The Hair Fuel, Hair Growth Mask & Treatment Kit: My Honest Review
Do you feel like your hair growth is stunted? Is there's an uncomfortable amount of hair in the shower drain on wash day? Because if so, you're not alone. More than 50% of women experience noticeable hair loss at some point in their lives. It's especially common in women who:
Have had chemotherapy or are on some other medications
Have recently given birth
Wear tight ponytails or braids every day
Are 40+ or menopausal
Use harsh chemicals - Brazilian Blowout, Peroxide/Dye
Are stressed
Other causes of poor hair growth are inflammation of the scalp, as it stops vital nutrients from reaching the hair follicle by constricting the blood flow, and DHT —which you may have heard of in men's hair regrowth commercials. DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a hormone that is produced when testosterone gets converted by an enzyme called, 5-alpha reductase. High levels of DHT weaken hair follicles leading to hair fall and affecting hair growth cycles.
If you'd like to know how to increase your hair growth cycle, prevent hair loss and get thicker hair you're in the right place!
*This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read our full disclosure here.
Purchase a Hair Growth Kit click here and use CODE: gabrielle12 to get 12% off your first order of a full kit or bundle
My Hair Care Journey
Five years ago I decided to switch up my hair care routine because my hair was falling out by the handful. This was due to a combination of stress, bad haircare and incredibly toxic hair dye
I stopped using hair color that contained Paraphenylenediamine (PPD). Check out this post on safer, ammonia and PPD free hair color
I swapped my perfumed filled shampoo and conditioner for more natural, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) free shampoo and silicone free deep conditioner
I made scalp-care part of my self-care routine. This included hydrating scalp spray, natural hair masks, and daily scalp massage/hair brushing/combing. Check out this post for my DIY clay hair mask benefits and recipe
Lastly, I completely stopped using heated, electrical appliances on my hair.
As you can see in the photo above, my new haircare routine is working out well! My hair now grows like a weed and is about four times thicker.
However, I need to be consistent with this routine or the general stress and pace of life catches up to me and my hair will start falling out again. Something that has slowing been creeping up on me this year as I've been so busy and end up running out of time in the day to do everything!
Enter The Hair Fuel Growth Kit
The Hair Fuel takes a holistic approach to hair care. They believe that lifestyle shifts, hair care rituals and increased blood flow to the scalp are the most important factors when it comes to the health and growth of your hair. The Hair Growth Kit is an all natural, vegan hair mask that does all of the above.
I first discovered The Hair Fuel a while ago when I mentioned them in a Derma Roller blog post. They had some great information on microneedling for hair growth and this is how I got chatting with Laura, the founder who very kindly sent me a one month hair growth kit to review.
What’s in The Hair Fuel growth kit?
Welcome card / Month 1 log (to record you hair length)
Instructions card
Measuring tape (love this!)
4 sachets of nourishing oil mix
4 sachets of powdered botanical extracts
Mixer bottle and shower cap
What does it promise?
Accelerating hair growth
Reduces hair loss
Strengthens hair follicles
Improves blood flow to hair root
Purchase a Hair Growth Kit click here and use CODE: gabrielle12 to get 12% off your first order of a full kit or bundle
THE INGREDIENTS
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil - (Olive Oil)
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil - (Castor Oil)
Sucrose - (Plant Sugars)
Brassica Alba Seed Extract - (White Mustard Seed Powder)
Brassica Juncea Seed Extract - (Yellow Mustard Seed Powder)
Oryza Sativa Powder (Rice Protein Powder)
Caffeine
Mentha Piperita Oil - (Peppermint Oil)
Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Powder - (Cayenne Pepper Powder)
Upon receiving The Hair Fuel's Hair Growth Kit the first thing I did (obviously) was to dissect the ingredient list.
I was familiar with most ingredients on the list because my natural hair care journey began with a lot of research into, and mixing up henna and herbal powders.
So let's break down this all star list!
1. Olive Oil
Olive oil is a rich source of antioxidants (1) that help to maintain a healthy scalp by protecting the skin against free radical damage. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can be neutralized by antioxidants thus preventing cell damage. Another hair benefit of olive oil is oleic acid, a fatty acid (2) that has proven to block the hormone DHT which can causes hair fall, whilst also nourishing and moisturizing the scalp and hair.
2. Castor Oil
A popular DIY ingredient in the YouTube hair community, surprisingly castor oil doesn't have a lot of studies backing up it's hair growth benefits. However, it is a rich source of ricinoleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid which has been reported (3) to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This means castor oil has the ability to balance and heal bacterial or fungal infections of the scalp.
It should be noted that while ricinoleic acid does have anti-inflammatory effects similar to that of capsaicin (the active component of chili peppers), unlike capsaicin it does not increase blood flow which can cause irritation.
3. Sucrose
Sucrose, the scientific name for 'white table sugar' is produced through a refinement process from sugar cane and beets . However, when found naturally in fruits, vegetables, and nuts sucrose has a number of beneficial properties. It contains glycolic acid which exfoliates the scalp of dead skin cell build-up, it acts as a humectant attracting water and hydrating the skin, and it can also help to balance the skin natural oils. The last benefit is particularly helpful if you suffer from greasy hair!
