It's no secret that hair loss affects both men and women, and causes range from internal (hereditary, hormonal changes, and medical conditions) to external factors (medication, stress, poor nutrition, improper hair washing, and excessive hairstyling).
Let's face it, some are unaware of the ways to properly clean off shampoo or styling products while others are guilty of frequently using hairstyling products or sporting hairstyles that pull your hair tightly together.
Source: Garon Piceli/Pexels
But being fairly healthy adults with (what we think is) moderate stress level, never would we have anticipated the bomb that my husband's hairstylist dropped on him during his most recent haircut: "you're showing early signs of hair loss."
Thankfully, she assured him that it's not too major but it's not too late to start taking care of his hair, and advised him to wash his hair with cold water and avoid rubbing shampoo directly onto his scalp (according to the hairstylist, the ideal practice is to lather the shampoo between your palms first before transferring it on the scalp).
Following this revelation, we started researching products and treatments that could possibly help. That's around the same time when my editor asked the team if anyone is up for reviewing hair loss products from Dr. Groot, a popular Korean hair care brand.
I volunteered my husband, Simon, for the review (after asking him, of course), and to my surprise (he can be a little fussy when it comes to his grooming products), he grew to love the products from Dr. Groot after testing them for two weeks! Here's what he has to say.
Trying hair fall products from a Korean hair care brand for the first time: he says
Source: Lynnett Yip
Hair fall has never crossed my mind until my hairstylist pointed it out to me during my recent post-Circuit Breaker haircut. As a 30-year-old male, I started to worry even though it was just a small area of my head – the affected area happens to be the hair whorl, which is essentially a patch of hair that grows in a circular direction around a visible centre point.
My wife recommended Dr. Groot products to me shortly after I shared with her my plight, and having decided to take a proactive approach, I said yes to reviewing the hair loss products to see if it'll make a difference.
A little background on my hair condition and styling habits: I have rather oily hair and scalp, and I'm a regular hairspray user – save for the quarantine period, I don't leave the house for work or social outings without first styling my hair.
Since the start of Circuit Breaker however, I don't shampoo my hair if I didn't go out for the day to buy lunch or dinner. On days like those, I'd usually just rinse with water to wash off grime.
Dr. Groot haircare review: the Hair Loss Control for Oily Scalp duo & Intensive Hair Loss Control Scalp Tonic
I tried the Dr. Groot Hair Loss Control for Oily Scalp Shampoo and Dr. Groot Hair Loss Control Conditioner – as part of my review. From what I understand, the shampoo contains eight types of herbal ingredients that are specifically selected for their hair fall-reducing properties. I immediately took a liking to it because of its woody scent, which reminded me of my favourite Davidoff cologne.
After dispensing a 20-cent-sized worth of shampoo, I'd follow my hairstylist advice and lather it between my palms first before lathering it on my scalp. The shampoo foams up quite well, and I find that it washes off really easily as well.
I follow up with a tiny amount of conditioner that's just right for my short hair length. It has a similar herbal aroma to the shampoo, which I like.
I also tested the Dr. Groot Intensive Hair Loss Control Scalp Tonic. I use the anti-hair loss essence nightly, and spray it on towel-dried hair before massaging it in. As with the other two Dr. Groot products that I've tried, the herbal scent is quite pleasant to the senses – in fact, I find it relaxing to use every night before bed.
It contains a blend of DHT-blocking ingredients such as Chinese Moutan peony and sophora flavescens root extract, Hinoki cypress, and anti-inflammatory nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3) which helps to inhibit bacterial growth, reduce excess sebum, and promote hair growth.
Dr. Groot haircare review: Before and after photo
My minor bald patch before starting on Dr. Groot products (left) and the same area after using Dr. Groot products for one month (right) | Source: Lynnett Yip
I've only tried the Dr. Groot products for one month – I've been told that significant results can only be observed after using the products diligently for three months – but surprisingly, I've noticed that I'm starting to see less of my scalp in the affected hair whorl area.
In addition, I noticed there is less hair shedding on my pillow and in the shower as well ever since I started using the Dr. Groot shampoo, conditioner, and tonic.
Overall, I'm happy with the minor progress that I'm seeing so far and I really enjoy the woody scent from the trio of products, so I'll continue using it to see if there's significant improvement.
Keep reading to find out how you can bring home a complimentary Dr. Groot sample!
Using Dr Groot haircare products as a form of prevention: she says
No kidding – this length is the shortest my hair has ever been! That's how protective my mother was over my long hair.
I don't have hair fall to worry about for now but having had long hair practically since the day I was born (my mum refused to cut my hair short), I am no stranger to hair shedding every day – it's perfectly normal to shed 50 to 100 hairs a day (this is more noticeable in people with longer hair strands).
After hearing my husband's problem, I thought it'd be wise for me to start on some form of hair loss prevention so I used his Dr. Groot products secretly every time in the shower.
Having previously bleached my hair numerous times for my grey "granny" hair, my scalp is somewhat sensitised and prone to acne and mild irritation every now and then.
I appreciate that Dr. Groot's products are formulated with its signature 8 Natural Groot Solution, a cocktail of nutritious herbs and plant extracts, namely centella, peppermint, phellinus linteus, black vinegar, chameleon plant, pleuropterus multiflorus, Chinese moutan peony, and Hinoki cypress, which is suitable even for sensitive scalp.
I have fairly dry, thick hair with oily scalp, so I had no problems using the same products that my husband is reviewing. Because of the nature of my hair, I am used to washing it on alternate days so that it doesn't get too dry at the hair lengths.
Dr. Groot haircare review: First impressions of the products
While it's my job to test throngs and throngs of beauty products, I still can't help but be impressed by products that have a pleasant aroma. Be it from artificial fragrance or essential oils, I form my first impressions based on the first whiff, not so much the product packaging.
