Before hair serums and hair oils became popular, most people were using hair tonics, which were typically formulated to make the hair look glossier, as it was commonly viewed by many people as a sign of healthy hair.
These days, the best hair tonics also come with other benefits such as moisturising dry hair, lubricating dry scalp, reducing split ends and broken hair, and even helping to control dandruff!
Looking for hair tonic for hair growth? Read on for our recommendations.
How to use hair tonic?
Simply pour a little hair tonic onto your palm, warm it up by rubbing your hands together. Then, apply onto your hair and scalp. On your scalp, do a gentle massage to help stimulate circulation, which helps promote scalp health.
Best hair tonics for hair growth to try
New to hair tonics and want to find out which are the best hair tonics for hair growth to invest in? You’re on the right article!
Yanagiya Hair Tonic
Mention ‘best hair tonic’, and it’s likely that the first recommendation you get is Yanagiya’s hair tonic, which has been around for more than six decades!
It is formulated with three types of medicinal and natural remedy extracts (Swertia japonica, ginseng, Sophora flavescens, and Rabdosia japonica) that penetrate to the roots of your hair to prevent hair loss and promote growth.
You are recommended to rub this into your scalp two to three times a day for best results, including the prevention of dandruff, itching, thin hair, and hair loss.
Yanagiya Hair Tonic retails for SGD25 on Lazada.
Kaminomoto Hair Growth Tonic
Get shiny hair sans the stickiness and oiliness with Kaminomoto’s Hair Growth Tonic, which is highly recommended for those who want to tackle the root cause of hair loss and hair thinning.
The hair tonic normalises an upset hair cycle by improving your hair roots, pores, and overall scalp health – in turn, this encourages good hair growth for naturally thick and full hair.
Kaminomoto Hair Growth Tonic retails from SGD21.75 on Lazada and Shopee.
Dr. Groot Intensive Hair Loss Scalp Tonic
A Korean research-driven derma hair care brand that’s highly popular in South Korea, Dr. Groot specializes in gentle herbal formulations that effectively manage hair loss and scalp issues, and this patented scalp essence is one of its hero products.
Free from sulfates, silicones and parabens, Dr. Groot Intensive Hair Loss Scalp Tonic works hard to promote healthy, resilient hair growth by fighting against hair thinning and premature hair fall with natural DHT-blocking ingredients such as Chinese Moutan peony and sophora flavescens root extract (a staple herb in Chinese medicine).
Also known as ku shen, one study in the Journal of Dermatological Science by Korean researchers found that sophora flavescens extract is capable of inhibiting the activity of 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme responsible for catalysing the conversion of testosterone to DHT.
In case you’re wondering what DHT stands for, it’s dihydrotestosterone – an androgen which is a sex hormone that contributes to the development of what are thought of as “male” sex characteristics, such as body hair. However, it can also speed up hair loss as it causes hair follicles in the scalp to shrink when it’s freely flowing through your bloodstream.
With a minimum of three months of consistent use, this intensive formula can prevent DHT from shrivelling hair follicles. New hair growth is clinically proven to double with this scalp tonic, thanks to its hair growth-promoting concoction of sophora flavescens extract, Hinoki cypress, and anti-inflammatory nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3) which also helps inhibit bacterial growth and reduce excess sebum.
In addition, it also contains centella, peppermint, and black vinegar to provide sufficient nutrients and moisturisation to the hair and scalp while improving blood circulation.
The Dr. Groot Intensive Hair Loss Scalp Tonic retails for S$25.90 at selected Guardian and Cold Storage outlets. It’s also available online at The Face Shop’s official website and Guardian.
Kirkland Hair Minoxidil Hair Tonic
Kirkland’s best-selling hair tonic is formulated with 5% Minoxidil, an active ingredient that nourishes the hair follicle to facilitate the hair growth process.
The brand recommends that you apply 1ml twice daily over a period of two to four months – a fair bit of patience and diligence is required, but the effective results you get after using this is absolutely worth it.
