Benefits of Stinging Nettle for Hair Loss

Are there benefits of stinging nettle for hair? Stinging nettle leaves, stinging nettle root, and stinging nettle extract may offer various health benefits. But in terms of being a natural hair loss remedy for people in danger of going bald, there are some lingering questions.

Nettles have been found to offer health benefits. However, herbal supplements, nettle tea, and topical extracts derived from these stinging plants are yet to beat existing treatments in the hair care world.

So, can using nettle help with hair loss? Is it a worthwhile addition to your hair care routine? Read on for insight.

Stinging nettles, also known as Urtica dioica, are plants covered in tiny little hairs (called trichomes) and serrated leaves. When the hairs come into contact with skin, they cause a burning sensation, making them generally unapproachable for humans and animals alike.

Stinging nettles got their name from this defensive mechanism they protect themselves with. The hairs are a major irritant to the skin and break off, leaving a hollow tube full of the same chemical in ant and bee stings.

Even though they create this uncomfortable reaction on the skin, stinging nettles have been considered a medicinal herb for centuries. Their properties (if not fully understood) are well-known in traditional medicine.​​

Nettles have a variety of nutritional values to offer. This includes:

• Vitamins, like vitamin A and vitamin C

• Minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium

• Flavonoids, like fatty acids and amino acids.

Certain compounds found in nettle root extract even have antibacterial properties.​

The reason someone might willingly approach and consume these plants is the health benefits. But do the medicinal qualities transfer to hair?

Stinging nettles are among many potential “super ingredients” scientists appear to be researching. Some initial, promising studies suggest there could be real medical uses for stinging nettles — or at least nettle root extract. 

Stinging nettles are associated with better blood circulation. They might help with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) management and act as a natural remedy for some hair health issues.

Research on the Benefits of Stinging Nettle for Hair

One study found that a stinging nettle derivative could help reduce the growth of an enlarged prostate (aka prostatic hyperplasia) in cancerous ways. This could one day lead to an alternative prostate cancer treatment.

A more recent 2021 research paper detailed the polyphenols found in stinging nettle plants. It outlined the numerous potential benefits found in the chemical makeup of a stinging nettle leaf, from antioxidants to vitamin-rich compounds. And many of these nutrients happen to be essential for hair health.

Unfortunately, that’s where the extent of research into stinging nettles for hair ends. Anti-inflammatory properties and hair nutrients aside, there were no reliable studies or pieces of research available to back up any oddball claims about the long-term efficacy of stinging nettles.

Using dried nettles comes with fewer risks for skin irritation, aside from the risk of allergic reaction. But the possible side effects shouldn’t be overlooked when weighing any potential therapeutic effects of stinging nettle root extracts.

For most types of hair loss, you’d be better off giving your time to medications like topical minoxidil or finasteride.

Minoxidil

This FDA-approved hair loss treatment can help reverse the damage from androgenetic alopecia (sometimes called androgenic alopecia) or stop it from worsening. In some cases, minoxidil is used to treat telogen effluvium, a type of stress-induced hair loss caused by a shock to the body.

Minoxidil is a vasodilator. This means it widens blood vessels in your scalp to bring oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles. This keeps follicles active even when there might be pressure on them to fail.

Finasteride

Another way to prevent genetic hair loss from male pattern baldness is to use FDA-approved medications like finasteride.

Finasteride prevents testosterone from converting into the male sex hormone DHT (short for dihydrotestosterone). DHT is largely responsible for killing your hairline if you’re genetically predisposed to androgenetic alopecia.

Finasteride can greatly reduce DHT levels. If you’re interested in trying it, get in touch with a healthcare professional.

Are there benefits of stinging nettle for hair? Maybe, but there are better options if you want to treat hair loss, promote scalp health, and support new hair growth.

Here’s what really matters in the stinging nettle conversation:

• Fresh nettle and nettle extracts may have some benefits for hair health and hair growth. But right now, there are too many unanswered questions to say for certain whether it’s an effective hair loss treatment.

• If you’ve experienced hair loss already, you don’t need to harm yourself with these irritating little plants. While it may leave you with an itchy scalp, it probably won’t promote hair regrowth, especially in the case of androgenic alopecia.

• But there’s a sensible alternative to consider. If you’re ready and willing to head out into the wilderness and forage your way to thicker hair, reach out to a healthcare professional back here in civilization.

• A healthcare provider can help you find less sting-y treatments for hair loss, and identify the type of hair loss you’re experiencing. 

Where can you get that support? Not on the forest floor. But you can access our hair health resources anywhere with an internet connection. Our telehealth platform offers access to medications scientifically proven to treat hair loss.

We also have hair products for dandruff and volumizing formulas for hair that lacks fullness.

As for the nettles, go wild on your own. But don’t let the discomfort mask the sting of further hair loss. Explore your options today.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.