Let's face it, our generation has had a serious obsession with hair. From tortoiseshell ombrés to mermaid hair, or platinum blonde 'dos to pink strands, there's almost always a new trend happening. But after skimming the latest hair treatments, using placentas to grow your hair is probably one of the strangest things I've heard so far. We've all heard of DIY hair masks made with natural products like coconut oil or avocado oil, but placentas? Now that's one I had to dig deeper in to question.
The folks over at Huffington Post talked to a couple of doctors who shared their thoughts about the unusual hair treatment. Strangely enough, the placenta hair treatments that you can buy in beauty supply or drugstores really do consist of placenta extract from animals.
The article included some words from Dr. Meena Singh who explained that these products "are a rich source of bioactive components including growth factors and hormones. Specifically, the growth factors in animal placental extracts have been shown to increase hair follicle growth and decrease hair shedding. The positive effects on hair growth are most likely due to increased blood vessel formation and subsequent blood flow to the hair follicles."
NYC-based "hair specialist and restoration expert" Dr. Robert Dorin, says that the treatment "theoretically acts as emollient, which keeps in moisture and has a softening effect on the hair." Wow, who would've thought?
Although you may be eager to try this new hair discovery, it might take a while to see any change. Dr. Singh explains, "Any topically applied product used to stimulate hair growth would need to be applied directly to the scalp once or twice daily for at least six months, in order to see any benefit."
While both of the doctors explain their thoughts, the Huffington Posts explains, "With very little scientific research to support the hair growth benefits of placenta, both experts recommend topical treatments that contain minoxidil (an FDA-improved ingredient found in Rogaine) to help with thinning or baldness." So, it's basically a bet you'll have to make if you decide to try it.
Another super important thing to consider before trying this hair treatment is using it on younger children. Dr. Signh stresses to not use products that contain placenta on children as it can attribute to "premature sexual development in children as young as 14 months old." She further emphasizes, "These findings are disturbing and I would not recommend the use of these products in adolescents or anyone at increased risk of uterine or breast cancer."
In other words, remember to use these products wisely. But if you're daring enough to try this hair treatment yourself, you can check out your local beauty supply store for the products or buy them online.
(Henna 'n' Placenta, $4.99, Amazon.com)
Images: Amazon; Fotolia (1)
