Searches for hair loss hacks are sky-high on social media at the moment, but some advice may leave your hair in worse shape than ever. We asked an expert to help us cut through the misinformation.
Words: Amy Mica Marsden. Images: Shutterstock.
How many times have you tried a hack you saw on TikTok, only to discover it was totally false? In most cases, advice on the app can leave your wallet feeling sore, but not much else. However, when it comes to our health and beauty, the stakes can be much higher.
A recent study showed that misleading content on the app is on the rise, with researchers finding that as many as one in four of the sampled TikTok posts carried misleading content. And with hair loss becoming a trending topic lately, the potential for hair disaster is prevalent.
HairTok red flags
If you’re concerned about hair loss or hair thinning, HairTok often promises almost magical results without having to shell out thousands or travel long distances to see a specialist.
Just a simple search means you’re quickly bombarded with videos of people with long, shiny, full and healthy-looking hair — but many of them have no professional qualifications.
So how do we know which claims are legitimate, and which may actively harm us?
‘If a hack involves breaking the skin (like dermarolling) at home, it’s a high-risk red flag,’ says Dr. Deniz Dağdelen, Dermatologist and Hair Transplant Specialist at Now Hair Time.
‘At-home environments are not sterile. Micro-tears in the scalp combined with bathroom bacteria lead to staph infections that can kill hair follicles permanently.’
Dr Deniz also says users should be wary of anything involving heavy oils, like undiluted rosemary or pumpkin seed oil — and even advises against popular ‘slugging’ methods for the scalp.
‘For those with androgenetic alopecia, heavy oils trap DHT-rich sebum and yeast against the follicle, which can actually trigger more shedding, not less,’ he says.
This is because trapped sebum and yeast create a breeding ground for bad fungi and bacteria, which can in turn lead to infections and inflammation in the scalp. On top of this, heavy oils can create a sort of sticky barrier on the scalp, stopping follicles from ‘breathing’ and cutting them off from nutrients.
All of this can contribute to either slower growth or, worse, hair fall.
Common TikTok Hair trends – debunked
If you’re feeling lost in a world of hacks and advice, Dr Deniz shared with us his insights on some of the most common claims found on HairTok.
- ‘Rosemary oil is as effective as Minoxidil’
Dr Deniz says: ‘Misleading. While one 2015 study showed promise, most DIY oils are undiluted, causing contact dermatitis and increased shedding due to scalp irritation.’
- ‘Pumpkin seed oil is a natural DHT blocker’
Dr Deniz says: ‘Underwhelming. You would need to ingest or apply vast, clinical-grade quantities for it to rival even the weakest medical treatments.’
- ‘Dermarolling your scalp wakes up follicles’
Dr Deniz says: ‘Dangerous. Without clinical sterilisation, it’s a recipe for staph infections and scarring alopecia, where inflammation permanently destroys the follicle.’
- ‘You can train your scalp to produce less oil by washing it less often’
Dr Deniz says: ‘You cannot train your hair to produce less oil. Sebum contains DHT (the hormone responsible for hair loss). Leaving it to sit on the scalp actually accelerates follicle miniaturisation and causes fungal overgrowth.’
- ‘The Abbey Yung method is the healthiest way to wash your hair’
Dr Deniz says: ‘Incompatible with thinning. While brilliant for damaged/bleached hair, the heavy silicones and pre-shampoo oils often weigh down fine hair and clog follicles in those with active hair loss.’
HairTok green flags?
As well as trying to correct some of the hair-related misinformation on social media, Dr Deniz also gave his thoughts on the hacks that may actually help – in certain circumstances.
- Silk pillowcases
Dr Deniz says: ‘Great for preventing breakage (the snapping of the hair shaft), but they do zero for hair loss (the follicle falling out). It’s a luxury comfort, not a medical treatment.’
- Red light therapy
Dr Deniz says: ‘One of the few hacks with legs, but only if the device is medical-grade (LLLT). Many cheap TikTok wands don’t have the required milliwatts to reach the follicle.’
- PRP therapy
Dr Deniz says: ‘Now the so-called gold standard in UK clinics, but being sold to the wrong candidates. It works for thinning, but it cannot revive a follicle that has already died (smooth baldness).’
A TikTok spokesperson told the news network Euractiv that the company removes “harmful misinformation” that breaches its community guidelines, adding that more than 98% of such posts are removed before being reported.
