My hair loss at 23 stressed me out – I grew back my thick locks with a 5-step plan, my rinse made a huge difference
THINNING tresses triggered anxiety for one woman until a new home haircare routine regrew her locks.
She shared her tips after a hairstylist commented on how healthy her strands had become.
The beauty whizz shared her advice on Reddit’s Haircare Science forum using the handle @scotty-fitzgerald.
“I had a huge hair loss problem and it brought me a lot of anxiety and stress because as a 23-24 year old female who used to have really thick, healthy hair it was disheartening,” she said.
“My hair is thankfully back to normal, but it took a while to get it back to peak health.
“I actually got a haircut this weekend and the hairstylist commented on how healthy and full my hair is.
“When I told her that I worried about my hair thinning out and hair loss she said that was the last thing I should worry about.
“But little did she know what had been happening the last two years (I had never gone to that salon before).”
The Redditor confessed she would pick at her flakey scalp, unaware that the dandruff could weaken her hair follicles.
She listed the products and treatments that made a “big difference” in restoring the health of her hair and scalp.
“I brush my hair with a bamboo wide comb from Whole Foods before I shower and don’t brush or run my fingers through my hair at all in the shower,” she said.
“I believe wet hair is weaker so it’s best to not comb/brush in the shower.
“I take biotin pills every day. I’m sure any brand works so just look at reviews.
She added that she has also been taking two Ashwagandha pills twice a day as directed for over a year.
“I think this and biotin made a huge difference in my hair health,” she said.
She added that she washes her hair “almost daily.”
“I just alternate between using reg shampoo/conditioner and an apple cider vinegar rinse (I use the one by dpHUE ),” she explained.
“The ACV has made a huge difference in my scalp. I can’t say enough good things about it.”
Hair growth oils, sprays, and supplements
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- Tomum 5% Minoxidil Hair Growth Spray, $23: Fans say it made their hair “noticeably thicker.”
- Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Light Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil, $9.37: This affordable rosemary oil has gone viral on TikTok.
- The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density, $15: Beauty fans at Ulta insist their results aren’t “just fuzz, baby hairs, or wishful thinking.”
- Supa Thick Scalp Serum with Rosemary by The Nue Co., $45: Reviewers say it makes “a drastic and obvious improvement” and is “worth the hype.”
- Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements, $37.99: Amazon reviewers call these collagen pills a “miracle.”
- Head & Shoulders Scalp X 2% Minoxidil, $33.99: “This is the only product that will allow my hair to grow,” said a happy shopper.
The dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse costs $37 on the brand’s website.
For optimal results, users are advised to massage the product on wet hair from roots to tips and leave it to sit for up to 3 minutes before rinsing.
The Redditor added that she has an apple cider vinegar scrub that helps to prevent build-up on her scalp.
She also swears by the brand’s leave-in conditioner, which can be sprayed on wet hair.
“I use a cotton towel to dry my hair and I love it,” she said.
“I put my hair in it as soon as I get out of the shower and set a 10-15 minute timer, then I take it off and spray leave-in conditioner.
“Not touching your hair too much is best because then you aren’t tugging at your scalp or accidentally pulling your hair off.”
She recommended keeping haircare routines minimal and getting locks trimmed every other month.
She shared plans to try The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density and to install a shower filter for hard water in her home.
The advice comes after a 2014 study published by the National Library of Medicine revealed haircare products should address hair PH.
According to Healthline, the acidity of apple cider vinegar could potentially balance PH resulting in stronger and shinier hair.
Its antimicrobial properties may also help to prevent scalp problems.