10 Herbal Remedies for Nourishing and Strengthening Thin Hair

Hair care isn’t just essential for personal hygiene — it also provides a way to help support healthy hair and keep your hair in your head where it belongs. Natural ingredients can be a good solution for caring for your hair, and we’ll cover which ones are known to support and nourish your hair below.

First, let’s learn about how hair works and what creates those rich, luscious strands we love. 

Understanding Your Hair

Hair growth happens in a four-stage cycle, with your hair growing just over a centimeter each month. It’s common to lose up to 100 hairs per day from breakage, hairstyles, brushing, and normal hair loss.REF#2710 Despite this daily loss, most people have around 150,000 hairs on their heads at any given time.

The four hair growth cycles are constantly in motion, and each hair is at a different point in the cycle. It’s nature’s way of making sure you always have some hair on your head.

Anagen

During this phase, known as the growth phase, hair forms, starting as a tiny root made up of the protein keratin. These keratin molecules bind together and create the hair follicle. The hair follicle grows and travels up through the hair shaft. The anagen growth phase lasts anywhere between two and six years. 

Catagen

During this phase, hair growth stops, and the hair root separates from the bottom of the hair bulb, transitioning to a rest phase. This phase can last one to two weeks.

Telogen

This is the resting phase of hair growth. During this phase, the hair root will move through the hair shaft towards the pore, where it will eventually be expelled. During this phase, new keratin cells are gathered at the base of the hair bulb. This can last five to six weeks, and it also marks the point at which the blood supply is officially cut off for the hair. 

Exogen

This phase isn’t a phase as much as it is the set time at which the hair is officially expelled from the head to make room for the new hair beneath. 

There are also multiple different types of hair. For instance, you can have straight, wavy, or curly hair, which can be dry, normal, or oily. You can have thin or thick hair, which describes how much hair is on your head, and your hair can be fine or coarse, representing the thickness of the hair shaft. 

What Causes Thin Hair?

There are many causes for thin hair and thinning hair. It’s also important to note that these are two different conditions. Thin hair is typically genetic — if one or both of your parents have thin hair, you are more likely to have it, too. 

Thinning hair describes when your hair falls out more than usual. The reasons for thinning hair can be hard to pinpoint, but some of the most common are:REF#2711

• Genetics
• Hormones changes
• Medication
• Stress 
• Dermatological conditions like alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia
• Thyroid concerns
• Diseases and infection
• MedicationsREF#2712

Hair can also tend to thin with age. If you’re thinning at the same time you’re graying, then your thinning hair may just be a side effect of growing older.

No matter the cause of your thin hair (or thinning hair), you can take some positive steps toward supporting your hair thickness and scalp health. Below, we’ll give you a list of the top herbal extracts you can use to encourage the appearance of luscious, radiant locks. You can either enjoy these herbs in a supplement or look for them in the ingredients lists of your favorite hair care products.

Top 10 Herbs for Thin Hair Support

While there are hundreds of natural products or herbs that can help support total wellness, we’ve highlighted the ones that are virtually synonymous with beautiful, strong hair. These herbs are not to be used to treat any disease or medical condition, but rather give support to healthy hair.

1. Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola, also known as Brahmi, is a member of the parsley family. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is thought to develop the crown chakra and support the functions that arise from the crown, including hair health. Gotu Kola can help encourage blood circulation by supporting blood vessel tissue, which, in turn, supports the hair bulb.REF#2713 Increased blood flow to the scalp helps support hair follicle health. 

2. Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettle is commonly found in North America. It’s a plant with hollow, stinging hairs called trichomes. Nettle contains a compound called beta-sitosterol, which can help encourage blood flow. 

It also contains antioxidants which can help prevent oxidative stress in the cells that support new hair growth.REF#2714 Oxidative stress occurs when the body produces free radicals in response to external aggressors, like UV rays, pollution, and even cigarette smoke. 

This herb also contains iron, magnesium, calcium, and zinc, and can help support healthy hair strands and scalp clarification. 

3. Horsetail

Horsetail, also known as bottlebrush, is well known for how it can support the connective tissues that make up our bodies. It’s a valuable source of silica, a mineral that’s essential for the development and support of healthy hair.REF#2715

Horsetail is often found in supplement form, as well as in hair oils and hair masks. It’s known for giving hair an incredibly shiny, healthy appearance.

4. Aloe

Aloe contains vitamins C, A, and E, as well as vitamin B12 and folic acid. For dry, damaged hair, products that contain aloe can help moisturize and support the hair strands. It can also soothe scalp irritation without using heavy oils, which is good if you naturally have oily hair. 

Healthy hair growth starts with a healthy scalp. If you have serious scalp irritation, applying an aloe vera gel can soothe irritation and help bring the skin of the scalp back into balance. 

5. Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto is native to the southeastern United States and the West Indies. Used for centuries to support energy and wellness, saw palmetto can support healthy endocrine function, which is essential for protecting against hair fallout.REF#2716

Saw palmetto also contains antioxidants, which can address oxidative stress in hair and scalp cells. 

6. Holy Basil

Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, is a herb known for its ability to support the body’s stress response. Stress plays a major role in the condition and production of our hair.3 This adaptogenic herb can help ensure your body’s stress response is calm so that you can enjoy the benefits of strong and shiny hair.

7. Ginseng

Used for thousands of years, ginseng is typically thought of as an herb that increases vitality. It is one of the top five medicinal supplements used by the Seneca Indians. Ginseng is also an antioxidant, which can help support hair cells.REF#2716

8. Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek is often synonymous with lactation, but it has other uses for those who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding. When used as a hair oil, fenugreek seed can help support a healthy scalp, and is often used to soothe scalp irritation, which can affect hair health.REF#2718

9. Peppermint

Want lustrous hair that also smells amazing? Try peppermint. Peppermint can help cleanse and tonify the scalp, supporting healthy hair follicles. It also provides a tingly sensation that many people find invigorating. 

10. Natural Oils

The fatty acids and nutrients in natural oils like coconut oil, rosemary oil, and olive oil can help strengthen, hydrate, and protect the hair. If you struggle with dry scalp and dry hair, these oils may be able to help soothe irritation, as well.

For people with oily hair and scalp, try adding a few drops of essential oil to your favorite conditioner or hair tonic to get the benefits without the excess oil. No matter what, make sure you dilute essential oils with a carrier oil to avoid irritation.

Better Hair Starts Naturally

Take care of your hair by supporting your hair from the inside out with herbs that help encourage scalp and hair health.