The first thing I noticed when using the Dr. Groot Hair Loss Control for Oily Scalp Shampoo was the scent. The herbal perfume immediately reminded me of a few of my favourite things: medicated ointment for stomach ache, my husband's cologne, as well as a particular yellowish Johnson & Johnson body wash from my childhood – I took this as a sign of a good start!
The shampoo features rosemary as the key ingredient, which cleanses hair follicles by unclogging any buildup of dirt and hairstyling products. It also helps to stimulate blood circulation in the scalp and soothe inflammation. For my hair length, I needed a 50 cent-sized worth of product to wash my entire head of hair thoroughly.
The shampoo is slightly more viscous than what I'm used to, but it isn't a major deal breaker. While many hair loss or scalp shampoos are especially drying to the hair – I had recently tried a scalp cleansing shampoo from another Korean hair care brand in an attempt to control my scalp oiliness, I find that my hair doesn't feel as dry after rinsing with this Dr. Groot formula.
Thanks to peppermint in the formula, it also leaves a slightly cooling effect on the scalp once you've lathered up, which is another plus point for me.
Due to my longer hair length, I did use the Dr. Groot Hair Loss Control Conditioner more than my husband. Like its shampoo counterpart, the woody scent is really soothing to the senses. Because of the chemical work that I've put my hair through, it can be a tad dry so I'd usually use a hair mask instead of a conditioner to condition my hair.
With Dr. Groot Hair Loss Control Conditioner however, I find that my hair feels just as moisturised – I haven't come across conditioners that give the same nourishing effects for my hair.
The silicone-free product is the only conditioner in the Dr. Groot haircare line and is suitable for sensitive scalp. Similar to the shampoo, it contains eight botanical ingredients to condition dry hair and provide antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Dr. Groot haircare review: Lesser hair fall during washing
Overall, I like that Dr. Groot leaves my hair and scalp feeling fresher and cleaner after each wash without weighing my hair down at all. I also appreciate that all of Dr. Groot's haircare formulas are made without silicones, sulphates or parabens, and uses plant-based surfactants to cleanse without stripping the natural oils in the hair and scalp.
The amount of hair fall that I gathered in the shower before I tried Dr. Groot products (left) versus after Dr. Groot products (right) | Source: Lynnett Yip
While I am not dealing with significant hair loss of any kind, I am pleasantly surprised to see how Dr. Groot's products have helped me reduce the amount of hair shedding in the shower after using it for only two weeks! Check out the image above to see just how much lesser my hair drops during washing now.
Like my husband, I really enjoy the herbal aroma of the shampoo and conditioner so I will continue to use them as a form of prevention. Like the adage goes, prevention is better than cure, am I right?
Meet the other hair-loss heroes in the Dr. Groot collection
Apart from oily scalp, Dr. Groot also has other variants in its haircare line to treat different hair concerns.
Formulated with ling zhi which boasts antioxidant and immune-boosting properties, Dr. Groot Hair Loss Control for Thin Hair Shampoo and Treatment are notably the brand's bestsellers as there aren't any hair loss products out there that are developed specifically for thin hair.
Dr. Groot Hair Loss Control for Damaged Hair Shampoo and Treatment are powered by iris, which helps to eliminate bacteria and inhibit its growth while reducing signs of inflammation and protecting the scalp from eczema, acne, and itchiness.
Dr. Groot Hair Loss Control & Anti-Dandruff Shampoo employs a blend of ginger, hinoki cypress, black vinegar, burdock root and centella to take care of dandruff-inducing fungus, heal damaged scalp cells and reduce scalp infection without compromising hair and scalp moisture.
Want to try Dr. Groot for yourself? Continue reading to find out how to redeem a free sample!
Five other hair loss-fighting tips that we've incorporated into our routine
During this review period, we also started practising these five habits to boost the efficacy of the Dr. Groot products. Whether you're dealing with hair loss or not, there's no harm in incorporating these tips into your routine as they can help improve your hair and scalp health.
- Wash hair with cold water: Aside from lending hair more shine and saving it from frizz, this method can also remove excess product without stripping away all the moisturising ingredients. It will also close up the cuticle cells, and lock in those nourishing ingredients and water inside the hair strand.
- Be gentle when you shampoo your hair: Use the pads of your fingertips to massage your scalp while you shampoo – never use your fingernails as that could damage your scalp. It is skin after all and just like how scratching your arms make your skin red, scratching your scalp while you lather up can inflame the skin.
- A daily scalp massage helps: Use a paddle brush and gently brush your hair from the scalp to the ends. By doing this, the plastic bristle stimulates the hair follicles and the cells within your scalp and hair follicles, which increases blood flow and encourages hair growth.
- Load up on foods that help with hair growth: There are plenty of food that can provide hair all the nutrient it needs to grow healthily, such as biotin, iron, omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamins C, D, and E. A few delicious good-for-hair options that you can add to your diet include spinach, eggs, salmon, and plain Greek yoghurt.
- Go easy on the hairstyling: Using hairspray daily or pulling hair into a high ponytail or a top knot may look good but in the long run, these hairstyling products and methods can ruin your hair. Try not to do it so frequently to give your hair time to rest and breathe between hairstyling.
Dr. Groot haircare review: Our final verdict
All in all, we've learned that you're never too young to have hair loss issues but we're grateful that it's a problem that can be fixed with the right products, diligence and patience.
While conventional hair loss products can be drying to the scalp and hair, we appreciate that we don't face that issue with Dr. Groot formulas at all. Another major brownie point for us is the relaxing herbal aroma which isn't too overpowering.
All Dr. Groot products retail for S$25.90 each and are available at selected Guardian and Cold Storage outlets. They are also available online at The Face Shop's website as well as Lazada.
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