The honest routine, products, and techniques that transformed my hair – and how you can get similar results.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated watching your hair barely grow, or you’ve struggled with shedding, thinning ends, or slow length gain, you are not alone. My own hair journey felt like a mystery – I had three really bad cases of hair loss, all about 3-4 years apart, so I felt like I spent so much time in ‘recovery’ phases.
I can’t claim on here that I have ‘cracked the code on what actually works’, but more ‘cracked the code for what supports real growth’ (not just healthier-looking hair).
My journey
For full transparency, I lost LOADS of hair around 12 years ago for the first time due to stress on the body and it took a good 1-2 years to recover. Since then, I have experience post-partum hair loss twice, which lasted 4-6 months, and I recovered much quicker. After endless research, trialling and testing, I wanted to put this post together to help others. As you can tell, I am quite passionate about hair loss and regrowth.
Through consistency, scalp-first strategies, a focus on internal health and a few game-changing products, I finally started to see real progress. Here’s everything that helped – from serums and oils, to microneedling and vitamins.
1. Start at the Scalp: The Foundation of Hair Growth
The biggest shift for me was treating my scalp like the priority. Healthy hair starts with healthy follicles. With this in mind, please don’t hold off on hair washes. Hair that is going to fall WILL fall, and by holding off hair washes means you’re inviting a knotted, tangled mess to happen. Also, the hair loss in the shower will feel like more because it’s days worth of fall.
The same with scalp touching. When the worst of the hair fall is over, or if you have more of a consistent prolonged hair loss, scalp massage is essential. It increases blood flow which helps encourage faster growth of the follicles at the root – speeding up new hair coming through. Massage with finger tips whenever you can.
Scalp Serums That Support Root Health
A nutrient-rich serum that absorbs well and stimulates the scalp is a must. For example, serums like the HAIRLOVING CO New Beginnings Hair and Scalp Oil, are specially marketed for ‘Postpartum Hair Loss & Regrowth Treatment for New Mums’. That said, anyone with hair loss caused by an array of issues can use it. It is formulated with an variety of oils – Almond Oil, Castor Oil (one of the best hair oils after delivery), Grapeseed Oil, Avocado Oil, Wheat Germ Oil and Vitamin E Oil, all helping to support circulation and strengthen the roots – which over time may help reduce shedding and promote thicker-looking hair.
This particular hair oil for boosting hair growth comes with the option to pair up with a microneedling roll on device, where you can microneedle the scalp and then apply the oil, for better penetration. Plus, microneedling the scalp can be particularly good for creating micro-injuries in the scalp, which can trigger the body’s natural wound healing response. This process is believed to stimulate the production of growth factors and cytokines that promote hair follicle health and encourage hair regrowth. So teamed up with the hair oil, it’s said to be a winning solution!
My tip: When I used this hair oil, I applied daily to clean, towel-dried hair. I partied my hair in sections and gently massaged in — this enhanced absorption and kickstarted the scalp. Sometimes, I just microneedled the front hairline, where I wanted to see the most hair growth.
2. Nourish, Don’t Just Wash: Hair Oils Work Deeply
Topical oils can feel like a self-care treat, but they also nourish the scalp and hair shafts at the same time. I incorporated oils into my routine – not just for shine, but for strength and growth support.
Key oils and benefits:
- Antioxidant-rich oils (like rosemary or peppermint) help invigorate follicles.
- Castor oil blends can help retain existing hair and support thicker strands.
- Pre-shampoo scalp oils help feed the roots before washing.
For example, products like Pantene Argan Hair Oil are great for smoothing and conditioning dry, frazzled hair, but can also nourish the scalp and follicles. You can massage them into the scalp and leave to penetrate for an hour or so before washing off in the shower to incorporate scalp massage too. Pairing this with a routine of massaging helps improve blood flow and encourages follicles to stay in the growth phase.
Plus, Pantene hair oils are so affordable!
3. Boost Growth with a Serum That Works
Products targeting growth – especially those with caffeine and peptides – have played a role in my journey too.
Champo Pitta Serum, for instance, offers serums designed to support growth and reduce shedding. This one in particular is said to be sold every 30 seconds, and has thousands of rave reviews. I would say that this one has been one I have repeatedly bought, when I have gone through periods of hair loss or thinning. Here’s everything it says it does, with my comments in brackets:
– Ideal for fine hair that may be experiencing thinning or loss
– Clinically proven to reduce hair loss and shedding (I used it when the loss was started to reduce so I could focus more on the hair regrowth. I noticed results after the first month of use and reviewed this here).
– Non-greasy, ultra-lightweight formula (It does feel a little greasy at first but it absorbs very quickly!)
