Jeff asks… I’m a guy losing my hair in both the front hairline and the crown. I’ve started using Folicure, which is supposed to slow down and reverse hair loss. Are there any ingredients which may do this, or is my shampoo and conditioner just “helping”, meaning it’s not doing anything at all? If the latter is true, what ingredients should I be looking for. Is there any hope for me, or do i need to start practicing my bad comb over?
The Beauty Brains respond:
I was a bit surprised by Jeff’s question because I have actually worked on this brand in the past and I know from personal experience that they were careful not to make unsupportable hair growth claims.
What does Folicure REALLY claim?
I checked the internet for current claims and could only find the following:
- Contains super Swiss conditioner Pantethine
- Cleans and moisturizes dry, damaged hair
- Imparts luster to damaged hair
- Promotes fuller, thicker hair
Other than the vague “promoting fuller, thicker hair” claim there are no statements here which imply hair growth. So, I asked Jeff to tell me exactly what’s written on his bottle of Folicure and here’s what he had to say.
“Below is exactly what the product, 32 oz Folicure Moisturizing Conditioner has to say –
For fuller, thicker hair
Strengthens fine or thinning hair
Moisturizes and Stimulates Scalp
Revitalizes and Strengthens Hair
Eliminates DrynessI could have seen the “moisturizes and stimulates scalp” along with “for fuller, thicker hair” and read that as promoting new hair growth, along with customer reviews, priming me to interpret it as such.”
Clearly the brand does doesn’t make any unsupportable claims about growing hair. (Which is a good thing because that would make it a misbranded drug.) Instead it appears to be a situation where the “aura” of the brand actually expands on and exaggerates the claims beyond anything the company actually says. In other words, as Jeff pointed out, people are just assuming that the product is claiming to promote hair growth and then spreading that exaggerated claims by word of mouth.
How do companies get away with hair growth claims?
I can’t say that cosmetic companies are totally innocent in this process. Claims like “promoting fuller thicker hair” or the common “helps you grow longer, stronger hair” can be misleading if you don’t understand their scientific basis. So how DO so many products get away with claims like this? If you’ll read between the lines you’ll see that in every case (at least in the case of reputable manufactures) this is really just a conditioning claim. Here’s how that works:
It’s easy to scientifically prove that hair breaks when exposed to excessive combing and brushing. A moisturizing shampoo and a good conditioner will lubricate the hair shaft so the friction caused by combing brushing is reduced which therefore reduces the breakage. And, if your hair isn’t breaking as much by definition it’s stronger. Furthermore, using a conditioner to reduce breakage will let your hair grow to any given length faster because less of it is breaking off while it grows out. This has NOTHING to do with affecting the actual growth rate of the hair. It’s all about reducing the breakage rate.
If you didn’t know that little trick it would be easy to think that the product is promising to actually help make hair grow better. That is not the case. Any product that makes such direct claims is an illegal drug.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
It looks like Jeff will have to start practicing that comb-over after all.
Comments on this entry are closed.
I was losing my hair from a medication I stopped the methatrexat started the follicular shampoo conditioner and the after scalp treatment two weeks later I have hair growing back happy happy happy.
It’s working for my friend so what the hey? In a way hair is to men the same as breast are to women? wrong? Inappropriate? I apologize if I am. Baldness sucks handsome, pretty or not.
Can I used it on my daughter hair she is five
This is not a baby shampoo but I see no reason why you couldn’t use it on a 5 year old. To be safe you should check with the company who makes it.
Can a 13 years old use it by any chance and is this a conditionor or shampoo or what?
Yes a 13 year old can use it. It’s just a regular shampoo and conditioner.
Is this product ok for colored treated/bleach hair?
Yes.
Why am I being charged inconsistent amounts on my debit card? At the beginning of purchasing Follicure, I paid $4.95. It’s risen to almost $95 each additional month on my account summary
I have no idea. Have you contacted the company to ask them?
What about me I have 21years old but I already used various conditioner,treatment, shampoo & medicine for my hair can I?
I’m 13 years old and want to use Folicure for my hair. On the Folicure website, the bottle said “capsules” on it. Is Folicure a pill or is it bottles of shampoo and conditioner? What website can I find Folicure at?
Hi Alyssa. I believe they do sell ampules (capsules) with some kind of treatment. I don’t know if they sell pills or not. You’ll have to do a web search to find their website. Good luck!
I purchased Folicure Shampoo and Condition after Sally’s recommended it would help with re-growth and my thinning hair. After a months use my hair starting breaking off as though my hair had been fired by a perm or bleaching. I don’t color nor treat my hair in anyway so I know it was not the combination of hair treatment other than the Folicure products. I cannot recommend this product to anyone. My hair is wreck now .
I am 55 and have thin hair I had suffer from this for long time, and not much hair in the from ….what do u suchjess.and I use folucute shampoo and conditions
i was just told at sallys beauty supplie store that this product is being discontinued is it true?
Very interesting! I haven’t heard that. Folicure has never been that big in the US so I’m not surprised.
I have purchased Folicure hair spray from Sally’s retail store for the
past 5 yrs. they now tell me that the hair spray has been discontinued
Is this true, if not what other retail store in my area carries this product
I am in Suffolk county, zip code 11738
Thank you
I, too, have used Folicure shampoo, conditioner and hair spray for a long time. Also, the Mousse. I liked the whole line. It was a little more expensive that other brands, but I liked it. Especially the hair spray.
I visited Sally’s last week and sure enough…..it’s gone. I was told it had been discontinued. The sales employee said they were surprised because it was a “good seller.” Went to Sallly’s online. Not there anymore.
They sell it in all grocery stores in Mexico
I got the conditioner from Sally’s a while back and LOVE it. My hair has never been thicker and it was baby-fine before. I was told it’s discontinued, but did find it online just by googling follicure. Thank goodness!!
This is a rip off. I used to buy this product at $14.00 and suddenly it was increased to $29.00, even though euro is cheaper than ever .The product does nothing to the hair growing
I understand FOLICURE doesn’t claim to regrow hair but after chemo I lost most of my hair.
I was devastated, I asked around but no one knew of something I could take such as vitamins or certain shampoos
One day I walked into a beauty salon, I was crying and showed the hair stylist my head .. almost balding .
She was really busy, people sitting waiting on her but she got a piece of paper and pen then wrote something down .
I left with tears in my eyes not knowing wat she wrote .. as I began walking to my car, I read .. Folicure shampoo, at Sallys Beauty Supply
I bought it and thank god .. I have a head full of hair and my hair is the longest it’s ever been ..
Does hair color such as “Just For Men” cause loss of hair?
Hair can be irritating to some people. It can also be damaging to the hair shaft which can cause some breakage. But I’m not aware of any data showing it causes hair loss. (In a small number of people it can also cause an allergic reaction.)
My hair was falling out a lot and someone told me to use folicure product and I used the vitamin, shampoo, conditioner and the treatment. After a few months my hair stop falling out and the top of my head the started to feel thicker. when I realize that the product really work and I look for the vitamin to purchase again the I was told the discontinue it. I continue to use the shampoo and conditioner and treatment. I had used my last treatment bottle a few month ago and now when I look on line and in store the prices went up sky high and some store told me it was discontinue.
I use Folicure shampoo and conditioner for many years and yes it does grow your hair with continue use and I used the vial treatment package with it and it growed my hair, I’m going to order the vials today they really grow your hair back. I go to order at EBAY.com they have it there. Good Luck.
Anecdotal evidence is not reliable.