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Microneedling for Hair Loss: The ULTIMATE (5X More) Hair Regrowth Guide

If you think dermaroller microneedling is only for anti-aging, think again.

For the last 5-7 years, using a derma roller for hair growth has become one of THE most common practice among hair loss sufferers.

Unlike many other come-and-go hair growth gadgets or remedies, microneedling is not going anywhere anytime soon and for a great reason.

In this ultimate guide, we will give you everything you need to know about microneedling for hair loss.

First, you will learn how dermarolling helps with hair loss.

Then, we will cover ALL of the microneedling for hair loss studies and give you key findings from each one.

You will also see 5 derma roller for hair regrowth success stories with before and after photos (as well as their regimens).

Finally, you will learn how to use a derma roller for maximum hair growth results, along with the best dermaroller for hair regrowth to use on a weekly basis.

First, let’s cover some basics:

What is microneedling?

Microneedling definition: Microneedling, also known as derma rolling, is a simple dermatologic procedure.

Made of hundreds of needles, this hand-held device is designed to be rolled over the skin for the purpose of puncturing the outmost layer (stratum corneum).

derma roller for hair growth and reverse hair loss
Using dermaroller for hair regrowth is becoming so popular among people suffering from hair loss

Interestingly, the official medical term for micro needling is percutaneous collagen induction therapy.

As the term indicates, when needles puncture tiny holes into the skin it creates small wounds due to an acute inflammatory response.

However, the wounds are just deep enough to induce the repairing process without scarring the tissues.

The repairing process is what actually increases the production of collagen.

Due to this simple yet effective mechanism, microneedling has been a huge hit in the skincare industry.

Some of the popular cosmetic uses include:

  • Reducing fine lines as well as deep wrinkles
  • Improving dark circles
  • Removing acne scars
  • Fading cellulite and stretch marks
  • Evening out skin depigmentation

The popularity of microneedling hair loss at home therapy: What’s even better, an increasing number of research studies also prove that a dermaroller also works wonders regrowing hair for all kinds of alopecia including androgenic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA).

Microneedling benefits for hair loss – How a dermaroller helps with hair growth

From a handful of studies, researchers discovered a mechanism behind microneedle hair regrowth relations and why a derma roller improves a hair loss condition in such a dramatic way.

Here are the main benefits of microneedling for hair loss from the studies.

How does microneedling for hair loss work? 3 Major benefits:

Benefit #1 – Microneedling promotes a better delivery of topical hair loss treatments

One of the biggest obstacles of using any skin care product is permeability.

Our skin (stratum corneum specifically) acts as a protective barrier.

This also means that even if you use a topical serum made with the best hair growth ingredients, the chances of getting them all to penetrate the skin is extremely slim.

This is where micro needling can come in very handy.

Derma roller benefits for hair: A 1998 study (1) notes that derma rolling help cross this permeability barrier without damaging any nerves.

For instance, when the researchers tested the absorption of calcein (fluorescent dye used to indicate cellular health), the increase was 1000 times after microneedling.

As the needles are rolled over the scalp, it creates tiny holes in the outer layer of epidermis, which allows topical treatments (minoxidil or any topical solutions) to easily enter and absorb into the skin.

Benefit #2 – Microneedling increases the formation of new blood vessels in the scalp (angiogenesis)

Micro-puncturing causes cutaneous wounds (micro injurious) in the scalp that is not too deep to become scar tissue.

Our body then automatically starts the wound repairing process by sending various signaling proteins and hormones to the area.

One of the signaling proteins that interacts with the repairing process is called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

The main role of VEGF is to promote the formation of new blood vessels (known as angiogenesis) in the outer root sheath of hair follicles, thus providing the surrounding hair follicles with better blood supply via vascularization.

These newly created blood vessels then help accelerate hair regrowth by supplying better nutrition to follicles and keeping the strands in the anagen (growth) phase for a longer period of time.

Benefit #3 – Microneedling activates various growth factors associated with the development of hair follicles

Microneedling increases the following growth factors:

  • Platelet derived growth factor
  • Vascular endothelial growth factor (discussed above)
  • Epidermal growth factor
  • Fibroblast growth factor

These growth factors via micro needling activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways – one of the most important elements for hair follicle development / regeneration and hair growth (2).

Wnt/β-catenin signaling assists with hair follicle development by proliferating hair cells from derma papilla, outer root sheath and hair matrix.

It also initiates the anagen (hair growth) phase and maintains hair morphogenesis.

A 2011 study (3) notes the importance of β-catenin molecules for hair growth. The researchers discovered that minoxidil works by stimulating β-catenin proteins in the derma papilla cells, leading to the extension of the anagen phase of hair follicles.

Another study (4) observed that when β-catenin was absent, a complete hair loss occurred in mice due to the failure of stem cells to transform into follicle cells.

Microneedling hair regrowth studies

When we first wrote about using a derma roller for hair loss, there were only a few studies available on this subject.

Since then, the popularity of microneedling has dramatically grown over the years thanks to continuous studies and their very promising baldness reversal results.

Here, we have gathered ALL the existing microneedling hair regrowth studies (as far as we were able to find) and share a summary and key findings from each study.

Microneedling hair loss study #1:

Identifying the optimal derma roller for hair loss size & cycles for inducing hair growth

In this 2016 study (5), a team of Korean researchers used various needle lengths and cycles, in order to find out what combination would create the best hair regrowth results.

Tested on mice, four different needle lengths were used in the experiment: 0.15 mm, 0,25 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1 mm.

The researchers also varied the number of cycles from 3, 6, 10 to 12 of rolling over the skin.

Detailed microneedling procedure:

  • Type: Disc derma roller (best result seen in 0.25 mm & 0.5 mm)
  • Frequency: 5 times a week
  • Cycles: 10 each session (best result)

Duration: 3 weeks

The result?

More, longer needle sizes do not improve the results, contrary to what many may think.

Here are the dermaroller for hair loss before and after results:

derma roller for hair growth needle size from microneedling studies
A study shows that the best derma roller for hair growth needle size is 0.25 mm and 0.5 mm when tested in mice

Instead of the 1 mm derma roller, the longest needle length used in the experiment, 0.25 mm or 0.5 mm turned out to be the best derma roller for hair growth needle size for treating hair loss.

Also, the researchers observed the best outcome using a period of 10 cycles, instead of 12.

Study takeaway

  • 0.25 mm / 10 cycles and 0.5 mm / 10 cycles turned out to be the most optimal needle length and cycle combination for stimulating hair growth when tested on mice.
  • Interesting fact: The study used a disc-based derma roller (not an individual needle derma roller).
  • Limitation: This study was done in mice instead of on humans.

Microneedling hair loss study #2:

Identifying the efficacy of microneedling for androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss)

In this study (6) 100 male participants with mild to moderate male pattern hair loss were randomly divided into two groups. In order to find out the effectiveness of microneedling, the researchers used the most common hair regrowth treatment – Minoxidil.

Study design:

  • Group A: 5% Minoxidil
  • Group B: 5% Minoxidil + 1.5 mm dermaroller

In order to increase the accuracy of the result, all participants initially shaved their heads.

Group A (5% minoxidil) was instructed to apply 1 ml of minoxidil twice a day, while group B (minoxidil + microneedling) also applied minoxidil in the same manner, in addition to a weekly microneedling therapy.

Detailed microneedling procedure:

  • Type: 1.5 mm needle size dermaroller
  • Frequency: once a week
  • Directions: The needles were rolled over the scalp in a longitudinal, vertical and diagonal direction until the applied area of the scalp became red (It doesn’t specify the exact number of cycles).
  • Note: Minoxidil was NOT applied on the day of microneedling.

Duration: 12 weeks

The result?

Simply astonishing!

Here are the micro needling for hair loss before and after photos:

After using a dermaroller for hair regrowth for 12 weeks – It’s clear to see that microneedling is essential to stimulate hair growth

This study in fact is the beginning of what motivated numerous people to start using a dermaroller.

Group B participants (minoxidil + dermarolling) had almost 5 TIMES MORE HAIR COUNT than the group A (minoxidil alone) participants. To be exact, the mean change in hair count was 91.4 vs 22.2 (Group B vs Group A):

derma roller for hair loss results
Hair density differences between two groups

In other words, the result is an indication that minoxidil indeed works.

But if you use it in conjunction with a derma roller, this combo speeds up hair regrowth in a dramatic manner!

Study takeaway

  • Using minoxidil in conjunction with microneedling stimulates rapid hair regrowth (5 TIMES MORE) than using minoxidil alone
  • The best hair regrowth result procedure: derma rolling once a week + minoxidil twice a day

Microneedle hair loss study #3:

Identifying if micro-needling stimulates hair regrowth with or without minoxidil

This experiment (7) is similar to the above study #2, but there is one extra group added to the study design: microneedling-only participants.

A total of 60 participants with thinning hair due to androgenic alopecia were entered into the study. This time, the participants were divided into 3 groups.

Study design:

  • Group A: 5% Minoxidil
  • Group B: Microneedling
  • Group C: 5% Minoxidil + microneedling

The researchers instructed the participants to apply 1 ml of 5% minoxidil twice a day (a total of 2 ml a day).

For group C (minoxidil + microneedling), minoxidil was delivered into the scalp during the microneedling session. Right after microneedling, a scalp massage was performed to encourage better absorption of minoxidil.

Detailed microneedling procedure:

  • Type: 1.5 – 2.5 mm adjustable size electric microneedle pen with 9 needles
  • Cycles: 3-4 times (until the scalp became red)
  • Frequency: 6 times a week (The study states 12 microneedle hair loss treatments every 2 weeks)
  • Note: Scalp massage was performed right after derma rolling.

Duration: 24 weeks (6 months)

The results?

Once again, group C (minoxidil + microneedling) was a clear winner. Here are microneedling for hair loss before and after photos:

24 weeks later – Comparison of microneedling for hair loss before and after results among minoxidil + microneedling, microneedling only, and minoxidil only participants

Here are the specific numbers:

Hair counts (hair density) increase:

  • Group A: 18.8 / cm2
  • Group B: 23.4 / cm2
  • Group C: 38.3 / cm2

Non-vellus Hair thickness increase:

  • Group A: 10.7 μm
  • Group B: 3.2 μm
  • Group C: 11.8 μm

As you can see, participants in group C had far better hair growth results than group A and group B, especially the number of hairs.

What’s interesting from the above data is that using a dermaroller for hair loss without minoxidil is also effective for stimulating hair.

If you compare the increase in hair counts, microneedling indeed worked better than minoxidil.

Study takeaway

  • Microneedling plus minoxidil again showed the best hair regrowth result in both hair counts and thickness.
  • Microneedling the scalp without minoxidil (or any topical treatment) is also effective to some extent.
  • The best hair growth result procedure: derma rolling 6 times a week + minoxidil twice a day

Microneedling hair loss study #4:

Identifying the efficacy of microneedling with or without minoxidil

This case study (8) is almost the same as the above studies, except for the total duration and number of participants.

Two participants with androgenetic alopecia were involved in the study. Both participants previously used finasteride, but quit due to side effects.

Study design:

  • Participant A: Microneedling (3 sessions) + 0.5% minoxidil
  • Participant B: Microneedling (4 sessions)

For the microneedling procedure, a tattooing device was used instead of a derma roller to puncture tiny holes into the scalp. The device also had a container used to release minoxidil as the needles entered into the skin.

For the second patient, the same tattoo device was used, but without minoxidil.

Detailed microneedling procedure:

  • Type: 1.5 mm tattoo apparatus with 17 needles
  • Frequency: once a week
  • Directions: Repeating the microneedling until pinpoint bleeding appears

Duration: 1 month

The result?

Le’ts start with microneedling before and after results of hair growth:

minoxidil derma roller hair growth results
After 1 month – Microneedling for hair growth results with and without minoxidil

There are two things we want to discuss:

First, can you tell which participant was treated with or without minoxidil just looking at the photos?

Without a caption, it’s hard to tell who was treated with minoxidil and microneedling vs microneedling only, because the overall improvement is somewhat similar.

This may be due to the fact that the strength of minoxidil was much weaker (0.5%) compared to other studies (5%).

Second, while the after photos do not show complete recovery of either participant, it’s important to point out that the after photos were taken only after one month passed.

In other words, you can expect to see hair regrowth results in as early as one month (or as little as 3 micro needling sessions).

