Basil for hair loss: background, active ingredients and application

• Basil-containing hair loss remedies are available as shampoos, conditioners, hair treatments, hair masks, extracts, or oils. In addition, basil can be eaten with food.
• Basil contains many vitamins, trace elements and a natural antagonist of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
• The ingredients of basil ensure healthy, supple and strong hair.
• Remedies with basil are used for hair loss that is not caused by the disease.
• Basil has a hair growth-promoting effect and works particularly well for hereditary hair loss.

Basil is considered a miracle weapon against hair loss because it contains many ingredients that activate the hair roots, make the hair strong and supple and stimulate hair growth.

Basil contains minerals and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. Vitamins A, C, D and E are also present in larger quantities. All these substances ensure that the hair gets enough basic substance for healthy growth.

A special active ingredient in basil is beta-sitosterol. It is similar to the female hormone estrogen and a natural antagonist of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which plays an important role in hereditary hair loss.

Due to the many valuable ingredients of basil, it can be a good remedy for hair loss.

In aromatherapy, basil is used to treat depression. In addition, the herb strengthens concentration and memory and works against mental imbalance. Chewing basil leaves calms the stomach and improves nausea. This means that it can be used, for example, for motion sickness.

Hereditary hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is by far the most common cause of excessive hair loss. This affects most men at an advanced age, as well as up to 50 percent of women, especially after menopause.

An important component in hereditary hair loss is the male sex hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is a derivative of the hormone testosterone and is considered a biologically very active form. In people with hereditary hair loss, the hair roots contain a particularly high amount of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which serves to convert testosterone into DHT. An excess of DHT ensures that the growth phase of the hair is shortened and the hair falls out faster.

Studies have shown that the substance beta-sitosterol present in basil can inhibit the activity of 5-alpha-reductase. As a result, less DHT is produced on the scalp and hair loss decreases. Therefore, the use of basil-containing shampoos and extracts is recommended especially for hereditary hair loss.

The ingredients of basil can promote healthy and strong hair growth in many ways. If a nutrient deficiency is the cause of hair loss, the local application of the vitamin- and nutrient-rich extract can have a supportive effect and provide the hair roots with an extra portion of energy.

Remedies with basil tend not to work against pathological hair loss. They can help to nourish the hair, but do not have a significant influence on hair growth. In the case of diseases such as circular hair loss, drug-induced hair loss, traction alopecia or scarring of the scalp, treatments or masks with basil are of little help.

In principle, you can leave the products recommended for local use on longer than indicated and leave a hair treatment on your hair overnight, for example. However, it is not the case that the effectiveness is proportional to the length of the exposure time. At some point, it doesn't help to leave the mask or treatment in your hair any longer - apart from the fact that they disturb the night's sleep and can dirty the pillow quite a bit.

One of the best-known extracts from basil is the remedy Rezilin. It can be used as a hair treatment.

• The manufacturer recommends using the remedy at least three times a week. About three pipette tips full are distributed directly on the scalp or placed in the hands and then massaged into the hair.
• Home-made basil oils can also be used. These are used about once a week, if you have particularly brittle or dry hair, you can also take it twice a week.
• With both Rezilin and other oil-based basil remedies, some users report that washing out is sometimes difficult due to the oily texture and does not always succeed the first time. If necessary, you should therefore plan a little more time to wash your hair.

Hair products with basil can also be used in combination with other anti-hair loss products. Therefore, it is not a problem if you use hair solutions with minoxidil in parallel, for example. It should be noted that with minoxidil, there can sometimes be an initial worsening of hair loss before a noticeable improvement occurs. With a pure application of basil, an initially increased hair loss is not to be expected.

In general, it is recommended to combine the application of hair loss remedies with a scalp massage to enhance the benefits and effectiveness even more.

There are different recipes to mix your own basil oil or an extract for your hair. Depending on the desired application, oil, extract or a hair treatment can be produced.

For a basil hair mask, a few leaves are pureed and made into a paste. This can be massaged directly into the hair. If you like, you can add one to two tablespoons of natural yoghurt.

Homemade hair products with basil are a great way to do something good for your hair with a pure natural product without chemical additives and save money at the same time. The homemade cures, extracts and shampoos are wonderfully suitable for hair care. However, it is unclear whether they are as effective against hair loss as the commercially available products produced using a special process.

A particularly well-known hair treatment with basil against hair loss is sold under the name Rezilin. It can be used for non-disease-related hair loss and promises healthy and strong hair and, with regular use, a reduction in hair loss.

• The basil extract in Rezilin is biotechnologically processed. This is supposed to create a particularly effective concentrate.
• In addition, the product contains nourishing and moisturizing oils that make the hair supple and provide additional vitamins and antioxidants.
• Another important ingredient in Rezilin contains caffeine. Caffeine is also said to have a growth-promoting effect, which further enhances the effect of basil. Especially in combination with a scalp massage, the full effectiveness can be unfolded.

There are no official tests and studies that have investigated the effectiveness of Rezilin. However, most users draw a positive conclusion from self-tests in product reviews or blogs. They report thicker and stronger hair and a decrease in hair loss. The negative experiences are in the minority.

The market for shampoos and hair treatmentsthat are supposed to be effective against hair loss is large. There are official tests for many product groups, for example by Stiftung Warentest, which check the ingredients, application and effectiveness. For products with basil for hair loss, there are no official major tests so far. However, smaller self-tests were carried out in various magazines or websites and experience reports were published.

Basil-containing products for hair loss usually contain only products of natural origin and are free of artificial preservatives, silicones and parabens. Nourishing oils make the hair supple and shiny. The vitamins and minerals contained in basil protect the cells and strengthen the hair structure.

Although the shampoos, oils and extracts have only been tested on women, even as part of the approval, they can also be used on men without any problems. There is no age limit and pregnant and breastfeeding women can also use the products without any problems. The products are suitable for hair loss that is not caused by disease.

They are effective against hormonal hair loss and can be supportive if there is a nutrient deficiency. Often the remedies cannot stop hair loss completely, but they can significantly reduce it.