Hair thinning or loss can be incredibly frustrating—especially after big life changes like childbirth, during times of high stress, or simply hormonal changes. But according to Dr. Jeanine Bowring, a naturopathic doctor who experienced significant hair loss herself after each of her pregnancies, there are three key changes she made that led to what she calls “crazy hair growth”—and she swears by them.
“These are things I’ve done and discovered myself over the years after having lost a lot of hair after each of my babies,” she explains. “Having a busy life and a lot of stress, this is something I’ve struggled with. But these are the three things that I noticed made a huge difference for my hair growth—in a good way.”
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1. Ditch the Ponytails, Elastics, and Hats
Dr. Bowring’s first major change? She stopped wearing her hair up in tight ponytails and avoided using elastics altogether.
“I think that was really breaking my hair,” she says. “As well as hats—I very rarely wear a hat unless I’m on a bright sunny beach for protection. But I want some of that natural sunlight on my head.”
According to Dr. Bowring, new studies show that red light—especially from the sun—can encourage hair growth. “So less of those hats, less of the elastics, and less wearing my hair up made a big difference.”
2. Washing More Frequently + Scalp Massage
Forget the once-a-week hair-washing rule. For Dr. Bowring, increasing the frequency of hair washing (with a focus on scalp massage) was a turning point.
“I started to wash my hair a lot more often, and always massaging my scalp,” she says. “That stimulation of the blood flow on the scalp really did wonders for my hair growth.”
She also explains how a hormonal compound known as DHT (dihydrotestosterone)—a less favorable form of testosterone—can build up on the scalp and stunt hair growth.
“That old habit of only washing my hair once a week? Not a good thing,” she says. “Washing away that DHT buildup on my scalp was the best thing I could do. I really started to see my hair come back so much more quickly—and grow so much more than what I was used to.”
3. Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen Changed Everything
Her final (and most transformative) tip? Taking hydrolyzed bovine collagen daily.
“I mix it into my coffee every morning,” Dr. Bowring says. “I’m telling you—the way and how quickly my hair grows now… anybody who works on my hair always comments: ‘Oh my goodness, your hair!’”
She emphasizes that it’s not just about length. “It’s the strength, the beauty, and the shine of my hair as well,” she says. “Besides how often I have to have it done—because it’s just growing so quickly now.”