Study takeaway

  • The strength of minoxidil may affect the level of hair regrowth
  • This study proves once again that microneedling as a monotherapy promotes new hair growth

Microneedling hair loss study #5:

Identifying if microneedling also works for alopecia areata

While most microneedle hair loss studies are based on treating androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss), one study (9) shows that you can also use a derma roller for alopecia areata (bald patchy hair loss).

Two patients with extensive alopecia areata were examined here.

It’s important to note that both patients previously tried conventional alopecia areata treatments which included triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injections, topical steroid creams and minoxidil; however, these therapies didn’t improve their non-scarring hair loss conditions.

In this experiment, both patients used a derma roller and topical triamcinolone acetonide (corticosteroid).

Study design: Microneedling + topical triamcinolone acetonide (with 10 ml/ml concentration)

Topical triamcinolone acetonide was applied before and after derma rolling the scalp.

Detailed microneedling procedure:

  • Type: 1.5 mm derma roller with 192 needles
  • Directions: diagonally, vertically, and horizontally 4-5 times in each direction after a topical application
  • Cycles: 4-5 times in each direction
  • Frequency: once a week

Duration: 3 weeks

The result?

Here are the before and after photos of using a dermaroller for alopecia areata hair loss:

microneedling derma roller for alopecia areata hair loss
A study discovered that using a derma roller for alopecia areata also works

The transformation is truly amazing!

The male participant shows FULL hair recovery, while the female participant had significant improvement on what previously was a big bald bare spot.

Another thing to note here is that it only took 3 WEEKS to see the result.

Study takeaway

  • Microneedling also accelerates hair regrowth for alopecia areata when used with triamcinolone acetonide.
  • If you are recalcitrant to conventional AA therapies, consider using a derma roller.
  • Limitation: It would’ve been great if the study also had a control group – triamcinolone acetonide only.

Microneedling hair loss study #6:

Finding out the efficacy of minoxidil-only and minoxidil + microneedling with PRP for hair loss

A 2017 study (10) reports that combining platelet rich plasma (PRP) and microneedling treatments stimulates hair regrowth.

Here, 50 participants with AGA were randomly divided into two groups.

Study design:

  • Group A: 5% minoxidil
  • Group B: 5% minoxidil + microneedling with PRP

Group A was instructed to apply 1 ml of minoxidil twice a day.

Group B also received the same instruction (applying minoxidil twice daily), but with the addition of performing derma rolling and PRP injection once a month for 6 months.

Detailed microneedling procedure:

  • Type: 1.5 mm size derma roller
  • Directions: Roll over the derma roller in diagonal, longitudinal, vertical directions
  • Cycles: 8 times in each direction (until the applied area becomes red)
  • Frequency: once a week

Duration: 6 months

The results?

microneedling with prp for hair loss
Before and after results of PRP microneedling for hair growth

The group B participants who received combination treatments of minoxidil and microneedling with PRP showed a significant increase in hair density compared to group A (minoxidil only group).

Study takeaway

  • This study shows that adding PRP treatment to microneedling and minoxidil can be a consideration for hair regrowth.

Microneedling hair loss study #7:

Identifying how minoxidil, PRP, and microneedling affect hair regrowth

This recently published research in 2019 (11) has a better study design than #6.

In the above study, you couldn’t really find out if it was a dermaroller or PRP that accelerated hair growth.

This research resolved that issue by adding an extra comparison group.
90 AGA participants with hair thinning were randomly divided into 3 groups.

Study design:

  • Group A: 5% minoxidil
  • Group B: 5% minoxidil + PRP
  • Group C: 5% minoxidil + PRP + microneedling

The results?

The hair pull test shows that group C (minoxidil + PRP + microneedling) had the most effective outcome by showing negative in 87.1% participants, compared to 64.5% for group B and 48.4% of group A.

The results from self assessment and terminal to vellus hair ratio also reveal that participants in group C had the most improvement compared to the other two groups.

Study takeaway

  • PRP + microneedling increases the effectiveness of hair regrowth than using PRP alone

Microneedling hair loss study #8:

Finding out if microneedling helps those who failed to respond to conventional hair loss treatments

This study (12) showcases four men who were non-responsive to conventional hair regrowth therapies including finasteride, minoxidil and hair transplants.

Existing hair loss symptoms:

  • Case 1: AGA participant unresponsive to finasteride and minoxidil (done hair transplant)
  • Case 2: AGA participant unresponsive to minoxidil and amino acid treatment (done hair transplant)
  • Case 3: AGA participant unresponsive to finasteride and minoxidil
  • Case 4: Diffused thinning participant unresponsive to conventional therapy (doesn’t specify the therapy)

All four participants did microneedling onto their scalps, as their existing hair loss treatments were not improving hair growth as they were hoping for.

Detailed microneedling procedure:

  • Type: 1.5 mm derma roller
  • Directions: Longitudinal, vertical and diagonal directions
  • Cycles: Roll over the scalp until redness occurs (no specific numbers were mentioned)
  • Time : 20-25 minutes of derma rolling
  • Frequency: Once a week for the first 4 weeks, then once every two weeks afterward

They were also instructed to start microneedling while continuing with their existing treatments.

Duration: 24 weeks

The result?

Another impressive outcome.

dermaroller for hair loss androgenic alopecia pattern baldness
Using a dermaroller for hair loss – ALL participants were recalcitrant to conventional hair loss therapies. Two of them even did hair transplants without cosmetically desirable results. The after photos show new hairs filled in on ALL participants after microneedling the scalp.

Remember – all of these participants had minimal to no response to conventional hair loss treatments such as minoxidil and finasteride.

A couple of the participants even underwent hair transplant surgery, but ended up with unacceptable results.

The researchers observed that new hairs were sprouting after 3 months.

By 6 months, significant improvement was shown in ALL participants (75% in 3 and 50% in 1 participant).

Study takeaway

  • A study shows that even if your hair loss are not responsive to conventional therapies, using a derma roller for hair growth can change that.

Microneedling hair loss study #9 (Ongoing):

Identifying if microneedling for female hair loss is also effective

If you noticed almost all participants from the above studies were male.

This ongoing study solely investigates the effectiveness of using a dermaroller for female hair loss pattern.

We will give you an update once the study issues results.

Summing up ALL studies:

By now, you may ask: “So what’s the bottom line?”

Well, one study after another, then another… it’s very clear: A derma roller INDEED accelerates hair regrowth, even for those who are unresponsive to conventional treatments. And yes… even for alopecia areata in one study.

In the how to section, we will show you exactly how to use a derma roller to maximize hair regrowth and reverse hair loss.

Before we get there, let’s go over the success stories – a derma roller for hair loss reviews from actual users.

5 Success stories of microneedling for hair loss

Microneedling for hair growth success story #1:

This is one of the MOST impressive before and after photos of microneedling for hair loss.

Let’s start with before and after photos first (14):

dermaroller for hair growth before and after results
Minoxidil and dermaroller for hair growth – before and after photos

His regrowth secret? It is very simple – minoxidil and microneedling.

His derma roller for hair growth regime:

  • Microneedling
    • Up to 2 month: 1.5 mm size dermaroller (once a week)
    • 2 month – now: dermapen (every 10-14 days)
  • 5% minoxidil twice a day (skipping on the day he does microneedling)

He notes that he switched to a dermapen after a couple of months for the sake of convenience, but notes that the derma roller gave him incredible results.

Microneedling for hair growth success stories #2:

This is another great success with a minoxidil and microneedling combo.

Here are the before and after microneedling for hair loss results (15):

success story 2 derma roller for hair regrowth results
Microneedling for hair loss results

His daily hair regrowth regimen:

  • Microneedling – 1.5 mm derminator (once a week)
  • Minoxidil – once a day

It only took him 1 month and 20 days to see this rapid hair regrowth.

Microneedling for hair growth success story #3:

This shows another impressive before and after result of microneedling in conjunction with minoxidil treatment (17).

The after photo shows 5 months later:

microneedling for hair loss at home review
Microneedling at home for hair loss reversal – His scalp filled in with new hairs

You can see the bald spot has quickly filled up.

His daily hair regrowth regimen:

  • Microneedling – 1.5 mm dermapen (every 10 days)
  • Minoxidil – twice a day

He notes that he was unresponsive to minoxidil before starting a dermaroller procedure.

Microneedling for hair growth success story #4:

Unlike many other microneedling reviewers who opt for the minoxidil and microneedling combo, he was able to induce hair regrowth using a natural topical treatment and microneedling (18).

best microneedling for hair growth results.jpg
Using natural remedy + dermaroller for hair loss (without minoxidil)

His daily hair regrowth regimen:

  • 0.5 mm of 540 disc needle derma roller (once a week)
  • Prior to microneedling: Apple cider vinegar rinse + 2% BHA Salicylic
  • Topical mix (saw palmetto oil, pumpkin seed oil, and caster seed oil)

Microneedling for hair loss success story #5:

She also benefited greatly from microneedling.

You can clearly see that the side edge (V area) is filled up with thicker hairs (19).

dermaroller microneedling hair loss at home without minoxidil natural remedy
Using derma roller for hair loss at home for side edge hairline

Her daily hair regrowth regimen:

  • < 5 months: 0.25 mm derma roller
  • 5 months – now: 0.5 mm derma roller
  • Essential oil mix (peppermint, tea tree, rosemary,and jojoba oil)

Microneedling side effects for hair

Most researchers from microneedling studies report that microneedling (derma rolling) is considered to be a safe procedure without any side effects.

However, one study notes that as a part of dermaroller for hair side effects, a few participants who were elderly and had weak immune response experienced infection and enlarged lymph nodes after dermarolling, even though there was no treatment required afterwards.

Also, people with the following conditions should not perform microneedling:

  • If you have a bleeding disorder
  • If you are on anticoagulant or anti-platelet drugs (blood thinners)
  • If you are pregnant

It’s also important to sterilize a derma roller by soaking in hot water or more preferably with an alcohol in order to avoid any infection.

Warning: FDA microneedling regulation

Due to the increasing popularity of the needle roller use, the FDA recently issued a mandatory microneedling classification order in 2018 (20, 21).

To summarize, the FDA now classifies microneedles as a medical device if the needle length is greater than 0.3mm.

The FDA states that a microneedling device should not affect the structure and function of the body for home use, which is probably why they specified the allowed needle length – maximum 0.3 mm.

We also read that manufacturing facilities and sellers in the US that are selling derma rollers that have needles longer than 0.3 mm have been receiving cease & desist letters from the FDA.

Dilemma: This creates a small dilemma.

If you remember, many microneedling research studies were based on using a 1.5 mm derma roller for their hair regrowth experiments.

So, is there any solution for at-home users who want to get into microneedling?

Well, unfortunately, the answer is no (unless the FDA changes the regulation. And as you know this is very unlikely).

The best option for now is to use the maximum approved for home use length of 0.3 mm.

A woman from one of the success stories above also used a 0.25 mm derma roller with great hair regrowth results.

Types of derma rollers (and what’s the best dermaroller for hair growth?)

There are currently 3 different microneedling devices available in the market.

  • Derma roller
  • Derma stamp
  • Eletric derma pen
  • Our recommendation

Let’s go over each one and talk about the pros and cons of using it for microneedling scalp at home.

Derma roller

This is what most people think of when they hear “microneedling”.

A dermaroller is a little hand-held device with an attached drum that contains needles and it’s designed to be rolled over the skin / scalp.

In fact, many researchers have used this type for their studies with great results.

There are generally two types of derma rollers:

  • 540 disc needle derma roller
  • 192 (individual) needle derma roller

Let’s talk about each one.

540 needle dermaroller:

dermaroller size for hair regrowth and reverse hair loss

Also known as a disc needle roller, this specific derma roller is actually composed of 9 discs with 60 sharp pointy edges around it on each disc.

If you look around the Internet, you may come across a claim that the 540 needle derma roller is a fake since it’s disc-based and can even damage your skin.

But is that really true that this is a fake dermaroller?

In our opinion, it depends on the length of the needles.

For instance, when you use a disc roller with a 2.5 mm needle length, you will notice the bottom parts of sharp edges on disc are thicker, making them triangular shaped, rather than an actual needle shape.

If you are using this type and it is not greater than 1.0 mm, it’s likely to be ok to use for the purpose of stimulating hair regrowth.

192 needle dermaroller:

best dermaroller for hair loss hair growth needle size

This roller is actually made of real individual needles, not the discs.

