What Are the Different Types of Hair Thickening Products?

Hair tends to thin as a person ages, and men, in particular, are especially affected by hair loss and hair thinning due to male pattern baldness. There are hair thickening products available that transiently thicken the hair. Shampoos can temporarily plump up the hair shaft until the next wash, and hair conditioners are able to fortify the scalp to encourage healthier and thicker hair growth. Certain supplements formulated with various B vitamins are known to thicken hair as well.

Most hair thickening products can easily be found at a local drug store or beauty shop. Many shampoos that claim to thicken hair are formulated with hydrolyzed proteins, which fill in the gaps in hair, temporarily plumping them. With extended use, the proteins are also able to strengthen the hair.

Hair conditioners that are formulated with dihydrotestosterone-inhibiting ingredients are able slow down hair loss and increase the thickness of the hair. Dihydrotestosterone is a male sex hormone that is found in sebum, which adversely affects the size and vitality of the hair follicles. Saw palmetto is a plant that is commonly used in hair thickening products, and has been connected with the recovery of hair thinness. When the condition is caught at a young age before the hair loss has the chance to become adamant, it is easier to treat.

There are also leave-in hair products that are designed to create a healthy environment on the scalp and hair. Select a leave-in product that protects the hair from the damaging UV rays of the sun. If the hair is usually heat-styled with a flat iron or curling iron, then hair products that are able to protect the strands from the heat can also benefit the hair. The incessant use of hot tools will damage the cuticles on the hair, leading to thin and waspy strands.

Hair thickening products can also work at the molecular level to help promote healthy hair growth. The daily consumption of a water soluble B-vitamin promotes healthy nails, skin, and increased hair growth. Deficiency of the B-vitamin has been known to manifest itself as thin hair prone to breakage. Toxicity of the vitamin hardly occurs, and, since the vitamin is water soluble, any amount that is not processed by the body will usually come out in the urine.