Kirkland Hair Minoxidil Hair Tonic retails for SGD112 for a six-month supply on Lazada, but is currently on sale for SGD69.90 at the time of writing.
Melix Apple Stem Cell Tonic
Formulated without hormones, Melix Apple Stem Cell Tonic is suitable for hair loss, ageing, and sensitive scalps. It contains plant-derived ingredients such as Apple Stem Cell, which is extracted with Swiss patented technology PhytoCellTec™. This hair tonic is designed to protect and revitalise the scalp, slow down hair ageing, and stimulate growth.
Other ingredients include Lamaria Digitata, a powerful deep sea algae extract which stimulates and cleanses hair follicles, Biotin which reduces hair loss and promotes hair growth, and more.
Another thing we love about this product is the relaxing cooling sensation it brings due to the presence of menthol and Peppermint Oil.
Simply spray the tonic onto your scalp and massage it until it’s absorbed. Best applied twice daily over a period of two to four months; the results you get are worth the wait.
Melix Apple Stem Cell Tonic retails for S$29 (110ml) on Facebook and their Official Website.
SMIB Coral Calcium Hair Essence
SMIB’s unique hair tonic contains high-quality calcium that is extracted from edible corals found in crystal-clear deep waters. This can help to strengthen hair and reduce hair fall, so you can look forward to healthy and lustrous tresses with regular usage!
SMIB Coral Calcium Hair Essence retails for SGD39.90 on Shopee and Lazada.
BiOSys Revitalizing Hair Tonic
Only the insiders know about this amazing hair tonic and swear by it.
Ginseng extracts (proven to improve blood circulation while boosting the immune system) in this tonic from BiOSys balance, nourish, and strengthen the scalp to prevent hair loss; coupled with other botanical extracts that leave a refreshed and cooling sensation on your scalp, it’s not difficult to see why even seasoned hairstylists love and recommend this!
BiOSys Revitalizing Hair Tonic retails from SGD39 on Shopee and Lazada.
Dr. For Hair Sebum Control Tonic
This travel-friendly hair tonic makes it easy for you to take care of your hair on the go.
This hair tonic is formulated to prevent excessive oil secretion and sebum in advance by forming natural matte protection on the scalp, which in turn keeps your scalp and hair feeling fresh and clean all day long. Feel free to spritz it on any time you feel that your scalp feels oilier than usual!
Dr. For Hair Sebum Control Tonic retails from SGD12.64 on iHerb and Shopee.
Shiseido Professional The Hair Care Adenovital Advanced Scalp Essence
Use this to keep your scalp moisturised and clean while effectively preventing hair loss, dandruff, and itchiness – you’ll see the difference in hair quality and scalp condition in no time. This is definitely one of the best hair tonics in the market you can find and you’ll love that it has a pleasant scent!
Shiseido Professional The Hair Care Adenovital Advanced Scalp Essence retails from SGD111.50 at Shiseido Professional salons, as well as on Lazada and Qoo10.
Aveda Volumizing Tonic
Find your hair a little too flat? Spray just a little of Aveda’s Volumizing Tonic on fine and medium locks to create maximum volume.
With certified organic aloe and wheat amino acids to help build body and add shine, your only regret will be not buying this earlier to avoid all those bad hair days!
Aveda Volumizing Tonic retails from SGD50 on Lazada and TANGS.
L’Oréal Professionnel Serioxyl Black & Full Tonic
Greying and thinning hair often come hand in hand as we age, so L’Oréal Professionnel has developed a hair tonic that tackles both problems effectively: it reduces hair loss and infuses growing hair with black pigments at the same time.
L’Oréal Professionnel Serioxyl Black & Full Tonic retails from SGD42.90 on Shopee and Lazada.
Atomy Hair Tonic
Whenever your scalp feels itchy and oily, massage this popular tonic into your scalp and indulge in the cool sensation it brings.
