The Anti-Graying Serum That Ended Up Regrowing My Thinning Hair

I’d say this is the hero product for my growth. I apply thisserumnightly (admittedly, I forget some nights). It feels like water and doesn’t leave myroots greasy. I apply it to my scalp in sections, paying extra attention to spots where there are gray strands and thinning areas. It’s designed to combat oxidative stress, which affects both pigment production and the hair-growth cycle. Too much oxidative stress can push hair into the shedding cycle. Plus it has the brand’s Mela-9 Complex to help with preserving pigment and possibly repigmenting gray hair.

I ran the ingredient list by dermatologist Dr. Diyva Shokeen, the founder ofOSVI Dermatology and Surgical Institutein California, to see what could be helping with growth. She says some of the ingredients have been linked to hair growth but lack true clinical data to prove it: “Saw palmetto is said to help block the effects ofDHT, a hormone that can cause hair thinning because of miniaturization of the hair follicles.” Dr. Shokeen also said the serum’s peptides may extend the active growth phase and strengthen follicle anchorage, keeping strands firmly attached. Then there are caffeine and ginseng, which are in a lot of scalp treatments. Both ingredients boost blood flow to the scalp, which brings oxygen and key nutrients to the hair bulb.

As I continued to use the serum (and the other topical products listed below), I noticed I didn’t have any itchy flakes — and I haven’t even been using ananti-dandruff shampoo. Dr. Shokeen said ingredients such as red clover, caffeine, and rosemary may be soothing my scalp inflammation.

I spray this one on my scalp every morning, whether my hair is wet or dry. I don’t notice any immediate root-lifting or volumizing effect, so I follow with mystyling products. The serum is another way to get the brand’s Mela-9 Complex onto my scalp and roots. Plus it has many of the same follicle-revving ingredients as the nighttime serum, including caffeine, ginseng, and peptides. The brand says with consistent use, you can expect stronger, healthier hair in three to six months. I don’t know if my hair is stronger (breakagehasn’t historically been my issue), but it has gotten fuller and likely healthier since I started using the serum.

I think thissupplementhas played a big role in my growth, too. It’s made with ingredients to support the melanin-production process in hair, but there’s also a whole lot of vitamins and minerals you would typically see in a hair-growth supplement. Dr. Shokeen pointed to B-complex vitamins, including biotin, which are essential for cellular energy, and red-blood-cell products to feed the hair follicle. There’s also iron and vitamin D. “Low ferritin (iron stores) or vitamin D levels are major clinical triggers for hair shedding, so supplementing helps prevent deficiency-driven loss,” says Dr. Shokeen.

The supplement also has antioxidants, including copper, selenium, PABA, fo-ti, and black-sesame-seed extract to protect against oxidative stress, which we know plays a role in both graying and hair loss.

I take two every morning. I skip here and there but mostly have stayed consistent. Dr. Shokeen says before taking a supplement, it’s important to know your baseline levels of these vitamins so you don’t overdose.

As I mentioned, I have been itching and flaking less since starting the regimen and eventually stopped using myanti-dandruff shampoo. This exfoliant likely contributed to that. The scrub’s salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids help break up the oil and dead skin that can accumulate on the scalp, triggering inflammation and itch. A healthier scalp creates a better environment for hair growth. I use this at least once a week. Despite its name, it’s not a scrub but a liquid you apply, let sit for two to three minutes, and then shampoo clean.

I use this metal bristlebrushto help massage in the serums or the scalp scrub. It’s designed to boost circulation to the scalp and follicles and lift buildup for better product absorption. It feels really good to use, too, especially when my scalp was still a little itchy in the beginning.

Theshampooandconditionerare more about the feel and appearance of aging hair than growth itself. Apparently, when hair stops producing pigment, it can also produce fewer disulfide bonds, which contributes to the coarser, wirier texture of gray hair. Since I started using the duo, I noticed the grays I do have seem noticeably softer and smoother. No more lightning bolts.