hair growth
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Triggers for Hair Loss
Given the "popularity" of this subject, there are numerous scientific studies that tried to identify the causes behind hair loss. From an intense review of many of these studies we come to the conclusion - that as with many other health issues, lifestyle, diet and exposure to toxins (read more here) play a major role in triggering the hair loss process.
This 2018 review "A broad literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar", about the relationship between vitamins, minerals, and hair loss, brings one "conclusive" element that has a clear impact on hair loss "Several studies showed an association between AA and low vitamin D levels (AA = Alopecia Areata - hair loss caused by immune system attack of hair follicles) . Correction of vitamin D deficiency improves AA outcome and enhances response to treatment".
Consequentially, our first recommendation is "use daily vitamin D supplement - 5000-10,000 IU capsules" to slow or stop hair loss!
Androgenetic Alopecia
"Androgenetic alopecia is a genetically predetermined disorder due to an excessive response to androgens. This condition affects up to 50 percent of males and females and is characterized by progressive loss of terminal hair of the scalp any time after puberty".
Male Androgenetic Alopecia - "The cytochrome p450 alpha aromatase enzyme has also been found to contribute to androgenetic alopecia. Aromatase diminishes intra-follicular testosterone by catalyzing the conversion of testosterone to estradiol. Differences exist in the expression of aromatase in balding and non-balding scalp (54)".
In conclusion, using effective aromatase inhibitors could make a big difference as substentiated by this study (and many others): "Aromatase inhibitors effectively delay epiphysial maturation in boys and improve testosterone levels in adult men".
As shown in this study (and many others) there is one herbal product that has been proved to be most effective for aromatase reduction - CITRUS PEELS!
How to use citrus peels
Dr. Berg's short recipe introduction:
"In addition to losing weight with Healthy Keto®, reducing insulin, and consuming cruciferous vegetables, you can try a fantastic natural remedy for an enlarged prostate that involves citrus peel".
Dr. Berg's recipe:
"Add a whole lemon and a glass of water to a blender, and blend it for about 30 seconds. Then, blend again with about five to ten drops of liquid stevia or 1/2 to 1 cup of blueberries. You can have this at any time of day—enjoy!"
Our Recipe:
When you eat any citrus fruit (organic of course) - save the peels. Cut the peels to small pieces and store them in the freezer. When you accumulate some 10-15 ounces, defrost the peel with a small amount of water, and grind them in the blender for about 15 seconds, to make a fine pulp. Put it in a glass jar and store it in the refrigerator.
Add this pulp to any tasty food that you eat, be it sweet or salty, so that you ingest 2 to 3 tablespoons a day.
Expect to notice the improvement in a matter of a few weeks.
Collagen and Hair Loss
This study found "That stem cell aging results from proteolysis (the breakdown of proteins or peptides into amino acids) of type XVII Collagen...in response to DNA damage in HFSCs (Hair Follicle Stem Cells) and the commitment of stem cells to epidermal differentiation... leading to stepwise miniaturization and loss of hair follicles".
In simple words, collagen loss contributes to the hair loss process!
Collagen "Foods" for Hair growth
"Only marine collagen peptides have been researched as a hair growth stimulant, and these have only been assessed in animals, not humans [3]. So if you’re planning to try collagen for hair, it’s a good idea to start with these — but be mindful that they’re not a proven hair growth treatment". Gelatin is very rich collagen source for collagen so you may want to try this source for hair growth, but note the limited scientific proofs for the effectiveness of this hair growth stimulant.
This study concludes: "Type I procollagen immunostaining was substantially increased throughout the dermis in both groups", following the supplementation of aloe vera gel for 90 days taken by participants - thirty healthy female subjects over the age of 45 (low-dose: 1,200 mg/d, high-dose: 3,600 mg/d).
Again, in simple words, Aloe Vera gel makes a significant "contribution" to body's collagen production! Still, this is NOT a conclusive evidence that aloe vera gel is the right formula for hair growth! The aloe vera recipes we present below represent a summery of practices collected from the web but are not backed by scientific studies that could substantiate their effectiveness.
Hormones and Endocrine Disorders
Hair growth, cycling, and density can all be affected by endocrine disorders. This article provides a wide array of hormones that affect hair growth among men and women. Without getting into all the confusing details, it concludes "The hair cycle and hair follicle structure are greatly impacted by various hormones. Hair changes are prevalent in endocrine illnesses and might be the first indicator of underlying hidden endocrinopathy".
