When our body starts to feel overwhelmed by stress, illness, or shifting hormones one of the first places we can see it is our hair. Hormones affect nearly every aspect of health, and I’ve certainly seen the connection between hormones and hair growth firsthand.

After many years of pregnancy, nursing, and thyroid challenges, my body was tired. I remember standing at the bathroom mirror after years of elevated hormones from pregnancy and nursing. The postpartum hair loss finally hit… and boy did it ever.

I addressed the stress and hormone imbalance, and the hair loss slowed. But I still wanted something to help new hair grow more quickly and protect my scalp and hair. This homemade hair growth serum is the result.

Some women go to a dermatologist or beautician for hair concerns. I tend to go to my pantry. Like my homemade sea salt spray, this DIY hair serum for growth is affordable and uses nourishing ingredients to naturally support scalp health.

What Really Causes Hair Loss 

Hair loss rarely happens in isolation. It’s often a sign that something deeper is happening in the body. Common root causes include chronic stress, hormone shifts, thyroid imbalance, postpartum changes, nutrient deficiencies, and post-viral illness. When our body doesn’t have enough resources, it prioritizes keeping us alive. And hair doesn’t make the cut. 

Supporting hair growth starts from the inside. Prioritizing protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins helps the body rebuild hair tissue. Managing stress through sleep, gentle movement, and nervous system support can also make a noticeable difference. For hormonal hair loss, balancing blood sugar and supporting thyroid and adrenal health can be helpful. 

While addressing the root cause is key, using products topically can also help. That’s where a scalp serum for hair growth can be beneficial.

Do Hair Growth Serums Actually Work?

The answer is, it depends. A serum won’t fix hormone imbalances or chronic stress on its own, but it can support scalp health and stimulate circulation, which helps hair follicles function better.

Treatments like minoxidil are widely used, and studies show they can sometimes work, but not without risks. There are plenty of natural ingredients that can work just as well or even better than the conventional options. Rosemary oil for one. One study showed it worked as well as minoxidil for certain types of hair loss. If you want a natural approach, a homemade serum is a gentle option.

So, what stimulates hair growth best? Healthy circulation, nutrients, lowering inflammation, and a healthy scalp all play a role. A serum can provide the support your scalp needs externally while lifestyle and nutrition address the issue from the inside.

Why Use a Hair Growth Serum?

A good hair serum for growth helps:

• Stimulate circulation to the scalp
• Nourish follicles with vitamins and minerals
• Soothe irritation and dryness
• Protect hair from environmental damage

Whether you’re looking for the best hair growth serum for women or a hair growth serum for men, the goal is the same: create a healthy scalp environment that supports regrowth.

Best Hair Serum for Hair Growth: DIY Recipe

This DIY serum combines herbs and essential oils traditionally used to support hair and scalp health. It’s gentle enough for regular use and water based so it doesn’t make hair feel really oily.

Key Ingredients in This Serum For Hair Growth

• Nettle – Rich in iron and vitamins A, C, and K, along with potassium and magnesium. These nutrients are essential for healthy hair follicles. Helps stimulate hair growth and improve scalp health.
• Horsetail – High in silica, a mineral that supports hair strength and elasticity. Silica is linked with thicker, shinier hair.
• Aloe Vera Gel – Aloe vera gel naturally soothes the scalp. Its the base of the serum and helps reduce irritation and dryness. Aloe also provides lightweight hydration so it’s great for most hair types.

Essential Oils for Hair Growth

Not only do they smell good, but these essential oils help stimulate circulation and promote hair growth.

• Rosemary oil is one of the most studied essential oils for hair growth. Some research suggests it may be comparable to minoxidil for certain types of hair loss.
• Clary sage oil is traditionally used for hormonal balance and may be helpful for hormone-related hair loss. 
• Lavender oil supports scalp health and has antimicrobial properties, which can help maintain a healthy scalp environment.

Together, these ingredients combine to create a powerhouse hair growth serum!

Hair Growth Serum Recipe

Help stimulate hair growth with this aloe vera, herb, and, essential oil recipe.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Steeping Time15 minutes mins

Total Time20 minutes mins

Yield: 8 ounces

Author: Katie Wells

• In a small pan, bring the distilled water to a boil.

• Remove from the heat and add the dried nettle leaf and horsetail leaf.

• Cover the pot and let the herbs sit in the water for at least 10 minutes or until the water cools.

• Strain the herbs out and pour the herbal tea into a spray bottle.

• Add the aloe vera gel and essential oils and shake well.

• Store in the refrigerator and shake well before use.

• Spray liberally on hair roots once or more per day. I found that it was easiest and worked the best to spray on before bed each night.
• This hair serum will last about 1 week if stored in the fridge. You can also freeze some if you want to make a bigger batch for later. 

How to Use Scalp Serum For Hair Growth

Apply a small amount of serum to the scalp and massage gently. Focus on your scalp and hair roots. Massage increases circulation, which helps deliver nutrients to follicles. I sprayed this scalp serum on every night before bed. You can use it on either wet or dry hair. 

What Is the Most Effective Hair Growth Serum?

The “most effective” serum depends on the cause of hair loss. Rosemary oil has emerging research and is a popular natural alternative. Herbal and essential oil–based serums, like this DIY recipe, work best as part of an overall approach that includes nutrition, stress management, and hormone support.

So, which hair serum can regrow hair? Regrowth actually depends on follicle health. A serum can support follicles that are dormant or weakened, but it’s much harder to revive inactive follicles. That’s why early intervention and addressing root causes are important.

Final Thoughts on Hair Growth Serum

Hair loss can feel discouraging, especially when it’s tied to postpartum changes, stress, or illness. While hair loss is common in life, we don’t have to take it lying down. It’s so important to address the root causes, but using a hair growth serum can also be really helpful in the meantime. 

I love this hair growth serum because it’s simple with nourishing ingredients and I noticed a definite difference from it. 

How do you support healthy hair? What products have you tried? Leave a comment and let us know!