Tackling thinning hair and hair loss, whether you’re over 40 or at any age, can be a formidable challenge. However, an often-neglected remedy is the use of hair oils. Typically associated with taming frizz and adding smoothness post-styling, these oils actually offer a wealth of benefits. They nourish the scalp, encourage hair follicle growth, and contribute to healthier, more resilient hair.
With the plethora of hair oils available, selecting the right one for your specific needs can be overwhelming. By consulting dermatologists, doctors, and haircare experts, we’ve uncovered the advantages of options like rosemary oil and apple cider vinegar oil. These oils are particularly effective for women with fine hair who aspire to achieve fuller, healthier tresses.
Read on for suggestions and insight from Dr. Yoram Harth, MD, board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director of MDhair and Dr. Mitchel P. Goldman, MD, Ph.D., board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic dermatology expert.
We also checked in with Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles and Lauren Udoh, hair stylist and hair creative director of WigReports.
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4 Doctor-Recommended Hair Oils & Serums For More Nourished Tresses This Fall
1. MDhair Regrowth Serum ($44)
According to Harth, this serum, infused with potent DHT blockers, revitalizes both your scalp and hair. Specifically designed to enhance scalp wellness and invigorate hair follicles, this regrowth treatment transitions them from a dormant state to active growth. Packed with over 20 botanical ingredients, it promotes cellular renewal and naturally encourages fuller, stronger hair.
Key components include rosemary leaf oil, horsetail extract, saw palmetto berry extract, argan oil, tea tree oil, and more. "For beginners [to hair oiling], I recommend using a combination of plant-based scalp treatment serums like MDhair regrowth serum and another type of oil to apply often to the hair strands," Harth says.
2. MDhair Peptide Hair Repair Oil ($18)
This bond repair oil is a game-changer for those battling dry, frizzy locks ravaged by coloring, perming, or harsh chemical treatments. Harth notes that it is a lightweight, silicone-free formula that glides on effortlessly and works wonders for all hair types. Enriched with active oligopeptides, nourishing argan and avocado oils, and potent antioxidants, this elixir shields your hair from heat damage, amplifies shine and strength, and tames frizz, flyaways, and split ends.
"There are two types of hair oils. One, which is applied to the scalp skin and intended to help with scalp health and hair regrowth, is called a scalp treatment serum," Harth explains. "The other type of hair oil is applied to the hair strands and is intended to help strengthen the strands and reduce breakage and split ends," he adds.
3. Mielle Rosemary Mint Blend Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil ($9.99
Mielle's rosemary oil has garnered immense popularity on Amazon, boasting nearly 80,000 reviews. Enriched with biotin, this oil is conveniently packaged with a dropper for effortless application. According to Abdullah, rosemary oil "works against the hair loss hormone DHT," and "the hairline and crown are common areas of thinning for women with hair loss that's related to age."
She advises "adding a few drops of rosemary oil to a 4 ounce bottle of lotion." Lotion works just as well (if not better) than oil for some women with thicker textures because it "absorbs quicker into the skin," she explains.
Abdullah recommends "using this solution twice daily." She stresses not "expecting to see results overnight," as it often takes "at least six months" to see hair regrowth at the crown. "If you're not sure what type of hair loss you have, use more than one essential oil [on its own or in] your lotion," she recommends.
4. Bellisso Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Serum Oil ($9.99)
Udoh suggests this hair serum, now available at a discount on Amazon, as the ultimate solution for itchy, flaky scalps. She describes it as a transformative elixir that breathes life into lackluster hair, infusing it with a radiant shine. Moreover, it can boost scalp health, add volume and minimize frizz and split ends.
"Apple cider vinegar has several benefits for hair health, including restoring the pH balance of the scalp, fighting dandruff, and improving shine," Udoh notes. "It can help clarify the scalp, remove styling product build up, and reduce frizz when used in a diluted solution," she adds. She goes on to say that apple cider vinegar helps to "close down the cuticle of each strand of hair which leads to more shine and less damage from environmental stressors."
It is also able, Udoh says, to "penetrate the hair shafts more efficiently than regular water due to its low pH level which allows it to reach deeper into your strands ensuring greater effectiveness in nourishing your hair while providing hydration and volume reduction."
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, Harth suggests that regardless of your choice between oil, lotion, or a combination of the two, it's widely known that nourishing your scalp and dedicating extra attention to hair care can yield remarkable benefits, including combating hair loss and thinning. Goldman advises against relying on any one product as a cure-all solution for your hair woes.
While these four hair oils may be beneficial, they are merely a component of a comprehensive hair care routine. “Remember your diet,” Goldman adds. “Your diet should be rich in vitamins and minerals. While using these oils, you should always be mindful of what you eat.”
When it comes to issues related to hair loss or other hair problems, it's crucial to seek advice from a dermatologist or other healthcare expert to identify the root cause and come up with a personalized treatment strategy, according to Goldman's recommendation. “If you're interested in trying oils for hair growth, I encourage you to do so — but remember to use it in moderation and conjunction with other healthy hair practices,” he concludes.
