I Tried Sephora’s Buzziest New Hair Loss Treatment To Fight My Stress-Related Shedding

Roughly 50 percent of women will experience hair loss throughout their lifetime, and in the last few years, I have become one of them. Since the start of the pandemic, I’ve noticed a drastic change in the thickness of my strands. When an appointment with my OB/GYN confirmed that it was stress-related, I started the search for a treatment that would help. I tried a few leave-in products and even followed a TikTok recipe involving raw eggs, but nothing helped. Then, I tried OUAI’s new Thick & Full Supplements ($42) and Hydrating Scalp Serum ($52).

OUAI to Grow Kit — $75.00

This double-duty routine combats hair loss from both the inside out and the outside in. Launched earlier this month, OUAI used its years of hair care expertise to create a simple two-step regimen that stimulates hair growth and keeps hair follicles in place, with results in just about 60 days. The products are most efficient when used together: The supplements promote stronger hair from within, while the serum nourishes the scalp to provide an optimal environment for that hair to grow.

Let’s get into the supplements first. The main component in the capsules is the familiar face biotin (or Vitamin B), which is beloved for its ability to metabolize nutrition within the body, which allows you to get all the nutrients you need from food. According to Kerry Yates, a trichologist Colour Collective, ingesting biotin (via supplement or powder) is a more effective way to get results from the vitamin. “There is a misconception that topical treatments containing biotin will reverse hair loss, but honestly, the benefits of biotin are realized when ingested versus topically applied,” she says. The capsules are also filled with pea sprout extract, which is beloved for its ability to repair breakage—so get ready to say goodbye to those split ends.

OUAI Thick and Full Hair Supplements — $42.00

Next, you have the scalp serum. The formula was designed to hydrate your scalp and strengthen its skin barrier, which gives your hair ample opportunity to grow. It’s filled with herbal ingredients like arctic root, Siberian ginseng, and Chaga mushrooms, which nourish the base of the hair follicles and help hair hold onto moisture. Thanks to the added moisture from the herbal ingredients, the hair is more susceptible to soaking up all hydrating goodness that comes from the formula’s other star ingredient, hyaluronic acid. This skin-and-hair-care superstar is beloved for its ability to promote nourishment and strengthen the skin’s surface. The result? Less irritation and shedding.

OUAI Hydrating Scalp Serum — $52.00

I gave this combination a go in the hopes that it would help prevent my hair from shedding. After using the two-step routine for about a month, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see that the shedding has decreased. When I shower, I don’t have to unclog the drain, and my pillowcase isn’t covered in hair when I wake up in the morning.

All in all, sticking to the 2-step routine made me feel like I had my hair back—no raw eggs required.

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