The Best Products for Thinning Hair That Helped Me Tackle Excessive Shedding

Shedding hair is completely normal. In fact, we lose about 100 strands of hair a day. Until recently, this stat never crossed my mind—let alone products for thinning hair. Thankfully, I’d always been blessed with great hair genes, inheriting long, exceptionally thick hair from both of my parents. In fact, it’s historically been the first thing people notice about all of us. That was, until stress finally caught up with me and started to take its toll.

There’s no way around it: I’ve had a particularly difficult year, and my body has certainly kept score. The shedding crept in slowly, like a haunting in a horror movie. I started noticing more strands in my brush, collecting in the shower drain, and eventually, scattered across the floor after styling. Even my regular hairstylist gently alerted me that my hair felt different, pointing to changes in both its texture and density.

After many tears and ongoing doctor’s appointments to rule out an underlying cause, scalp care and a handful of thinning hair products have become a nonnegotiable part of my routine. And I’m far from alone. While hair loss is often associated with male pattern baldness, it affects millions of women, too—and navigating it can be just as emotionally overwhelming as it is difficult to treat.

Hair loss can be hard to treat because multiple factors influence it, says board-certified dermatologist Anetta Reszko. Thinning hair can be caused by anything from genetics and hormonal changes (including pregnancy and menopause) to medical conditions, nutritional deficiencies, and (surprise, surprise!) stress. Not to mention, the physical damage caused by chemical processing or tight hairstyles.

A quick trip to the dermatologist for me confirmed my diagnosis: telogen effluvium (AKA stress hair loss). “Telogen effluvium is a type of hair shedding that may be noticed a few months after the body experiences some type of change or stress,” board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, previously explained. In fact, hair shedding was also common in the months post-Covid-19 as a combination of emotional stress and illness.

Interestingly, there’s a new common cause making hair loss a common issue in hair stylist and dermatologist chairs—with the rise of GLP-1 drugs. Dr. Garshick also explained that hair loss can be an indirect result of rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. Otherwise, the most common cause of hair thinning is male- and female-pattern baldness, a form of androgenetic alopecia. It’s both hereditary and hormone-related, and most frequently occurs with age.

When it comes to slowing hair loss, there are two main approaches: reducing shedding and encouraging new growth. While they’re often grouped together, they work in different ways. Take minoxidil, for example—it increases blood flow to the scalp to help stimulate new hair growth. Meanwhile, products like Nutrafol, contain natural ingredients that help inhibit DHT levels. As board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, previously explained, excess dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is closely linked to hair loss, so ingredients that naturally help lower DHT may also help reduce thinning over time. A well-rounded regimen features both shedding reduction and growth stimulating ingredients.

Phew! If you’re like me, that’s a lot of information to digest; but as complex as hair loss may be, treating it is not a lost cause. Below are some of the products that have worked to halt the shedding in my hair growth journey so far—with expert insights and recommendations from MDs along the way.

A myriad of factors can contribute to thinning hair, experts emphasize, but the most common is androgenetic alopecia (otherwise known as male or female pattern hair loss), per Carson T. Kirkpatrick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in New York City. Other common causes include stress, illness, medications, and even certain hair styling techniques (such as taut braids that cause strain on the hair follicles). “Hair loss can even be triggered by certain autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata, and some can lead to scarring forms of hair loss,” adds Dr. Kirkpatrick.

What are the best ingredients for thinning hair?

There are numerous ingredients that can support thinning hair and facilitate hair growth. A bit about each of them, below.

This is the only over-the-counter topical with meaningful clinical data proving its efficacy in treating hair loss, according Dr. Rieder. It’s a vasodilator, meaning it widens blood vessels. “This improves blood flow to the hair follicles, stimulating growth as well as improving delivery of key nutrients to the scalp,” Dr. Kahn adds. It also helps enlarge the follicle and extend the growth phase of hair, resulting in thicker, longer strands. (Caffeine is another common vasodilator found in hair products, though it’s not as proven as minoxidil.) Best for genetic hair loss, minoxidil is also available as an oral prescription. Both men and women can benefit from using it, but it’s best to avoid minoxidil during pregnancy as it could cause potential risks to a growing fetus.

