure to talk to your physician or dermatologist about your concerns. Though it’s important to understand the root cause of the problem and rule out any serious underlying conditions, getting fuller hair could also be as simple as changing a few habits and switching shampoo brands.