10 Natural Hair Treatment Tips for Hair Growth
Depending on the cause of your hair loss, some practices may help you regrow hair naturally. These may include scalp massages and applying aloe vera or essential oils like coconut and lemon oil.
Hair loss happens naturally and can affect anyone. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), you may lose 50–100 hairs a day.
This might not seem like a lot because you have 100,000 hair folliclesTrusted Source on your head and hair typically grows back.
However, you may experience more rapid hair loss, depending on the underlying cause. In some cases, hair loss is permanent.
Hair loss itself may not have direct physical effects on your health, but the emotional toll may be significant.
Keep reading to learn more about 10 natural treatment tips to help regrow your hair.
1. Massage
Massaging the scalp with hair oils and masks stimulates the scalp and may improve hair thicknessTrusted Source.
Stretching during the massage could encourage hair growth and thickness in the dermal papilla cells, which are located at the bottom of the hair follicle. These cells play a key role in the regeneration and growth cycle of hair.
A 2019 studyTrusted Source showed that scalp massaging improved hair growth, blood flow, and scalp health in people. Massaging your scalp can also help relieve stress and tension, two emotions that may cause hair loss.
To massage your scalp, use your fingertips, not your fingernails. Move your way across your scalp in small circles, applying light to medium pressure. There’s no specific amount of time to massage. However, in the study above, each scalp massage was given daily for 4 minutes over 24 weeks.
2. Aloe vera
Aloe vera may help treat hair lossTrusted Source. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that aloe vera may help by:
- soothing your scalp
- conditioning your hair
- reducing dandruff
- unblocking hair follicles
However, the authors of a 2022 reviewTrusted Source suggest that only limited animal studies exist. More research on humans is needed.
You can apply pure aloe vera gel to your scalp a few times per week. You can also use shampoo and conditioner that contain aloe vera.
3. Coconut oil
Coconut oil contains fatty acids, called lauric acid, that penetrate inside the hair shaftTrusted Source and reduce protein loss from hair.
A 2021 studyTrusted Source also found that coconut oil applied to the scalp may enrich the scalp’s microbiome, making the scalp and hair follicles healthier.
Coconut oil can be used before or after you wash your hair, depending on your hair type. If your hair tends to be oily, you can do a leave-in treatment overnight or for a few hours before you wash it.
Massage coconut oil into your scalp and all of your hair. If your hair is dry, you can also use it as a leave-in treatment.
4. Viviscal
Viviscal is a natural hair growth supplement that may promote hair growthTrusted Source in people with thinning hair.
It contains a mineral-rich combination ofTrusted Source:
- shark and mollusk powder
- organic silica
- vitamin C (derived from acerola cherry)
- biotin
- zinc
These ingredients may help regenerate new cells and strengthen existing cells.
You have to take the pills twice daily for at least 6 months to see results. Viviscal also makes a shampoo and conditioner.
5. Fish oil
Fish oil supplements are filled with nutrients, such as proteins and omega fatty acids.
A 2015 studyTrusted Source found that taking an omega supplement, along with antioxidants, helped improve hair density, diameter, and hair loss.
Omega-3 fatty acids may also help reduce inflammation and boost immunity. These could help boost your hair growth cycleTrusted Source and improve your overall health.
Speak with a healthcare professional before introducing supplements to your diet and follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage.
6. Ginseng
Taking ginseng supplements may help promote hair growthTrusted Source by stimulating hair follicles. Ginsenosides are the active components of ginseng and are thought to be responsible for ginseng’s positive effect on hair.
7. Onion juice
If you can handle the smell of onion juice, you may find that the benefits are worth it.
A 2014 studyTrusted Source found that onion juice may help promote hair growth and treat patchy alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss in various parts of the body.
Onion juice is also thought to improve circulation. A 2015 study with animals showed improved keratinocyte growth factor, an important mediator of hair follicle development and growth.
To use onion juice, blend a few onions and squeeze out the juice. Apply the juice to your scalp and hair, and leave it in for at least 15 minutes. Then, follow up with shampoo.
8. Rosemary oil
The authors of a 2020 reviewTrusted Source suggest that rosemary oil may help stimulate new hair growth and prevent hair loss.
A 2015 studyTrusted Source also found that rosemary oil may be as effective as minoxidil for treating androgenetic alopecia.
Mix a few drops of rosemary oil into a carrier oil, like argan oil or jojoba oil, and massage it into your hair and scalp before rinsing. You can do this a few times per week.
You can also add a few drops of rosemary oil to your shampoo and conditioner daily. However, avoid using essential oils directly on the skin, and always mix them in a carrier oil or shampoo.
9. Geranium oil
Geranium, or Pelargonium graveolens, is a fragrant plant that’s native to South Africa. Geranium oil is the concentrated oil extracted from its leaves.
A 2017 animal studyTrusted Source found that geranium oil promoted hair growth and boosted circulation in mice.
Mix three drops of geranium essential oil with eight drops of carrier oil. Apply it directly to your hair. You can also add a few drops to your shampoo and conditioner.
10. Lemon oil
A 2016 animal study found that lemon oil may help maintain a healthy scalp and encourage hair growth. Similarly, a 2021 reviewTrusted Source suggests that sinapic acid, a bioactive chemical in lemons, may help promote hair growth.
Apply fresh lemon juice to your scalp and hair 15 minutes before you shampoo. You can also use lemon essential oil diluted in a carrier oil as part of a hair mask.
Takeaway
Some natural treatments may help your hair grow back fast and healthy. However, it’s important to remember that treatments may take a few months to yield noticeable results. Be creative with the remedies and mix them up as much as you like.
Speak with a doctor about medications or procedures if these natural methods don’t work for you.
