21 Herbs for Hair Growth And Healthy Hair

Alyssa Brown • November 22, 2022

Some herbs contain nutrients and vitamins that improve blood circulation bringing oxygen to your scalp making hair follicles stronger. Others will work to keep the hair itself healthy and vibrant. Herbs have been used for hair growth, fixing dry scalps, and improving hair health since the beginning of time. We’ve compiled 21 of the best herbs for hair with the reasons why below.

In addition to learning the science behind which herbs are healthy for hair, we’ve included ways to incorporate them into your daily routines. But first, let’s look at what an herb is.

To be considered an herb, a plant must have leaves, seeds, or flowers that are used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume. This is often why shampoos and conditions smell so good. The vitamin and nutrient rich herbs have natural scents making the hair product smell good and keeping your locks healthy.

The 21 best herbs for hair growth are:

Here are the vitamins found in herbs that help hair grow and become healthy. (the sources are at the bottom of the post)

	Vitamin A	Vitamin C	Vitamin D	Vitamin E	Vitamin K
Strengthens your hair	X	X	X
Makes your hair thicker	X	X	X	X
Considered an antioxidant	X	X		X
Improves scalp circulation	X	X		X	X
Moisturizes your scalp	X
Creates new hair follicles			X	X
Maintains hair follicles			X	X	X
Hydrates hair follicles	X
Prevents breakage	X	X
Collagen booster		X		X
Builds keratin		X
Reduces free radical damage		X		X	X
Fights dandruff		X
Lowers DHT levels		X			X
Contains tocotrienols (which makes your hair grow)				X

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is rich in vitamins A, C, and E making it a super herb for hair health. Putting aloe vera in your hair and massaging it into your scalp hydrates your hair follicles, maintains your scalp’s pH balance, and prevents hair breakage (source).

Growing aloe vera is easy and can be done right in your kitchen. That way you can treat your hair and have some in case you get a burn while cooking. You can also buy the leaves at a natural food store.

You can also make aloe vera gel or a mask easy by cutting the top, spikes and sides off the aloe vera leaf and scraping the gel off with a spoon. It’s fast, affordable and an effective herb for health hair.

Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

Amla has many benefits for your hair too! Since Amla is rich in Vitamin E and Vitamin C (30 times more than an orange!), it’s chocked full of antioxidants that help improve the strength of your hair and increase the production of collagen that your body makes (source).

You can eat amla raw. However, it is very sour so you’ll want to try the pickled or candied amla instead. Amla powder can be added to your caffeine-free morning tea and smoothies, and you can include it at dinnertime if you make dal. And if you want to save time, its easy to purchase amla oil in most grocery stores.

Bhringraj (False Daisy)

Bhringra is packed with Vitamin D and E as well as iron, magnesium and proteins. When you regularly massage Bhringraj oil into your scalp and hair, you strengthen your hair follicles, trigger the growth of new ones, and improve your circulation (source). Bhringraj hair oil also deep conditions your hair and brings out the natural shine.

Bhringraj oil can be made at home. However, Bhrigraj leaves are somewhat hard to find, and the process is time-consuming, so you may want to opt for the powder instead. Bhringraj powder can be added to an evening or late afternoon tea since there’s no caffiene, or you can make a Bhrigraj paste by combining it with a natural oil and apply it directly to your scalp.

Bitter Apple (Desert gourd)

Since bitter apple has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties as well as glycosides, it’s a great herb for growth and mass (source).

While you can eat a bitter apple whole, it is extremely bitter as the name implies. Although the seeds are edible, they are similarly bitter but also have nutty-flavor and are rich in fat and protein. If you don’t want to eat the apple or the sees, try juicing the bitter apple and apply the juice to your scalp.

Burdock

Burdock’s herbal hair benefits include an increase in the amount of hair you grow during your hair cycle, and an increase in your collagen production (source). When you use burdock root for your hair, the Vitamin A in it makes your hair smoother and shinier.

Fresh burdock root can be found at natural food stores and farmers’ markets. You’ll need to wash and peel it to get rid of its bitter taste before cooking and eating it. It’s also a fantastic addition to your morning tea.

