Hair Loss Health Center

Other treatment for hair loss includes:

• Wearing hairpieces. Hairpieces are made from human or synthetic hair that is implanted into a nylon netting. Hairpieces may be attached to the scalp with glue, metal clips, or tape. But hair weaving, which involves sewing or braiding pieces of long hair into existing hair, is not recommended because it may cause permanent hair loss.
• Hair care products and styling techniques. Hair care products or perms may make hair appear thicker. Dyes may be used to color the scalp.
• Behavior modification, if hair loss is caused by compulsive pulling of your hair (trichotillomania).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers that other than FDA-approved minoxidil (Rogaine), there are no over-the-counter creams, lotions, or other products that can help new hair to grow or cause hair to become thicker. Also, shampoos that claim to promote hair growth by unclogging follicles have not been proved to work. But there are some products that may make hair appear thicker and others that may cover bald spots.

Limited research on the dietary supplements saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol shows they may help men with inherited hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) regrow hair.