Traditional Hair Loss Remedies

Ancient literature and folklore tell us that they certainly went to great lengths to find solutions to graying and falling hair.

Although each culture had its own approach, influenced by local flora and cultural considerations, there would appear to have been many areas of common practice. Nettles, for example, formed an important component of traditional hair loss remedies in many cultures throughout the world.

It is not my intention to outline the more outlandish traditional hair remedies on record. Rather we will focus on those that have a stronger scientific basis. Many of the remedies outlined here have been sourced from the very informative book Hair Loss Prevention Through Natural Remedies by Peters et al.

Rosemary Solution
Apple Cider Vinegar
Essential Oils
Cayenne Pepper Hair Tonic

Rosemary Solution - this herb is frequently mentioned in herbal texts for its ability to cleanse the scalp and stimulate the hair root. Two recipes that utilize rosemary as the core ingredient are suggested.

Recipe 1 - boil rosemary, sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock in water. Strain and use to wash hair daily.

Recipe 2 - steep one ounce of ground rosemary, two ounces of ground sage and half an ounce of ground nettles in one pint of ethyl alcohol for a week. Strain, and add one ounce of olive oil, one ounce of castor oil and one ounce of water. Shake before using as a hair lotion before bed.


Apple Cider Vinegar - this is frequently mentioned in folk remedies for hair loss. It is thought to have a normalizing effect on the scalp's oil glands and pH level as well as having a strong cleansing effect.

Method - Part hair into sections. Apply two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar directly to the scalp with a moistened cotton ball. Allow between fifteen minutes and three hours before shampooing.


Essential Oils - essential oils distilled from plants have long been recognized for their ability to increase circulation to the scalp and encourage cell generation. Amongst the most popular are cedarwood, clary sage, lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary.

Method - ten drops of essential oil should be mixed with one ounce of carrier oil such as jojoba or olive oil. Massage into the scalp for a minimum of fifteen minutes before shampooing.


Cayenne Pepper Hair Tonic - the usefulness of cayenne pepper to irritate the skin, increase blood flow to the scalp and stimulate cell division is well documented.

Recipe - mix four ounces of cayenne pepper with one pint of one hundred proof vodka or pure alcohol diluted with twenty percent distilled water. Let it stand for two weeks, shaking the mixture once each day. Strain through several layers of fine cloth or a nylon stocking until the mixture is free of pepper. Once or twice a day, rub a small amount onto the thinning areas of the scalp

Hopefully you'll have found something of interest and may be tempted to try one of the traditional hair loss remedies outlined here.