Mom, could you go fix your hair?

Recommendations from my commerce writer brain to your inbox

Actually Good Things is a weekly newsletter with product recs from a real-life human commerce editor.

This week—while deciding I’d rather strengthen my claw grip than trade my practical crossbody for a B.A.B. (the apparent new shorthand for big-ass bag)—I’m taking stock of my strands.

Listen, I don’t have good hair. It’s not thick or able to grow long or something that looks sleek in updos. I had extensions for a bit, but without them, my mane is limp and my braids look like a toddler’s.

I mean, this is what we’re working with most days: air-dried, kinda piecey, maybe greasy.

So, aside from the occasional Drybar blow-out, regular trims, and professional henna color to cover grays, I’ve been putting in some well-researched effort at home to help the situation.

These are actually good things I’m using to make my hair grow thicker.*

Topical minoxidil

Topical minoxidil (generic Rogaine) is the only medication FDA-approved to treat hair loss in women. It’s over-the-counter, so you can buy it anywhere without a prescription, and it does work. Why isn’t everyone using it, then? I think because you have to apply it every single day, like until the end of time, and not everyone’s willing to make that commitment.

But I am. I use the foam on my scalp and the liquid solution on my eyebrows.

Red light therapy

At the right wavelength and with regular use, red light therapy can support hair growth and reduce thinning. I’ve been using the Hairmax LaserBand 82 since March of last year, and my hair is totally thicker. The pieces around my face have gone from baby-hair fringe to full-length framing. It’s really expensive (sorry!😬), but the brand makes a lower-priced option that also works but calls for more minutes per treatment.

Microneedling

I use a microneedling stamp like this one on my scalp two or three times a week. The idea is to make teensy-tiny “injuries” to the skin to promote healing and regeneration. It’s not a cure-all, but I think it makes me shed less. And it’s inexpensive.

Exosomes

Exosomes are bossy little messengers that tell cells how to behave right. When applied to the scalp, they’ve been shown to promote hair growth. I really like PowerCycle from SickScience. There are more affordable options, though, like Medicube One Day Exosome Shot—which is technically for the face, but if it works, who cares?

Stimulating scalp serum

Then I’ll go in with some sort of scalp serum that stimulates blood circulation via caffeine. Vegamour Gro is a good one, but the tiny bottle is pricey. I also like The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Hair Serum. Again, this isn’t the be-all and end-all for hair growth—it’s just a little extra something.

Scalp massage

Like caffeine, scalp massage stimulates blood circulation to essentially wake up sleepy hair follicles and help them hold onto strands. Something like this tool with wide teeth and vibration does the trick. As with microneedling, I don’t think this is making my hair grow on its own (leave that to the red light and minoxidil), but I do think it helps me shed less, which, over time, leaves me with thicker hair.

Bond repair

Bond-repair products help—wait for it—repair broken bonds. If you think of the structure of a hair strand as a ladder, these treatments basically mend the rungs between the rails. K18’s Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask is the real deal (credit the brand’s patented molecule), and it’s under $30. But, please, read the instructions! Misuse is common.

I also like Epres Bond Repair Treatment as a pre-shampoo or overnight option. You have to mix it yourself, though, and each mixture is only good for a month. Again, read the instructions.

A special shout-out to Olaplex No.8, a stellar in-shower treatment for when you have 10 or more minutes to let the mask marinate. If I’m short on time, I slather on Amika The Kure Multi-Task Treatment right when I hop in the shower and let it do its thing while I wash my hair and body.

Air-drying

I air-dry my hair 99% of the time, mostly out of laziness but also because I want to be gentle to allow for healthy growth. Would I look more polished with a blow-out? Probably. Is air-dried hair chic and European? Perhaps.

To smooth things out, I reach for Living Proof’s Air-Dry Styler (the tiniest dab) or a lightweight foaming product, so as to not weigh down my fine hair, like Ouai Air Dry Foam.

*Some products with affiliate links might earn me a small commission.

What I’ve written lately:

• The Daily Beast | I Used the Hairmax 82 for a Year

• People | The Best Coffee Machines We Tried

What I’m reading lately:

• The Atlantic | Tomato Season Is Different This Year

• New York Mag | Let Your Kids Watch TV. It’s Fine.

Want more good things? Subscribe below.