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There’s nothing more stressful than thinning hair. We’re not just talking about thin hair that needs a boost of volume, but seriously thin hair that wasn’t always thin. While hair loss is more commonly discussed in men, it is a completely normal thing for women to experience too, and there are many reasons why it might start.
“The causes of hair loss in women can be quite varied and complex. The main reason is genetic and is often referred to as female pattern alopecia, or hair loss,” Dr. Christine Shaver of Bernstein Medical in New York City told SheFinds. “Common medical conditions that cause hair loss include thyroid and auto-immune disease, stress, hormonal imbalance, pregnancy, anemia and crash dieting. In contrast to causing actual thinning seen in genetic hair loss, these conditions actually cause hair to fall out. This hair loss can often be reversed by correcting the underlying cause.”
The good news is, whether your hair is thinning from hormones, medical conditions or genetics, there are ways to promote new hair growth. Many people swear by biotin supplements, but Dr. Shaver has another suggestion. “In our experience, the most effective over-the counter product to promote hair growth in women is the men’s 5% minoxidil solution,” she said.
Many companies create topical scalp products with a 5% minoxidil solution advertised for men, like the Nioxin Hair Regrowth Treatment For Men, while products advertised for women only contain 2% minoxidil solutions. However, Dr. Shaver said that the standard 5% strength is okay for women wanting to promote new hair growth to use.
“For women with more extensive hair loss, I often recommend using 2-3 droppers (2-3 milliliters) of the liquid to fully coat the entire area of concern. It needs to contact the scalp for 4-6 hours every day to be effective,” Dr. Shaver said.
Nioxin 5% Minoxidil Hair Regrowth Treatment For Men ($35.98)
How The Nioxin Hair Regrowth Treatment Works
Nioxin Hair Regrowth Treatment is made with minoxidil, the only ingredient clinically proven to effectively help hair growth. It is designed to only be used on the top of the scalp, up to two times a day, to promote the growth of new hair in about four months.
Promising Reviews
“My boyfriend started to lose his hair (stress related) and after the first bottle we saw some growth back - it was visible but not outrageous. After the second bottle we saw even more which was noticed by his peers. He stopped using it for a few months and the hair stayed the same. We just recommended it to a few friends.” - Diane
“I believe in this stuff, it actually works unlike other products that claim to help you regrow hair but give hair loss, this product works but takes a good while depending on how much hair loss you have. the hairs start to show in small white fuze but get better in a couple of months and 35 dollars a bottle even though it takes a while is better than going around bald and helps your self esteem.” - win
“I used on my friend’s hair. She had over treated her hair with relaxers and was going bald from it. This product regrew her hair fast!” - bmj
Other Ways You Can Promote New Hair Growth
Dr. Shaver told SheFinds that there are other factors that contribute to maintaining a healthy head of hair. “One important tip to help promote hair growth is to ensure that you are living a healthy lifestyle and to limit or correct any reversible causes of poor hair growth,” she said, “Other considerations include making sure hormonal balances are corrected, of which one of the most important hormones to check is TSH, which is produced by the thyroid gland. In addition, some medications may exacerbate loss and should be avoided if an acceptable substitution exists. Finally, wearing your hair loose, rather than in tight braids, will ensure that the follicles receive good blood flow from the scalp.”
