So what is your opinion on growth aids? Anonymous poll

[fluffylocks]

1. They work because they provide nutrients/stimulation to the scalp that are benefical or deprived, like an external vitamin.

2. Other reason why they work

3. They seem to work, but only because the person "BELIEVES" they are going to work, like a mind/faith thing, or a placebo effect.

4. They seem to work, but chances are its because the person is now using a growth aid, their taking better care of their scalp/hair and are now seeing results.

5. Other reason why they seem to be producing results, but it has nothing to do with product actually stimulating hair growth

6. They dont work, people have an idea of what they want to happen with the growth aids, and think its happening even if it doesnt/their just getting their regular growth.

7. Other reason why they dont work.

8. I dont know

9. I have a different opinion not listed.

 

[JustKiya]

The external ones that provide 'small' improvements, I usually assume that comes from the scalp massage that most external growth aids require.

The external ones that provide 'major' improvements, I usually assume they are stimulating the scalp/follicles, as well as maybe adding a lil something extra - I don't know.

Internal ones, I assume help by providing you/us with the appropriate missing nutrients that are required to hit our optimum growth.

 

[fluffylocks]

I have a couple of opinions

Sometimes i think their are ones that have good ingredients, good vitamins, stimulating properties, that are great for the scalp and puts it in a healthier conditon and possibly promote growth.

Other times, i think that a person has so much faith their going to get growth that they do (i believe in that kind of mind stuff), and that the 99% vasaline and 1% sulfur that their putting on their scalp isnt working as much as how much they want/pray/visualize longer hair.

Others, that the person is just taking better care of their hair like the people who have started using indian products or massaging/scritching their scalp

And some stuff i just dont think works at all.

 

[alwayzalady22]

i do believe that some growth aids work, but there are so many other lifestyle factors that can affect your growth rate.

some products are natural stimulants, like peppermint oil, that encourage increased blood flow and therefore, increased growth. some products, like sulfur i think, help keep the scalp clean; a clean scalp should optimize the amount of growth one can get, leading some people to experience additional growth.

supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals that one may be deficient in can also encourage hair growth.

rogaine, i believe, was a by-product of a drug being tested for a completely different purpose; the patients/scientists noticed that hair growth was a side effect of whatever the drug was, the scientists did more tests and figured out what caused the growth and voila! rogaine! i'm guessing it was the same thing with MN.... so some chemicals do encourage hair growth as well.

i personally have used a number of different growth aids, and for me, growth aids work best IN CONCERT with other life changes. i do believe you can get additional growth just from taking MN for example, but the growth will be better if you drink a lot of water, exercise, take your vitamins, mind your diet, and know how to manage stress well.

i think that doing all of that promotes whole body wellness, not just hair health. to me, healthy growing hair should be a by-product of a healthy lifestyle. that's why i like to see what else people are doing/using before i jump on a bandwagon, because i recognize that sometimes it's not *just* the growth aid that's making the difference

 

[discodumpling]

The growth aids I have used have worked. For me the key is consistancy. I have no other proof than my own growth. ...that's pretty much all I need.

 

[jamiss]

Except for the rogaine type products for people who are losing hair, I don't think they work, and I wouldn't waste my money.

 

[NYAmicas]

I clicked on I dont know. I bought some MTG and I apply it every now and then and I tried the MN briefly but never stayed with it consistently. My coarse NG lets me know there's some grownth coming in and that's too much to handle right now without any aids.

 

[brittanynic16]

I think they work by providing nutriants to the scalp but I don't think they all work. I have only found one that works for me.

 

[BillyJay]

I think they work due to the stimulants.
I have never been consistent with them enough to tell if they would work for me.

 

[DeepBluSea]

There was a thread like this before. I can't recall who said it, but if these growth aides worked, we would all be BSL by now. I think folx may gain a few extra inches here or there, but I don't think anyone has reached their goal using a growth aide. At least, I don't recall any threads stating so. And Mahalia (sp?) always does threads asking for updates and she gets very few replies. The proof is in the pudding and I see very little proof.

 

[locabouthair]

I'll admit I was always skeptical of them.

I do use peppermit, lavendar, and rosemary oils, with EVOO to do my nightly massage. They give a nice tingle and I do believe they can stimulate the scalp. But thats about it.

 

[GoingNatural]

There was a thread like this before. I can't recall who said it, but if these growth aides worked, we would all be BSL by now. I think folx may gain a few extra inches here or there, but I don't think anyone has reached their goal using a growth aide. At least, I don't recall any threads stating so. And Mahalia (sp?) always does threads asking for updates and she gets very few replies. The proof is in the pudding and I see very little proof.

ITA. I always say this. None of the people I've seen that have started with short hair and are at BSL and beyond have reached their goal through growth aides. But whatever floats people's boats.

