{"id":4540,"date":"2026-01-20T14:05:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T15:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=4540"},"modified":"2026-01-22T15:01:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T15:01:20","slug":"i-thought-hair-growth-products-were-a-scam-until-i-discovered-these","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/20\/i-thought-hair-growth-products-were-a-scam-until-i-discovered-these\/","title":{"rendered":"I Thought Hair Growth Products Were A Scam \u2014 Until I Discovered These"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As a beauty director, it\u2019s hard not to be a skeptic. With dermatologists on speed dial<\/a> and cosmetic chemists just an Instagram DM away, I can bust dubious skincare myths<\/a> (sorry, you can\u2019t put collagen back into your skin<\/a>), and get their opinion on ingredients (hyaluronic acid<\/a> isn\u2019t all it\u2019s cracked up to be). But having such a wealth of information at my fingertips means that I\u2019ve become very particular about which products earn a spot on my bathroom shelf.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sold on neck cream<\/a>, nor am I a huge fan of hair gummies<\/a>, and until recently, there wasn\u2019t any room for hair growth serums, shampoos, or conditioners in my routine. Honestly, I thought they were futile. Here\u2019s the thing: Having spoken to a handful of trichologists over the years, I know that hair growth is mostly down to genetics<\/a>. When it comes to hair growth shampoos, especially, they tend to sit on the scalp for a short amount of time, and whether they actually do anything has long been disputed by experts. That said, it\u2019s been hard to ignore the buzz around one hair growth brand lately.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Enter: Typebea<\/a>, the invention of singer-songwriter Rita Ora and Anna Lahey, also the founder of supplement brand Vida Glow<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When Typebea launched in April of 2024, it took many of my beauty editor peers by surprise. A handful extolled the virtues of the Strength + Length Conditioner, $26<\/a>, which had made their hair feel \u201clike silk\u201d, while others loved that the Overnight Boosting Peptide Serum, $52<\/a>, gave them three times as much volume. Unconvinced, however, I put my samples aside. It wasn\u2019t until I\u2019d booked in for a salon blowout, where I happened to have my hair washed and professionally styled using the brand\u2019s products, that I sat up and took note. It was probably the best my lengths had looked (voluminous and shiny) \u2014 and felt \u2014 (thick and strong) in a long time. I incorporated the shampoo, conditioner, and serum into my haircare routine that weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After a month or so of using all three products, I started to get compliments on how long and healthy my hair appeared: \u201cAre you wearing extensions?\u201d and \u201cDidn\u2019t you have a bob a few moments ago?\u201d are just a couple of common questions I\u2019ve fielded of late. A couple of months since I started using Typebea \u2014 and now on my second bottle of shampoo \u2014 my friends can\u2019t quite believe how quickly my hair is growing. Even my hairdresser, who listened to me moan about how my lengths took forever to reach my shoulders, is stunned by the abundance of new baby hairs that have suddenly sprouted along my hairline.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Besides taking more care of my hair<\/a> (not going to bed with it wet, investing in a microfibre towel), using the shampoo, conditioner, and serum consistently is the only significant change to my routine. It got me thinking: Have I got hair growth products all wrong? And what is it about Typebea that seems to work so well?<\/em><\/p>\n

What are the ingredients inside Typebea hair growth products?<\/h2>\n

Without subjecting you to a science lesson, both the G1 Overnight Boosting Peptide Hair Serum, $52<\/a>, and Strength and Length Shampoo, $26<\/a>, feature the ingredients baicapil, salicylic acid, and provitamin B5<\/a>. The brand claims that they promote hair growth, exfoliate the scalp, and keep it moisturized respectively. The Strength and Length Conditioner, $26<\/a>, also boasts baicapil and provitamin B5, with the addition of plant-based keratin, said to smooth frizz, repair damage, and enhance shine. Intrigued \u2014 and still a little bit doubtful \u2014 I asked independent trichologists for their thoughts on the ingredients inside everything. Mainly, I wanted to know whether I really did<\/em> have some genuinely game-changing hair growth products on my hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is baicapil \u2014 and is it good for hair growth?<\/h2>\n

