The 4 Best Hair Growth Serums in 2026
Discover the best hair serum to support thicker, healthier hair—approved by hair loss experts and real users.
- The Nutrafol Hair Serum is our top pick for the Best Hair Growth Serum for Women. We like its lightweight formula and its drug-free approach to healthier, stronger hair.
- Our top hair growth serums for 2026 range in price from $49–$79 for a one-month supply.
- Use of hair loss treatments is growing in the U.S., with as many as 13 million Americans using hair growth products in a single year.
- The hair serums included in this article are drug-free and use active ingredients such as saw palmetto and melatonin rather than pharmaceutical ingredients like minoxidil.
NCOA connects people with tools and resources to support a healthy life. We put products under the microscope before we can recommend them to you. To review hair loss products, we researched and tested for over 200 hours before making our first recommendation. To find the best hair loss treatments, we:
- Consulted with dermatologists, trichologists (hair and scalp specialists), psychologists, and primary care physicians
- Ordered a product and tested it for 2-4 weeks before moving it into the next round for consideration—with testing ongoing for 1 calendar year
- Interviewed long-time users of these brands
- Used the products as directed on an ongoing basis—they’re now staples in our testers’ showers and medicine cabinets
- Read thousands of verified customer reviews
We’re constantly testing new hair loss treatments to give you the most accurate and up-to-date recommendations. Read more about our hair loss treatment methodology.
If you’re considering a hair regrowth serum or the best hair loss treatments in general, you’re not alone. More than 13 million Americans use hair loss products in a single year. Unlike oral pills, hair growth serums are applied to the scalp daily. Many hair serums, including the ones we tested for this article, use active ingredients from plants such as saw palmetto, caffeine, and rosemary. For people who want to start their hair regrowth journey but aren’t ready for a prescription treatment like minoxidil or finasteride, hair serums can be a good drug-free alternative. You also may want to check out our story on the Best Vitamins for Hair Growth.
When used properly and consistently, hair growth serums can help you grow a healthier, thicker head of hair. To find the best hair loss serums in 2026, we tested several popular hair regrowth serums and talked to experts, including a board-certified dermatologist and a hair restoration surgeon. Keep reading to find our top picks.
Nutrafol Women’s Serum
- Non-greasy and lightweight
- No sulfates, silicones, or parabens
- Drug-free
Our picks for the best hair serums in 2026
- Nutrafol Women’s Serum: Best Overall
- Happy Head Topical Solution: Best for Thickness
- Nutrafol Men’s Serum: Best for Men
- Vegamour GRO Serum: Best Preventive
Comparing the best hair loss serums
| Comparison Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall brand rating (out of 10)* | 9.6 |
9.8 |
9.6 |
8,7 |
| Active ingredient(s) | Ashwagandha exosomes, pea sprout extract, maca root extract |
Procapil®, Capixyl®, Redensyl®, KGF (Keratinocyte Growth Factor) |
Ashwagandha exosomes, Irish moss peptides, caffeine, red ginseng |
Red clover, turmeric, and nicotiana benthamiana-derived peptides |
| Billing cycles | 1, 3, or 6 months |
Monthly |
1, 3, or 6 months |
1 or 3 months |
| Prescription required? | No |
No |
No |
No |
*Ratings reflect a brand's overall offering; the best overall pick doesn't necessarily have the highest score
How we tested the best hair growth serums
To test hair loss serums for hair regrowth, we started by reviewing current medical guidance on hair loss. We consulted experts, including dermatologists and hair restoration surgeons. The goal was to better understand the science behind common ingredients and approaches used in hair loss treatment.