 

[ButterflyBeauty]

ITA. I always say this. None of the people I've seen that have started with short hair and are at BSL and beyond have reached their goal through growth aides. But whatever floats people's boats.

The thing about that is we really don't know how people are using the growth aids. Everyone has different regiment. It is hard to determine the efficacy because there is no basline use any one product.

 

[GoingNatural]

^^ I mean that is true. I don't know why I expect to see someone who uses growth aides to have BSL or beyond...?

But when I made the quote above I was tlaking about the people who start posts saying they've grown 3 inches in one month with blah blah blah. But their hair never grows in length IDK maybe they have a problem with retention? But, I've been on the board a while and I have not seen many of these miracle growth products actually lead to miracle growth.

 

[bellezanegra826]

i think growth aids work because they provide stimulant/nutrients that our bodies may be lacking from our regular diet but at the same time that a person is using growth aids, they are probably taking better care of themselves and their hair. i have personally noticed that when i started using mtg and taking gueye hair vitamins, i was getting 1 inch per month. during that time, i was consistently taking vitamins, protecting my hair, and measuring my growth. when i stopped using the vitamins and the mtg consistently, continued to protect my hair and continued to measure my growth, i found that my amount of hair growth went back to normal.

 

[nichole21]

3. They seem to work, but only because the person "BELIEVES" they are going to work, like a mind/faith thing, or a placebo effect.

6. They dont work, people have an idea of what they want to happen with the growth aids, and think its happening even if it doesnt/their just getting their regular growth.

--------

I sort of believe the above two are true. They say the same thing but in a differnt way. I haven't used growth aides (other than a vitamins) so I can't say with complete certainty, but I believe your hair will naturally grow with normal & mindful hair care. I think its a combination of "placebo" + better hair care.

 

[slim_thick]

I find this topic very interesting. I have yet to try any growth aides but maybe. What's very confusing! Everyone is trying and using different things so frequent that I'm not sure what will work. MTG, MN, OCT/MT and every person using these products say it's the best thing ever but I will agree with some comments made early. I have yet to visually see proof of someone going from very short to BSL.

 

[Gracie]

I believe that they work because of all of the growth pictures that corroborate the ladies stories. Pictures don't lie.

 

[secretdiamond]

Well, I can only vouch for myself, but I say they work. I never touted growing 3 in a month cuz I'm never here to prove anything to anybody. I just do me. I'm here to grow my hair for me-- which is why I never felt the need to post pics. My avi now is the first real pic I've put here and that's enough proof for me.

I started by chopping my APL hair to my chin and now my hair is down my back even with big trims along the way. Ppl IRL always ask me how my hair grew so fast. I attribute to good hair care, retention skills, and even MTG. I've since stopped using it, but I can't say it didn't help me.

I used to be the one being skeptical and thinking the ladies here were crazy. Then I tried it for myself. So yeah, they work. I'm not afraid/ashamed to use growth aids. My hair is proof enough for me. I love it.

 

[SignatureBeauty]

I beleive some growth aides might work, But maybe the people using them do get wonderful growth but then get so caught up in the growth that they forget about proper care for retention. Just a guess, Sulfur to me is good for itchy scalp, I used BT and it worked great for my dry itchy scalp but I didn't get any faster growth, Plus I wasn't consistent with it. But my hair grows wonderfully on it's own, I do use Essentials oils & herbs.

But whatever someone wants to use to enhance growth is fine with me, just like using make-up to enhance beauty!! I say do what the hell you want to LOL!!!!

 

[LaPetiteCoquette]

As long as I've been lurking, the only growth aid that I've seen with photographic evidence that seems to increase growth is MT/OCT. I think it does work for some people. I will be very interested to see the MT/OCT ladies after 6 months progress or a year. It really does seem to be working. As for other things ... MTG, BT, MN -- I honestly have never seen impressive growth with photographic evidence. Maybe I just missed those threads. I don't care how much new growth you feel or show on top, if it's not being reflected in the length, then what's the point of it all?

ETA : But I don't care if someone wants to use them. I will never begrudge anyone's method of growing hair.

 

[secretdiamond]

I beleive some growth aides might work, But maybe the people using them do get wonderful growth but then get so caught up in the growth that they forget about proper care for retention. Just a guess, Sulfur to me is good for itchy scalp, I used BT and it worked great for my dry itchy scalp but I didn't get any faster growth, Plus I wasn't consistent with it. But my hair grows wonderfully on it's own, I do use Essentials oils & herbs.

But whatever someone wants to use to enhance growth is fine with me, just like using make-up to enhance beauty!! I say do what the hell you want to LOL!!!!

