If you’re losing your hair, you’ve probably already heard of minoxidil, or Rogaine. Men and women of all ages yearn for thicker, fuller hair, especially when thinning hair becomes a visibly noticeable problem. Thankfully, there are a lot of natural alternatives to rogaine that can help with hair growth (or lack thereof).
This popular hair loss treatment is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It’s available over the counter as a liquid or foam to treat male and female pattern baldness (also known as androgenetic alopecia).
Hair loss can happen for many reasons like unhealthy lifestyles, hormonal imbalances, poor hair care, nutritional deficiencies, allergies, and genetics. And so, there are also a plethora of modern treatments and techniques available that promise to help reverse it. See: Guide to Using Betaine HCL for Hair Loss
Rogaine does work to some extent as evidenced by clinical studies, but only for certain types of baldness and only if you keep up with its application. But it won’t work for everyone. If it does work, you probably won’t grow back all of the hair you’ve lost, and it can take up to four months to see results. You’ll have to use Rogaine indefinitely to maintain any regrowth.
While Rogaine has been proven to be effective in regrowing hair, there are many caveats. Fortunately, there are natural alternatives to rogaine that could also fix the problem.
17 Natural Alternatives To Rogaine
If you’re looking for natural alternatives to rogaine for regrowing or slowing down hair loss, there are lots of options. From vitamins to foods to natural oils, you can get to the root cause and try these methods.
1. Nutrients and Vitamins
We are what we eat and the same is true for our hair. A stressed and malnourished body can’t keep a healthy scalp and thick locks. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements recommends the following nutrients for healthy, thick hair:
- Iron – Red blood cells need iron to work and shuttle nutrients to the scalp for healthy hair. Heme iron from animal sources in much better absorbed than non-heme iron from plants.
- Vitamin C – This antioxidant is a must for proper iron absorption. See:
- Vitamin A – Our scalp needs vitamin A to make sebum, the thick liquid that conditions and moisturizes hair.
- Biotin – This B vitamin helps keep hair strong to prevent breakage and thinning.
- Zinc – The mineral zinc helps with tissue growth and repair, including hair.
- Avoid Bad Fats – Unhealthy trans fats and processed foods increase inflammation and contribute to hormone imbalances, like high DHT. Too much DHT can mean hair loss. See: High-Fat Diet Skin Benefits to Help You Glow
2. Pachai Payaru
Body and hair cells depend on good nutrients, like the rich protein and vitamin B1 found in Pachai Payaru for hair growth, as well as calcium and phosphorus for strong bones. Pachai Payaru contains, copper, which is a highly essential mineral for a healthful scalp and thick hair.
3. Triphala Churna
Triphala works as a powerful tonic for the hair, stimulating the follicles and roots and encourages hair growth. Amla in Triphala also restores the normal pH balance of the scalp and makes the hair healthy.
4. Massage
Massaging the scalp is a great natural alternative to rogaine. It can help to restore hair growth and can be used in conjunction with hair oils and masks. This stimulates the scalp and can improve hair thickness. Taking the time to massage your scalp each day can also help you relieve stress and tension. It’s thought that stretching forces during the massage encourage hair growth and thickness in the dermal papilla cells.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera contains proteolytic enzymes that help heal and repair dead skin cells (1). This could help stimulate hair growth from dormant hair follicles, thus increasing hair volume. Daily consumption of aloe vera juice is also recommended to help promote hair growth.
6. Cold Water Rinses
Just like hot water can cause dryness on your skin, it can be damaging to your mane, too. Rinsing with cool water will help close up the cuticle and strengthen hair follicles pre-styling. Cool water is best if you can handle it, but lukewarm is the next best thing if you can’t.
7. Amla
Amla strengthens hair and promotes hair growth (2). It is a powerhouse of antioxidants and vitamin C. The high amounts of vitamin C in this pack help boost the collagen levels in your scalp, thus increasing hair growth.
8. Gotu Kola
According to Dr. Sharol Tilgner’s 2009 book Herbal Medicine, gotu kola can help with thinning hair. This herb can help the body cope with stress, reduces inflammation, speed healing time, and stimulates circulation for hair growth.
9. Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto extracts and supplements can work well for hair thinning because they keep testosterone levels balanced. Opinions about saw palmetto as an effective hair growth agent are mixed, but there are studies that indicate it to be beneficial.
10. Coconut oil
Coconut oil contains fatty acids that penetrate inside the hair shaft and reduce protein loss from hair. 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. There needs to be more research on coconut oil as a promoter of hair growth, but it’s been shown to improve the health and luster of hair and has been used for centuries.
11. Fish oil
Consuming omega fatty acids can help to improve your hair from the inside since they are filled with nutrients and proteins. Taking an omega supplement along with antioxidants helps to improve hair density and diameter. It also reduces hair loss.
12. Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is an herb that can help strengthen the hair shaft, which discourages hair thinning. It also encourages blood flow and an antioxidant boost.
13. Hibiscus
Hibiscus makes a delicious tea, but it may also help reverse thinning hair. A 2003 study found hibiscus salve improved hair growth. Hibiscus tea is high in vitamin C and can be used as a hair rinse or drank to help hair growth.
14. Castor Oil
Castor oil is a thick, sticky liquid that’s fabulous for hair growth. It’s antibacterial and antifungal to help keep the scalp healthy. It’s filled with omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, proteins, and other nutrients that can penetrate your parched strands and seal your hair shaft to retain moisture.
15. Henna Leaves
Henna contains phenolic compounds that combat a number of hair issues like lice and dandruff. Such phenolic compounds also have the potential to boost hair growth and combat alopecia areata
16. Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seed oil has phytosterols that reduce hormone imbalances that can lead to hair loss. In one study, people who took 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil every day for 24 weeks saw a 40% improvement in hair thickness.
17. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary essential oil went up against a common hair loss drug and came out on top. Research from Skinmed yielded surprising results. In the study, rosemary essential oil increased scalp circulation and worked as well as the drug, but with less scalp irritation.