Most research studies used this derma roller with significant hair regrowth results.

What’s the best dermaroller for hair loss?

While the disc roller is fine to use (as long as the needle length /size is not too long), we recommend a 192 needle derma roller which is made of individual needles, as many research studies opted for this specific type.

Plus, derma rollers are much cheaper than using an electric microneedling derma pen or stamp.

Derma stamp

derma stamp for hair growth length

This microneedling device looks just like a stamp (for ink, not mail), but with fine needles attached to the flat surface.

There are two versions of derma stamp available: fixed and adjustable needle length.

Either way, from what we have read so far, the derma stamp is more difficult to use than a derma roller and harder to clean.

Plus, there are no studies that used a derma stamp for their experiments.

Electric microneedling pen

using electric dermapen for hair growth

An electric microneedling pen is another popular option among hair loss sufferers.

The needles automatically enter into the skin at a rapid speed and create micro-holes.

People report that it’s less painful to use; however, an electric derma pen is an expensive purchase (usually $200+).

Our ultimate recommendation?

If this is your first time trying microneedling and looking for the best dermaroller for hair regrowth, start with a 192 derma roller. Many research studies also used 192 needle derma rollers with significant results.

How to use a derma roller for hair growth – Stimulating MAXIMUM Hair Regrowth

Here is a guideline of how to perform microneedling for hair loss at home based on research studies and success stories.

Frequency:

  • Derma roller: Once a week
  • Electric microneedling derma pen: Every 10-14 days

Best microneedling size for hair growth:

  • Start with 0.3 mm if you are new to microneedling
  • (Optional) Transition to 0.5 mm after 3-4 months
  • Studies used a 1.5 mm derma roller, but if this is your first time dermarolling, this may feel very uncomfortable.

Microneedling directions:

Using a derma roller:

  1. (Optional) Clean your scalp first: Wash or quickly rinse your hair
  2. (Optional) Apply a numbing cream to the thinning area: Most numbing creams take about 20-30 minutes to reach an effective numbing level. Then use the alcohol to remove the numbing cream.
  3. Roll over the hair thinning area: longitudinal, vertical and diagonal directions for 5-8 times each. Make sure to roll in one direction (from one side to the other side – not back and forth movement) to avoid hairs getting stuck. If the color of your scalp is still red, it’s an indication to stop. The whole session will take about 20 minutes
  4. Keep your derma roller sanitized: Use hot water or soak it in an alcohol for 30 minutes after using it. Let it completely dry before you store it.
  5. Repeat the process once a week

Electric microneedling pen:

  1. (Optional) Clean your scalp first: Wash or quickly rinse your hair
  2. (Optional) Apply a numbing cream to the thinning area: Most numbing creams take about 20-30 minutes to reach an effective numbing level. Then use the alcohol to remove the numbing cream.
  3. Hold the device at a 90 degree angle for full penetration
  4. Place the microneedler at the beginning of the thinning spot
  5. Use a small circular motion and slowly move your hand in longitudinal, vertical and diagonal directions
  6. Unless the instructions state to discard the needles, clean your needle cartridge by soaking in an alcohol for 30 minutes
  7. Repeat the process every 10-14 days

Micro needling hair regrowth results – How long does it take?

Some people started seeing hair regrowth results in as early as one month. But on average, you should start to see results in 3 months.

Important notes and tips:

  • Avoid direct sunlight for a day or two after microneedling
  • Do NOT share your derma roller or any micro needling device with anyone else.
  • Wet your scalp prior to dermarolling: Soft skin makes it easier for the needles to penetrate into the skin and extends the lifetime of needles.
  • As an alternative to a numbing cream, you can also use an ice-pack.

3 Microneedling hair regrowth recipes

Here are 3 microneedling at home hair regrowth recipes. These are simple yet very effective to reverse hair loss.

Recipe #1: Microneedling + minoxidil

All of the studies report that microneedling is the MOST EFFECTIVE when used with topical treatments, especially minoxidil.

There appears to be two ways to do this (depending on which study you are looking at):

  • Method #1: Skip minoxidil on the day of microneedling
  • Method #2: Apply minoxidil right after microneedling

Most people appear to follow method #1 without side effects in almost all cases.

If you feel cautious, you can also try method #1 (skipping minoxidil on the microneedling day) and follow the microneedling directions stated here.

Directions:

  • Microneedling once a week (do not apply minoxidil on the day of microneedling)
  • Apply Minoxidil daily (except for the microneedling day – so it will be 6 days a week). Refer to the following for the strength of minoxidil:
    • Male: 5% minoxidil liquid
    • Female: 2% minoxidil liquid or 5% minoxidil foam

If you plan to try the minoxidil and microneedling duo therapy, it’s recommended to skip minoxidil on the day of microneedling to avoid unwanted infection or inflammation.

Recipe #2: Microneedling + essential oil mix

Dermaroller and castor oil for hair loss: If you want to go with a natural remedy, follow this recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 15 drops of Rosemary oil
  • 15 drops of Peppermint oil
  • 6 tsp (30ml) of castor oil

This will make a 5% essential oil mix. Put the above oils in a dropper bottle.

If you don’t want your mixture to be too thick, replace castor oil with jojoba oil, olive oil, emu oil, or pumpkin seed oil. Any of these oil works great as a hair growth carrier oil.

Refer to our essential / carrier oil dilution ratio chart if you want to make it more potent.

Directions:

  • Microneedling once a week (do not apply the essential oil mix on the day of microneedling)
  • Apply essential oil daily (except for the microneedling day – so it will be 6 days a week)
  • (Optional) Massage your scalp for 5-10 minutes right after applying the essential oil for better absorption

You can also check out our hair growth recipe section and pick other recipes as well.
Also refer to our essential oil mix dilution chart if you plan to make your own concoction.

Recipe #3: Microneedling alone

If you want to try using a derma roller without any topical treatments, using microneedling as a monotherapy also works.

A couple of studies report that microneedling alone also stimulates hair regrowth to some extent.

For this recipe, follow the microneedling directions as mentioned above.

Q&A: Microneedling for hair loss summary

What’s the best derma roller for hair growth?

Go with a 192 needle derma roller.

This derma roller is made of individual needles and it was the most popular option among researchers. However, the 540 disc roller should be ok for hair regrowth as well if the needle length is not greater than 1.0 mm (there are also people having great hair growth results as well).

What size derma roller for hair loss is recommended? (The best derma roller for hair loss size)

While studies used a derma roller with 1.5 mm needle length / depth to induce hair growth on bald spots, this will likely be too long if you are a beginner at micro rolling.

So, if you are looking for a good derma roller hair growth needle size as a beginner, start with 0.25 mm or 0.3 mm.

We came across a number of people using a dermaroller size that is less than 0.5 mm for treating their hair loss symptoms (thinning hairline, forehead, crown, etc) who were satisfied with the results.

If I do the microneedling hair loss therapy, how often should I use for new hair growth?

You will want to do it once a week using a derma roller or every 10-14 days using an electric microneedling pen. For directions, refer to how to microneedle for hair regrowth section.

Can I use a derma roller daily for hair growth?

It’s not a good idea. Microneedling creates small wounds all over the scalp and the healing time is crucial to release hair growth factors and their related genes properly.

Can I use a derma roller after hair transplant?

Yes, people use a derma roller after going through hair transplant to keep their hairs intact, but follow your doctor’s advice on when to begin. After transplants, you may need recovery time.

Also, one study showcased two men who underwent hair transplants without satisfactory results. They started microneedling in addition to their current hair loss therapies (minoxidil, etc) and experienced improvement.

What’s the best microneedling hair growth serum to try?

Studies report that the minoxidil derma roller combination is amazingly effective to grow the lost hair back.

With microneedling, how long to see hair regrowth results?

As mentioned above, some people started seeing results as little as 3 sessions (about 1 month). But in general, it will take about 2-3 months of microneedling (once 7-10 days) to see hair regrowth results.

Can I just use a derma roller to regrow my hair?

Yes. According to one study, using a derma roller as a monotherapy actually increases the number of hair strands. But it’s important to note that hair regrowth was accelerated much faster when used with minoxidil.

What about using a natural topical treatment (ex: essential oil mix) in conjunction with microneedling?

There are currently no studies with the microneedling + natural remedy combination; however, there are dozens of studies showcasing the effectiveness of natural remedies for reversing hair loss. Also, the above success stories suggest that you can regrow hair by using a natural topical mix and a derma roller.

Can I use a dermaroller for alopecia areata?

Yes. According to one study, a derma roller and topical triamcinolone acetonide gave the participants impressive regrowth on previously bald patchy spots. They were previously non-responsive to conventional AA treatments.

Does microneedling hurt?

Generally, people agree that the pain of microneedling is very bearable. In case you are not comfortable with the pain level, use a numbing cream or an ice pack for relief. When using a numbing cream, follow the instructions provided on the cream to avoid issues.

Is the disc needle really that bad?

It depends on the needle length. As long as the needle length is not greater than 1 mm, it shouldn’t be a problem. However, it’s better to use a derma roller that is made of individual needles like this one.

How long does microneedling last if I use it for stimulating hair growth?

Assuming you will use it once a week, it should last 3 – 4 months.

Conclusion – Does microneedling help with hair growth?

The short answer: YES.

Backed by research studies and an increasing number of success stories, all of the evidence points to one thing: Microneedling works surprisingly well for stimulating hair regrowth.

Microneedling works by increasing the permeability of topical treatments, helping with the formation of new capillary networks for better blood circulation, and activating various growth factors crucial for hair follicle development.

Microneedling for hair loss results: If you are resistant to conventional hair loss treatments, consider microneedling at home, whether it’s for hairline, forehead, or even overall thinning.

Quite a number of people who had none to minimal response to existing therapies experienced impressive regrowth results when they started microneedling as an additional step.

Finally, if you are currently a minoxidil user with unsatisfactory results, start microneedling for hair loss once a week as an addition. The dermaroller and minoxidil combo will pick up the speed of new hair growth, according to many study results and people’s experience.

Have you tried a derma roller for hair loss? How did it go? Share your experience in the comments

The Ultimate Saw Palmetto-Hair Loss Guide (+ 2 SP Growth Recipes)

“Saw palmetto = hair loss reversal”

At least, this looks like the general consensus along with rosemary oil in hair loss communities.

People think of saw palmetto as the most powerful natural DHT blocker. Some even say it’s better than Finasteride.

Yes, saw palmetto does block DHT, but is it better than Finasteride, the FDA approved DHT blocker?

Also, can you just buy whatever saw palmetto extract online and expect a miraculous hair growth result?

This article will go over these important questions (and answers) with some interesting studies.

Towards the end of the article, you will discover how to find the right saw palmetto extract to maximize results as well as hair growth recipes based on some of the studies.

Let’s start with a brief introduction:

saw palmetto for hair loss best dht blocker

What is saw palmetto?

Saw palmetto (also known as serenoa repens or sabal serrulata) is a type of palm tree native to the southeastern United States.

What makes saw palmetto medicinally beneficial are its large and dark-colored berries, which are mainly used for treating an enlarged prostate (BPH) and thinning hair condition.

Saw palmetto benefits (other than hair loss)

I will not go into detail, but here is a list of saw palmetto benefits just to give you an idea:

  • Treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
  • Preventing hair loss → The main focus of this article
  • Improving urinary tract symptoms
  • Decreasing inflammation
  • Relieving constipation (Some say constipation is also a side effect of saw palmetto)

How does saw palmetto work for hair loss?

In order to find out the saw palmetto hair loss connection, we first need to talk about DHT.

What is DHT?

DHT is a converted version of testosterone (male hormone), caused by an enzyme called 5a reductase.

saw palmetto dht study

To use a simple analogy, think of testosterone as a sunflower seed, 5a reductase enzyme as water, and DHT as a sunflower.

In order for the seed to grow into a sunflower, water is an essential element.

In the same sense, testosterone can’t metabolize into DHT without a 5a reductase enzyme.

And, as you know, high levels of DHT are known to cause pattern hair loss in both men and women. So in order to reduce the DHT production, we need a way to decrease 5a reductase enzyme.

That’s where Finasteride or saw palmetto come into the picture.

Finasteride, also known as Propecia or Proscar (brand names), is a FDA approved medication that blocks DHT by inhibiting 5a reductase enzymes. While its efficacy has been proven through multiple studies, it has one big drawback: an undesirable side effect.

Sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction and a loss of libido) in men is the most well-known side effect that you frequently hear from people. Some reports say it’s irreversible.

The natural question is, are there any other alternatives that block DHT with minimal side effects?

As you may have guessed, this is why saw palmetto is so popular among hair loss sufferers.

Using saw palmetto for hair growth

Saw palmetto is referred to as a natural DHT blocker or a Finasteride alternative.

This natural plant is also believed to inhibit 5a reductase enzymes, thus blocking the formation of DHT hormones.

But how effective is it for stimulating hair growth? And does it really have no side effects?

Fortunately, there are multiple studies on saw palmetto for hair loss.

Studies on saw palmetto for hair loss

I found a handful of saw palmetto hair loss study cases.

Warning: This section is going to be long.

If you don’t want to read them all, skip to study #2 (supplemental form) and #5 (topical form), which I believe are the two most important.

Study #1 Using saw palmetto for androgenic alopecia

A 2002 study (1) investigated if saw palmetto can be an effective treatment for pattern hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia (AGA).

Total 26 male participants with AGA were randomly divided into two groups (19 subjects completed the study):

  • Group 1: Softgel with saw palmetto (200mg) → 10 participants
  • Group 2: Placebo softgel → 9 participants

The duration was about 21 weeks on average (18 to 24.7 weeks to be specific).

The result?

60% of the group 1 participants (saw palmetto) experienced hair regrowth, while only 10% in the placebo group.

Before you think this is the desirable saw palmetto hair regrowth dosage, there is one caveat:

The softgel given to the first (active) group didn’t just have saw palmetto alone.

It also included 50mg of beta sitosterol, another ingredient known as 5AR inhibitor and other compounds to increase bioavailability during the absorption.

Here is a list of ingredients of the saw palmetto supplement used in the experiment:

  • 200mg Saw palmetto
  • 50mg Beta sitosterol
  • 50mg Lecithin
  • 100mg Inositol
  • 25mg Phosphatidylcholine
  • 15mg Niacin
  • 100mcg Biotin

This means that you can’t contribute the hair growth result solely to saw palmetto for obvious reasons. Plus, there were only 19 participants.

Then, is there a study that used saw palmetto as a mono hair growth treatment and preferably with a much larger participant base?

Let’s look at the next study.

Takeaway

Taking saw palmetto as a supplement can assist with hair regrowth when combined with other ingredients.

Study #2 Finasteride vs Saw Palmetto

A team of researchers performed a 2-year study to find out the efficacy of using saw palmetto for hair loss and how it’s comparable to finasteride (2).

100 male participants with androgenic alopecia were randomly divided into two groups:

  • Group 1: Finasteride (1mg/day)
  • Group 2: Saw Palmetto (320mg/day)

Both groups were instructed to take the assigned treatments daily for 24 months.

The result?

saw palmetto vs finasteride hair growth study result

68% of the participants (33 out of 50) from the finasteride group showed hair growth improvement, which is great.

What about the saw palmetto group? 38%

Discouraging? Not just yet.

As you know, finasteride is an FDA approved hair loss drug (as well as minoxidil also known as Rogaine), so there is no surprise to see a great result like this.

For saw palmetto, while only 38% of the saw palmetto participants experienced hair regrowth, about half of the participants (52%) saw stabilization of further hair loss.

Out of 50 saw palmetto participants, 19 people (38%) saw improvement on hair growth and 26 people (52%) had no further hair loss during the two-year period.

In other words, saw palmetto can regrow hair to a certain extent, but is likely to be more effective for the use of hair loss prevention.

In addition, the researchers discovered a couple of other interesting findings:

Saw palmetto only worked for hair loss occurring in the vertex region, while finasteride was effective for all areas of the scalp wherever thinning occurred.

Also, both finasteride and saw palmetto worked most effectively for those who are in the early stage of hair loss (specifically, Hamilton classification scale II and III).

Unfortunately, there are no saw palmetto hair loss before and after photos included in the study. This is somewhat weird, because the researchers state that photos of each participant were taken every month until the end of experiments.

Taking a rosemary oil for hair growth study as an example (which also had the same number of participants completed in a well-controlled setting), before and after photos from each group were shared in the paper, regardless of not so impressive results.

Takeaway

Saw palmetto can be more effective for preventing hair loss rather than stimulating new hair growth, especially in the vertex area. Also, the earlier the stage of hair loss, the more effective it appears to be.

Study #3 Topical application of saw palmetto for hair growth

A 2016 study (3) reports hair growth after using a topical product that contains a saw palmetto extract.

A total of 50 men with pattern hair loss were involved in the experiment and were instructed to apply a topical solution with saw palmetto in it for 24 weeks.

Here are saw palmetto before and after photos from the study:

saw palmetto hair loss study before and after photos
Saw palmetto topical application for hair loss

Can’t see much difference?

Here is the detail about the result:

  • At week 12 (the midpoint of the experiment): The increases of hair count and hair thickness were observed.
  • From week 12 to week 24 though: Hair count stayed the same, while the overall hair thickness decreased.

The researchers report that the discontinuation of the hair growth improvement is likely to be from the switch of the topical solution from a serum (more concentrated) to a lotion (less concentrated) at week 4. Thus, they recommended to continue using the concentrated version instead.

So what was included in this topical formula?

  • Saw palmetto
  • Green tea extract
  • Peony root extract
  • Piroctone olamine
  • Oligopeptides

Unfortunately, they didn’t mention anything about how much of each ingredient is included in the topical treatment nor the desirable concentration for effectiveness.

All I can guess is that saw palmetto is likely to be the main ingredient (as it’s the primary focus of this study).

Towards the end of the article, we will provide a saw palmetto hair growth recipe based on an educated guess with multiple studies combined.

Takeaway

Saw palmetto combined with green tea extract, peony root extracts, and piroctone olamine can help with hair growth stimulation. We just don’t know how concentrated it needs to be.

Study #4 Another saw palmetto topical application study

A total of 25 male participants were included in the study (4) and were topically treated with saw palmetto and 10% trichogen veg complex (TVK) as a form of hair lotion for 4 months.

The result?

There was an 11.9% increase in hair count and hair regrowth improvement was seen in 48% of the participants via visual inspection.

Before we go further, we need to discuss something: How much of saw palmetto extract do you think was included in the lotion?

0.6%…

To be specific, the researchers used a topical hair loss treatment called Prozinc spray, a combination of 0.6% of saw palmetto and 10% Trichogen veg complex.

Think about this.

If your hair grew using this, which ingredient would you attribute the success to? Saw palmetto or Trichogen? 0.6% vs 10%?

What’s Trichogen complex?

Trichogen (TVC) is a trademarked hair growth blend made of multiple botanical and synthetic components.

The blend contains the following: Panax ginseng room extract, arginine, acetyl tyrosine, arctium majus root extract, hydrolyzed soy protein, calcium pantothenate, zinc gluconate, niacinamide, ornithine HCl, citrulline, glucosamine HCl, and biotin.

After a quick google search, I found out that the company who developed Trichogen also performed a clinical trial for its anti-hair loss effect and had decent results.

Finally, considering the topical lotion used in the study only had 0.6% saw palmetto in the formula, I think most can agree that the growth result is more likely to be from Trichogen (10%).

If you are a DIY type to make your hair growth mix, it would be a lot more efficient to buy a product that contains this blend and possibly add more saw palmetto in it.

If you look at Amazon, there are multiple products available containing Trichogen. For instance, this serum states that it contains 8% Trichogen.

Takeaway

It’s not clear how significantly saw palmetto contributed to hair growth here either, as another hair growth blend was included in the topical formula.

Before you think all of the topical saw palmetto hair loss studies are flawed, read the next one:

Study #5 The true effectiveness of using topical saw palmetto for hair loss

This study from 1998 evaluated the efficacy of saw palmetto and cystine for hair growth.
There were total 60 participants with pattern hair loss (both men and women) and divided into five groups:

  • Group 1: Topical lotion – Saw palmetto
  • Group 2: Topical lotion – Placebo
  • Group 3: Supplement – Gelatin-cystine
  • Group 4: Supplement – Placebo
  • Group 5: Topical lotion (Saw palmetto) + Supplement (Gelatine cystine)

The dietary supplement in the active group contained soy oil and gelatin, l-cistine, l-methionin, Cu, and Zn, while it was only soy oil and starch for the placebo group.

For topical treatments, both active and placebo groups contained hydrolyzed soy protein, panthenol, ginkgo biloba extract, azelaic acid, and piroctone alamine.

The main difference was the existence of saw palmetto extract between active and placebo groups.

The study lasted 50 weeks.

Now, the result – let’s start with this graph:

topical saw palmetto for hair loss

This graph basically indicates that active groups (whether topical or supplemental) had better hair regrowth results than the placebo groups.

Also, it shows that the topical + supplemental combo works better for hair growth than using one of them alone.

Here, we will focus on the topical application groups:

saw palmetto hair regrowth success

Both active and placebo groups saw a gradual increase in hair count, but the active group outperformed the placebo group.

If you remember, both active and placebo topical groups applied a topical lotion that contains some decent hair growth ingredients such as ginkgo biloba extract, panthenol and azelaic acid.

The only difference is that the topical formulation assigned to the active group contained a saw palmetto extract.

In other words, the saw palmetto extract indeed was a contributor to stimulating more hair regrowth via topical application.

Takeaway

A topical application of saw palmetto stimulates new hair growth.

Study #6 Testing saw palmetto’s DHT blocking activity other than people

A team of Chinese researchers (6) tested DHT blocking effects of saw palmetto extract on both vitro and mouse models.

For the vitro experiment, human keratinocyte cells were used.

These cultured cells were initially treated with DHT, then the saw palmetto extract was added to some of these cells for comparison.

Via MTT assay, researchers confirmed that the cells treated with saw palmetto extract had significantly increased viabilities than DHT only treated cells.

The mouse model also resulted in the similar outcome with the increase in both hair density and thickness when treated with the saw palmetto extract.

Takeaway

Saw palmetto extract effectively halters DHT activities in both cultured cell and mouse models

Summarizing all studies together:

Based on the above studies, we can see that saw palmetto is not as powerful of a DHT blocker as finasteride, but may still be beneficial for preventing further hair loss when taken in supplemental form.

Also, the topical application of saw palmetto appears to help with promoting hair regrowth.

Finally, whether it’s supplemental or topical form, saw palmetto seems to be more effective when combined with other hair growth promoting ingredients.

This is not the end yet.

It turns out when it comes to saw palmetto extract, the quality really matters.

Does an extraction method matter for saw palmetto?

Yes.

Multiple saw palmetto related studies make a clear point that various results (from very effective to no benefit at all) seem to occur due to different types of the extracts being used.

Interestingly, this claim appears to be true, as I also noticed in the type of saw palmetto extract used varies based on each study.

As researchers are aware of this problem, some of them actually performed an comparison analysis to test out the potency of different saw palmetto brands.

For instance, a 2015 Italian study (7) compared 14 brands for its 5a reductase inhibiting effects.

The good news?

It turns out ALL extracts were able to inhibit 5a reductase enzymes.

BUT, there was a noticeable difference when it comes to the potency profile (=containing more active ingredients). The more potent the saw palmetto extract was, the more effectively it inhibited 5AR enzymes.

In case you are curious about which saw palmetto brand ranked as the best, refer to this list:

saw palmetto brand comparison reviews

You probably don’t recognize many of them, as these are mostly European brands; however, here are a couple of takeaways for choosing the best saw palmetto for hair loss:

Saw palmetto extract with n-hexane extraction is the most well researched

Permixon, which ranked the highest from the above list, is a lipidosterolic-based saw palmetto extract by a n-hexane extraction method.

The researcher states the following:

“In the case of Serenoa repens (saw palmetto), the n-hexane lipidosterolic extract is the only formulation currently considered by the European Medicines Agency to be a “well-established medical use product.””

He also notes that “Permixon” (the n-hexane extract) was the most potent 5a reductase inhibitor.

Again, this does NOT mean that saw palmetto extracts without the n-hexane method are useless.

As mentioned above, all extracts express some degrees of 5a reductase inhibitory effects. It’s just that Permixon, the epitome of the hexanic extract, is more potent than other brands and used the most in various clinical trials.

Another extraction method you also want to keep a close eye on is saw palmetto extract through the supercritical CO2 extraction process.

Saw palmetto with CO2 extraction (The newcomer)

CO2 extraction is a newcomer perceived as a superior way in the botanical extraction world.

