DIY Hair Growth Serum Recipe

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DIY Hair Growth Serum Recipe
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Hormones affect every aspect of health, and lately I’ve seen the affect of hormones on hair and scalp health.

After eight years of pregnancy and nursing, my body was tired and after that many years of my hormones being elevated from pregnancy/nursing, the postpartum hair loss finally occurred… and did it ever.

This happens because most hair follicles grow hair for a few months and then rest for a few months with an average of 10% of the head’s follicles resting at once. This resting period lessens considerably during pregnancy and women typically lose less hair during pregnancy, but the postpartum hormones can cause the body to catch up on the rest period for hair follicles, leading to more than normal hair loss. It is a normal process, but after 5 pregnancies and not experiencing the postpartum hair loss, it finally caught up with me.

On top of that, I had a really stressful few months and stress can make hair loss worse. I addressed the stress and the hormones and it stopped the hair loss, but I wanted to do something to help my new hair grow more quickly and to protect my hair/scalp in the summer months.

This hair growth serum is the result.

Some women go to a dermatologist or a beautician for hair-related problems. I go to my pantry.

As with my homemade hair spray, sea salt spray, and dry shampoo, this homemade hair growth serum is less expensive than commercial options without the harmful chemicals.

Hair Growth Serum Recipe

This serum combines herbs and essential oils that are good for scalp health and hair growth:

  • Nettle– Rich in iron and vitamins A, C, and K plus potassium and magnesium. It is often used in natural hair products and helps stimulate hair growth
  • Horsetail– High in silica and excellent for hair supporting hair growth.
  • Aloe Vera Gel– Naturally thickens and soothes the scalp and serves as a silkening base for this serum.
  • Essential Oils- Essential oils of Clary Sage, Rosemary, and Lavender are great for hair and scalp health.
DIY Hair Growth Serum Recipe
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4.43 from 95 votes

Hair Growth Serum Recipe

Help stimulate hair growth with this aloe very, herb, and essential oil recipe.
Prep Time25 minutes
Author: Katie Wells

Materials

Instructions

  • In a small pan, bring the distilled water to a boil.
  • Remove from the heat and add the dried nettle leaf and horsetail leaf.
  • Let the herbs sit in the water for at least 10 minutes or until the water cools.
  • Strain the herbs out and pour the herb infused liquid in to a spray bottle.
  • Add the aloe vera gel and essential oils and shake well.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months and shake well before use.

Notes

Spray liberally on hair roots once or more per day. I found that it was easiest and worked the best to spray on before bed each night.

How to Apply Hair Growth Serum

Spray liberally on hair roots once or more per day. I found that it was easiest and worked the best to spray on before bed each night.

Where I Get Ingredients and Supplies

I got the nettle leaf, and horsetail leaf from Mountain Rose Herbs and the natural aloe vera here.

I re-used an old spray bottle, but it is very similar to this bottle. I also like this stainless steel bottle and this glass option.

For the essential oils, any high quality option will work. I typically order oils from Plant Therapy.

Have you ever had postpartum hair loss? What did you do to help it? Share below!
This natural hair growth serum combines herbs like nettle and horsetail with aloe vera gel and essential oils of lavender, rosemary and clary sage.

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

361 responses to “DIY Hair Growth Serum Recipe”

  1. Lisa Avatar

    Hi Katie,
    I’ve been reading your blog for the last 6 month and truly love it. I’m one of these people who works 80 hours per week (and feel good about it, because I love my job), but unfortunately I could not find time to reproduce all of your wonderful beauty recipes.

    So I decided to ask you if you sell anywhere samples and full size bottles of your beauty products?

    Thank you,
    Lisa

  2. Carol Avatar

    I regularly use a homemade ‘conditioner/rinse’ for my hair made of a strong tea using rosemary, nettle and horsetail. I steep for several hours, usually. I add the same amount of raw organic ACV and keep this in the shower (the tea makes a lot, so I keep the remainder of the tea only in the ‘frige). After washing my hair with an organic nettle/rosemary shampoo bar, I dilute the tea/ACV mix with warm water, massage it in and leave for the rest of my shower and thoroughly rinse before getting out.
    I will often add the tea only mix to some other tea and drink (usually hibiscus tea, or any other fragrant flower tea works best for me).
    My hair has never felt or looked better!
    Thank you for your great ideas and recipes and for sharing them with all of us!

