I've had recent success with regrowing hair that I lost over several years. Let me share with you the inexpensive and homemade treatment I use.
I'm aged 70+, with fine and straight hair, medium short. I started shedding hair about 9 years ago, in amounts great enough to know that it was not normal. Over the years my hair thinned considerably, especially on the top of my head.
At the same time, I was experiencing constant scalp irritation, pimple-like bumps, tenderness and itching. I observed that the periods of greatest hair loss coincided with the spells of itching. I've finally concluded that I have seborrheic dermatitis, even though I have no dandruff. I attribute my hair loss to this condition.
I've been able to greatly reduce the irritation and itching through using medicated shampoos continually. I know this SD condition is chronic and that I will have to continue the medicated shampoos for life. I alternate two shampoos on a weekly basis, one has 1% selenium sulfide and the other has 2% ketaconazole. Whichever I use, I use on days Su-Tu-Th-Sa. On days Mo-We-Fr of each week I use a shampoo with 2% salicylic acid.
My hair loss has diminished to almost nothing on a daily basis. That is reassuring, since stopping the hair loss was the first step to regrowing my hair to its former fullness.
While researching online some suggested treatments for my SD condition, I found references to using original formula, amber Listerine mouthwash as a scalp treatment because it is anti-fungal, anti-septic and and anti-inflammatory. These properties are due to its active ingredients of menthol, thymol, eucalyptol and methyl salicylate.
I also found a research paper titled "Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs"
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289931/
This paper detailed a lab experiment which compared the effectiveness of two agents, specifically minoxidil, and menthol in the form of peppermint oil. Hair was regrown on lab mice at a faster rate with the menthol treatment.
That menthol had this property of hair regrowth got my attention. I looked for other, more available, and cheaper sources of menthol than peppermint oil. Blue analgesic or pain-relieving gel, with active ingredient of 2% menthol, is one such source. This gel is promoted for relieving muscle and joint pain. One brand is Mineral Ice.
I've combined the mouthwash and menthol gel into one treatment, and have used it now for several months. My hair is decidedly growing where the hair was so thin before, and I am starting to have fullness of hair on the top of my head. Additionally, my hairline is filling in, in the areas where it had receded.
For the treatment solution, here are the proportions I use. Into a 2-cup measuring cup put:
3 tablespoons of amber mouthwash (that has original formula active ingredients.)
1/2 tablespoon of blue analgesic gel.
Enough water to bring the solution to 1 1/2 cups.
Mix the solution thoroughly. You want all the gel mixed completely in the solution.
To make this process easier, I reuse a clean and clear 12-ounce mustard squeeze bottle, put the mouthwash and gel in it, then fill with water near to the top, cap it and shake well.
The proportions I use are the result of trial and error. I found that greater concentrations of mouthwash and/or gel gave me headaches. This concentration works just fine for me. You can experiment with what concentration works for you. If you get headaches that is a signal that you need to dilute the solution more.
I apply the solution to my scalp each day, then put a shower cap on my head, wrap my head in a towel turban-style, and let the solution work for 30 minutes. Then I wash and dry my hair as usual.
Tip: The hardest part of this process is getting the solution directly onto the scalp, not having it just slide down my fine hair onto my shoulders. So, I put the solution in a spray bottle. I bend over the sink to let gravity pull my hair away from my scalp, with the help of my fingers. Then I put the bottle nozzle right against my scalp and squirt. The goal is to get the scalp wet, not spritzing the solution on just the hair. I work the solution throughout my scalp with my fingers. When the scalp is all wet, I blot my hair to keep it from dripping, and put on the shower cap and turban-towel.
Be patient, and be consistent with the treatment. It has taken 6 months for me to see real progress in my hair filling out.
That's it. I know I will have to continue this treatment for life, but I am so pleased I have been able to regrow my hair. I might skip a day now and then, but not often.
One further thing. You can spend more money than you have to buying the name brands of mouthwash and analgesic gel. The generic versions of these products work just as well, as long as they have the same active ingredients. I get a 16 ounce bottle of the mouthwash, and an 8 ounce jar of the gel for $1 each, at my local dollar store. Each lasts me 3 or more months. You can't ask for a less expensive hair regrowth treatment than that.
Best wishes for your success with this treatment.