Besides bringing relief to irritated scalps, Atomy’s Hair Tonic is also formulated with ingredients like dexpanthenol, salicylic acid, and menthol to prevent hair loss and promote hair growth so you get more benefits out of one product – sweet!
Atomy Hair Tonic retails from SGD25.90 on Shopee and Lazada.
NaturVital Hair Loss Tonic Treatment
If you are looking for a hair tonic that combats the first symptoms of hair loss before it becomes a serious problem, NaturVital Hair Loss Tonic Treatment will do just the trick.
Containing a blend of vitamins to maintain the natural balance of the scalp, as well as a naturally-obtained phytoactive complex to give hair follicles the energy to grow, this hair tonic has been proven to decrease hair loss by 83% and increase hair regrowth by 34% in independent controlled tests.
NaturVital Hair Loss Tonic Treatment retails for SGD15 (60ml) and SGD48.20 (200ml) on Guardian, Watsons, and Shopee.
AFC Shokaigan Intensive Hair Growth Tonic
Approved as a quasi-drug (suitable for preventing and improving symptoms) in Japan, AFC Shokaigan Intensive Hair Growth Tonic is a well-loved holy grail for those suffering from premature hair loss or thinning hair.
Made from pure botanical extracts from more than 20 plants, the intensive spray contains a proprietary blend of Yarrow and Sage extracts to improve micro-circulation for healthy hair growth, Swertia Japonica to block the formation of DHT (a common cause of hair loss), as well as Ginseng Extract and Vitamin E for thicker hair.
AFC Shokaigan Intensive Hair Growth Tonic retails for SGD98.90 on Shopee, Lazada, and Watsons.
Daeng Gi Meo Ri Vitalizing Scalp Nutrition Pack For Hair-Loss
Clinically proven to prevent hair loss and improve hair growth. Daeng Gi Meo Ri uses traditional Korean herbs – think dangui, licorice, and Cnidium – to deliver only the best nutrients to your scalp.
Daeng Gi Meo Ri Vitalizing Scalp Nutrition Pack For Hair-Loss retails for SGD47.80 on Lazada, Shopee, and Watsons.
PHS Hairscience FEM Fortify Tonic
Unlike what is commonly believed, women are just as prone to hair loss as men, thanks to factors such as stress, pregnancy, and poor scalp health.
With that in mind, PHS Hairscience developed a hair tonic especially to target women’s hair and scalp problems – it neutralises free radicals and reduces hair loss by nourishing and strengthening the hair bulb.
Women with mild hair loss and thinning concerns will benefit most from this hair tonic, but prevention is always better than cure, so you can also use this to prevent premature hair loss before it even happens!
PHS Hairscience FEM Fortify Tonic retails for SGD120 at all PHS Hairscience outlets, as well as on Shopee, Lazada, and Zalora.
Kérastase Specifique Stimuliste Nutri-Energising Daily Anti-Hairloss Spray
Getting thicker and fuller hair can be as easy as spraying a hair tonic – specifically, this Kérastase Specifique Stimuliste leave-in hair tonic
This instantly refreshing, easy-to-use daily anti-hair loss spray reinforces the hair fibre and nourishes from root to tip so the hair looks denser, so anyone can use this to prevent hair loss problems even before they kick in.
Kérastase Specifique Stimuliste Nutri-Energising Daily Anti-Hairloss Spray retails for SGD88 on Sephora.sg.
PHS Hairscience ADV Purify Tonic
Is oily scalp giving you a plethora of hair problems like dandruff?
This rebalancing scalp tonic is a multi-tasker that helps to normalise the scalp’s natural sebum production, reduces the rate at which dead skin cells on the scalp shed, and eliminates bacteria and micro-organisms that cause dandruff.
PHS Hairscience ADV Purify Tonic retails for SGD108 at all PHS Hairscience outlets, as well as on Shopee, Lazada, and Zalora.