  3. Nancy Russell Avatar
    Nancy Russell

    GREEN PASTURE IS THE BRAND OF FERMENTED CLO AND BUTTER OIL. I PUT COCONUT OIL ON MY HAIR AS A DRY HAIR TREATMENT AND HAD A HARD TIME SHAMPOOING IT OUT.

    1. Jacqui Avatar

      To get oil out of your hair apply shampoo to dry hair, rub in then rinse. Sometimes even with this method it takes two applications of shampoo.

  4. Kristin Avatar
    Kristin

    Thank you Katie! I look forward to making and using this serum. I am 64 and had 5 children. losing more hair with each one. Even tho now I take thyroid med (armour) my hair is not growing back after 2 years on it. I wonder if the hair follicles have curled up and died , or if there’s hope. Guess I’ll find out 🙂

  5. KAT Avatar

    I have very dry scalp. I stopped using shampoo about a few months ago and to my surprise my hair looks amazing, but I still have dandruff pretty bad. My scalp burns and itches all the time. I use bentonite clay and kombucha once a week to wash my hair and then just water in between. I have very hard water that is softened with potassium chloride. I was just wondering if this syrum would work as is on my scalp or are there other herbs/eo’s to try, as I don’t particularly need the growth help. Thanks!

    1. Janet Avatar

      Try some apple cider vinegar rinse, or just spray it on after you towel dry. Really helps itchy scalp (changes the pH).

  6. Louise O'Connor Avatar
    Louise O’Connor

    For women hair loss is one of the most common and distressing signs of a low thyroid especially around the time of pregnancy. Research reveals the thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating the natural growth and shedding cycles of hair. Most importantly the thyroid hormones slow the release of hair from the scalp and activate the growth of new hair. It is therefore very important to check your thyroid if you are experiencing excess hair loss. I recommend 5 thyroid tests: TSH, free T4, free T3, thyroid antibodies and reverse T3.

    1. Taylah Avatar

      Thanks for the info. I heard that if you’re missing the outer third of your eyebrows it also means that you also have thyroid problems that should be checked out.

  7. Nicholle Avatar
    Nicholle

    Thanks wellness mama! I love all your recipies and am sooooo glad i have found your helpful site! I’ll try this serum too because my hair and eyebrows are falling out due to the HCG diet i did last year. The doc says I shocked my system doing the extreme diet. Things we do……! I had hoped this diet would help with my hormonal issues, but didn’t – i’m now seeing an excellent GP who also specializes in nutrition and naturopathy who says thyroid issues also can cause thinning hair, brittle nails etc.
    I’m also allergic to Aloe Vera so thanks for posting about witch hazel! i’m going to give this a try!
    Thanks also to Tisha for posting about the internal supplementation of fermented cod liver oil – i’ll be trying this too! Tisha can you tell me how you take this? Is it straight off the spoon? How much?

    1. Elizabeth Pyer Avatar
      Elizabeth Pyer

      I take the fermented cod liver oil/butter blend (chocolate flavor). The bottle says 1/2 tsp. I take a full teaspoon right from the spoon. Green Pastures also sells a gel caplet of the same formula. Mine (chocolate flavor) is yummy for me right off the spoon and I get no after taste. Hope this helps

    2. KellyJ Avatar
      KellyJ

      I got a Kelp supplement from the health food store – it brought my thyroid level up. Might be worth a try for you.

  8. Alice Avatar

    Do you think I can use the herbs fresh?
    Because I have both nettle and horsetail growing in my backyard.

  9. kristen matthews Avatar
    kristen matthews

    Hi. Im a few days away from having our 5th bubba. I was wondering if by any chance that you could use this AWESOME recipe straight away instead of storing it away for 3 months? Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents to the WORLD. x

  10. Delilah Avatar
    Delilah

    My regular OB recommended 3 years spacing years ago after I did not listen and waited a mere 3 months. She advised me that it takes years for your body to recover and be in optimal health for a new pregnancy. Also, I’ve seen many examples of how 3 years us an ideal age difference for siblings. It allows the youngest time to develop and find their place in the family before another addition is added. They can help out at that age, too. Personally, I can attest that age is less important with siblings since mine are so close, but I very much wish I had treated my body better and let it recover 3 years.

