If you're early in the realization that you might be losing hair, and you're ready to try a hair loss remedy to slow or stop your thinning hair or receding hairline, then an easy option to research and try is the selection of shampoos designed to help you retain hair. You can research the available products by looking for documented studies outlining their efficacy, or you can consult a dermatologist or cosmetician who deals with hair loss frequently, or you can look on the Internet - it's filled with information regarding the available hair loss shampoo treatments available.

It's easy to get confused when investigating the hundreds of shampoos available. With some background knowledge of what has shown to be effective in larger, previous studies, however, you can make more intelligent choices about the shampoos you choose for experimentation. And that is the great thing about shampoos - they are relatively inexpensive in this maze of hair loss/regrowth methods, so you can try lots of them without breaking your budget!

Here is a little bit of background on the contents of shampoos and how they might impact their effectiveness:

1. Surfactants. These are the ingredients found in almost all shampoos that cause them to lather copiously when they are applied. You may have the notion that the more lather a shampoo creates, the cleaner it will get your hair; shampoo manufacturers are on to the fact that this belief is common, and they load shampoo products with surfactants to come out on top. This misconception is generally not true, and as a matter of fact surfactants can actually irritate your scalp and accelerate your hair loss. Avoid shampoos that boast of copious lather or ones that cover your head in a rich thick lather when you use them.

2. Herbal Additives. Of all the herbs that can be added to shampoo to promote hair growth, Saw Palmetto has been documented to be the most effective. You should be sure to find shampoos that include this natural remedy and try them out. Saw Palmetto has been proven effective in limiting the amount of DHT your body creates, and DHT is the primary cause of a large percentage of hair loss cases in adults. DHT is found in the blood streams of both men and women (to a lesser degree) and causes hair-producing follicles to atrophy.

3. Nettle and bay have also been helpful to some people. Medicinal herbs, these contribute to the development of nutrition in the scalp, and stimulate hair follicles. Shampoos which include these might help you too.

4. Essential Oils. Made from the extracts of still other botanicals and herbs such as lavender, essential oils have been found useful for thousands of years. They stimulate the scalp and provide necessary nutrients for hair growth. Many different shampoo products include these, and they can be effective in fighting hair loss.

5. Tea Tree Oil. Perhaps one of the more common hair loss remedies included in shampoos, and almost as popular for its effectiveness as Saw Palmetto, Tea Tree Oil stimulates the scalp and cleans the skin and hair follicles to clear the way for new growth. It is available in drug stores and on the Internet, and is often sold as a disinfectant, as it is useful in preventing parasitic infections such as lice.

No clinical studies exist that indicate shampoos as a stand-alone treatment for hair loss if that hair loss is attributable to genetics or heredity. In cases of genetic baldness the most common cause is Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the blood stream. This is found in both men and women, and can be addressed with a good oral hair treatment product such as Provillus. Provillus inhibits your body's creation of DHT, and this has been shown definitively in clinical trials to lead to regrowth of hair. Just remember: in treating hair loss it is important to start as early as possible in the process, so if you suspect that you are experiencing the initial stages, a good quality hair treatment shampoo may be a good place to start.