Bottom-line, learn more on this page about practices that could help to avoid endocrine system disruptions.
Home Made Shampoos
Given the simplicity and effectiveness of the home made shampoo alternatives we prefer to present here our recommended alternatives without getting into the complexities of the chemicals used and their impact on the hair, the scalp and the environment.
The natural, home made alternatives can clean and nourish hair without the exposure to chemicals and striping the scalp and hair from their natural oil.
Baking soda (also known scientifically as sodium bicarbonate) is known to be an exfoliating ingredient. Scalp and hair pH are slightly acidic, with the pH of the scalp being 5.5 and the hair shaft sitting at about 3.7. Baking soda is alkaline (pH = 8). To restore the scalp and hair acidity, use apple cider vinegar (ACV) to balance your scalps pH levels as explained below:
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Use 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda and mix it with water until it forms a paste. Wet your hair and scalp and apply it to your scalp and down the length of your wet hair. You can let it sit anywhere from one to three minutes and then rinse clean.
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Mix between 2 and 4 tablespoons of ACV with 16 ounces of cool water. Tip the head back and pour the mixture over the entire scalp, making sure that the mixture will not come in touch with the eyes. Massage your scalp and let it soak in for 1 to 2 minutes before rinsing off thoroughly.
Aloe Vera Treatment for Hair loss
The web offers numerous aloe vera "based" hair recovery and growth recipes. We have studied many of those recipes, their preparation and dosage, to bring you the ones that are "substantiated" by trustworthy tradition and contemporary testimonials along with scientific studies that verify their effectiveness. We also looked for aloe gel extraction methods that are simple and their preparation does the least of damage to the aloe's beneficial ingredients (and the beneficial ingredients of the other formula components).
Some health oriented sites praise aloe vera and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). The following citation is for those who are not aware of the ACV benefits to hair growth:
"Every hair has its own oil can. Bottle bacilli can clog these tiny openings. Scales and small dry crusts are formed, resulting in itching and dandruff. The oil-starved hairs either fall out or break off, causing hair thinning and baldness. ACV not only kills bottle bacillus but stimulates the oil cans for healthier activity." (Read more on ACV and its merits in this paper - page 25.)
The recipe preparation instructions preserve the best of its beneficial ingredients, and its preparation is simple and quick.
Important notification! Avoid recipes that their preparation recommends to warm the aloe ingredient. Many recipes recommend heating the mixture that includes the aloe with or without other ingredients, such as oil/s in a pan or in a pot. They do not explain why but scientific studies (read more [REF], [REF]) show that three of the most beneficial ingredients in the aloe plant - Enzymes, "long" Polysaccharides chains (made up of thousands of molecule "beads") and Vitamins, are rapidly destroyed when heated to temperatures above 140° F (60° C). Bottom line, avoid heating the recipe if you want to preserve the benefits of the aloe ingredients!
Back to aloe hair growth testimonials, Indian, Mexican, Brazilian and many other traditions are rich with aloe vera-based recipes that were developed over centuries, all promising renewed hair growth in a matter of a few weeks.
Same for Youtube and other social media platforms - all are rich with videos, some with more than 30 million views, claiming quick hair growth recovery. Sorry to say, but it takes months, sometimes 6 and sometimes even longer, to see renewed hair growth, but for many - it is going to work!
Aloe Vera Recipe For Topical Application
because it adds four ingredients to the aloe - each of which with scientifically proven properties for hair growth recovery:
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Lavender essential oil is added following a study on its effect on hair growth with mice, and the recommendation of other "experts" for it's use.
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Epsom salt - food grade (magnesium sulfate) is added for its magnesium and sulfur content replacing onion and its sulfur content and the numerous testimonials for the purple onion and its sulfur content contribution to hair growth. Popularity and numerous testimonials are the reasoning behind our recommendation for the apple cider vinegar.
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Jojoba oil - "Its properties as a liquid wax allow the dissolution of sebum deposits within hair follicles due to an ability to penetrate the follicles and remove the comedome, thus clearing the skin".
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DMSO - food grade (99.9% pure) is recommended as penetration enhancer in topical pharmaceutical formulations [REF].