The main advantage of CO2 extraction is its ability of extracting higher yields of bioactive compounds without any chemical residues.

According to a 2016 study (8), CO2 extracted saw palmetto (they used a brand called “Prosterol”) effectively inhibited 5a reductase and the result was comparably good as the hexane extract version used in many clinical studies.

In addition, the amount of saw palmetto CO2 extract required for 5a reductase inhibition was much lower compared to saw palmetto using other extraction methods.

One thing to mention here though: this study was funded by Euromed, a company that makes Prosterol.

While I don’t think the authors would lie about the results, it also makes me question some… things…

So does this mean that you should just ignore the CO2 extraction, as the funded study is always likely to have a hidden motive?

Read the next section.

What’s the best saw palmetto for hair loss (based on studies)?

The above list was NOT VERY helpful, because you can’t easily buy any of those brands in the US.

For instance, you can’t just go and buy Permixon, the best rated saw palmetto extract, as this is a pharmaceutical drug for treating BPH in Europe.

Luckily, a 2013 study (9) provided a list of decent saw palmetto brands that you can actually buy.

This list includes 20 different brands and is ranked by the amount of free fatty acids and phytosterols.

To give you a one sentence summary on how to choose the best saw palmetto extract, just remember this:

For saw palmetto: liquid > extract powders > powders and skip tinctures.

The researchers discovered that the liquid saw palmetto extracts generally have the highest levels of fatty acids and phytosterols.

So why do fatty acids matter?

According to a 2002 study (10), various free fatty acids in saw palmetto contribute to the inhibition of 5 alpha reductase activities.

This means that you will want to buy saw palmetto extract containing a high amount of fatty acids and also B-sitosterol, as it’s another ingredient known for blocking DHT.

Based on the above findings, I will give you a quick buying guide:

Our Pick
Doctor's Best Saw Palmetto
This saw palmetto supplement is made with the CO2 extraction method - one of the most ideal ways of preserving its active ingredients potent without any chemical residues.

Best saw palmetto supplement for hair loss:

  • Buy Doctor’s Best for the highest amount of fatty acids (liquid)
  • Buy Jarrow Formulas (liquid) or Biochem (powder) for the high B-sitosterol amount

Interestingly, Doctor’s Best uses a saw palmetto extract from Euromed.

If you remember from the above section, it’s the company that funded the study on the CO2 saw palmetto extract.

So, it turns out the result of the study wasn’t favorably skewed after all.

Quick Q&A on saw palmetto and hair loss

What’s the saw palmetto dosage for hair loss treatment?

According to the saw palmetto vs finasteride study, the saw palmetto recommended dosage for hair regrowth is 320mg (daily dose).

How long does it take for saw palmetto to work for hair loss?

General recommendation for any hair loss treatments is 3~4 months. One topical saw palmetto study states that the visible results started at week 12 (3 months).

What about using saw palmetto for hair loss in females?

Theoretically, if you are a woman with androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss), taking a saw palmetto supplement should be ok, as both male and female pattern hair loss are caused by DHT.

Unfortunately, there is no study on saw palmetto supplements for female hair loss as far as I know. So, it would be better to stick to a topical saw palmetto treatment (see the recipe below)

Saw palmetto side effects

Saw palmetto is likely to be safe. One of the frequently reported minor side effects includes stomach discomfort when taken as a supplement.

It’s NOT recommended to take saw palmetto if you are pregnant and breast-feeding, as it can affect hormones.

Saw palmetto hair growth recipes

Here, we will give you two recipes: one with a supplemental route and the other with a topical treatment.

Supplements – The recommended saw palmetto dosage for hair loss:

Supplemental saw palmetto for hair regrowth recipe

This recipe is pretty straightforward, as it provides the same direction used in the finasteride vs saw palmetto study.

To give you a quick summary about the study, 38% of the participants in the saw palmetto group hair regrowth and 52% experienced no further hair loss in 2 year study.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  • Take 320mg daily

In order to see the result, take the supplement at least for 4 months.

Topical saw palmetto for hair loss recipe

This topical saw palmetto hair regrowth recipe is recreated based on the above and other hair related studies:

Ingredients:

  • Coconut oil
  • Saw palmetto extract
  • Ginkgo biloba extract
  • Green tea extract
  • β-sitosterol

Directions:

  1. Microwave or leave coconut oil at room temperature until it becomes liquid
  2. Add saw palmetto, ginkgo biloba and green tea extracts to coconut oil
  3. (Optional) Add essential oils such as rosemary and lavender.
  4. Mix them together
  5. Apply it to the scalp at night
  6. Wash it in the morning

Do it 5 times a week for at least 3+ months to see hair growth results.

Final Takeaway

Can saw palmetto stop hair loss?

Based on multiple studies, we can make the following conclusion: Saw palmetto is not a hair loss cure all solution.

It’s a weaker version of finasteride for blocking DHT, but still a beneficial one.

All of the saw palmetto extracts block 5a reductase enzymes regardless of the extraction methods, but the n-hexane extract and CO2 extraction appear to show higher potency.

If you are not comfortable taking saw palmetto as a supplement, try to use it as a topical treatment, as it helps prevent further hair loss and increases the effectiveness of hair regrowth to some extent according to studies.

Have you tried saw palmetto for hair loss? Share your experience below!

The MOST Used Hair Growth Herb for Scalp Injection (among Acupuncturists)

Using acupuncture for hair loss – It’s a common traditional medicinal approach in Asia.

But in recent years, there’s a new form of acupuncture that goes beyond the use of needles.

In this article, I will share an interesting paper that talks about exactly this.

Instead of a long introduction, let’s jump right in.

pharmacopuncture for hair loss stimulating hair regrowth
Photo: MOBON HAIR

Pharmacopuncture? What is this?

Have you heard of something called pharmacopuncture?

It’s a new form of acupuncture therapy that combines Chinese herbal medicine and needles.

pharmacopuncture for hair loss alopecia
PHOTO: drleehoon.tistory.com

To put it simply, think of a PRP therapy for hair regrowth.

For PRP, a doctor draws your blood and process it and injects into the scalp.

For pharmacopuncture, instead of the processed blood (platelet-rich plasma), an acupuncturist mostly uses Chinese herbal extracts for the purpose of stimulating hair regrowth.

In fact, the use of pharmacopuncture is not exclusive to hair loss. It has been used for treating various symptoms including headaches, depression, eczema and fatigue, just to name a few.

So what herbs are used in pharmacopuncture for treating hair loss?

TOP 3 extractions used for hair regrowth in Pharmacopuncture

Korean researchers analyzed 369 cases in 23 studies from 1996 to 2019 (1).

All of the studies they analyzed were based on alopecia treatment cases using Korean medical practices (along the same lines as the Chinese traditional medical practices).

Out of 92 Pharmacopuncture cases, they found the top 3 extractions used for hair regrowth.

So what are the top 3 extractions?

#3: Hwangryunhaedoktang

top chinese herbs for hair loss hwangryunhaedoktang

  • Gardenia
  • Chinese skullcap
  • Goldthread
  • Phellondendron bark (Amur cork-tree bark)

Many Korean medicine journals note that “fire” (referring to the elevated body heat) is the root of various illnesses including hair loss. These four Chinese herbs (Hwangryunhaedoktang) are formulated together to treat symptoms caused by body heat.

#2: Hominis placenta

top chinese herbs for hair loss placenta extract

Hominis placenta is a medicinal material derived from human placenta (a temporary organ developing during pregnancy).

Interestingly, human placenta extract has been popularly used as a therapeutic compound in Asia, especially in China and Korea. Its main use is to restore something called “Qi” (or “Chi”).

Qi is believed to be vital energy circulated in the human body. Asian traditional medicine emphasizes that “Qi” is the most essential element for keeping every part of the body functioning properly.

When it comes to hair loss, a 2016 study (2) by Korean researchers notes that Hominis Placenta extract elongated the anagen (hair growth) phase when topically applied on mice. Particularly the level of FGF-7, the important protein for hair growth, increased.

In fact, the use of placenta extracts for hair loss is popular at a lot of Korean medical clinics.

#1: Safflower seed oil

safflower seeds for hair growth

The top extract used in pharmacopuncture for hair regrowth was safflower seed oil.

Note that safflower seed oil is NOT same as the safflower oil.

So, what’s special about safflower seeds for hair loss, you may ask?

Safflower seeds and hair loss

According to the paper, the main benefit of safflower seeds is to help increase blood circulation and tonifying (nourishing) the blood.

While safflower seeds are commonly used in Asia for preventing osteoporosis and promoting vascular health, I wasn’t able to find any particular studies on safflower seeds for hair growth; however, here are number of ways safflower seed oil could help with hair loss based on my findings:

How safflower seeds may help with hair regrowth

Safflower seeds are rich in linoleic acid also known as omega 6 fatty acid.

Omega 6 is an essential fatty acid that needs to be included in the diet, since our body can’t produce it naturally.

It’s also a controversial acid with continuous debates on whether it has anti or pro-inflammatory effects for internal consumption. There are numerous studies on this with very different results.

One of the most recent studies from 2019 (3) also has an answer for this.

Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland concluded that “it all depends”. Their discovery points to a gene called FADS1, which humans carry a different variant of.

According to the researchers, linoleic acid can either increase or decrease inflammatory response depending on how an individual’s FADS1 gene is structured.

As far as the hair loss studies go, one research notes it was effectively used to reverse hair loss in a person who had both alopecia and scalp dermatitis. The participant was deficient in essential fatty acids with those symptoms. After the topical application of linoleic acid to the scalp for just 21 days, the researchers note that both symptoms were reversed.

Safflower seeds are ultra-antioxidant

According to a Japanese study (4,5), safflower seed extract contains a major antioxidant compound called serotonin hydroxycinnamic acid amides. When tested on humans in supplement form, the extract was able to inhibit oxidation of LDL and improve inflammatory response.

It may not be a surprise that there are a number of studies reporting how high LDL cholesterol levels can lead to androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

One study (6)even confirmed that the level LDL cholesterol was significantly elevated in the AGA group than in the control group.

Another 2018 study reports on its antioxidant effect for kidneys. When tested in mice with Cisplatin (chemo medication), safflower seed extract was able to significantly increase the antioxidant defense system and down-regulates the number of over-expressed proteins caused by the medication.

As the kidney plays a crucial role in regulating minerals in the blood and getting rid of wastes, it’s an important organ for your hair follicles, as it requires constant stream of healthy nutrients to grow.

Then can I just buy safflower seed oil and use it for stimulating hair growth?

Well, it’s not that simple.

Safflower seed oil you see over the counter is highly processed and used as a cooking oil

Safflower seeds used in pharmacopuncture use specialized extraction methods to separate active ingredients in many cases. These are only available at an acupuncturist’s office.

One way you can still use it for hair loss is to find a cold-pressed safflower seed oil and make your own hair growth mix.

Towards the end of the article, I will share a quick hair growth recipe using safflower seed oil.

Pharmacopuncture before and after pictures for hair loss

I checked numerous oriental medical clinic websites and I was able to find some photos here and there.

First, there are a couple important things to note here:

First, most oriental medical clinics use pharmacopuncture along with other oriental therapies including Chinese herbal supplements.

Next, while researchers from the above paper found those 3 extracts to be most used for treating alopecia, the clinics also use other herb extracts as well. Some of these include wild ginseng, goji berries, and Lingzhi mushroom.

Here are some before and after photos:

pharmacopuncture for hair loss before and after
Pharmacopuncture + acupuncture treatments for 4 months (source)
asian herbs for hair loss before and after photos
Asian Traditional Medicine Combination Treatments for 7 months (source)
chinese korean herbs for hair loss before and after scalp photos
Asiain Traditional Medicine Combination Treatments

How much does pharmacopuncture cost?

It depends on the clinic, but generally ranges from $40 ~ $65 per session requiring a weekly visit.

This is a LOT cheaper than a PRP therapy for hair loss due to its comparably simpler procedure of preparing the stimulus agent (extract vs platelet)

Is pharmacopuncture safe for hair?

Based on my research, pharmacopuncture is likely to be safe for the use of stimulating hair growth.

Also note that while this is a popular alternative medicinal treatment in Asia, it’s not approved by the FDA.

Hair growth recipe using safflower seed oil

While you can’t just go buy the pharmacopuncture version of the safflower seed oil, what you can do is to alternate it with a cold-pressed safflower seed oil.

