Nioxin shampoo has been a popular product since its inception in 1987. The company has added many different items to its line of hair care products, which Nioxin states are made to help fine and thinning hair look better. Nioxin, purchased by Procter & Gamble in 2008 for more than $300 million, has avoided making outright claims of being a hair loss product.
Misconceptions
While there are many claims that Nioxin is a hair regrowth product, they do not come from the company itself. The Nioxin website states "Nioxin is not a hair loss product, but a scalp and hair care regimen designed to improve the scalp health environment and improve the appearance of fine and thin-looking hair."
Benefits
Although Nioxin shampoos do not promote themselves as hair loss products, it is possible they can help in the regrowth of hair by removing sebum from the scalp when used. Sebum contains testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, often called DHT. DHT is believed to be the leading cause of male pattern hair loss.
Types
Nioxin makes several different types of shampoo, which the company bills as Nioxin Cleanser. There are different shampoos, depending on whether your hair is fine, medium or coarse, chemically treated and the stage of hair thinning. Nioxin Cleanser is available alone or in a three-piece package with conditioner (Scalp Therapy) and a leave-in supplement (Scalp Treatment). Each three-part package is known as a "System." There are eight different systems for different hair types.
Considerations
Nioxin does make one other shampoo, which is its Intensive Therapy Clarifying Cleanser. The shampoo, which is to be used in place of Nioxin Cleanser in the three-part systems, is designed for people who use hard water and for those who swim in chlorinated pools.
Significance
Nioxin products do not contain finasteride (Propecia) or minoxidil, which are the only two hair loss treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company states that Nioxin products and Propecia may be used together, but it does not recommend that Nioxin Follicle Booster or Scalp Treatment be used with minoxidil.
References
Writer Bio
A.G. Moody is a multiple award-winning journalist who has been writing professionally since 2000. He has covered everything from business to health issues. His work has appeared in the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" and numerous other newspapers and magazines. Moody earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Eastern Washington University.