  11. Tisha Darrow Avatar
    Tisha Darrow

    I started taking fermented cod liver oil/butter oil about a year ago because I read it helped re-enamelize teeth. But then after a month I noticed an additional but unforseen positive effect. My hair stopped falling out and started growing again. Im 48 and for several years I havent had to shave legs etc and my hair was always coming out in shower or when brushing. But after taking the fermented cod liver oil/butter oil blend it totally reversed itself! I had to start shaving and also coloring my roots again lol. Also my brittle nails stopped breaking so I assume they are harder/ healthier.

    1. Linda Avatar

      Tisha, where did you get the “fermented cod liver oil/butter oil ?” A brand name? Thanks.

      1. Sialia Avatar

        Go to green pasture.org. Amazon also sells the same brand. Good luck!

    2. Elizabeth Pyer Avatar
      Elizabeth Pyer

      Wow I too just started taking the Green Pasture fermented cod liver oil/butter blend (chocolate flavor). I sure hope it works on my hair as well cause I had major fall out due to stress. Thanks for posting your comment.

    3. April Avatar

      Could you elaborate on the mixture your taking? How much of each and how often? Thanks!

    4. Trisha Avatar

      Hi Tisha! My name is Trisha, am 48 and haven’t needed to shave my legs and experience hair loss in the shower too. I felt like I was reading about myself! I can’t wait to try this. Is this a premade mixture? How much do you take a day? Thanks!!

    5. Nancy jo Avatar
      Nancy jo

      How much of each do you use ??? And you only used the 2 ingrediences ???? And I’m sure you meant daily & to take it internally ??????

  12. ashley butler Avatar
    ashley butler

    Does the aloe vera clog your spray nozzle?

    Where did you get/come up with this recipe?

  13. Jeni Clark Avatar
    Jeni Clark

    HI! THANKS for the post! How long did you use this for? Long term? And you noticed hair growth? You have beautiful hair 🙂 THANKS!

  14. McCall Avatar

    In regards to the multiple pregnancies, What are your thoughts regarding Dr Weston A Price’s studies on child spacing of 3-years for optimal maternal nutrition?

  15. Abbie Avatar

    This sounds great, but I am allergic to aloe vera. Can you suggest an alternative?

    Thanks so much!

      1. Annette Windham Avatar
        Annette Windham

        I also am allergic to aloe vera…but would you believe I am also allergic to witch hazel? Seriously, I have so many allergies, it’s often hard for me to follow recipes for food or skin care. Is there something else I can use for the base of this hair growth serum?

  16. Raya Avatar

    Since nettle has so many vitamins, would it be beneficial to drink it as a tea or take it in a supplement too, or is it not edible? i’ve been looking for a good source of those vitamins. Also, Do you mean nettle leaf, nettle leaf powder, nettle root, or nettle root powder? All of them are on the MRH site. Thanks!

    1. Ashley Avatar
      Ashley

      Hi Raya. Nettle tea has many benefits, one of which is helping to clear the lungs. My sister had childhood asthma and drinking the tea helped alot. there are tons and tons of benefits to be found in drinking nettle tea. And it tastes pretty good too. Try this website to get a clear picture of the benefits and drawbacks.

      1. Sara Avatar

        I think this is an old discussion… I click on the link and it took me to a Japanese prob site lol

  17. Kati Avatar

    Is the Rosemary oil necessary for this serum to work? Rosemary oil is mostly used for digestive health, muscle aches and pains, and nervous tension, no? Just curious if it was in there for scent purposes?

  18. Christine Avatar
    Christine

    Love you site..favorite lotion is the luxury lotion..Wanted my hair to grow back fast after chopping it all off in a Michelle Williams pixie last year. I have been making a treatment of an equal parts of olive oil, avocado oil & castor oil. Slather in your hair. Best to do on night before washing your hair. Cover with an oh so glamorous shower cap and cover pillow with a towel. Next morning shampoo as per usual. Hair is supper soft and bouncy and is growing in fast.

  19. Dawn Avatar

    So incredibly happy you shared this! I have been struggling with this lately as I am now entering the dreaded menopause stage of my life. Thank you so much! I can not wait to try it!

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