You can also chop the Burdock root into “chips”, roast them, and enjoy homemade french fries for a tasty side at lunch or dinner. Whatever root you have left can be thrown into a stew or stir-fry when time is tight.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is high in iron and protein which is necessary to reap fenugreek’s benefits. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, the flavonoids and saponins in fenugreek leaves, oil, and powder stimulate your hair follicles.

Another benefit of fenugreek is that it reduces the levels of DHT (a hormone related to hair loss) in your system and can be just as effective as minoxidil (a prescription medication for treating hair loss and boosting growth)(source).

You can enjoy fenugreek seeds for your hair in a variety of different ways like by the handful, ground up as a fenugreek powder, and a tangy caffeine free fenugreek tea. To soften Fenugreek seeds and lessen their bitterness, boil the seeds in water.

When you remove the seeds, you are left with seed water that you can use to massage your scalp. Fenugreek‘s distinct flavor can also be enjoyed in a salad at lunch or in your chicken curry or lentil stew at dinner.

Geranium

Full of antioxidants, flavonoids, and amino acids, this herb benefits your hair by strengthening and nourishing your hair follicles (source). Geranium also fights free radicals helping to keep your hair healthy and strong.

Try mixing geranium oil for to a carrier oil and apply it directly to your hair. Or add a few drops of this geranium oil to your favorite shampoo and conditioner.

Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair)

There are many benefits of the ginkgo biloba herb for your hair like increasing the blood circulation to your scalp. This nourishes and stimulates your hair follicles (source). Ginkgo biloba also encourages growth at your hair’s roots.

Ginkgo biloba nuts are a delicacy in some countries. The nuts resemble pistachios and taste like a combination of edamame, potatoes, pine nuts, and chestnuts. They are usually toasted prior to eating and can used in desserts, soups and with meat too.

However, they are mildly toxic, so you can only eat a few at a time and need to keep them out of the reach of children. Ginkgo biloba is also available as an oral tablet, extract, capsule, and tea.

Ginseng

Ginseng is a popular Chinese herb that helps your hair follicles reproduce (source). The active compound in ginseng (ginsenosides) stimulates, nourishes, and revives your hair follicles which makes your hair stronger (source).

To relax, you can make yourself a cup of ginseng tea or add it to a carrier oil and give yourself a scalp massage. Because Ginseng is one of the best herbs for your hair, you'll already find it listed as a main ingredient in hair care products like shampoos and hair tonics. Not to mention Ginseng in green tea is a great beverage in the morning if you’re looking for a coffee alternative.

Gotu kola

High in silica, gotu kola supports the connective tissues that increases your hair length and stimulates growth. It is known for its ability to repair, regenerate, and replenish hair strands from your follicles onwards. This means that any new growth will be strong and healthy (source).

Gotu kola’s dried leaves are often used in Asian cuisine, and blend in great with salads, stews, dahls, and condiments. Since this has no taste, smell, or caffeine, you can also add it to your afternoon tea, take it as an oral supplement, or use the powdered form in a smoothies for a snack or post workout.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus is full of antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamin C which improves the overall health of your scalp. Not only are your hair follicles stimulated, but your dormant ones also become reactivated (source). This flower also boosts the collagen levels in your scalp which nourish your hair follicles.

You can steep dried pieces of hibiscus in hot water to make a caffeine-free hibiscus tea for a nice evening or before bed drink. The rose-colored tea has a tart and floral flavor that isn’t overpowering and can help you relax.

Without adding caffeine or calories, the flowers can infuse flavor into other drinks including cocktails, and dishes like Hibiscus tacos and quesadillas. Whatever tea you don’t finish can be used as a tea rinse on your hair, so nothing goes to waste. Best of all, you can grow HIbiscus in your yard or home making it very affordable.

Horsetail

Horsetail is an herb for hair growth because it is rich in silica and antioxidants. Horsetail penetrates and builds up your hair follicles helping your hair grow stronger and thicker (source).

Horsetail is often used in caffeine-free tea, but it also comes in capsule and tincture form. It has a smooth earthy taste that’s very close to asparagus so it can go great at dinner time. You also may be surprised to find out that horsetail is in almost all the hair products you have in your bathroom.

Jatamansi

Jatamansi is known as “the women’s herb” because it balances your estrogen and progesterone (which often plays a role in hair loss) and has a calming effect. It’s instrumental in helping your hair grow after chemotherapy and uses rhizomes to speed up hair growth (source).