Note: In many videos (this one for example) that recommend homemade aloe hair growth recipes, starting with fresh leaves, use the term "gel" that is extracted from the fresh aloe leaves. In the context of hair growth recipe FOR TOPICAL APPLICATION, it refers to the gel that is scraped from the leaf including the latex layer that contains the aloin! (as explained here, gel slim section is richer with beneficial hair growth ingredients and aloin in particular).
Quick and simple preparation using a blender to grind the ingredients (with undesired oxidation of some highly beneficial ingredients): Put the ingredients - aloe gel or the slim leaf section, lavender essential oil, DMSO and the optional apple cider vinegar (to provide the aloe some protection against oxidation). Activate the blending. Avoid prolonged and/or high-speed grinding, to minimize enzymes oxidation (read more). When done, continue by screening the mixture. Pour the mixture from the blender into a small bowl on which you lay a fine Mesh Food Stainless Steel Strainer or a dense mesh fabric like the one shown in the picture below (a chiffon fabric is another good option) and squeeze the "liquid" out into the bowl (see pictures below).
HAIR GROWTH RECIPE - Aloe with epsom (or onion), DMSO and "optional" Apple Cider Vinegar and Lavender:
Ingredients:
Note - a tablespoon (tbsp) is about 15 grams (or ml). If you want to use a digital kitchen scale of some sort, or change the formula "total output", use this conversion weight replacing the tbsp count, and just make sure to keep the recipe ingredients ratios as specified below:
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3-4 tbsp of aloe vera gel scraped extract (see "Preparation" section below - "scraped gel extraction"), or about 220 grams of aloe vera slim section (when using the less recommended "quick and simple" preparation),
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1 teaspoon of epsom food grade salt,
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2 teaspoons of high quality - food grade (99.9% pure) liquid DMSO,
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10 drops of jojoba oil
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6-8 drops of lavender essential oil (optional),
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1 tbsp of organic Apple Cider Vinegar (optional).
Aloe gel extraction for hair growth:
We present below two preparation options - the recommended one (to avoid oxidation by the blender grinding) and the "quick and simple" one:
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Use the gel slim section (see image below), thereby, increasing the aloin content (read more about aloin and its "toxicity") and leaving more of the leaf's gel for your smoothies.
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Cut off the tip of the section
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Remove the thorns by cutting narrow strips from the sides of the section.
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Cut and separat between the upper and lower sides of the section.
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Use a serrated kitchen knife to scrape the gel from the skins, laying the skin on the cutting board and scraping from the center of the skin (of the skin's length axis) to one "end" and then to the other.
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Pour the scraped gel from the cutting board into a small bowel, add the other ingredients of the recipe.
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Use a low speed mixer to homogenize the mix and when ready, pour into a small jar with a cap, and keep it refrigerated for up to a week. For longer periods, store the blend in your freezer.
Application:
Before application, massage the areas of the scalp where you want to apply the lotion with a warm wet towel for about 2-4 min.
Mixture stored in a jar: Before use, shake well the jar. Split the hair and apply the mixture by pouring a little bit from the jar into a small bowl, wet your fingers in the mixture, and apply to your scalp. To use it as a hair mask, just rub the hair "against" your (mixture) wet scalp.
For long hair, divide the hair into sections, and begin the application at mid-shaft, working toward the ends, and then continue with the application to the scalp as described above.
Then wrap a towel around your head. This helps protect the mask from dripping, but it also helps keep your hair from drying out. Warming up the towel may help the mask have even more of a moisturizing effect. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes. You can leave it on for up to an hour for extra conditioning. Repeat this application process twice a week.
Application of the mixture in a spray bottle: Before use, shake well the bottle, split the hair to let the spray reach the roots of the hair, and massage the scalp. When done, wrap the hair with a plastic hat or even a plastic wrap like "cling wrap" (for many it's "Saran" wrap) and the like.
Wait for 2-4 hours and shampoo the hair (the longer the better, but 30 min. is a minimum).
Rinse the mask out of your hair.
Note: Some users leave the mask without rinsing for a prolonged period of time. Remove the hat or the cling wrap, rub the hair with a piece of paper or warm wet towel to remove the oil (and the oily look) from the hair, and let the mask "do its job".
Repeat this application process twice a week.
For a video, watch: "The Indian secret, 🌿 to grow hair at a rocket speed and treat baldness from the first week".
Pour the liquid into a small spray bottle, and keep it refrigerated or freeze some of it, depending on the amount of liquid that is used for each treatment. Use the freezer to avoid more than a week's time refrigerated storage.
Spray Bottle