These oral prescriptions work by suppressing dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, the hormone that shrinks hair follicles, explains Dr. Reszko. (Note that naturally-derived topicals, like saw palmetto extract, can also reduce DHT.) These medications are best for men with genetic hair loss; dutasteride is often recommended for more severe thinning. They are only prescribed to women under medical supervision who are either postmenopausal or have undergone a hysterectomy as they are classified as Category X drugs by the FDA, meaning they are incompatible with pregnancy as there is a proven risk of serious birth defects.

Anti-dandruff actives include ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, and selenium sulfide. “There is some data that anti-dandruff shampoos have anti-inflammatory effects that can help to promote new hair growth,” Dr. Rieder says. These three anti-fungal ingredients also have other important merits that can help address thinning: Ketoconazole shows anti-DHT properties that can help reduce androgen sensitivity, per Dr. Reszko, while the other two help exfoliate the scalp. Removing excess buildup on the scalp provides a healthier foundation for hair growth.

Both Dr. Kahn and Reszko recommend peptides, especially copper peptides (also known as GHK-Cu). In addition to having anti-inflammatory properties, they activate hair-follicle stem cells, extending the growth phase and upregulating genes involved with growth and the delivery of copper to the follicles. You can treat yourself with this active using topical formulas or get even more targeted treatment with copper-peptide scalp injections from a provider. Other peptides for hair growth include acetyl tetrapeptide, biotinoyl tripeptide-1, and oligopeptide-41. Often found in trademarked ingredient complexes like Procapil or Capixyl, these can help strengthen the follicle, making hair more resistant to shedding.

This all-natural option works by improving circulation and reducing inflammation, says Dr. Reszko. “In some studies, it performs similarly to minoxidil over time,” she adds. She recommends rosemary oil as a plant-based alternative treatment for those who have mild thinning, including postpartum hair loss, or are sensitive to stronger treatments.

Dr. Rieder likes the data on marine collagen when taken as an oral supplement, noting that it’s consumed in high quantities in societies with fish-heavy diets and in certain populations with thick hair. One study of marine collagen’s effect on hair showed that marine collagen achieved hair growth comparable to that of finasteride, enhancing hair regrowth and increasing the expression of hair growth factors, making it a nice addition to the wellness routine of someone with male- or female-pattern baldness.

Yes, you often can encourage thicker hair growth once hair has started to thin, so long as the cause has been identified and addressed, says Dr. Kirkpatrick. For example, if you’re under severe stress, your hair starts shedding rapidly (this is known as telogen effluvium) and that period of stress subsides, stronger hair tends to regrow. “In some cases, however, like androgenetic alopecia, the thinning tends to be progressive unless there is some sort of intervention under the care of a dermatologist,” he warns. This is why it’s so crucial to seek help if you’ve noticed sudden thinning—the earlier you can treat the problem, the sooner you may be able to promote healthy new growth.

How can you tell if your hair is thinning?

In most cases, thinning hair starts with a widening middle part in women and loss at the crown and temples for men. A dermatologist will be able to determine if your hair is thinning by doing a thorough scalp examination. “They will look for things like increased shedding, decreased hair shaft diameter, and empty hair follicles,” explains Dr. Kirkpatrick. “This will help to solidify a diagnosis of hair loss.”

What vitamin is lacking if your hair is thinning?

While thinning hair isn’t always caused by a nutritional deficiency, the vitamins and nutrients associated with hair loss include deficiencies in iron, vitamin D, zinc, and B vitamins, particularly B12 and biotin, per Dr. Kirkpatrick. Your healthcare provider can run blood tests to see if you’re lacking in critical nutrients and recommend supplements to help boost them back up to normal levels.