Commercial shampoos for thinning hair aim to make hair shafts appear thicker by leaving a coating on the hair. Some natural remedies achieve similar effects. Hair loss resulting in thinning affects both women and men, and is usually related to hormones or genetics, according to DermNet NZ. Adding botanical ingredients to your shampoo offers a way to improve your hair care and experiment with the ingredients that provide the most effective results.
Significance
Natural remedies aim to prevent hair loss, stop thinning or create the appearance of thicker hair. Botanicals, plant-based remedies, offer the advantage of hair care that helps your hair appear thicker, without damaging your hair. Consult with your doctor about hair or scalp changes to rule out an underlying medical condition prior to attempting home treatment.
Types
Henna, a natural plant product used for coloring and conditioning the hair, brightens hair color without chemicals. Other common home treatments, including egg, olive oil and vinegar offer a natural way to add a conditioning treatment to your shampoo for thinning hair. Vinegar, either white or cider, has a reputation as a hair thickener. Olive oil improves the condition of your scalp and your hair's body.
Features
Henna thickens the hair by roughing up the hair shaft. Alexa Fleckenstein, M.D., author of "Own Your Health: Healthy to 100," recommends discontinuing the use of chemical dyes in favor of henna to help preserve your hair. Henna mixes well with shampoo.
Creating a hair-thickening effect similar to commercial hair-thickening shampoos is as simple as mixing a beaten egg into your shampoo. Olive oil helps to condition your hair and scalp. Adding the oil to your shampoo gives you a conditioning shampoo for thinning hair. Pouring vinegar into your shampoo creates a basic cleaning and conditioning treatment for thinning hair. (See References 4) Vinegar boosts your hair's shine, too.
Considerations
Henna comes in several colors and in neutral. Neutral Henna adds body to the hair without adding color. Blending cider vinegar, olive oil and egg into your shampoo at the same time creates a convenient hair treatment. Egg shampoo requires refrigeration.
Massaging olive oil directly into your hair and scalp once a month adds shine and heaviness to your hair, advises Dr. Fleckenstein.
It's normal to lose up to 100 strands of hair a day, and hair generally grows more slowly and the strands often appear thinner with age. A dermatologist examines the pattern of hair thinning to help determine the cause, according to the American Academy of Dermatology's website.
Warning
Always test ingredients on in inconspicuous area, such as your inner arm, to check for irritation before applying it to your scalp. Rub some of the ingredient on the skin and leave it for 24 hours and then check the skin in bright light. If the skin turns red or shows a rash, don't use the ingredient in your shampoo.
Though many natural remedies for thinning hair have long-standing histories, there's often little or no scientific evidence for their use. Consult with your doctor or dermatologist about your condition.
References
- DermNet NZ: Male Pattern Hair Loss
- "Own Your Health: Healthy to 100"; Alexa Fleckenstein M.D. and Roanne Weismen; 2006
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair Loss
- BellaOnline: Apple Cider Vinegar -- For Topical Beauty



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