Home remedies for hair growth, like green tea tonic, a coffee scrub or castor oil, can stimulate hair growth by boosting blood circulation in the scalp and supplying the scalp with essential nutrients. These options can also strengthening and moisturizing hair follicles.
However, to ensure healthy hair growth, it is also important to keep your body well hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day and by eating a nutritious diet that rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential for hair follicles. You should be sure to include foods like lean meat, cheese, milk, fresh fruit, vegetables and legumes into your diet to keep hair healthy. Learn more about food for hair growth that you should incorporate into your daily diet.
If you feel your hair is slow to grow, or if you experience noted hair loss, you should consult a dermatologist for assessment, as it may be related to health problems such as hormonal changes or vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
How can I grow my hair naturally?
Some home remedies for hair growth are:
1. Castor oil
Castor oil helps to moisturize and nourish the scalp to improve the health of the hair follicles. This can contribute to hair growth over time.
Castor oil also helps to reduce dryness and irritation on the scalp to combat dandruff. Check out the other uses of castor oil and the health benefits it can provide.
Ingredients
- Castor oil
Directions
Apply a few drops of castor oil to the scalp, massage lightly and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse the scalp and hair afterwards.
2. Coffee scrub
Coffee scrubs can help to improve blood circulation in the scalp and supply the hair follicles with nutrients that are essential for promoting healthy hair growth.
In addition, using coffe to exfoliate the scalp can help to facilitate the absorption of nutrients when using a moisturizing mask.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons of coffee powder
- 4 tablespoons of any moisturizing mask
- 2 teaspoons of castor oil or coconut oil (optional)
How to prepare
Mix the ingredients in a clean, dry bowl. Wash your hair with shampoo and rinse. Remove excess water and apply the coffee scrub to the scalp, massaging lightly with circular movements, using only your fingertips. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then wash your hair again with your usual shampoo and conditioner.
The coffee scrub can be used once or twice a month and is contraindicated for people who have injuries, wounds or infections on the scalp.
3. Green tea tonic
Green tea tonic, prepared with the medicinal plant Camellia sinensis, is rich in catechins, which are substances that help improve blood circulation and oxygenation to the scalp. It can also increase the supply of nutrients to the hair shaft, which can help stimulate hair growth.
Check out other health benefits of green tea and how it can be used.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves or 1 sachet of green tea
- 1 cup of boiling water
How to prepare
Add the green tea leaves or sachet to a cup of boiling water and let it infuse for 10 minutes. Strain the tea or remove the sachet and wait for it to cool. Wash your hair with shampoo, rinse and apply the green tea tonic to your scalp, massaging it in and leaving it on for 30 minutes. After this time, rinse your hair and use your usual conditioner.
Another way to use green tea to stimulate hair growth is by consuming it. However, because it contains caffeine, green tea should not be consumed by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with insomnia, hyperthyroidism, gastritis or high blood pressure. It should also be used as directed by a doctor, as excessive use can damage the liver.
4. Thyme and apple cider vinegar lotion
Thyme and apple cider vinegar lotion helps to cleanse and tone the scalp, which can contribute to hair growth.
In addition, apple cider vinegar has an acidic pH that helps to balance the acidity of the scalp. It also has an antiseptic action, helping to control bacteria or fungi that can cause problems on the scalp and hair that hinder hair growth.
Learn more about the health benefits of apple cider vinegar and how it can be used.
Ingredients
- 100 mL of apple cider vinegar
- 10 drops of thyme essential oil
How to prepare
Mix the ingredients well in a clean, dry bowl. Apply to the scalp, massaging for 5 minutes. Then rinse with warm water and your usual shampoo. This lotion can be used for up to 6 months.
5. Lavender and rosemary shampoo
Shampoo can be mixed with lavender and rosemary essential oils, which contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that improve blood circulation in the scalp. This homemade shampoo can help to strengthen the hair follicles and stimulate growth.
Ingredients
- 60 mL unscented natural shampoo
- 60 mL of water
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
- 10 drops of rosemary essential oil
How to prepare
Mix all the ingredients in a clean, dry bottle and store it to use as your usual shampoo, Massage into the scalp and rinse afterwards.
6. Aloe vera gel and jojoba oil tonic
Aloe vera gel and jojoba oil tonic is a great option for keeping hair follicles healthy. It can help to regenerate scalp cells, stimulating hair to grow faster and stronger.
In addition, the oils present in this formula help to moisturize hair follicles and make them shinier.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil
- 60 mL of aloe leaf gel
- 15 drops of rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops of cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica)
How to prepare
Wash and cut the aloe leaf and remove the gel inside. Add the aloe leaf gel to a clean, dry container and add jojoba oil, rosemary essential oil and cedarwood essential oil. Mix all the ingredients well and apply to the scalp the night before washing your hair, massaging it into the scalp gently. Store any leftovers in a cool, dark glass container.
7. Saw palmetto solution
Some studies show that saw palmetto solution, prepared with the medicinal plant Serenoa repens, has an anti-inflammatory and anti-androgenic action. It acts by inhibiting an enzyme that transforms testosterone into its most active form, which weakens hair follicles and causes hair loss. This solution can therefore help reduce hair loss and stimulate the growth of new hair.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of saw palmetto powder
- 1 glass of water
How to prepare
Mix the ingredients in a clean, dry container until the powder is completely dissolved. Apply to the scalp, massaging for 5 minutes. Then wash your hair with the usual shampoo and conditioner. This saw palmetto solution should be used once a day for at least 12 weeks.
8. Rosemary, thyme and rose conditioner
Rosemary, thyme and rose conditioner has scalp-stimulating properties that prevent hair loss and promote hair growth.
In addition, this conditioner helps to moisturize the hair, keeping it healthy, and can be used for all hair types.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of mild conditioner
- 3 tablespoons of thyme, rose and rosemary infusion
- 1 teaspoon of lemon balm essential oil
- 3 drops of orange essential oil
- 3 drops of rosemary essential oil
How to prepare
To prepare this infusion, add 2 teaspoons of chopped dried thyme leaves, 2 teaspoons of fresh rosemary leaves and 2 teaspoons of roses to 1 cup of boiling water. Infuse for 5 to 10 minutes.
Next, mix all the ingredients together in a clean, dry container and apply from root to tip, massaging the scalp for about 5 minutes. You can use the conditioner for a week if stored at room temperature, or for two weeks if kept in the fridge.
Other treatments for hair growth
There are a number of treatments that stimulate hair growth and help to maintain the integrity of the hair. These should be prescribed and monitored by a dermatologist, who should first assess your hair condition and recommend the best treatment. Treatment approaches can vary from person to person.
- Microneedling: stimulates the formation of new collagen fibers and increases the thickness of the hair. Combining this procedure with certain active ingredients, such as Minoxidil and Finasteride, can enhance its effects, promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss.
- Low-intensity laser: consists of applying beams of light to the scalp, which stimulate the hair roots to increase the texture and thickness of the hair. It is a painless treatment that does not cause an increase in local temperature.
Some daily care can also be adopted to to prevent hair loss and promote growth, such as combing the hair with a wide-tooth comb and applying hair masks. Check out other tips for hair growth that you can use.
