A woman who successfully grew her hair back into extremely thick locks after suffering from a type of alopecia has revealed her top tips for hair growth.
UK-based Sofia, who is a trichologist in training, began to experience hair loss in 2020; but five years on has perfected a treatment routine that means she now has a thick head of 40-inch brunette hair.
The influencer, who has 244,000 followers on TikTok, often shares her top tips for reversing hair loss, including the use of minoxidil.
However, minodixil is not the only ingredient Sofia uses for hair regrowth; and she has recently shared a few high street products that she has also found effective - including a 'very affordable' shampoo.
Speaking in a TikTok clip where she shared her top tips to followers, the trainee trichologist revealed using a shampoo which contains caffeine is a great way to reduce hair loss.
She said: 'It blocks DHT on the scalp and also increases intracellular energy, which allows for cell division in the matrix - the part of the hair follicle responsible for hair growth.
'Lastly, it increases circulation in the scalp, improving microcirculation. It is not the same as minoxidil, which enhances circulation and improves blood flow much more significantly, but it is still helpful if you are experiencing hair loss or shedding. It is also a very affordable treatment for hair loss.'
DHT is short for dihydrotestosterone, a hormone closely linked to male pattern baldness and hair loss in general.
With approximately 40 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women in the UK reporting some kind of hair loss, the search for an ingredient to prevent this is just as in demand as it ever was.
While minoxidil is considered one of the most effective treatments (taken orally by prescription or over the counter in serums applied to the scalp).
However, one in three users have reported no effect from the use of minoxidil, which can have nasty side effects; including headaches and a rapid heart rate as it increases blood flow.
Another option for men is finasteride, a daily tablet (available on private prescription) which works by blocking an enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), another form of the hormone which triggers baldness.
Research shows finasteride encourages some growth, but about one in 60 men experiences impotence, which prompts them to stop taking it -- and, like minoxidil, hair loss recurs as soon as treatment is halted.
Sofia suffered hair loss in 2020 when she developed a form of alopecia but has since regrown her locks
Hair transplants can be successful; however, the cost -- up to £30,000 -- is prohibitive for many.
However, alternative treatments have previously been touted as hair loss remedies, including fermented cabbage products like kimchi.
A 2019 study in the World Journal of Men's Health suggested consumption of the product could increase blood flow to the scalp.
Scientists at Dankook University, Seoul, investigated claims that kimchi boosted hair growth by helping blood vessels dilate, increasing blood flow to the scalp.
They studied 23 men with hair loss. Each was told to drink a small bottle of liquidised kimchi before breakfast and at bedtime.
After a month, the average number of hairs had risen from about 85 per square centimetre of scalp to 90. And in four months, it reached 92.