Hair Growth

The question of how to make hair grow faster is not one that comes up only after a bad haircut. For those who have experienced hair loss, finding realistic ways to improve hair growth—whether in the form of vitamins for promoting hair growth, hair growth shampoo, or other hair growth products—is a clearly important matter.

Since the reasons for hair loss, especially in women, can be tied to so many things--including how fast does her hair grow—a one-size-fits-all approach to hair growth products is unlikely to be successful. Fast hair growth is desirable, regardless of hair loss reasons, but what makes hair grow at the fastest rates is still not completely understood.

Before trying prescription medications, those suffering from hair loss might be interested in herbal remedies that some claim will stimulate hair growth. One home treatment that is recommended to grow hair prove a little smelly for the average person: rubbing a cut, raw onion on the scalp before cleansing. Those who believe in the treatment claim that it works for faster hair growth because onions contain some of the highest levels of sulfur occurring in nature, and sulfur has been shown to increase scalp circulation.

Prescription medications for tacking hair loss have been around for more than a decade. The primary treatment—minoxidil—is now available over the counter, without need for a prescription. However, even minoxidil has not been shown conclusively to grow hair in all patients: in some cases, regrowth is possible, but in others it acts by reducing hair loss only. Some people see no effect at all.

One common cause of female hair loss, PCOS, can also cause hair growth—but not in the places that are wanted. Some sufferers grow chest hair and even thick facial hair. No woman wants to know how to grow facial hair or to try to control an over growth of pubic hair!

African-Americans can face particular challenges when it comes to black hair growth. Most studies of hair have been done on the hair of Caucasians, so less is known about how it might be possible to achieve faster hair growth among those of African heritage. One study conducted in 2001 by L’Oreal found that the hair of Africans grows at a slower rate than that of Caucasians. The difference means that figuring out how to stimulate hair growth may be of particular interest to those in the black community suffering from hair loss.