No matter your hair type or texture, chances are you’ve experienced hair loss or thinning at some point in your life. But integrating the best hair-growth products into your routine can help you achieve fuller, thicker, and even longer hair, if that’s a concern for you.

What is a hair-growth product?

While you may already have a shampoo, conditioner, or leave-in serum that you love, Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD, encourages people who are looking to treat hair loss to get topical products or supplements that specifically cater to hair growth, and then be patient with the results. “It’s fair to give products six months before assessing effects,” she says.

There are a range of products on the market—some more efficacious than others—but certain formulas, depending on your needs, can really work, says Dr. Chacon. They’re broken down into topical formulas and supplements, and she says that both types of products are specifically catered toward the hair-growth cycle, consisting of the anagen, catagen, and telogen stages. Of course, most experts say the over-the-counter stuff can’t hurt to try but might not yield the results you want; Rogaine (the brand name of the FDA-approved Minoxidil) for now is the only one with research backing up its efficacy.

Whether hair has become weak due to an overload of heat damage, one too many balayage sessions, or the lingering effects of COVID, reinstating its strength is the secret to getting it shiny, smooth, and voluminous. Rest assured that even though our hair is constantly under a barrage of damaging elements, plenty of expert-recommended tips, tricks, products, and treatments can help strengthen it.

So, how can you tell if your hair is weak or just needs a little pick-me-up? According to certified trichologist William Gaunitz, FWTS, and the founder of Advanced Trichology, you can scope it out by examining hair’s overall density close to the scalp. If it’s weak, it will appear fragmented and stringy. Helen Reavey, a celebrity hairstylist, trichologist, and the founder of Act + Acre, says an elasticity strand test is also an easy way to validate the hair’s strength. On wet hair, gently pull a single strand until it reaches its resistance point. Then, release it. “Hair that bounces back is strong and elastic, but if it stays stretched out, it is likely weak and damaged,” she says.