Saturday, April 11, 2009

Shampoo Products for Hair Loss: A First Step

By Louis Levinthall

One easy-to-try option is a shampoo specifically designed to increase the health of existing hair and to reduce the rate of hair loss in both men and women. There are several sources to investigate specific shampoos, research studies which can be accessed to determine the effectiveness of many of these products. Good professional sources include dermatologists and licensed cosmeticians who see hair loss conditions frequently and have had the opportunity to observe the efficacy of a variety of shampoos. As well, an Internet "Google" search will provide hundreds of products, complete with testimony and small research studies.

You need to be aware of one thing when researching these products: there are so many different ones to choose from that it may be confusing. You can make a smart choice, however, once you understand a few basics and get some insight into what others may have found helpfully. One advantage of hair loss shampoo treatments is that they are all pretty inexpensive. You can try quite a few without going too far out on a financial limb.

Here is a little bit of background on the contents of shampoos and how they might impact their effectiveness:

1. Surfactants. These are the ingredients found in almost all shampoos that cause them to lather copiously when they are applied. You may have the notion that the more lather a shampoo creates, the cleaner it will get your hair; shampoo manufacturers are on to the fact that this belief is common, and they load shampoo products with surfactants to come out on top. This misconception is generally not true, and as a matter of fact surfactants can actually irritate your scalp and accelerate your hair loss. Avoid shampoos that boast of copious lather or ones that cover your head in a rich thick lather when you use them.

2. Herbal Additives. There are a number of herbs that have exhibited value in promoting hair growth over the years. Of these, Saw Palmetto is one of the most effective. You will find numerous products that list Saw Palmetto as an ingredient, and you should try these products. It has proven effective in reducing the amount of DHT found in the scalp, and among other things, DHT has been found to cause hair follicles to atrophy in both men and women, which reduces new hair growth.

3. Nettle and bay have also been helpful to some people. Medicinal herbs, these contribute to the development of nutrition in the scalp, and stimulate hair follicles. Shampoos which include these might help you too.

4. Essential Oils. These oils are concentrated ones which come from plants such as lavender. From ancient times, these have been used to stimulate healthy hair and to decrease the rate of hair loss. We know that we have much to learn from early medicine men and healers. Perhaps this is another example.

5. Tea Tree Oil. Perhaps one of the more common hair loss remedies included in shampoos, and almost as popular for its effectiveness as Saw Palmetto, Tea Tree Oil stimulates the scalp and cleans the skin and hair follicles to clear the way for new growth. It is available in drug stores and on the Internet, and is often sold as a disinfectant, as it is useful in preventing parasitic infections such as lice.

There are no definitive studies to show that shampoos can actually result in regrowth of hair that is caused by what we all "permanent" conditions, largely the result of heredity and hormones. However, early prevention is important, and experimenting with shampoos during these early stages may provide invaluable help in reducing the rate of loss.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment