The four hacks to prevent hair loss that are actually making it WORSE - and what to try instead, according to an expert
Hair loss has become one of the internet's biggest fixations. The hashtag #HairLoss now has more than 900,000 posts on TikTok, and in the UK alone, more than eight million women suffer from thinning locks.
In other words, a lot of us are very worried about our tresses – and looking online for solutions.
But according to Dr Deniz Dağdelen, a dermatologist and hair transplant specialist at Now Hair Time, many of these viral hacks aren’t just ineffective – they’re actively causing damage to thinning hair.
Here, he breaks down the four biggest trends doing the rounds and what they’re actually doing to your scalp.
Rosemary oil
This is probably the most viral ‘natural fix', with 300,000 TikTok posts, some claiming it works just as well as Minoxidil (the gold-standard medical treatment for hair loss). The idea comes from a small study suggesting rosemary oil may help stimulate growth.
The problem? Most people are using it completely incorrectly. On TikTok, it’s often applied neat or in high concentrations, which can irritate the scalp, trigger allergic reactions and actually increase shedding. In short: a few diluted drops might help, but slathering it on isn’t a shortcut to thicker hair.
Pumpkin seed oil
Often billed as a natural way to block DHT (the hormone linked to hair loss), pumpkin seed oil sounds like an easy win.
But in reality, the amounts needed to have any meaningful effect are far higher than what people are using at home. Whether applied to the scalp or taken as a supplement, the doses seen in studies are consistent and controlled – not a few drops from a pipette. The result? For most people, it’s underwhelming at best, and a complete waste of money at most.
Dermarolling at home
This is where things get more serious. Dermarolling, which involves using tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the scalp, is supposed to stimulate hair follicles and boost growth. And in a clinical setting, done properly, it can.
At home, though, it’s a different story. Without proper sterilisation and technique, dermarollers can introduce bacteria, leading to infections or even scarring alopecia, where inflammation permanently destroys the hair follicle. In other words, the exact opposite of what you’re trying to achieve.
Hair training
The idea here is that if you wash your hair less, you can ‘train’ your scalp to produce less oil. And because sebum contains DHT (the hormone responsible for hair loss), it follows that your hair therefore sheds less.
Unfortunately, it’s completely untrue as oil production is driven by hormones which can’t be affected by washing. Worse still, leaving oil to build up on the scalp means more exposure to DHT, alongside an increased risk of fungal overgrowth, both of which can contribute to hair thinning. So while stretching out washes might save time, it’s certainly not helping your hairline.
Three things actually worth doing
Silk pillowcases
Silk pillowcases are genuinely helpful when it comes to reducing breakage, i.e. the snapping and fraying of the hair shaft caused by friction overnight. So if your hair feels dry, damaged or prone to split ends, they’re a worthwhile swap.
What they won’t do is stop hair loss at the root. They’re about protecting the hair you already have, not preventing it from falling out. Think of it as a small upgrade, not a solution.
Medical grade red light therapy
This is one of the few trends with actual science behind it. Proper low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices can stimulate hair follicles and support regrowth.
The catch? Most of the cheaper gadgets you see on TikTok simply aren’t powerful enough to reach the follicle. If you’re going to try it, it needs to be a clinically approved, medical-grade device, otherwise you’re essentially waving a red light at your scalp and hoping for the best.
PRP therapy
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy is often described as the gold standard in clinics, and for good reason. It involves injecting your own plasma into the scalp to stimulate thinning follicles and encourage growth.
But it’s not a miracle cure. It works best for early-stage thinning – not areas where the follicle has already stopped functioning completely (i.e. smooth bald patches). In those cases, no amount of PRP will bring the hair back.