Then, we asked older adult testers to try a range of hair growth serums and documented their experiences over time, from the purchasing process to daily use. We considered cost, the ease for testers to get and apply the product, and how accessible customer service and support were. Testers evaluated serums based on the following criteria:
- Ease of purchasing and overall user experience
- Ingredient quality and formulation
- Cost and overall value
- Texture, scent, and ease of application
- Overall satisfaction and perceived results
- Customer service and support
Our reviews of the best hair growth serums
Nutrafol Women’s Serum: Best Hair Growth Serum Overall
We chose the Nutrafol Women’s Serum as our top pick due to its non-greasy, lightweight formula and botanical ingredients for thickening hair and reducing shedding. This hair serum absorbs quickly, doesn’t leave a residue, and has a fresh, tea-tree scent.
- Nutrafol Review
- Absorbs quickly
- Light tea-tree scent
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Drug-free ingredients from plants
- Active Ingredients: Ashwagandha exosomes, pea sprout extract, and maca root extract
- Treatment type: Topical
- Billing cycles: 1, 3, or 6 months
Pros
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Safe for color-treated hair, with no sulfates or parabens
- Users report less shedding after 3 months of consistent use
Cons
- Daily application is necessary to see results
- Some users may experience mild irritation at application site
Happy Head Hair Serum: Best Hair Growth Serum for Thickness
We chose Happy Head Hair Serum as our Best Hair Serum for Thickness because its ingredients—Procapil, Capixyl, Redensyl, and growth-supporting peptides—are specifically designed to support fuller, denser-looking hair. This lightweight serum can help to improve the appearance of volume without leaving behind a greasy residue.
- Happy Head Review
- Leave-in, non-greasy formula
- Patented ingredient combinations designed to grow thicker hair
- Ingredients help moisturize & improve overall scalp health
- Active Ingredients: Procapil®, Capixyl® , Redensyl®, KGF (Keratinocyte Growth Factor)
- Treatment type: Topical
- Billing cycles: Monthly
Pros
- Strong ingredients to strengthen hair follicles
- Non-itchy formula helps moisturize scalp
- Doesn’t weigh down the hair
Cons
- More expensive than other hair serums
- Some users find the scent too strong
Nutrafol Men’s Serum: Best Hair Growth Serum for Men
We chose Nutrafol Men’s Hair Serum as the Best Hair Growth Serum for Men because its ingredients are chosen to target common hair concerns among men, like thinning at the crown, excess shedding, and scalp inflammation. It includes clinically studied plants in a lightweight, low-residue formula to support thicker, healthier-looking hair.
- Nutrafol Review
- Targets hair thinning areas common in men
- Non-greasy and didn’t weigh down the hair
- Drug-free alternative to finasteride and other prescription treatments
- Active Ingredients: Ashwagandha exosomes, Irish moss peptides, caffeine, and red ginseng
- Treatment type: Topical
- Billing cycles: 1, 3, and 6 months
Pros
- Absorbs quickly without leaving residue
- No-rinse applicator and quick-dry formula help reduce mess
- Uses plant-based ingredients
Cons
- Requires long-term, daily use to see results
- Could cause itchiness or scalp irritation in some users
Vegamour GRO Serum: Best Preventive Hair Serum
We picked the Vegamour GRO Serum as the Best Preventive Hair Serum because it contains ingredients like caffeine and red clover to increase overall scalp health before hair thinning becomes noticeable.
- Free of hormones, harsh chemicals, and silicones
- Red clover, turmeric, and caffeine support scalp circulation
- Plant-based formula aimed at creating a healthier hair growth cycle
- Active Ingredients: Red clover, caffeine, turmeric, and Nicotiana benthamiana-derived peptides
- Treatment type: Topical
- Billing cycles: 1 or 3 months
Pros
- Lightweight, leave-in formula
- Vegan ingredients
Cons
- One of the more expensive serums on the list
- Must use every day for 3+ months to see results
Types of hair serums
When it comes to serums for hair loss treatment, there are drug-free, botanical options and topical solutions with prescription ingredients like minoxidil, finasteride, and spironolactone.