– Harnesses Tetrapeptides and Caffeine plus anti-hair loss and anti-dandruff actives
– 98% naturally derived, eco-friendly ingredients
– Free from: Silicones, parabens, synthetic fragrance, artificial colour, DEAs, MEAs, TEAs and GMOs
– Vegan, cruelty free and UK made
– Suitable for every scalp and all hair types, including coloured and treated hair
Why I personally use it
The Champo Pitta Growth serum gets a lot of good press, and after researching it for a long while, I started to use it before bed and found that once my hair loss was reducing and I was focusing on hair growth, this serum helped speed up the growth of new hair.
Remember – hair density and growth serums like Champo don’t necessarily stop hair loss if you’re going through a post partum hair loss cycle or after effects of a stress to the body. It can reduce the severity, but a serum alone will not stop the loss. You need to address the root cause first. Then, the scalp serums help speed up new hair growth, and contribute to the quality of the new hair, too.
How I used it:
After shampooing and towel drying, a few drops applied directly to the scalp helped feed the roots and encourage healthier cycles of growth. I focused a lot on the front of my hair, as again, that is where I wanted to see the regrowth.
4. Microneedling: The Game-Changer
One of the most transformative steps in my routine was microneedling the scalp. I’ve touched on this above, and this isn’t about at-home styling – it’s a focused method that helps stimulate blood flow and boosts the absorption of growth-supporting products.
By creating tiny, controlled micro-channels on the scalp, microneedling encourages your body’s natural repair process – which can signal the follicles to increase activity and strengthen hair production over time. Many people on similar journeys report less shedding and visible baby hairs forming after consistent sessions. I used the HAIRLOVING Co Microneedling Tool, but some people actually book into clinics and have it done professionally, or even use LED red light therapy for their scalps.
Just remember: Always microneedle on a clean, dry scalp, and follow product instructions, and consult a professional if you’re unsure.
5. Daily Stimulation with a Growth-Focused Brush
Something simple that made a surprisingly big difference? A dedicated hair brush that actually stimulates the scalp.
Using the Vayose Signature Hair Brush daily became something I felt helped exfoliate buildup and boost circulation to my roots. Its gentle bristle design clears away product residue and stimulates the scalp – which over weeks can create a healthier environment for growth.
Apparantly, scalp build up is what actually causes greasy hair, and this dual bristled brush is designed to clear the scalp and help you go longer without washing. That being said, I do like to wash every other day, as I really as a greasy haired girl!
What I particularly liked was that the bristles actually help style my hair when I wear it in ponytails, it seems to smooth the hair out and weirdly add a bit of volume and ‘oomph’ as I’m styling the hair into a ponytail.
Why it works:
- Encourages blood flow to follicles
- Removes sebum and buildup that can block growth
- Feels therapeutic and improves overall scalp health
Just a few minutes brushing morning and night became one of my favourite parts of the routine. I have to say I am a big fan of this brush!
6. Consistency Is Everything
My hair didn’t transform overnight – but the change really started showing after a few months of sticking with this routine:
- Serum application to my dry ends
- Regular scalp oiling and massage (Champo, She’s Thick and HAIRLOVING Co Oil are the ones I have stuck to and would recommend from experience).
- Microneedling 1–2x per week
- Using a growth-stimulating brush daily
- Washing hair when it feels it needs to, instead of leaving it
- Silk pillowcase
Pro tip: Take photos once every 4–6 weeks to actually see the progress — our eyes trick us, but the pictures don’t lie.
7. Internal Health
Lastly, I believe that all of the above would not work their best without a healthy internal system too. Mine has included a skin, hair and nails supplement that contains Biotin and Vitamin D – two crucial ingredients for encouraging hair growth. Also, taking a collagen supplement everyday too has helped.
The ones I recommend are JS Hair + Energy Vitamins, Viviscal and Champo Hair Gummies. I have also seen lots of positive recommendations from Hairburst too. The collagen I use is the collagen creamer from Dose and Co, and I have used Glowwa as well. I highly recommend both – especially if you’re a coffee drinker, they taste amazing mixed with oat milk in a milk frother!
Putting It All Together: My Weekly Hair Ritual
Daily
- Scalp serum application
- Gentle Vayose brush stimulation
- Collagen Creamer
- Hair vitamins/multivitamin
- Silk pillow case
Every Wash Day
- Pre-shampoo scalp oil treatment
- Shampoo + growth serum
Weekly
- Microneedling before serum application
Living this routine has been a journey – but I finally feel like my hair is growing stronger and healthier, not just looking healthier. If you’re on the same path, I hope this gives your routine a boost.
