Hair growth serum: what can you really expect?
A hair growth serum won't make your hair grow faster than it naturally does: on average about one centimetre a month. What a good serum can do is care for your scalp and, if you also use it on your lengths, reduce breakage, so you keep more length. No cosmetic serum has been proven to work against hereditary hair loss. If you suddenly lose a lot of hair or notice bald patches, see your GP or a dermatologist.
How fast does hair actually grow?
Hair on your head grows on average about one centimetre a month, a little faster for some people than for others. Every hair goes through a cycle: a growth phase of a few years, a short transition phase and a resting phase of about three months, after which it falls out and a new hair grows. Losing fifty to a hundred hairs a day is therefore completely normal. How long your hair can get depends mainly on how long your growth phase lasts, and that is largely hereditary.
If you feel your hair isn't growing, it is often breaking off before you see the length. Dry, damaged ends snap, and then it looks as if your hair has been the same length for months.
What does a hair growth serum actually do?
Most hair growth serums are really scalp serums. They contain caring and refreshing ingredients that you massage into your scalp. A clean, calm scalp is a good basis for your hair, and the massage itself feels nice. Product descriptions sometimes promise that a serum stimulates hair growth or reduces hair loss. For cosmetic serums that hasn't been convincingly proven, so we don't promise it either.
A serum for your lengths works differently. It makes your hair smoother and more supple, so it breaks less easily. Your hair doesn't grow faster because of it, but you do keep more length.
Which ingredients do you find in a hair growth serum?
| Ingredient | Why it's in there | What you can expect |
|---|---|---|
| Rosemary oil | Refreshing and caring for the scalp | There is some research, but too small to promise growth |
| Caffeine | Popular in scalp products | Mainly lab research, not proven against hair loss in practice |
| Peptides | Care for hair and scalp | Softer, more supple hair, no proven growth |
| Biotin | Vitamin often linked to hair | Only helps if you have a deficiency, which is rare |
| Menthol and peppermint | Give a fresh, tingling feeling | Pleasant, but the tingle says nothing about growth |
You can read more about biotin in biotin shampoo: what does it do. Curious about an oil that is often linked to hair growth? Then also read batana oil: what is it and what is it good for.
Which serum suits your scalp?
If you want a light, watery formula, the Serum Hair Growth by Growth Bomb is an easy choice. According to the ingredient list it contains glycerin, betaine, saw palmetto extract, tea tree, yerba mate and hyaluronic acid. Massage a small amount into your scalp when your hair is towel dry and then style as usual.
If you like a fresh feeling scalp, have a look at the 10x Caffeine Strengthening Scalp Serum by Kundal. It contains caffeine, niacinamide, panthenol, a little salicylic acid and menthol, with pine needle extract at the top of the list. Apply a few drops to a clean scalp and don't rinse. It also contains alcohol, so if your scalp is sensitive or dry, start every other day.
If you are mainly curious about rosemary, the Rosemary Tonic by Neqi is a leave-in with rosemary oil, caffeine and two kinds of peptides: copper peptide and oat peptide. Spread it over towel-dried hair and comb it through.
If you have a dry scalp, an oil suits you better. The Rosemary Strengthening Hair Tonic by Revuele is an oil with rosemary oil, peppermint oil, castor oil, macadamia oil, biotin and vitamin E. A few drops in your palm is enough. Massage it into your scalp and use only a little, especially with fine hair.
How do you keep more length?
By preventing breakage. The Peptide Restore Preserving Hair Serum by Headshock is made for your lengths. It contains a peptide, avocado oil, squalane and dimethicone, which smooth the hair and protect the hair fibre. Apply it from the ends upwards, on dry or damp hair. Combine it with less heat, a gentle brush and regular trims. You'll find more care for your scalp in scalp care.
When is a serum not enough?
If your hair suddenly falls out in clumps, you see round bald patches, or your parting or hairline keeps getting wider, see your GP or a dermatologist. Hereditary hair loss, hair loss from iron deficiency or thyroid problems and patchy hair loss need a diagnosis and sometimes medication. If you suddenly lose more hair three months after giving birth, an illness or a stressful period, it is often temporary. Even then, a doctor is the right person to confirm that. You'll find products for thinning hair in hair loss, but see them as care, not as treatment.
How do you use a hair growth serum?
Apply it to a clean scalp, section by section, and massage for a minute or two with your fingertips. Use it a few times a week or daily, as it says on the packaging. Give it at least three months, because that's how long it takes before you can see a difference in your hair. Take a photo in the same light at the start, so you can compare honestly. If your scalp stings or itches, stop. You'll find more serums and tonics in the hair growth collection.
Frequently asked questions
How long before you see results from a hair growth serum?
Count on at least three months. Hair grows about one centimetre a month, so any difference only becomes visible after a few months.
Can a serum stop hair loss?
A cosmetic serum has not been proven to work against hereditary hair loss. With sudden or patchy hair loss, see your GP or a dermatologist.
Is rosemary oil good for hair growth?
Rosemary oil cares for and refreshes the scalp. There is some research on hair growth, but it is too small to promise anything.
Can you use a hair growth serum every day?
Usually yes, as long as your scalp stays calm. If it contains alcohol or menthol and your scalp gets dry, use it less often.