The main advantage of cold-pressed extraction method?

It doesn’t require heat to extract the oil. As it’s produced in low temperature, the oil retains more active compounds, compared to the typical oil extraction method that degrades its natural substances.

While this is not the same as the pharmacopuncture version, it still makes a great carrier oil for your own hair growth mix.

Also, by using a derma roller, you can enhance the stimulating effect. Obviously, this again is not the same as the injection used in pharmacopuncture, but still uses a doable needle therapy approach at home.

Topical Hair growth recipe with safflower seed oil

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Mix the oils well
  2. Use the derma roller to the scalp
  3. Apply the mixture
  4. Massage your scalp for 5 minutes for better absorption

Final Takeaway

Pharmacopuncture is a new form of acupuncture that combines the acupuncture needle therapy and traditional Chinese herbs. This is similar to PRP, but just with a different stimulus (traditional herb extract in this case) getting injected into the scalp for stimulating hair growth.

In a sense, this also reminds me of derma rolling, in which a number of studies proved to be an effective way to promote regrowth.

Out of top 3 extractions used in pharmacopuncture, safflower seeds appear to be the most accessible herb we can utilize by using as a carrier oil when you make your own growth mixture.

Have you tried traditional Asian medicine for hair loss? Share your experience below!

Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth – Not Working So Well? Here Is the MISSING Link

Rosemary oil is perhaps the most well-known (and very popular) essential oil for hair growth along with saw palmetto.

Whether you Google’d it or saw it mentioned in various hair loss forums, many seem to be in agreement with the fact that rosemary essential oil equals reversing hair loss and regrowing hair.

But is it true? Does rosemary oil actually regrow hair? Or Is it just another useless natural remedy that doesn’t work?

In this article, we will get to the bottom of this.

rosemary oil for hair growth study results
Rosemary oil not working so well for hair growth? Here is the missing link

After reading this article, you will get the ULTIMATE answer about using rosemary oil for hair growth. Here, we help you understand if it’s actually a good idea or not.

In the beginning of this article, we will share with you all of the available research studies done on rosemary essential oil for the sole purpose of regrowing hair (Don’t worry… there are only 3).

Next, you will see what actual users have to say about using rosemary oil topically for hair loss and what their before & after results are like.

After that, we will share a very important piece of information on rosemary oil that people seem to overlook.

And finally, at the end of the article you will find out how to use rosemary for hair regrowth (an effective rosemary hair growth recipe) to try out at home.

Let’s jump right in.

Studies on rosemary oil for hair growth

There are a total of 3 direct studies on rosemary oil for hair loss.

Two studies used rosemary only to gauge hair growth effects and the other study used a mixture of essential oils which included rosemary oil for the purpose of hair regrowth.

Here is the detail of each study and its result:

Study #1 Evaluating rosemary oil vs minoxidil

This 2015 Iranian study (1) was evaluated with human testing (= increased credibility).

In order to investigate the effectiveness of rosemary oil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (the most common type of hair loss for both men and women), researchers randomly divided 100 hair loss suffering participants into two groups:

  • Group 1: Rosemary oil
  • Group 2: Minoxidil 2%

The participants were instructed to apply 1 ml of the assigned solution twice daily (a total of 2ml per day).

The rosemary oil for hair loss results

Well, let’s start with photos:

minoxidil vs rosemary oil for regrowth before and after results
Rosemary oil vs minoxidil results (A: before | B: after) – This participant applied rosemary oil for scalp for 6 months

What do you think?

To be honest, I don’t think this will make people too excited about trying out rosemary oil to combat hair loss.

Yes, the after photo has more hair (if you look closely), but the difference is… subtle.

If you expected dramatic results of using rosemary oil for increased hair density, this is simply a discouraging reality to face.

Looking at the graph, both rosemary oil and 2% minoxidil increased the number of hair follicles; however, this is NOT a dramatic change.

rosemary essential oil vs minoxidil results for regrowing hair

Now, let’s look at the before and after photos of one participant from the minoxidil group:

minoxidil vs rosemary oil for hair growth results
Rosemary oil vs minoxidil (A: before | B: after) – This participant topically applied minoxidil to his scalp for 6 months

The after photo shows new hair growth on the previously bald M spot. It’s visible, yet nowhere close to full growth even after 6 months of consistent daily use.

What researchers say:

The researchers mention that both groups “experienced a significant increase in hair count at month 6” (although it doesn’t look that significant for visual inspection).

They also note that both groups experienced scalp itching (consider it as minor rosemary oil for hair loss side effects) during the 6-month experiment, which was more prominent in the minoxidil group than the rosemary group.

Takeaway

Both rosemary oil and minoxidil regrow hair, but in a subtle manner.

Takeaway: Don’t expect a miracle.

Also, even for that subtle change to happen, you will need to be consistent not just for 3 months, but more like 6 months.

Study #2 Using rosemary as a potential 5a reductase inhibitor (aka DHT blocker)

Unlike the previous study, this 2013 rosemary for hair loss study (2) was done on mice and with cultured cells.

While a human experiment is always a more accurate way to evaluate results when it comes to studies like this, mice-based research can still give you an idea how a certain substance may affect the human body.

Mice experiment:

Here, the researchers wanted to find out if rosemary contains an anti-androgen property, which can be used as a sign of reversing DHT hair loss.

rosemary extract 5a reductase inhibiting dht blocking property

To make a long story short, they first applied testosterone to mice, which in turn interrupted hair regrowth. Then, the researchers treated the mice with rosemary extract to see if it would provide a hair regrowth stimulation effect.

The results?

The topical rosemary treatment indeed improved the rate of hair regrowth in those mice.

Cultured cell experiment:

To confirm rosemary’s possible anti-androgen property shown in mice, the researchers performed additional testing for its 5a reductase inhibition ability on LNCaP cells (cultured human prostate cancer cells).

The test result again confirmed that rosemary extract does contain an anti-androgen property, as it effectively blocked 5a reductase enzyme in a dose-dependent manner.

Takeaway

This study shows that rosemary may prevent pattern hair loss by inhibiting 5a reductase enzyme activity, thus stopping testosterone from being converted to DHT hormones.

Study #3 Using rosemary oil along with other essential oils for treating alopecia

This is another well-known study (3) that popularized the use of essential oils for hair regrowth, thanks to its amazing before and after transformation.

Study design:

86 participants with alopecia areata (patchy bald hair loss) were involved in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups.

  • Group 1: mix of essential oils (rosemary, thyme, lavender, cedarwood) + carrier oils
  • Group 2: carrier oils only

The results?

Look at this photo:

4 essential oils for hair growth and thickness
Amazing before and after transformation on alopecia participants

The transformation is simply amazing!

The researchers note that 44% of group 1 (mix of essential oils + carrier oils) showed improvement, while only 9% for group 2 (carrier oils only).

However, there is one drawback of this study:

As 4 essential oils were used in the experiment, you can’t really tell if it was actually the rosemary oil that promoted that significant hair growth or if it’s due to one of the other essential oils (or even perhaps the combination of all).

Plus, since this study was evaluated for alopecia areata (non-scarring hair loss), it doesn’t guarantee the same amazing results for people with androgenetic alopecia (scarring hair loss, also known as male / female pattern hair loss).

Takeaway

Rosemary oil, when used with other essential oils, appears to contain a synergistic hair regrowth property, especially effective to those who have non-scarring hair loss.

The summary of rosemary oil for hair loss studies

The above 3 studies reveal some interesting facts:

The result of the first study (human participants) is likely to be the most accurate depiction of how the result will go if you use rosemary oil for hair loss. In other words, if you decide to use rosemary oil alone to combat hair loss, don’t expect a miraculous result.

The second study (mice + cultured cells) reveals that rosemary works as a 5a reductase inhibitor, thus it can possibly prevent DHT associated hair loss and stop hair follicle miniaturization.

The last study can be very useful for people with alopecia areata (or any other non-scarring hair loss types such as alopecia totalis or universalis); however, it’s unclear if it was the rosemary oil that stimulated hair growth due to the number of essential oils being used simultaneously in the experiment.

From actual users: Rosemary oil for hair loss reviews

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be many people who use rosemary essential oil as a mono hair loss treatment to treat thinning hair and thickening hair.

Most of the people I came across usually mix multiple essential oils together as a topical treatment.

But, I came across one guy who is the closest positive representation of using rosemary oil to regrow hair.

In his case, he used rosemary oil as the main portion in his DIY mix, and added several drops of other essential oils (sage and lavender) as well.

He consistently used the mixture for a year and kept a progress log as well (which is great).

The result?

Let’s look at his photos:

rosemary oil for hair loss reviews from actual user
source

rosemary oil for hair growth before and after results

Can you tell the difference?

To me, it looks the same. Even if there was more growth in the after photo, the change seems minimal.

So, are you saying not to use rosemary oil for hair growth?

Don’t get discouraged just yet.

If you are looking at the results from human-based rosemary study and the above guy’s one year experiment, rosemary oil doesn’t seem to be THE answer for significant hair growth.

In other words, rosemary essential oil is probably not THE best oil for hair loss and regrowth.

However, we found there is something people seem to overlook.

The MISSING link

There’s a BIG difference between rosemary oil vs rosemary extract

Reading study after study about rosemary, we found something VERY interesting.

Google rosemary benefits – you will see the following properties from numerous studies:

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-bacterial

These effects are indeed important for our overall health, but also crucial for hair growth.

Interestingly, researchers explain that it’s the phenolic compounds (such as carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid, carnosol) that provide such beneficial properties.

So which one includes more of these phenolic compounds? Rosemary oil or rosemary extract?

Let’s look at the composition chart of both (4):

Rosemary OilRosemary Extract
1,8 cineole
camphor
α-pinene
borneol
β-pinene
carnosic acid
rosmarinic acid
carnosol
camphor
caffeic acid
ursolic acid
betulinic acid

Note: depending on the rosemary species, geographical location, the type of solvents, and extraction methods, the composition of rosemary oil and extraction can somewhat vary. But the above seems to be the main constituents found in general.

As you can see, rosemary extract that contains phenolic compounds as the main constituents, rather than rosemary essential oil.

Taking anti-inflammatory effects as an example, a handful of studies (4,5,6) confirm that rosmarinic acid from rosemary extract possesses a significant anti-inflammatory property.

What about antioxidant effects?

Studies (4,7,8) mention that carnosic acid, another main compound of rosemary extract, acts as a powerful free radical scavenger.

For antibacterial properties, both rosemary extract and rosemary oil appear to work as effective antibacterial agents targeting specific bacteria.

Now, the most important question: Which one includes the DHT blocking (anti androgen) property mentioned in the above study case?

If you take a close look at the 2nd study (the one that evaluated rosemary as a possible natural DHT blocker), the researchers discovered that 12-methoxycarnosic acid, a type of carnosic acid from rosemary extract (not oil), is THE active compound that regulates 5 alpha reductase inhibition (enzyme that transforms testosterone to DHT).

Does this mean rosemary oil doesn’t have any beneficial properties to hair loss?

Not necessarily.

Rosemary oil also contains various beneficial properties. For one thing, multiple studies confirm that the oil works as an effective antibacterial agent for inhibiting various bacteria.

It’s just that researchers seem to agree on the fact that all of the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (and certain anti-fungal/bacterial) properties are often from phenolic compound constituents (such as rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid), which are abundantly found in rosemary extract, rather than rosemary oil.

Finally, the fact that the DHT blocking compound was discovered from the rosemary extract gives a strong reason to try out the extract for the purpose of preventing hair loss.

So the most important question:

How do you make a powerful rosemary extract for hair growth, preferably at home?

Here is the recipe:

Rosemary for hair growth recipe

So far, we have established that rosemary essential oil does work for hair regrowth, but with minimal results.

We also mentioned that rosemary extract is abundant in phenolic compounds, which contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties people usually talk about.

Finally, specific research on rosemary for hair growth found a compound that inhibits 5a reductase enzyme (DHT blocker) from rosemary extract as well.

So, here we will show you a simple way to make rosemary extract for hair growth.

First, here is our recommended rosemary leaves for the recipe:

Our Pick
Starwest Botanicals Organic Rosemary Leaves
Starwest Botanicals offers a great range of quality herbs and these rosemary leaves are no exception. It's USDA certified and comes in a 1 pound bag for under $20. Great value for the money!

