Hair vertically challenged? If so, you’re far from alone. It's the reason why myriad hair growth shampoos, gummies and supplements have flooded your local Boots in recent years. Show
And yet with so many formulas out there promising to give you strands long enough to rival a Love Island contestant, how do you know if they really work? Or, rather than truly having the ability to add inches to your strands, are these products money down the drain? WH spoke to the experts and put products to the test in the WH Lab to find out if these next-gen shampoos are miracle workers or marketing BS. Stay with us for the honest truth. Skip straight to the products that work. What makes your hair grow faster?First things first, it’s important to assess why your hair isn’t growing as you’d like it to. Of course, if it’s hair thinning or loss you’re dealing with, then it’s best to consult a doctor. (If you’re noticing too much hair in your hairbrush, or think you might be struggling with a medical condition like alopecia, there may be a prescription-only solution that’s open to you.) That said, if you’re simply struggling to grow out a bad haircut or get your ends to creep past your shoulders, a hair-growth shampoo might be your first port of call. When it comes to environmental factors, there are many things that could be slowing down your hair growth. There is some evidence that sulphates (lather-inducing detergents used in many mainstream beauty products) can irritate a sensitive scalp. And, when it comes to lengthy hair, this is an issue. 'The scalp is the bedrock for the hair follicle, and if it is not in good condition the chances of you experiencing problems with hair growth and health increase significantly. In fact, research has proven that a flaky, itchy scalp can cause and/or worsen hair loss in certain individuals, Anabel Kingsley, Trichologist at Philip Kingsley, tells WH. Or perhaps it’s the way you’re brushing your lengths: attacking tangles with a hairbrush is likely to snap your strands, which results in hair that just won’t reach the mile-long lengths of your dreams. What foods help hair growth?Plus, ensure that your diet includes plenty of hair growth-supporting Biotin, AKA water-soluble vitamin B. You can find this in egg yolk, yeast and wholegrains – or pop a supplement. Now, onto the big question. Do hair growth shampoos really work?According to aesthetic dermatologist and hair-restoration surgeon Dr Max Malik, hair growth shampoos may not live up to the hype. ‘As far as over-the-counter options go, shampoos and other treatments are very widely sold and it’s a huge industry. However, there is actually very little evidence in support of these treatments,' is his take. Kingsley agrees that the buzzy claims made by hair-growth shampoos may be misleading, drawing attention to the many factors that can hamper their success. ‘It’s important to note that the effectiveness of a product is not just reliant on the ingredients inside: it’s heavily dependent on the concentrations of the ingredients, the quality of them and how they are formulated into the product,’ she explains. What’s more, Kingsley suggests that the way these shampoos are used may determine whether they work or not. ‘For instance, many ingredients need to be left on the scalp for an extended period of time and/or be used daily, in order to be effective.’ What is the best product for hair growth?However, Kingsley does highlight several ingredients contained in some hair growth products, that can help to optimise the health of your scalp, which can in turn support healthy hair growth. These include:
Effectively, the most effective ‘hair-growth’ shampoos don’t actually give your hair a growth spurt, but rather play a supporting role in ensuring your lengths reach their natural full potential. So, there you have it: nothing on the shelves will give you hip-skimming hair in a fortnight, but you can ensure your strands are growing at optimal natural rate. Scroll down to discover the best ‘hair-growth’ shampoos for the job. How we testEvery product awarded a Women's Health Lab logo below has been tested by a panel of 700 testers, all with self-diagnosed mild to extreme hair loss or thinning. Each tester tried a targeted shampoo and conditioner set for one to two months. The products all aimed to correct one of the three main causes of hair loss: breakage, thinning, and lack of root or scalp stimulation. Testers made a note of any changes to their scalp or hair’s condition, as well as how their hair felt after each wash. The panel included women with a range of hair types, from straight to afro hair. In the Women’s Health Lab, our experts tested anti-breakage shampoos by combing through hair switches treated with the product(s) and comparing them to untreated switches. The easier the treated switches were to comb, the lower the risk of hair breakages and fallout in real life. For those shampoos with thickening and root-stimulating claims, our in-house testers used a HairMetrix machine to analyse the effect each set had on hair thickness and density. But that’s not all! Our Women’s Health beauty editors have also suggested some hard-working products that get results – find them under Editors' Picks. 14 of the best hair growth shampoos1.Monpure London Strengthening Silk Protein ShampooBest anti-breakage shampoo
Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo Monpure monpure.com £36.00 A fan of chucking hair in a top knot when you're at the gym? Chances are you’ve caused a bit of breakage. Wrapping hair too tightly leads to damage, but there’s no need to panic - we found this aced our tests when it came to preventing breakages, to leave hair noticeably stronger and softer. Key specifications 2. L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Pro Longer Lengths Renewing ShampooBest for dry hair