Drug-free hair serums
Hair serums with active ingredients derived from plants are often rich in vitamin E, folic acid, and other nutrients essential to the hair cycle. Often, these botanical ingredients work to block dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can cause hair follicles to shrink, leading to male and female pattern baldness.
According to Dr. Bauman, the best drug-free serums “use evidence-based actives—saw palmetto, caffeine, green tea extract, peptides like biotinoyl tripeptide-1 or GHK-Cu, niacinamide—to support scalp health, calm inflammation, modulate DHT at the scalp level, and create the optimal environment for the follicles you still have.”
Prescription topical hair solutions
Some hair serums, also called topical solutions, deliver prescription-level active ingredients like minoxidil, finasteride, and spironolactone directly to the scalp. While minoxidil is FDA-approved for topical hair loss treatment, finasteride and spironolactone are often used off-label to treat hair loss. Though these active ingredients have clinical evidence supporting their use for treating hair loss, they are not safe for people who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. And they may have a higher likelihood of side effects. Minoxidil is safe for most users, though, and is considered by many experts to be a highly effective hair loss treatment.
Drug-free hair serums are not designed to deliver a single pharmacologic mechanism the way minoxidil does. The best ones use evidence-based actives— saw palmetto, caffeine, green tea extract, peptides like biotinoyl tripeptide-1 or GHK-Cu, apigenin, niacinamide—to support scalp health, calm inflammation, modulate DHT at the scalp level, and create the optimal environment for the follicles you still have. They tend to be gentler, easier to layer, and a good fit for patients who want to start somewhere or who don’t tolerate minoxidil.”
—Dr. Alan J. Bauman
How to use hair serums
How to use a hair growth serum will vary according to the brand and type of hair serum you’re using. Most topical hair serums are applied once per day to a clean scalp, following these steps:
- Use the dropper to help part the hair so you can apply the serum directly to the scalp, adding enough product to lightly cover thinning areas like the temples and crown.
- After you’ve applied the serum, gently massage it into the scalp for 1-3 minutes to ensure absorption and promote circulation. Make sure your hands are clean before massaging.
- Do not rinse the serum out of your hair. Hair loss serums are designed as leave-in formulas and should absorb quickly without leaving a residue.
As with all hair loss treatments, results depend on consistent, daily use over a period of 3–6 months.
How long does it take for hair serums to work?
Consistency is key with all hair loss treatments. “Hair grows about a quarter to a half inch per month,” said Dr. Bauman. “So any topical regimen, including a serum, needs to be evaluated on the hair cycle’s timeline, not the patient’s. At three months, patients may begin to see reduced shedding and slightly improved scalp coverage. By six months, early signs of regrowth often become visible to the naked eye, with thicker, longer, and stronger hair strands. At 12 months, we typically see the most substantial cosmetic improvement, and stabilization thereafter if treatment continues.”
As Dr. Bauman emphasized, the naked eye is not a good diagnostic tool, as hair loss can become quite advanced before it is visibly noticeable. When evaluating how well a product is working, it’s important to consult with a dermatologist or hair restoration surgeon to get an objective measurement of your hair loss. You should do this both before and during your hair loss treatment.
Read more of our reviews of the best hair regrowth treatments here:
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hair serum?
The best hair serum for you depends on your unique needs and hair concerns. For people who want a drug-free hair serum to support thicker strands and a healthier scalp, Nutrafol Women’s Serum and Nutrafol Men’s Serum offer clinically backed ingredients to treat hair loss.
What stimulates hair growth best?
Minoxidil is an FDA-approved topical treatment for stimulating hair growth. For people who want a drug-free option, Nutrafol offers clinically backed botanical ingredients to stimulate hair growth. Proper nutrition and scalp care may also support healthy hair growth.
How do hair growth serums work?
Most hair growth serums work by blocking the body’s production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can shrink hair follicles. Most serums also contain ingredients to help moisturize and maintain a healthy scalp.
Questions? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
