It’s the follicles, stupid.
We need to start by warning you we’re not promising to miraculously cure you of male pattern baldness. You’ll need a steady regimen of Rogaine for that. Its active ingredient, Minoxidil is one of only two FDA-approved solutions for treating male hair loss (along with finasteride, which is found in Propecia). But as hair grows from your scalp, having a healthy one is certainly the key to a thicker, healthier head of hair. From using gentle shampoos that won’t aggravate skin to create build-up around follicles to a scrub (yes, these exist for your head) that helps you shed build-up that hinders growth to natural tonics that revitalize sluggish roots, these scalp-targeting offerings can only help your strands’ chances.
Kiehl’s Deep Micro Exfoliating Scalp Treatment
Scrub those flakes right off your head with naturally exfoliating apricot and argan particles. Not only does it ensure follicles aren’t clogged but its an excellent way to avoid those unsightly white flakes.
$20, kiehls.com
Aveda Men Pure Formance Composition
Though a blend of essential oils like spearmint, vetiver and lavender ensures your head smells like heaven, its scalp-soothing formula is also a pretty good reason to snag a bottle of this natural treatment.
$30, aveda.com
Clear Deep Clean Hydration Shampoo
Sometimes you need to go a little deeper. Using a purifying shampoo every few days ensure you get the cleanest clean possible, meaning less chance of gunk getting in the way of your dream hair.
$5.89, drugstore.com
Jack Black Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner
Conditioner keeps hair from feeling like hay but the wrong kind can jam up your follicles. This one doesn’t thanks to a healthy dose of natural botanicals like itch-reducing tea tree oil and stimulating green tea and peppermint.
$20, getjackblack.com
Alcohol when imbibed is good. In pomades and gels, not so much. It dries out your hair and does the same for your scalp, which then affects the health of those follicles. But instead of going cold turkey, reach for water-based options like this one instead.
$22, birchbox.com