Serié Expert Pro Longer Shampoo L'Oréal Professionnel lookfantastic.com £13.37 There’s nothing like that squeaky-clean feeling after a hot and sweaty workout. We found this lathered up nicely, to leave scalps feeling refreshed, without dehydrating frayed ends. The final result? Hair looked volumised and we spotted less fall out. Key specifications 3. Percy and Reed Give Me Strength Strengthening ShampooBest for damaged hair
Give Me Strength Strengthening Shampoo Some damage being done to your hair isn't a disaster, but you should aim to rectify the situation before it becomes one. Try this shampoo; mixing hydrating aloe vera with replenishing keratin, it left our entire panel with fewer split ends and most with thicker strands. One tester was in raptures over her “softer, thicker and more manageable” mane, with many others noticing less fallout and shedding. Key specifications 4. Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong ShampooBest budget buy
Grow Strong Shampoo With Bamboo And Biotin This bamboo-rich formula costs less than a fiver and claims to leave your strands as strong as your core post-barre. Our testers with curly hair reported fewer breakages, tamed frizz and some added bounce. Many others praised the duo’s smoothing and nourishing powers, which left locks shinier and cleaner. Key specifications 5. Mane 'n Tail Original ShampooBest for adding bounce
Original Shampoo & Conditioner Kit Using a horse shampoo might sound dodgy, but many of our testers found it as great at hydrating and detangling as it claims to be. It kept scalps feeling cleaner for longer and helped to minimise breakages, all while adding body. Hair was much easier to comb through after washing, too. It seems those ponies were onto something... Key specifications 6. Redken Extreme ShampooBest for preventing split ends
This popular salon brand claims to prevent breakages and strengthen fragile strands with its pH-balancing formula. It successfully reduced split ends – our entire panel noticed the difference – and our lab test proved it helped to limit breakages. It cleaned scalps gently and added volume to roots, while those with colour-treated hair enjoyed a boost in vibrancy. Key specifications 7. Nanogen Women 7-in-1 Thickening Treatment ShampooBest for thickening
Women 7 in 1 thickening treatment We can’t all be blessed with tumbling
locks like Gigi Hadid, however this shampoo did make a real difference when it came to hair appearing fuller and thicker. We spotted less fall out and it had the added bonus of leaving ends looking glossy. Key specifications 8. Umberto Giannini Grow Long Root Stimulating ShampooBest for root-stimulating
Grow Root Stimulating Shampoo Take care of the roots and the ends will take care of themselves - that’s our motto. This acts like your morning HITT class for lacklustre scalps, to give it an invigorating burst of energy. It led to some significant hair growth, with fewer split ends and less fallout. Key specifications 9. Noughty Get Set Grow Thickening ShampooBest for healthier-looking hair
Get Set, Grow Thickening Shampoo Dryness getting you down? This vegan shampoo features our holy grail hydrating ingredient, hyaluronic acid, and its cute packaging will brighten up your next #shelfie. Everyone was pleased to see fewer split ends, with many raving about how much healthier, thicker and stronger their hair felt. In fact, most agreed that it helped improve their hair loss issues altogether. Key specifications 10. Absolute Collagen Thickening ShampooBest for anti-breakage
Thickening Collagen Complex Shampoo We're avid supporters of squeezing in some anti-ageing collagen wherever you can (supplements, skincare – we'll take it), so we were intrigued to see if it worked on our hair, too. It boosted hydration for most of our panel and stood out for helping to minimise shedding and breakages. The creamy lather was ace at getting scalps squeaky-clean, with many testers seeing healthier, fuller heads of hair. Key specifications Women's Health Editors' Picks11. Revitalash
The brand behind Meghan Markle’s go-to eyelash growth serum also has a shampoo and conditioner, based on the same root-stimulating technology. This sulphate-free shampoo contains flax proteins to prevent breakage as well as stimulating ginseng to wake up your follicles. Key specifications 12. Philip Kingsley
Flaky Itchy Scalp Shampoo [75ml] Philip Kingsley cultbeauty.co.uk £12.50 If a stressed-out scalp is the source of your hair-growth issues, Philip Kingsley’s Flaky Itchy Scalp Shampoo could be the answer. Especially gentle, it’s the best non-drying dandruff treatment we’ve tried. Key specifications 13. Kérastase
Resistance Bain Force Architecte Shampoo A fan favourite and staple for the shower, Kérastase relies on amino acids in this shampoo
to cleanse, fortify and protect damaged hair - promoting brighter, healthier and stronger locks. Key specifications 14. Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening ShampooSix years in the making, this clever plant-powered shampoo instantly fortifies hair that has been dealt some serious damage. Specialist PhD chemists have harnessed three individual technologies that treat the hair on three levels meaning the formula is able to reinforce hair integrity at the core, treat the cuticle and prevent breakages. Expect fuller, longer, healthier strands.
Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Shampoo 200ml Key
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