Horsetail For Hair Growth: Benefits And What You Should Know

Know Your Ingredient: Horsetail

What Is It?
Horsetail is extracted from the horsetail plant Equisetum arvense.

What Are Its Benefits?
Promotes hair health, helps reduce kidney stones, and strengthens bones

Who Can Use It?
Recommend for people experiencing bone-related disorders, except for people with heart arrhythmias, liver and kidney diseases, and diabetics.

How Often?
Around 800-900 mg daily for 4 days in a week.

Caution
Refrain from drinking alcohol while taking horsetail as thiamine levels may drop.Those taking heart medication should also avoid horsetail to prevent drug interaction.

What Is Horsetail?

Horsetail is extracted from the horsetail plant Equisetum arvense (2). It promotes hair health, helps reduce kidney stones, strengthens bones, and even helps treat joint ailments (2). It is also believed to soothe wounds and bruises.

In the following section, we will elaborate on its benefits for hair health.

What Are The Benefits Of Horsetail For Hair?

1. May Improve Hair Growth

Horsetail may significantly improve hair growth. In one study, a supplement containing horsetail could enhance hair growth in the participants (3).

The horsetail plant extract also contains silica that may promote hair growth. Silica may also prevent hair breakage (4), (5). Some believe the selenium in horsetail may help with hair growth (as it processes iodine that regulates hair growth).

2. Has Antioxidant Properties

Horsetail has antioxidant properties (6). These properties may protect hair from oxidative damageⁱ  XAlso known as oxidative stress is a symptom of imbalance between formation of reactive oxygen and the cell capacity to inhibit it. and prolong its health. However, more research is warranted in this regard.

Using horsetail for hair care and hair growth is simple. We discuss a few methods of use in the following section.

How To Use Horsetail For Hair Growth?

1. Shampoo

A shampoo allows the horsetail extract to be applied directly to your hair. This maximizes its potential and ensures the nutrients reach the hair follicles. You can make your own horsetail shampoo at home. You would need half a cup of boiling water and three tablespoons of horsetail grass.

• Add the horsetail grass to the boiling water.
• Let the water cool down.
• Allow the horsetail grass to soak well in the water.
• Mix it with an unscented, mild shampoo. You may use baby shampoo for the best results.

Quick Tip

Massage the shampoo in small circular movements for 10 minutes to help improve blood circulation and boost hair growth. Then, wash off with warm water.

2. Hair Rinse

You can also use horsetail extract as a hair rinse. You can use it regularly to make your hair soft and remove excess scalp oils.

Did You Know?

You can pair horsetail with other nourishing ingredients like onion juice and rice water for a hair rinse.

3. Capsules

Horsetail is available as capsules too, which could be a great alternative if you do not want to change your shampoo. Capsules are also easier and simpler to use. Most herbal supplements available in the capsule form also contain other essential minerals and vitamins that boost your overall hair strength.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2017 to March 2020 analyzed the prevalence of dietary supplement usage across different age groups. The sample comprised a total of 6,324 children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years, as well as 9,924 adults aged 20 years and older. 34.8% of children and adolescents, along with 58.5% of adults, reported using at least one dietary supplement, such as horsetail within the previous 30 days.

4. Oil

Using horsetail as an oil can condition and nourish your hair. You can also prepare horsetail oil for hair growth at home. All you need is half a cup of dried horsetail and one cup of any carrier oil, such as coconut, olive, or argan oil, and follow these steps:

• Place the horsetail in a clean, dry glass jar and add gently heated (not boiled) carrier oil to it.
• Stir it until the herb is properly submerged in the oil.
• Tightly seal the jar and keep it in a cool, dark place for 2-4 weeks, allowing the beneficial compounds of the herb to seep into the oil.
• Shake the jar occasionally to mix the compounds.
• Strain the oil after the steeping period and use it as any other hair oil.

5. Tea Infusions

You also can steep horsetail extract to create a tea infusion. Infuse 2 to 3 teaspoons of the herbal extract in hot water and let it sit for 10 minutes. Drain the herbal remnants to get the horsetail tea infusion. You can drink this tea twice daily or as per your doctor’s advice.

Fun Fact

You can also incorporate horsetail into homemade hair masks and packs. However, it is recommended to perform a patch test to avoid allergic reactions.

Does Horsetail Have Any Side Effects?

Horsetail is usually available without any additives and is generally safe. Using it in moderation does not cause any adverse effects. However, it is not recommended for those with heart conditions, diabetes, and pregnant and lactating women (7). Long-term use of horsetail extract may also aggravate thiamineⁱ  XCommonly known as vitamin B1, it is essential in converting nutrients to energy and ensuring proper growth and functioning of cells. deficiency. More research is warranted in this regard.

If you experience any adverse reactions to horsetail, stop the intake and consult your doctor.

That said, horsetail is worth a try as it does offer benefits. But where can you get it from?

Where To Buy Horsetail Root?

You may purchase the horsetail root from the nearest health food store.

You can also harvest it on your own. Look for the green tops of the horsetail plant. The best time to harvest is during the late months of spring. You will find that the leaves in this period are green and point upwards and out.

You can pinch the stem about ten centimeters above the ground to harvest your horsetail. Be careful, however, not to remove the entire plant. It will grow back and give you more to harvest in the coming year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is horsetail good for thinning hair?

Horsetail may be effective for thinning hair. The silica it contains may slow down hair thinning. However, there is only limited research in this regard.

Can horsetail regrow hair?

Yes, horsetail may be one of the most effective natural remedies for regrowing hair. It has selenium, cysteine, and silica that may stimulate and promote hair growth.

Does horsetail block DHTⁱ  XShort for dihydrotestosterone, a male sex hormone, which is responsible for the development of male physical characteristics. ?

DHT inhibits hair growth by shrinking the hair follicles. Horsetail has the ability to block DHT and promote hair growth.

Does horsetail contain biotin?

Yes, horsetail contains biotin, one of the major vitamins required for healthy hair growth.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Martine LangsamCertified Trichologist

Martine is a certified trichologist with over 7 years of experience and a California licensed cosmetologist. She is also an established senior stylist with over 36 years of experience. Her interest in healthy hair and lifestyle led her to trichology.   She has a small clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she helps people achieve healthy scalp and...more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

 

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Medha DebCommerce Editor

Medha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts. She specializes in the areas of beauty, health, and wellness and is committed to ensuring that the content on the website is of the highest...more