Jatamansi powder can be made into a paste or massage oil (and then applied to your scalp). The powder can also be added to a capsule to take as a supplement, or you can add it to a glass of milk or in your cereal at breakfast.

Lavender

With its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antiseptic properties, lavender is a hair healthy herb that stimulates your hair to grow thicker and faster (source). This herb also treats scalp inflammation and dryness while balancing the natural oil production of your scalp.

You can brew caffeine free tea from lavender buds (remember that dried lavender buds are three times more potent than fresh ones) or add a few drops to your favorite shampoo and conditioner. Lavender oil can also be massaged directly into your scalp. And when used correctly, you can add lavender to baked goods like cupcakes, or a cocktail and mocktail if you decide to have a drink.

Nettle

Nettle’s antibiotic and cleansing properties strengthen your hair from the root. Rich in silica and sulfur, this herb minimizes hair breakage and thinning while regenerating hair follicles for maximum growth (source).

An easy way to use nettle is to take its dried leaves and flowers and make a drinkable tea or to use as a tea rinse. Nettle’s leaves, stem and roots can also be cooked and added to your favorite smoothies, soups, stir-frys and stews. It tastes like spinach, but with a punch. However, do not eat fresh nettle leaves, because it can cause irritation.

Onion

Onion juice improves your circulation and keratinocyte growth factor which improves hair follicle development and growth (source).

To use onion juice, blend a few onions and then squeeze out the onion juice. Apply this to your scalp and hair, leave in for at least 15 minutes, and then shampoo your hair like you normally do. If you’re worried about onion smell, try a follow up scented rinse using some of the other hair healthy herbs from this post.

Peppermint

Peppermint is an age-old herbal remedy to help you grow hair and to soothe scalp irritation (source). Because the menthol in peppermint is a vasodilator, it improves the circulation and blood flow to your hair follicles which keeps them nourished.

An easy way to add peppermint to your routine is to brew it and enjoy a tea. Peppermint also tastes great when chopped and added to a fresh fruit salad at breakfast, or a couple of sprigs to cool down a fiery curry at dinnertime. Drops of peppermint oil can also be added to your favorite carrier oil (or coconut, jojoba, or shea butter oil) and massaged into your scalp and hair.

Rosemary

Rosemary stimulates your hair to grow by supporting the growth phase of the hair cycle. It also prevents your hair follicles from starving and dying of and is considered as effective as 2% topical minoxidil (source).

Sprigs of rosemary can be added to your favorite stew on a cold day to add notes of evergreen, citrus, lavender, pine, sage, pepper, mint, and sage. You can also use rosemary to season lamb, pork, and chicken before you throw them on the grill or enjoy a cup of rosemary tea.

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto controls the overproduction of DHT (source) while reversing its damaging effects to your hair follicles. This leads to regrowth. Because it is slowing down the DHT, saw palmetto slows down your hair loss too.

You can take saw palmetto as a non-caffeinated daily supplement, and you’ll find it in hair masks and shampoos. Saw palmettos do grow their own berries, but they have an acrid, bitter taste, so they’re not pleasant to eat.

Shikakai

Loaded with nutrients like vitamins A, C, K, D, Shikakai’s antioxidants fight free radicals, toughen up your hair strands, and improve the health of your scalp helping your hair to grow better (source). It can also be used as a detangler that softens your hair and reduces breakage.

To use Shikakai, mix dried shikakai powder and warm water to make a paste or you can add shikakai powder to your favorite carrier oil. Then apply the paste or oil directly to your scalp.

Wild Basil

Crowned the “king of herbs”, wild basil’s antibacterial and antifungal benefits eliminate dandruff, improve the circulation to your scalp, and stimulate the growth of your hair follicles (source).

Incorporating wild basil into your daily routine is easy too! You can add it to any recipe that calls for basil, needs a mild and savory flavor, or just make pesto (which is made almost exclusively with wild basil) for lunch. If you make a non-caffeinated wild basil tea, you can use it as a drink or a refreshing toner.

Now you have 21 herbs that are good for hair growth and health to mix and match into your daily routines. If you’d like more hair tips like these, subscribe to our blog below.

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