When it comes to hair loss, there are as many misconceptions as there are treatments.
“There are so many myths about hair loss. One common one is that wearing hats or frequently washing your hair causes hair loss, which isn’t true,” Dr. Ross Kopelman, a Hair Restoration Surgeon in New York City, told The Post.
If shampoo and cowboy hats don’t cause hair loss, what does?
Is hair loss caused by genetics?
According to NYU Langone, more than 80% of men and “nearly half of women experience hair loss during their lifetime.”
Kopelmen notes that there is a commonly held belief that hair loss is exclusively related to genetics — but actually, plenty of things can contribute to going bald or thinning.
These include stress, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, menopause for women, and underlying medical conditions like thyroid disease.
Does stopping minoxidil make hair loss worse?
Minoxidil, commonly sold under the brand name Rogaine, was first used to treat high blood pressure but is now administered topically or orally to treat hair loss.
The medication pushes hair into the growth phase of the hair growth cycle and restores inactive hair follicles.
A common myth insists and persists that when users of minoxidil stop using the product, it amplifies their hair loss symptoms.
“What actually happens is that when you stop, you lose the hair that minoxidil helped maintain or regrow—it doesn’t accelerate your baseline hair loss. It’s a maintenance treatment, and consistency is everything,” said Kopelman.
In essence, if you don’t use it, you lose it.
For optimal growth, minoxidil must be applied directly to the scalp and used daily (or twice daily for the 5% solution).
Is Redensyl as effective as minoxidil?
Redensyl is a plant-based treatment for hair loss that includes natural ingredients like DHQG, glycine, zinc chloride, meta-bisulfite, EGCG 2, water, glycerin and Larch wood oil.
Redensyl is considered a DHT blocker.
DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is a hormone that prevents hair follicles from absorbing nutrients, leading to shrinking follicles and, ultimately, hair loss.
While minoxidil increases hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp, Redensyl reactivates dormant hair follicles, strengthening them and triggering the production of new hair cells.
Despite promising evidence, Kopelman is on the fence, or hairline, about the efficacy of Redensyl.
“Redensyl is an interesting product — it’s marketed as a natural, plant-based alternative to minoxidil and targets hair follicle stem cells. While it has potential and some patients report improvement, the evidence supporting its effectiveness isn’t as robust or well-studied as minoxidil’s,” he said.
According to Kopelman, Redensyl is most effective in patients with mild thinning or for those who can’t tolerate minoxidil.
“But I wouldn’t consider it a one-to-one replacement, especially for those with more significant hair loss.”
Do natural remedies for hair loss work?
Recently, several natural remedies have gained popularity for their supposed effectiveness in treating or preventing hair loss.
“There’s definitely a lot of buzz about natural remedies, and while they’re not a substitute for proven medical treatments, some can complement a broader hair loss plan,” said Kopelman.
Some popular natural remedies include:
- Red clover flower extract: This natural herb contains a very high level of isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen. The phytoestrogens are plant-derived molecules similar to female estrogens. This extract has been shown to help with hair loss associated with hormonal changes in women.
- Saw palmetto: Research points to saw palmetto as a natural alternative to preventing/minimizing hair loss. The research suggests that saw palmetto is a natural DHT blocker, a molecule known to shrink hair follicles, promoting hair thinning/hair loss.
- Ashwagandha: This increases blood circulation and flow while decreasing cortisol levels, which can take a toll on the whole body and specifically affects healthy scalp and hair follicles.
- Caffeine: This stimulant promotes hair growth by acting as a vasodilator, which improves circulation and blood flow. It also provides DHT-blocking properties that strengthen the hair shaft, allowing for a longer, stronger hair fiber.
- Curcumin: Studies are proving this yellow component of turmeric to be a 5a-reductase inhibitor — aka helping to reduce DHT, a trigger to androgenic hair loss. Plus, it contains anti-inflammatory properties.
- Larch: This wood oil is rich in polyphenols, which are believed to activate cell division to the outer root sheath (an essential to the beginning phases of hair growth). It is also a key compound in Redensyl — a plant-based substance proven to impact hair growth and improve hair follicular health.
- Rosemary oil: This oil is touted as a natural way to stimulate hair growth, prevent premature graying, and alleviate dry or itchy scalp. It has been shown to support circulation, which may prevent hair follicles from being denied critical blood supply, a leading cause of hair loss.
Kopelman told The Post that of all the natural remedies, he had seen the most promising results with rosemary oil and saw palmetto.
“Rosemary oil happens to be very effective at stimulating new hair growth,” he said ina YouTube video. A study looked at rosemary oil in comparison to 2% minoxidil, and they found that the rosemary oil was equally effective at stimulating new hair growth.”
Research suggests that rosemary oil may also increase nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that helps neurons develop, survive, and maintain themselves. NGF promotes the healing and rejuvenation of nerves in the scalp, thereby restoring hair growth.
“If you’re thinking about incorporating rosemary oil into your routine, I would start by doing it two or three times a week. Then, you can build up a tolerance before you start doing it every single day,” the doc added.