Recipe Rosemary extract recipe for hair growth

Ingredients

Directions

  1. (Optional) Grind rosemary leaves to make powder
  2. Put 400 ml of water + 400 ml of ethanol into a pot
  3. Add dried rosemary leaves (or the powder if you ground it) into the pot
  4. Boil it at 60C for 6~9 hours
  5. Let it cool down
  6. (Optional) Add 24 g of glycerin into the mixture for preserving moisture and antimicrobial effects.

Once the mixture is ready, put it into a small bottle and start using it twice a day (in the morning and before you go to bed).

For the remaining liquid, make sure to keep it sealed and refrigerated.

Here is a useful link explaining how to maintain 60C when boiling water or you can simply use a thermometer.

Final Takeaway

Try rosemary extract to stimulate hair growth, rather than rosemary essential oil

Unfortunately, the rosemary oil for hair growth hype doesn’t seem to live up to expectations, at least based on the research studies and the actual user’s one year experiment.

However, digging deeper, we found that the rosemary extract may work a lot better than rosemary essential oil due to the abundance of phenolic acids that provide various hair growth benefits as well as overall health benefits.

Finally, the DHT blocking compound found by one study turned out be from the rosemary extract as well.

Try the suggested rosemary for hair recipe above. What you will also love about the recipe is that unlike the oil mixture, it doesn’t leave your scalp greasy nor make a mess on your pillow!

Have you tried either rosemary oil or extract for regrowing hair? Share your experience below!

Alopecia Areata Hair Regrowth Success Story

If you are looking for a natural way to cure alopecia areata, this success story is a must-read.

There are several posts on his alopecia areata recovery journey. I carefully read them all.

Here, I will give you a summary and actionable tips you can take in order to reverse hair loss.

alopecia areata hair regrowth success story multiple bold patches

His story

He is one of many people who suffer from alopecia areata.

For him, it happened 3 years ago.

Since then, he says the symptoms slowly got worse and what previously was only 2 patches increased to 15 patches all over his body, including his chest and beard.

He believes it all started due to emotional stress.

As his alopecia symptoms were getting worse day by day, he decided to go see a doctor and get much needed help.

Visiting doctor after doctor, but no luck

He said he visited 6 different doctors and some of them were well-regarded dermatologists for hair loss.

Doctor #1: His first doctor prescribed him with steroid injections and minoxidil. Unfortunately, this didn’t do anything and the number of bald patches continued to increase. He said the doctor had no answer of why it was the case.

Doctor #2: His second doctor also gave him similar prescriptions, but his alopecia areata condition was still getting worse.

Doctor #3: So for his 3rd doctor’s visit, he decided to go to a very famous dermatologist with great reviews. The doctor suggested 6 steroid injections every two weeks.

Luckily, he said this continuous treatment gave him ALL OF HIS HAIR BACK. BUT, a couple of months later, not only did newly grown hair fall, but he ended up with more patches totaling 10+.

Doctor #4: He then went to his 4th doctor. This time, the doctor informed him that every dermatologist he goes to, he will likely get the same treatments for alopecia areata (which is usually steroids and minoxidil as a starting point).

You can read available alopecia areata treatments here.

His search for doctors who can cure alopecia areata continued.

Doctor #5: His 5th doctor, who specialized in ayurvedic medicinal practice was actually was the worst and was only focused on money. Even though he tried the doctor’s prescribed medications for four months, there was no hair growth whatsoever.

Doctor #6: His 6th doctor who was also homeopathy-based wasn’t able to cure hair loss.

As you can see, he went to see 6 different doctors, but none were able to give him new hair growth (except for the 3rd doctor who gave him steroids injections, but relapsed in the end, so it doesn’t count).

Light at the end of the tunnel

Luckily, he met a homeopathy doctor that was referred by his niece. His niece told him that this doctor actually cured many people suffering from alopecia.

He said he has been working with this doctor for 4 months now and his conditions have dramatically improved for the better.

Here are the before and after photos of his alopecia areata recovery:

alopecia areata hair regrowth before and after transformation
(Source) Alopecia Areata before photo
alopecia areata hair regrowth naturally before and after photos
Alopecia Areata after photo (with flash on)
alopecia areata hair regrowth before and after photos
Alopecia Areata after photo (without flash). You can still see there’s a bald spot, but new hairs appear to be filling in that area

 

While he says he still has several bare patches, all of the other patches have filled with new hair growth.

The following section includes his tips on how he cured (ongoing) alopecia areata.

How he cured alopecia areata

His last doctor (7th doctor), which he gives a full credit to, gave him a lot of valuable information.

#1. Customization – Applies to your specific body needs

First, he says that the homeopathic doctor took a customized approach.

By taking a close note on his hair loss symptoms as well as his mental and physical states, the doctor gave him medicines and changed and tweaked them around until they found THE one, which he feels is actually working for his hair loss.

He doesn’t say what the medicine is. I am assuming it’s something homeopathic, rather than actual medications.

But, he says that some of the various medicines he tried in the past but didn’t do much include Sulphur, Natrum Sulph, Sac Lac, and many others.

Also based on his post, that medicine appeared to be customized for his specific body type and matched ongoing physical symptoms he was having. So even if he mentioned what that medicine was here, there’s a chance that it’s not going to work for your specific body needs to address the main cause of your hair loss.

In addition to this though, he emphasizes that the medicine is only one part of hair regrowth equation.

Below is what he actually did on a daily basis and applies to everyone who is suffering from alopecia.

#2. Universal hair regrowth tips – Applies to everyone with alopecia areata

For Diet

  • Drink 2-3 cups of green tea everyday
  • Drink lukewarm water 3-4 glasses in the morning to soothe your stomach
  • Avoid sugar and dairy
  • Eat more fruit and vegetables
  • Getting sunlight is crucial (at least take vitamin D supplement if you are in lack)
  • Make sure you are taking enough vitamins, protein, iron, and zinc – natural sources over supplements
  • Eat raw seeds including sunflower and pumpkin seeds
  • Eat nuts daily (almonds and walnuts)
  • Avoid spicy foods
  • Avoid junk foods (and processed foods)

For Topical / Physical

  • Apply natural oils (coconut, sesame and mustard) for promoting hair growth
  • Apply onion juice for faster hair growth
  • Don’t take hot bath

Interesting

  • Do nail rubbing twice a day for 15+ minutes each time (morning and night)
  • Apply leech oil on the scalp.

Leech oil? You may say. And I agree.

According to him, his friend recommended this for regrowth. While he was somewhat skeptical, he did his research about its properties and decided to try it.

Interestingly, he said he actually experienced some regrowth. But he also notes that applying such oil is only a temporary fix. In order to have permanent hair regrowth, one needs to fix it from inside, not just the outside.

Finally, he mentions that you should check your vitamin D level. Many people, especially in the United States are lacking enough vitamin D, which is closely related to unwanted hair loss.

Some of the other tips he wrote, but didn’t include here are things you are already family with: Get good sleep, drink plenty of water, do not use chemical products (such as hair dye) on your scalp, etc.

His final words

Let me quote what he says:

After being to 4 dermatologists and 2 homeopathy doctors and 1 Ayurveda doctor and spending more than 50000 rs… I understood one thing that you can get temporary relief by allopathy (he is referring to typically prescribed medical treatments for AA) since it’s all about inside body reaction.

He notes that while topical treatments can give him a fix, it’s only a temporary solution.

In order to REALY cure alopecia areata, your lifestyle needs to be changed, especially “the diet” part.

He is also against steroids injections as well as minoxidil or finasteride due to the same reason – temporary fix – and undesirable side effects.

Finally, he emphasizes that most people quit after 2-3 months.

Give it more time – continue for at least 6 months to 1 year.

Final takeaway

His story was a pretty interesting read.

The fact that he went to see 6 different doctors shows how committed he was on reversing hair loss.

As I read more about alopecia, I agree with people on the point that alopecia is not just a bald patch or bald head issue, but it’s something that needs to be healed from inside the body.

This means that the proper diet is a CRUCIAL part of curing alopecia areata (or even totalis or universalis).

For some of the tips he gave out such as using leech oil, I am not sure what to think of it. But it seems like it’s a thing for regrowth for some hair loss communities in India.

But like he said, he also admits that such topical oil is only a temporary fix – which goes back to the original point: the importance of keeping the body healthy is THE priority for reversing alopecia.

Start applying some of the tips (or ALL) to your daily life and continue on for 6+ months.

Yes, it’s a painful truth, but hair regrowth takes time.

How to Use Eclipta Alba (Bhringraj) for Hair Growth – Scientific Based Review

If you’ve been looking for traditional ancient herbs for hair growth and thickness, you’ve probably come across this word once or twice: Bhringraj.

Bhringraj, also known as eclipta alba, is a popular medicinal herb used in Ayurvedic holistic healing practices to stimulate hair growth (usually in the form of bhringraj oil or bhringraj powder).

In this article, you will find out if there is any scientific evidence behind such claims.

We will show you 4 studies investigating how eclipta alba / bhringraj powder can help with hair loss and possibly reverse baldness (and include a bunch of before and after photos).

You will also find out how effective eclipta alba is compared to minoxidil for regrowing hair.

First, let’s cover some basics:

What is eclipta alba (bhringraj)?

Eclipta alba, also known as various other names – bhringrai, eclipta prostrata, false daisy, yerba de tago, han lain cao, and finally karisalankanni, is a widespread annual herb residing across the world in warm and humid climates.

eclipta alba bhringraj oil for hair growth

Ayurvedic herbs for hair growth: In Ayurvedic medicine, India’s oldest holistic healing practice, bhringrai powder is mainly used for the purposes of detoxifying the liver and stimulating hair growth.

Chinese herbs for hair growth: While many people may not know this, Asian countries, including China and Korea, have also traditionally used eclipta alba as a powerful herb for hair growth and hair darkening effects as well.

Eclipta alba / bhringraj (either in a form of powder or oil) contains various medicinal / therapeutic phytochemicals such as wedelolactone, triterpenoid, saponins, coumestans, glycosides, sterols, and flavonoids.

For instance, studies show that wedelolactone and saponins promote anti-cancer and antioxidiant activities in the body, while β-Sitosterol (a type of sterols) is considered as a potentially effective DHT blocker to fight hair loss.

What are the eclipta alba / bhringraj benefits?

Here are the top 15 bhringraj health benefits and its medicinal properties:

eclipta alba bhringraj oil benefits
eclipta alba / bhringraj benefits
  1. Stimulating hair growth
  2. Darkening hair color
  3. Detoxifying the body
  4. Protecting the liver
  5. Improving eye health
  6. Having diuretic effects (urine production)
  7. Reducing pain
  8. Moderating anger
  9. Reducing blood pressure
  10. Decreasing cholesterol
  11. Showing anti-cancer effects
  12. Promoting antioxidant activities
  13. Protecting immune system
  14. Treating eczema
  15. Enhancing memory

TOP 5 Eclipta alba / bhringraj hair growth benefits

Does bhringraj regrow hair? If so, how does it work?

In other words, what mechanisms does bhringraj (eclipta alba) have to help with hair growth?

Here are 5 direct and indirect ways this ancient medicinal herb may stimulate hair growth:

#1. Eclipta alba / bhringraj induces the anagen phase

One of the main symptoms of pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is hair follicle miniaturization caused by a shorter anagen phase.

All studies that investigate eclipta alba for hair growth report that the herbal extract appears to extend the anagen phase by expediting the resting-to-active-hair growth transition, whether it’s orally consumed or topically applied in mice.

#2. Eclipta alba / bhringraj increases hair counts, hair length and dermal thickness

As eclipta alba prolongates the active hair growth period, it allows enough time for hair follicles to stabilize and a dermal layer to increase thickness for new and existing hairs to settle, grow and extend.

bhringraj oil brhingraj powder benefits for hair

#3. Eclipta alba / bhringraj regulates genes associated with a hair growth cycle

Via immunohistochemistry (immunostaining technique of using certain antigens / proteins), researchers discovered that important hair growth markers such as Shh and FGF7 were upregulated when bhringraj powder extract was topically applied to mice.

#4. Eclipta alba / bhringraj detoxifies the liver, thus sending out clean blood and nutrition to hair follicles

Studies note that eclipta alba is also effective for protecting liver health.

Specifically, three phytochemicals of eclipta alba – Wedelolactone, desmethylwedelolactone, and flavonoid – exhibited liver protecting (hepatoprotective) effects when taken internally.