Exactly. I think there wouldn't be so much beef around here if people stopped caring if naysayers believed them or not. They can call me delusional and I'll skip my delusional arse right along to WSL.

Of course I would/can achieve my goals without a growth aid. I know cuz no amount of growth aid would have allowed me to retain the length that I have. That's all me. But a growth aid (and IMO not all of them work), will let me get there just a tiny bit faster and that's cool with me.

 

[Lucky's Mom]

I think internal aids are the best hair growth aids.

many women here on the boards use lots of different techniques... so Just my opinion.

 

[beautifulisaunderstatment]

I cant speak spanish... BUT If is actively tried to learn I coudl pick up some words!! Hair grows but if we actively take care of it, you will see better healthier hair. I dont think it has quite anything to do with putting anything on my head topically. Hair grows from the INSIDE. Given that applied topically it could make the hair LOOK better. SO does lotion... makes my skin look better but on the inside if Im not hydrating adequately, Ill be ashy again as soon as it wears off.

**ramble ramble** Its what INSIDE that counts, IMO.

 

[HappyHairDreams]

I picked "other opinion" because I think it depends on the person and the growth aid. I think topical growth aids just increase the health of the scalp in order to allow for the fastest groeth ratel Therefore if a person already has a healthy scalp and their hair is already growing at it's max rate, a topical growth aid won't increase the rate of growth. However, for someone (like most people it seems), who's scalp isn't 100% health for whatever reason, blocked pores, bacteria growth, low circulation, etc, using a topical growth aid consistenly can increase the health of the scalp and thus increase the growth rate as well.

With regards to dietary supplements, from what I've observed, I'm not sure whether they increase the rate of growth or just increase the strength of the hair growing. But they do something, that's for sure.

 

[Irresistible]

I cant speak spanish... BUT If is actively tried to learn I coudl pick up some words!! Hair grows but if we actively take care of it, you will see better healthier hair. I dont think it has quite anything to do with putting anything on my head topically. Hair grows from the INSIDE. Given that applied topically it could make the hair LOOK better. SO does lotion... makes my skin look better but on the inside if Im not hydrating adequately, Ill be ashy again as soon as it wears off.

**ramble ramble** Its what INSIDE that counts, IMO.

Ramble on! I agree!

 

[d-rock]

I cant speak spanish... BUT If is actively tried to learn I coudl pick up some words!! Hair grows but if we actively take care of it, you will see better healthier hair. I dont think it has quite anything to do with putting anything on my head topically. Hair grows from the INSIDE. Given that applied topically it could make the hair LOOK better. SO does lotion... makes my skin look better but on the inside if Im not hydrating adequately, Ill be ashy again as soon as it wears off.

**ramble ramble** Its what INSIDE that counts, IMO.

It’s obviously not just what’s on the inside that counts. DNA/ancestry, hair regimen, diet, and climate, among other things, are all things that can affect the exposed outer layers of skin/hair/scalp. There are variables that no one can control that affect hair/skin and health in general. Drinking tons of water is not going to hydrate the top layer of epidermis and taking tons of vitamins is not going to make your hair healthy after it’s grown beyond your scalp. Deep conditioning repairs damages to individual hair strands on the outside just like scalp stimulation increases blood flow on the inside, which can increase hair growth that affects your outsides. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to any problem, since none of us are built exactly the same.

 

[Anew]

I say they seem to work, and not b/c I'm praying for it. I wish I would, lol...

I've used MTG and in 2 weeks my edges had filled in. They had suffered from me leaving braids in too long, matter of fact that's how I came across this board a few years back. Googling ways to bring the edges back to life.

 

[Anew]

I'd also like to say that people try new things all the time but aren't always consistent to see optimal results. Also, you can apply OCT, MT or MTG all day everyday, but if that is the ONLY thing you're doing to your hair then it wouldn't take much of a genius to figure out why you see no improvement in your hair's health and length.

 

[MizzBrown]

This is hard. I believe that there are SO many variables when trying to use growth aids that it is hard to pinpoint which one.

Genetics, the weather, medicine, vitamins, other topical agents.

No one can really know for sure and single out ONE growth aid unless they did an actual clinical study.

I ordered MT. I have progress pictures for 6 months of growth using random stuff.

I will do a 6 month trip w/ MT and then compare the two.

My thing is that your hair is gonna grow regardless! People mistake megagrowth for just plain 'ol human hair growth sometimes.

They only way i can believe its something more than plain ol human hair growth is if you did a consistent progress trail dating over at least 2 years to compare.

For example, do 6 months using NOTHING, 6 months using MT/OCT, 6 months using homemade growth aids, and then 6 months using something else.

POST ALL THOSE 6 months trials to really see if one worked over another and you need a baseline for comparison. A constant.