Can You Recommend A Hair Growth Conditioner?'

Name: Nik

Question: I have thinning hair from my father and want to grow it back. It is all the way on top so I want a shampoo and hair growth conditioner that will grow it and make it thicker. Can you recommend me one?

Answer: Hi, Nik. Shampoos and conditioners are hair care products and will not regrow hair lost to permanent, genetic hair loss.

This inherited condition - Male Pattern Baldness - appears to be the form of hair thinning you are describing here, given it is both hereditary and only affects the area of the scalp from hairline to crown. There are no clinically-proven hair loss shampoos or hair growth conditioners that can treat this, despite some brands' marketing claims making it confusing to distinguish between the two.

There are significant differences between actual hair loss treatments and hair care products. Shampoos and conditioners are designed to cleanse and nourish the hair; some can provide a cosmetic boost in volume - making the hair look thicker - but this is temporary and does nothing to address the underlying cause of the thinning hair. Essentially there is no such thing as a hair growth conditioner, nor a hair growth shampoo, as cosmetic products are not designed to treat medical issues.

Because Male Pattern Hair Loss is a progressive condition, thinning will continue to worsen over time and may lead to eventual baldness in the affected areas.


Only two medications - one topical and one oral - have been licensed by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the USA's Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as effective Male Pattern Hair Loss Treatments. These promote hair growth and attack the root cause of Male Pattern Baldness by inhibiting formation of dihydrotestosterone, generally referred to as DHT, the hormone which binds to the sensitive follicles, gradually weakening and, in some cases, destroying them.

These can be used individually or alongside each other as long as the person using them has been deemed medically suitable to use them.

Further hair growth supporting products, ranging from low-level laser therapy devices to exclusive, highly-targeted Hair Vitalics for Men food supplements, may also be worthwhile considering in addition to these recognised treatments.

You can use any shampoo and conditioner you like when using hair treatment, but ideally you should ensure they are of good quality so they don't contain overly harsh, unnecessary chemicals that can be drying to the hair, and are suitable for your hair type and however frequently you wash your hair.

If you would like further advice on potential hair loss solutions, you can find plenty of information on Belgravia's website and blog. A personal consultation with a specialist may also be beneficial for personalised advice based on an assessment of your scalp and certain medical information.