Liver and hair growth: The liver plays a crucial role not just for our body, but also for hair follicles as well.

One of its main jobs is to filter the blood and toxins from the digestive tract.

The liver then processes necessary minerals and nutrition and sends out the clean blood back to the body. The portion of the filtered blood then gets transported to the dermal papilla region, so that hair follicles can receive proper nutrition and grow.

You may also find our article about Dr Morse, naturopathic doctor, interesting about the importance of liver and its relation to hair health

#5. Eclipta alba / bhringraj shows anti-inflammatory activities

The higher level of DHT is closely associated with chronic inflammation in the scalp.

As many of you probably know, DHT is a hormone that was originally testosterone, but is converted due to an 5a-reductase enzyme.

The more inflammatory reaction occurs in the scalp, the higher DHT level is seen in the balding scalps, provoking a vicious cycle for pattern hair loss sufferers.

This is when eclipta alba / bhringraj oil may come in handy.

According to a 2005 study (1), the researchers report that eclipta alba was able to reduce inflammation.

When tested in mice with a carrageenin-induced paw edema (swelling), eclipta alba was able to reduce inflammation up to 55.85% after 3 hours of the treatment.

Now, let’s delve into eclipta alba / bhringraj hair growth studies and their new discoveries:

4 Studies on using eclipta alba / bhringraj for hair growth

Eclipta alba hair loss treatment clinical data: Here are four studies that have investigated eclipta alba specifically for the purpose of regrowing hair.

Study #1 Comparing ancient hair growth herbs (including elipta alba) to test their true effectiveness

A 2014 study (2) reports a significant hair growth effect of bhringraj powder extract.

A group of Korean researchers investigated the efficacy of several oriental medicinal herbs that are known to contain hair growth stimulating properties.

Study design:

A total of 5 nude mice were involved in this experiment. Each mouse was randomly assigned to one of the following herbs.

  • Mice 1: Control
  • Mice 2: 2% minoxidil
  • Mice 3: Asiasari radix (wild ginger)
  • Mice 4: Eclipta alba (false daisy / bhringraj)
  • Mice 5: Panax ginseng (red ginseng)

The researchers topically applied the assigned substances on the back of nude mice daily for two full hair growth cycles (16 days) and measured hair density and hair length during the experiment.

Study results:

Let’s start with the bhringraj oil before and after photos as well as other groups:

bhringraj extract eclipta alba hair growth hair loss treatment clinical data study
Bhringraj / eclipta alba extract hair growth before and after results

It’s very clear to see that the eclipta alba / bhringraj treated mouse had the most significant hair growth compared to any other mice groups.

Also, if you look at hair length and hair density in close-up photos, the eclipta alba treated mouse once again had a superior outcome compared to the rest.

Eclipta alba (bhringraj) vs. asiasari radix (wild ginger) vs. panax ginseng (red ginseng) for hair growth

There are numerous research studies on asiasari radix (wild ginger) and panax ginseng (red ginseng) for their hair growth promoting effects.

Interestingly, this wasn’t the case here:

eclipta alba brhingraj powder for hair growth baldness

The side by side comparison shows that asiasari radix and panax ginseng treated mice initially showed steady hair growth, but somehow the reversal effect followed which led back to hair loss at the end of 2nd hair growth cycle.

Meanwhile, the eclipta alba mouse had the steady hair growth from the beginning to the end of the experiment.

Eclipta alba (bhringraj) vs minoxidil

eclipta alba bhringraj vs minoxidil
Bhringraj (eclipta alba) vs minoxidil

If you compare the hair growth results of eclipta alba (bhringraj) and minoxidil, the winner also becomes obvious.

The researchers note that while hair density between eclipta alba and minoxidil treated mice were somewhat similar, the minoxidil mouse had “irregular and deformed” hairs.

Eclipta alba treated mice, on the other hand, showed thicker and straight hairs with stabilized follicles penetrating the epidermal layer.

Bhringraj powder for hair growth reviews: Researchers note that not only the topical application of eclipta alba / bhringraj powder extract can increase the number of hair follicles and their sizes, but it can also improve disordered keratinization condition and normalize to the “fully formed visible” hair follicles.

Takeaway:

Eclipta alba / bhringraj extract works better than minoxidil, asiasari radix, and panax ginseng for stimulating hair growth

Study #2 Comparing the hair growth efficacy between eclipta alba and minoxidil

Another study also reports the effectiveness of eclipta alba extract for hair growth promotion activity.

Study design:

This 2008 study (3) has more sophisticated and detailed design for an effective comparison of eclipta alba (bhringraj powder extract) and minoxidil at different strengths.

Total 72 mice were in were involved in the experiment.

The mice were first divided into two groups (Minoxidil and eclipta alba), then further sub-divided at various strengths.

Group A – Minoxidil group:

32 mice were randomly divided into four groups (so 8 mice in each sub-group):

  • Group A-1: control
  • Group A-2: vehicle (propylene glycol, alcohol, and water mix) of minoxidil
  • Group A-3: 1% minoxidil
  • Group A-4: 2% minoxidil

Group B – Eclipta alba / bhringraj powder extract group:

40 mice were randomly divided into four groups (so 10 mice in each group):

  • Group B-1: control
  • Group B-2: vehicle (propylene glycol and DMSO) of eclipta alba extract
  • Group B-3: eclipta alba extract at 1.6 mg/15 cm2 concentration
  • Group B-4: eclipta alba extract at 3.2 mg/15 cm2 concentration

Mice in all groups were applied with the assigned substances on their backs for 10 days.

Study results:

The researchers report that group A-4 and group B-4 (mice groups that received the strongest concentrations of either minoxidil or eclipta alba extract) showed the highest anagen (hair growth) transformation which were 87.5% for both groups.

When it comes to hair count and skin thickness, group A-4 (2% minoxidil treated mice) showed more hair count, while group B-4 (eclipta alba extract with 3.2 mg/15 cm2 concentration) had twice more skin thickness.

Here are the specific results for hair counts and skin thickness:

  • Group A-4:
    • Mean follicle count: 73 +/- 8.2
    • Average skin thickness: 253.25 +/- 6.6 nm
  • Group B-4:
    • Mean follicle count: 66 +/- 7.3
    • Average skin thickness: 480.4 +/- 41.2 nm

Elevated hair growth markers: The researchers also note that hair growth markers – FGF7 and Shh – were shown increased, while a telogen hair resting marker, BMP4, was down-regulated using the extract of brhingraj oil for hair growth via immunohistochemical analysis.

Takeaway:

The higher the concentration of eclipta alba / bhringraj extract is, the better it works for accelerating hair growth. Elevated hair growth markers – FGF7 and Shh – are the clear indicators of eclipta alba’s hair growth promoting properties.

Study #3 Finding out if oral consumption of eclipta alba is also effective for hair regrowth

Unlike the other two studies, this research (4) focuses on using eclipta alba / bhringraj for hair growth with internal consumption.

Study design:

24 mice were divided into three groups (so 8 mice in each group):

  • Group 1: Eclipta alba extract (oral)
  • Group 2: 3% minoxidil (topical)
  • Group 3: Vehicle (oral)

The above substances were either topically applied or orally fed everyday for 13 days.

Study results:

Let’s start with the extract of bhringraj oil before and after photos:

bhringraj oil before and after hair regrowth reviews clinical study

As you can see, group 1 (eclipta alba / bhringraj treated mice) shows the highest hair growth rate by day 13.

Just like the first study, the eclipta alba / bhringraj treated group shows more prominent hair regrowth than the minoxidil mice group as well.

The researchers further performed immunohistochemical analysis and confirmed that expressions of FGF-7 (anagen phase indicator) in dermal papilla region were upregulated, while FGF-5 (telogen phase indicator) were downregulated on the eclipta alba treated mice group.

Takeaway

The immunohistochemical analysis confirms again that eclipta alba / bhringraj increases hair growth marker expressions and decreases hair follicle resting gene expressions

Study #4 Using different solvents to extract eclipta alba to find out what’s most effective for hair growth

This 2008 study compares different eclipta alba / bhringraj powder extraction methods.

Study design:

Albino mice were divided into 6 groups:

  • 2% minoxidil
  • Control (ointment base only)
  • Petroleum ether extract of eclipta alba (2% ointment)
  • Petroleum ether extract of eclipta alba (5% ointment)
  • Ethanolic extract of eclipta alba (2% ointment)
  • Ethanolic extract of eclipta alba (5% ointment)

The assigned substances were applied to the mice daily for 30 days.

Study results:

It turns out that the type of solvent matters for stimulating hair growth.

The petroleum ether based eclipta alba extract (especially the 5% strength) resulted in the most noticeable hair growth than the rest in terms of faster hair growth initiation, faster anagenic phase transition, the length of hair follicles, and even for the better hair texture.

bhringraj oil before and after hair growth results research study

Interestingly, compositions of eclipta alba between the petroleum ether extract and the ethanol extract showed very different phytochemical compounds:

  • Petroleum ether extract: wedelolactone and sterols – b-sitosterol (showed the best hair growth results)
  • Ethanolic extract: carbohydrates, flavonoids and glycosides

The researchers note that b-sitosterol and wedelolactone appear to be the major contributors for promoting hair growth effects. In the case of b-sitosterol, it was completely absent in the ethanolic extract of eclipta alba.

Takeaway:

The petroleum ether based eclipta alba / bhringraj extract significantly induced more and faster hair growth than the ethanol based extract version. The petroleum ether extract even worked better than 2% minoxidil for stimulating hair regrowth.

What’s the best bhringraj for hair growth?

When it comes to adding eclipta alba / bhringraj as a part of your natural hair loss regimens, there are two ways you can go about it: topical or internal.

The topical route:

The best bhringraj oil for hair growth: We found one research study that carefully formulated a very effective hair growth mixture with bhringraj powder and a couple of other herbs. See our bhringraj oil for hair growth recipe section below for details.

This bhringraj oil appears to be a decent option for a topical use for hair growth.

Our Pick
SVA Organics Bhringraj Oil
Great topical bhringraj oil from India. We like the fact that the oil uses a cold-press extraction method, which means no additional chemical solvents and more nutritional value due to high temperature.

The internal route:

Surprisingly, it isn’t easy to find eclipta alba supplements which are USDA organic certified.

The closest we found is this herbal supplement (in capsules) which includes eclipta alba as one of the ingredients and has a USDA organic certification.

If you prefer drinking it as a tea, consider this bhringraj powder for hair growth which is also USDA organic certified.

Eclipta alba recipe – How to make it effective for hair growth

This special bhringraj powder for hair growth recipe is based on a 2009 study (6).

The researchers carefully formulated the mixture and tested them at various strengths to find out the most effective version to promote significant hair growth in mice. In addition they performed a skin irritation test of the formulation as well.

Recipe Bhringraj hair growth recipe

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Mix all 3 herb powders and add a little bit of juice to make a thick paste
  2. Heat coconut oil in a pot
  3. Once coconut oil melts, add the paste and mark the level
  4. Add the rest of the juice into the pot
  5. Heat it on medium until the liquid boils down to just above where you originally marked (Don’t forget to stir occasionally)
  6. Apply the mixture to your scalp and leave it overnight
  7. Wash your hair in the morning

Eclipta alba / bhringraj oil side effects:

Eclipta alba is considered as likely to be safe.

The bhringraj hair growth studies note that there are no adverse effects of using eclipta alba extract whether it’s a topical or oral form. Further toxicity tests of bhringraj also confirmed that its extracts are safe to use.

Final takeaway

Can I use eclipta alba / bhringraj for hair growth?

According to a number of studies, the answer is definitely yes.

Eclipta alba / bhringraj leaves transform the resting hair follicles to the anagen (active hair growth) phase and increases the number of hair follicles and skin thickness by elevating expressions of Shh and FGF7 hair growth markers.

Some of the studies even note that eclipta alba extract may work better than minoxidil for stimulating hair growth when tested in mice.

It’s also important to note that whether eclipta alba / bhringraj was used as a topical treatment or oral consumption, in all cases from the studies, the herb was able to initiate the early onset of the anagen (hair growth) phase.

If you are looking into using bhringraj product as a part of natural hair loss regime, it would be a good option to consider a topical extract oil, supplement, or a powder to drink as herbal tea or to make your own topical mixture.

Have you tried bhringraj oil or bhringraj powder for hair loss? Share your experience here with readers in the comment!