Eva Proudman<\/a>, consultant trichologist FIT IAT, previously told R29<\/a> that baicapil is a plant-based ingredient derived from scutellaria baicalensis, a Chinese herb. \u201c[This herb] has antioxidant properties that can support hair health,\u201d said Proudman. \u201cIt is normally combined with other botanicals such as soy, which hydrates the hair and scalp, and can improve hair texture by smoothing the cuticle,\u201d essentially making lengths appear shinier. Proudman pointed out that wheat sprouts are also used in the products. \u201cWheat sprouts can help to improve texture by reducing the effects of free radicals [think UV and pollution] and provide hydration and a smoothing [effect] for the hair fibre.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jade Summers, resident trichologist at Hare & Bone<\/a> salon, told me that she isn\u2019t too familiar with baicapil, but she drew my attention to a 2018 study, which evaluated the effects of the ingredient in telogen effluvium<\/a>, essentially hair shedding. The research presented positive outcomes for reducing hair shedding, promoting growth, and overall hair density \u2014 basically, the amount of hair per square inch on the scalp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Less hair shedding is certainly something I\u2019ve noticed since using all three products. While losing some hair is completely normal, there are far fewer strands to collect from the bottom of the shower when I wash it. I\u2019m putting this down to the scalp serum, which is so lightweight that it doesn\u2019t feel like you\u2019ve got anything on your scalp at all. Before bed, I simply part my hair, drop the serum onto my scalp, and massage it in. My hair also looks and feels thicker, which I\u2019ll attribute to the shampoo. When I rinse it out, it feels as though my strands have tripled in size, and this volume persists even when I rough-dry and style my hair afterward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is salicylic acid \u2014 and is it good for hair growth?<\/h2>\n

Besides baicapil, Typebea\u2019s shampoo features salicylic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (or AHA), which penetrates into the skin on the scalp to exfoliate on a deeper level. Summers explained that salicylic acid breaks down build-up on the scalp (think sebum, remnants of dry shampoo, and other styling products) to unclog hair follicles and create a clean environment for healthy hair growth. Salicylic acid also exfoliates dead skin cells, said Proudman, helping to keep the follicles clear.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of the most useful things I\u2019ve learned from trichologists is that healthy, stronger hair is largely dependent on the condition of the scalp, which is why it\u2019s recommended to wash it as regularly as you can manage<\/a>. Some experts liken the scalp to a flowerbed: If you\u2019re looking after the soil, you\u2019re looking after the flowers that grow from it. For that reason, salicylic acid is something I look for in all shampoo formulations. The fact that it\u2019s pretty high up on the ingredient list in Typebea\u2019s shampoo is most likely why my persistent flakes have subsided \u2014 and why my hair looks and feels so much healthier.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is provitamin B5 \u2014 and is it good for hair growth?<\/h2>\n
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The third star ingredient in Typebea\u2019s shampoo and conditioner is provitamin B5, also known as panthenol. Summers pinpointed a 2021 study, which concluded that the ingredient can \u201celongate the anagen phase in hair follicles\u201d \u2014 in essence, the active growth phase. The more time hair stays in this phase, the longer it can grow.\u00a0Besides this, Proudman explained that provitamin B5 can encourage hair to hold on to moisture, therefore smoothing it, enhancing shine, and even protecting it from damage. <\/p>\n

With this information in mind, I\u2019m convinced that the Strength and Length Conditioner<\/a> keeps split ends at arm\u2019s length, and even though I\u2019ve been using more heat on my hair, it doesn\u2019t feel dry in the slightest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lastly, while most conditioners feature silicones for shine and softness, Typebea swaps these for plant-based keratin. \u201c[Plant-based keratin is] great to smooth and hydrate the hair without any concern of build-up,\u201d said Summers. I have nothing against silicones in haircare \u2014 actually, I welcome them \u2014 but they can weigh fine hair down if not washed out properly, so plant-based keratin is probably a better choice for those with a similar concern.<\/p>\n

Are Typebea products any good?<\/h2>\n

Science aside, the anecdotal evidence for Typebea\u2019s hair growth products is mounting. Don\u2019t just take my word for it. On TikTok, users are looking to the scalp serum to regrow edges<\/a>, while other reviewers are taking to Sephora to share impressive results<\/a>, complete with before and after pictures.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Over the years, I think I\u2019ve built a strong reputation for telling you when certain products or ingredients aren\u2019t worth your time and hard-earned money. But even I have to admit that Typebea is a valuable investment for those who want longer, stronger, and healthier hair. In fact, I\u2019m gearing up to open my third bottle of shampoo this week\u2026<\/p>\n

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n

6 Tips That Helped Me Grow Longer, Stronger Hair<\/a><\/p>\n

12 Hair Color Trends To Inspire 2026 Salon Visits<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Does My Hair Look Oily Right After I Wash It?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a beauty director, it\u2019s hard not to be a skeptic. With dermatologists on speed dial and cosmetic chemists just an Instagram DM away, I can bust dubious skincare myths (sorry, you can\u2019t put collagen back into your skin), and get their opinion on ingredients (hyaluronic acid isn\u2019t all it\u2019s cracked up to be). But…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4540"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4540"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4545,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4540\/revisions\/4545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}