Hair-loss treatments for women, from shampoos to umbilical cord serum to plasma injections – and what experts say about them
- With nearly half of women losing some of their hair by age 40 due to hormones, pollution, stress and more, it’s no wonder so many hair-growth aids are available
- We look at some of them, from oils and serums for home use to invasive treatments by doctors, seek advice from experts and find out what not to do
There comes a time in every woman’s life when she looks in a mirror and sees less hair.
The American Academy of Dermatology says 40 per cent of women suffer hair loss by age 40. This can happen because of hormonal changes as a result of childbirth or menopause, pollution, excessive use of hair straighteners, poor diet, extreme stress, or illnesses including Covid-19.
Fred Gielly, a hairstylist at Gielly Green salon in the UK capital, London, says overhead halogen lighting in hair salons (which makes most of us look bald) fuels the US$80 billion hair growth industry – which, according to market analyst Grand View Research, has seen 6.6 per cent annual growth since 2020.
There are various hair-growth treatments available, from placenta serums that need to be microneedled into the scalp, to blue dyes taken orally that require infrared light to activate.
We take a look at some of them and get the opinions of some leading hair experts, known as trichologists.
Premium skincare brand Augustinus Bader recently launched five hair products containing a cocktail of nutrients and TFC8 – its patented ingredient made from amino acids, vitamins and synthesised molecules designed to nourish the scalp and hair.
The brand’s shampoo takes some getting used to, but after oiling and greasing twice weekly with the oil and conditioner, we found that hair texture changed and became softer.
Act+Acre is an American vegan haircare brand launched in 2018 by husband-and-wife team Helen Reavey and Colm Mackin.
Its Cold Processed Scalp Detox product combines oils, amino acids, stem cells and minerals to help strengthen hair from root to shaft.
The brand’s Stem Cell Serum, which is made with apples, does not leave a greasy residue, unlike rosemary oil.
There’s a lot of discourse online about tricks to achieve a fuller head of hair – whether by treating your scalp with rosemary oil or avoiding daily washes. Reavey, who is a trichologist and former stylist, disapproves of most popular trends.
“My view is, treat your scalp as you would your skin. So, all the same things: vitamin C, peptides work for both,” she says.
Reavey adds that gentle exfoliation is important for the scalp because it removes toxic build-up, but massaging with devices can cause inflammation.
Shampoos and leave-in serums can only do so much, though. If you want to see dramatic hair growth, you may have to turn to more dramatic treatments.
One of the more invasive hair-growth therapies is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which takes the patient’s blood and spins it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets (cell fragments that form blood clots), before injecting it into the patient’s scalp.
For those not prepared to undergo such treatment, there are other options.
A healthy scalp acts as a barrier against bacteria and irritants, to protect the health of the scalp
Calecim Professional’s hair growth serum derived from the mesenchymal stem cells of the umbilical cord lining of red deer, may sound a bit iffy, but the research is intriguing.
Nick Lang, Singapore-based Calecim Professional’s chief commercial officer, explains that the product is the brainchild of two plastic surgeons who set out to speed up wound healing. They found that human stem cells worked well on the skin, and they pondered their use on the scalp.
Calecim Professional’s serum has an active ingredient called PTT-6, which contains more than 3,000 proteins and stimulates hair follicles as it reduces inflammation.
Under a doctor’s advice, the serum can be self-administered at home. It takes about five minutes to apply, and should be left in for 24 hours.
Calecim Professional has done its own clinical trials, but we believe the mirror. After three months of regular use, we are seeing quite a bit of virgin hair growth.
She began experimenting on herself, injecting vitamins B7, B5 and B12 and using mesotherapy (a cocktail of microneedled nutrients) on her scalp.
She also took vitamin C and now also recommends taking Advanced Nutrition Programme’s Skin Youth Biome capsules to promote scalp health.
“A healthy scalp acts as a barrier against bacteria and irritants, to protect the health of the scalp,” Eleni says.
She is also a fan of Dermalux Flex, a light-therapy device that lowers inflammation and boosts collagen.
Eleni’s own hair grew back in abundance after several months, and now she helps cancer survivors regrow their hair.
Finally, the hardcore hair brigade will never use a normal towel to dry their hair – only the finest microfibre cloths will do.
They also sleep on silk pillowcases to avoid hairs breaking, and swear by the oh-so-gentle Manta brush, created for cancer survivors to avoid pulling out hairs.
