Look through the advertisement sections of many magazines today, and you will probably see at least one advertisement for hair growth products. But do these products, natural or chemical actually work? Do they promote hair growth?

What these products typically do is to stimulate the hair follicles in your scalp so that when your hair does grow, it is healthier and stronger.

Most popular hair growth products are taken externally in the form of a scalp treatment.  What they do is thoroughly cleanse your scalp removing any build up of proteins. This combined with the act of massaging your scalp when applying the product stimulates the hair follicles and blood circulation, so encouraging hair growth.

Hair growth products that are taken orally will contain vitamins such as vitamin B6 or B12, zinc or copper. All of these vitamins are needed by your body for healthy, strong hair.

Before trying any of the hair growth products available, check the packaging to make sure the product has been approved by the FDA before you purchase. If so, then it has been fully tested in proper, objective clinical trials and any side effects that have occurred have been documented. In addition, reading the package clearly will tell you if it is indeed a hair growth product or a hair thickening product, as the two can be easily confused.

Back in 2001, two hair restoration treatments were approved by the FDA. The two ingredients are finasteride and minoxidil.

Typically, Finasteride (or Propecia) is only available as a prescription to men. Minoxidil (or Rogaine) is available mostly over the counter, but tends to be more effective for women. While Minoxidil tends to be used in external applications, Finasteride is usually taken orally.

Whether or not you decide to choose one of the many hair growth products on the market, it’s always a good idea to consult a trained medical professional before you begin.

Special hair loss shampoo products are expensive, so is there any substance to their claims? If the cause of your hair loss has been traced back to problems in the scalp area or a hormonal imbalance, then they could be a solution for you.

If your scalp is not washed regularly, chemicals build up on the surface. When your hair naturally falls out, this build up can prevent new hair growth from penetrating through the surface. If your hair does manage to grow, the new growth tends to be weaker and prone to falling out.

Washing your hair using a mild shampoo on a regular basis and thoroughly rinsing away any residue is enough for most of us to stop the protein build up on our scalp. Massaging the scalp during shampooing also acts as a stimulant for the blood circulation to the hair follicles to promote new hair growth.

So, if regular shampoos do all of this, why use a special hair loss shampoo? If your hair loss is caused by your hormones, the drugs contained in these products work with your body to bring your hormones back into balance. As a result of suppressing certain hormones that prevent hair growth, your hair should be able to grow back again. Hair loss shampoo will also keep your scalp clean and healthy by having the same benefits as using a regular shampoo.

Naturally, any product that affects your hormonal balances can cause side effects. You should be fully aware of these before starting treatment. The hair loss shampoo products that tend to work the best contain either Rogaine or Propecia.

However, before buying one of the hair loss shampoo products, I would recommend consulting with a medical professional to nail down the cause of your hair loss as hormonal. If it isn’t then it is unlikely that these products will work for you.