4/5. White Mustard Seed Powder + Yellow Mustard Seed Powder
Mustard seeds have been used for hair growth in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. They contain a powerful group of beneficial minerals and micronutrients:
Magnesium
Iron
Calcium
Vitamins A, B6, E
Omega-3, Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Ground mustard seeds also contain enzymes and compounds that when combined with liquids like water or oil, create a chemical reaction which essentially creates the “heat” of mustard. When used in a hair mask, this reaction create blood flow straight to your scalp speeding up hair re-growth and reducing hair loss.
6. Rice Protein Powder
Rice water is another popular DIY treatment for improved hair growth and condition. This is because rice proteins have been reported to increase hair volume by up to 32% by strengthening hair strands and sealing split ends. It enhances the hairs ability to bind with moisture, enhancing shine, flexibility and strength.
7. Caffeine
As we know, DHT plays a major role in hair loss by attaching itself to hair follicles and preventing the nutrients needed for healthy hair growth cycles. Caffeine can help to block the effects of DHT, increase blood circulation to the scalp and hair follicles, plus improve condition.
8. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint is another known hair growth promoter that stimulates the scalp and hair follicles (5). Thanks to anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, insecticidal properties it can also help with itchy scalp conditions.
9. Cayenne Pepper Powder
Cayenne pepper has been used in Ayurveda remedies for centuries to promote hair growth. A mixture of cayenne pepper and olive oil is used to improve the health and growth of hair by increasing blood circulation and nourishing the scalp.
Purchase a Hair Growth Kit click here and use CODE: gabrielle12 to get 12% off your first order of a full kit or bundle
How To Use The Hair Growth Mask
The Hair Fuel does a wonderful job of supplying you with everything you need to mix the ingredients, get it on your head and cover it up. All you have to do is follow the (very clear) instructions and rinse and repeat next week. The kit contains a handy measuring tape to log and monitor your locks!
This is a highly invigorating treatment. Be warned.. you will experience a strong tingling sensation all over your scalp by the time you've finished applying the mix. Don't panic, it's just all of the active ingredients stimulating your scalp and bringing a fresh supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the surface of your skin. I personally love it because I know it's working!
How to mix the mask
Empty the dry/powder ingredients into the applicator bottle
Add 30 ml of (bottled) water
Add the oil sachet
Close the lid and shake to mix contents for 15-20 seconds
Application
Comb your hair through and section into four quarters
Apply The Hair fuel mask to your scalp and roots ONLY
Apply a deep conditioner/hair oil to the lengths of your hair
Cover with the shower cap and woolly hat/deep conditioning cap
Go lie down and watch Netflix for 45 minutes
Rinse (I did not shampoo and condition as per The Hair Fuel instructions)
*I use this deep conditioner
*I use this deep conditioning cap
Purchase a Hair Growth Kit here and use CODE: gabrielle12 to get 12% off your first order of a full kit or bundle
My Results
My main wish from The Hair Growth Kit was not so much hair growth, but less hair fall. I wanted to balance and nourish my itchy scalp which, in turn would reduce hair loss. I also have to add that I disobeyed the rules of applying the mask once a week... instead I did one every other week. I have no excuse for this other than being really busy and a bit disorganized!
I still got great results though.
I found way less hair in the shower and on my floor. My hair fall has greatly reduced, my scalp doesn't itch anymore, and my hair feels healthier.. but did my hair actually grow?
Yes, it did. My hair grew a whopping 3 inches in 2 months! In case you're wondering, the American Academy of Dermatology says that on average hair grows about 1/2 inch per month. I've no idea how much my hair normally grows in a month, but 3 inches sound like a lot of growth, doesn't it?
I also need to add that Laura has made The Hair Fuel mask super user friendly! The bottle rinses out easily with warm water, the shower cap is heavy duty and still is good shape, and the sachets make for a very clean and tidy preparation.
All in all I really liked this product. It gets to work at the root of your hair problems by using all natural, and ancient remedies. I recommend it if you want to improve the health of your scalp and get longer locks!
Purchase a Hair Growth Kit click here and use CODE: gabrielle12 to get 12% off your first order of a full kit or bundle
References
1. Gorzynik-Debicka M, Przychodzen P, Cappello F, et al. Potential Health Benefits of Olive Oil and Plant Polyphenols. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(3):686. Published 2018 Feb 28. doi:10.3390/ijms19030686
2. Liang T, Liao S. Inhibition of steroid 5 alpha-reductase by specific aliphatic unsaturated fatty acids. Biochem J. 1992 Jul 15;285 ( Pt 2)(Pt 2):557-62. doi: 10.1042/bj2850557. PMID: 1637346; PMCID: PMC1132824.
3. Jamshed Iqbal, Sumera Zaib, Umar Farooq, Afsar Khan, Irum Bibi, Saba Suleman,"Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Free Radical Scavenging Potential of Aerial Parts of Periploca aphylla and Ricinus communis",International Scholarly Research Notices,vol. 2012,Article ID
5. Oh JY, Park MA, Kim YC. Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs. Toxicol Res. 2014;30(4):297-304. doi:10.5487/TR.2014.30.4.297
NEED SKINCARE HELP?
I make sense of skincare. Together we create better routines and lifestyle habits to empower you to feel more confident and in charge. I want everyone to be able to have a Skin Coach in their life, which is why I’ve designed 3 Skin Coaching Plans to fit any budget.
Kommentare