Changing shampoo didn’t stop my shedding, but it gave me better habits
I fixed my crown with topical minoxidil, but before that I spent a year swapping shampoos and tonics. That year was either “more hair” or “less hair,” and I was on the losing side. Personal experience only—if you use meds, talk to your doctor and watch for side effects.
If you want regrowth, go straight to dedicated meds
Shampoos are only supportive. To reverse AGA you have to block the androgen that miniaturizes hair and wake up resting follicles. Better blood flow alone won’t stop the hormone or restart follicles; at best it feeds the hairs that are still awake.
But I did start washing more carefully
The NILE shampoo/tonic I bought came with instructions: rinse with warm water for ~2 minutes, lather in your hands, wash gently, rinse thoroughly. I used to rush everything; now I rinse the crown carefully and pre-rinse longer, which also serves as a light scalp massage. Foam is better, scalp feels softer—small wins.
NILE: pricier than my usual, but genuinely good
Cost in Japan was about ¥2,500 for 400 mL (~$16–20). It’s an amino-acid, silicone-free “dense foam” shampoo. One pump is almost too much for short hair; the foam is fine and bouncy, rinses clean, and smells good. Worth the price bump.
Before buying NILE I asked a trusted dermatology/plastic-surgery clinic about my crown. The doctor said, “Prescription would be dutasteride/finasteride, but that’s ongoing cost. Try this sample shampoo first.” The sample (Hiroko Scalp Shampoo) felt almost identical to NILE, which boosted my confidence in it.
I also tried the matching scalp lotion, but it dripped and the effect was unclear, so I stopped.
Tried Kaminomoto Hair Accelerator
I tested Kaminomoto’s “Hair Accelerator” as a cheaper alternative. Ingredients are similar, reviews looked cleaner, and the brand name literally means “hair source.” Two bottles in, hair looked nicer; growth was unclear. Scent was very “young floral,” so I quit despite being otherwise happy.
This made me think: maybe the real value of lotions is prompting scalp massage, not the bottle contents. I searched for a no-fragrance tonic and landed on Lucido.
Settled on Lucido hair tonic
Ingredients are similar to other tonics—supportive, not a regrowth switch. Main difference is the alcohol/menthol tingle. It doesn’t seem harmful; in fact, it cuts scalp oil during massages. I buy refill packs and decant into a small spray bottle (100-yen shop style).
Other options like Yanagiya/Auslese/Kanebo Vulcan smell strongly “old man,” so I skipped them. Lucido has stayed fragrance-free, which I appreciate.
Unexpected upside: scalp massage became a habit
I don’t use much styling product, so I can massage anytime. With the tonic, my fingers don’t get oily and it dries fast. No floral or barbershop smell, and cheap refills mean I don’t hesitate to use it. Now I massage whenever I have a spare minute; it’s a reset and feels good.
AGA won’t reverse from massage alone, but it builds a better “soil” for hair, keeps the scalp clean, and might help long-term aging around the face and neck. Feels like a win.
- Shampoos/lotions didn’t stop AGA; they’re only supportive
- I gained habits: longer pre-rinse, thorough rinse, gentle scalp massage
- Regrowth needs dedicated meds like minoxidil; use under medical advice and mind side effects
If you want to judge whether your crown is thinning or just a cowlick, see this:
