By Daniel Markey

(Men’s Health) - It's no secret that our hair often falls victim to the detrimental effects of air pollution. Whether it's the exhaust from cars, emissions from power plants, or the haze of wildfires, these pollutants can lead to thinning, breakage, and eventual hair loss.

Personally, I've seen the toll pollution can take on my hair. It's sad to see the gradual thinning and weakening of what was once a strong and robust mane. 

In light of this growing concern, I delved into research for potent solutions to combat the visible effects of air pollution on our hair.

Recent developments in the hair care industry have given rise to products designed not only to cleanse but also to provide our hair with the needed nutrients, peptides, and antioxidants.

However, looking for effective products can be challenging. How do we tell which of these solutions are genuinely effective and safe?

Thankfully, I and my team set out to look for the finest hair care products that can help you fight the adverse effects of air pollution WITHOUT prescriptions or invasive procedures.

Let’s get started. 

Effectiveness: 95% 

Safety: 100%

Price: $

Overall Value: A+

This is by far our favorite shampoo when it comes to activating follicles and fortifying your hair against the damaging effects of pollutants. Mane’s Root Activator Shampoouses a special formula of nutrients and peptides to condition thinning hair strands to become thicker and stronger, while also boosting blood circulation to the scalp to reactivate root hairs for additional growth. We found out about Mane when they offered us a secret 50% discount code SECRET50.We tried it for three weeks, using it every day along with their companion conditioner. Several of our reviewers noticed significant growth in patchy areas of their hair and thicker follicles. This really is our top recommendation, and encourage anyone who wants a fuller head of hair to order this immediately!

SAVE 50% with CODE SECRET50

Effectiveness: 80% 

Safety: 100%

Price: $$$$

Overall Value: B+

Zain is an Italian luxury brand of hair growth and hair treatment products for men and women. While they provide a great shampoo that can help hydrate and help regrow hair, they provide exactly what luxury brands tend to provide: the same results as more affordable brands. While we love the feel of Zain and the essential oils and nutrients in the shampoo do show results, it’s nothing better than Mane’s Root Activator Shampoo, expect about double the price.

Effectiveness: 80% 

Safety: 85%

Price: $$

Overall Value: B+

To be fair, Dr. Groot does not guarantee hair growth, only prevention from hair loss. However, it’s so nice, that if you’re more concerned with thickening your thinning hair and keeping what you have on your head healthy… this is a great choice. Plant-based and natural, it feels great and keeps your hair from looking dried out and thin. Definitely a recommendation for anyone looking to keep rather than grow.

Effectiveness: 75% 

Safety: 80%

Price: $$$

Overall Value: C

Believe it or not, Onion Shampoo isn't the worst idea! Onion is a natural source of biotin which is great for hair growth. To be honest, it's not the best smelling shampoo, so maybe only use it when you're staying in for the night. But it definitely can help!

Effectiveness: 85% 

Safety: 85%

Price: $$

Overall Value: B

Just like onion, ginger is a great natural ingredient for hair growth. This odd bottle of shampoo, Ginger Wang, is surprisingly good! It's fresh and helps stimulate blood flow to the scalp. We'd give this one a shot if you can find it. If you can't, Mane has similar ingredients, plus more for best results.

While we believe we recommended some great shampoos to help stimulate hair growth while helping protect your hair and lock in hydration, we believe Mane’s Root Activator Shampoo is the absolute best option. We wanted to talk further with our investigative reporter Mark Herring who helped create the rankings list and how he discovered the greatness that is Mane.

“I'll be honest, while I've always been health-conscious, I underestimated the extent of damage that pollutants could inflict on my hair. It's easy to neglect something when it seems intangible. But then, I saw a friend defy the odds.

My friend's hair journey astounded me. He'd once struggled with thinning, damaged hair that barely held its own. Yet, he appeared one day with hair that radiated vitality. His secret? Mane’s Root Activator Shampoo.“

“So I did my own research. Mane’s Root Activator Shampoo doesn't merely cleanse; it forms a protective shield against the pollutants we face daily. Airborne toxins and particulate matter often lead to thinning, breakage, and hair loss. Mane's formula takes these concerns head-on.

Mane’s Root Activator Shampoo combines potent ingredients that fortify hair strands against the environmental onslaught. Essential oils and nourishing nutrients work in harmony to restore hair health, rejuvenate follicles, and create a barrier against the damaging effects of pollution.”

“I asked him to let me borrow his Root Activator Shampoo, but instead, he told me to buy my own like a real adult LOL. Luckily, he gave me the secret 50% discount code SECRET50. So I ordered two bottles immediately.“

“I received the package two days later and used it as instructed. Use about a quarter-sized amount of shampoo and work into your hair. Make sure to scrub onto your scalp and the root activation happens on the skin vs. the hair.”

Of course, I looked into the mirror and expected immediate results, but with products like this, you got to use them every day for about three weeks before you notice anything. In the meantime, I wanted to know what made Mane’s Root Activator Shampoo do what it did.

A combination of essential oils and nutrients helped not only strengthen hair but activate roots that have stopped growing or never had the energy to grow.”

Just as our bodies experience changes with age, so does our hair (think back to those vibrant nights in your 20s when energy seemed endless). As hair naturally sheds, new roots should trigger, channeling energy to cultivate fresh hair follicles. Yet, as time goes on, this energy distribution to the roots gradually diminishes. This often culminates in thinning and hair loss.

On top of that, the pollutants from cars, power plants, and wildfires silently cause immense damage to our hair follicles. This damage disrupts the delicate balance in our hair, leading to thinning, breakage, and ultimately hair loss.

Acknowledging this dual reality – the natural aging process and the damaging effects of air pollution – inspired our journey to discover a transformative solution that addresses both…

Root activation - this process involves the stimulation of hair follicles through various nutrients to awaken dormant follicles and promote hair growth. It also aims to counter the effects of factors like aging and environmental damage that can lead to thinning, breakage, and hair loss.

The key to a fuller head of hair starts with activating your roots, and that’s exactly what Mane’s Root Activator Shampoo aims to do. Mane uses a “Hair Growth Complex” that’s filled with amazing ingredients to stimulate blood flow to the skin while strengthening hair follicles. Some of those essential ingredients include:

Licorice Root Extract

This is a super powerful growth extract that many forget about. If the mission is to stimulate the scalp to activate growth, this is the ingredient to do it. It brings blood flow and oxygen to the scalp to help thicken while introducing new hair to your head.

Sesame Seed Extract

To help strengthen and nourish the hair, Mane uses Sesame Extract. It’s filled with nutrients and peptides that keep your hair healthy while protecting it from outside toxins and free radicals. 

Citric Acid 

Of course, you also need some elements that work like shampoo! Citric Acid is great for bringing the pH balance of your hair down while reducing frizz and tangles. 

The Root Activator Shampoo also includes Propylene Glycol, Ginger Root Powder, Ginger Root Oil, and about 10 other natural ingredients that help retain moisture and stimulate growth. It’s pretty wild how many amazing ingredients are loaded into this shampoo.

So, finally, after 4 weeks, I decided to check if could see results… and wow! The areas of my hair that were previously patchy and thin began to fill out. Plus, my hair felt fuller and stronger. I was simply amazed at how good it looked and felt.