NANO Shampoo by Dr. Proctor

As with most hair growth products, NANO shampoo by Dr. Proctor boasts that is contains ingredients that will sprout hair on your head in near record time. The big question is, does it really work? I spent some time on the forums looking for the answer and the consensus was mixed. Some folks swear by NANO shampoo while others complain it is as useless as the next product. Lets take a look at NANO and see if we can determine the special ingredients that make this different from a regular shampoo.

Active Ingredients

3-carboxylic acid: citric acid, which helps the shampoo to foam properly
Pyridine n-oxide: These are agents that stabilize the foaming action of the shampoo, acting as a surfactant- which makes things wetter, breaking down oils so they can be washed away.

SODases: also known as

Other ingredients

Water
PEG-80 sorbitan laurate: a common surfactant. Surfactants degrease and emulsify oils and fats and suspend soil, allowing them to be washed away.
Cocamidopropyl beatine: One of the more gentle surfactants used in skin-care products.
Sodium laureth sulfate is often derived from coconut; it is used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent. It is considered gentle and effective.
PEG-150 distearate: a form stabilizer; in other words, it is a hair and skin conditioner.
Disodium cocoamphodiacetate: this is a surfactant used for sensitive and mild skin.
Sodium chloride: a chemical commonly known as table salt

Allontoin: extracted from the comfrey herb

Arginine: used to increase circulation throughout the body

Panthenol: the alcohol form of Vitamin B

Laureth-13 carboxylate: detergents

Fragrance

Blue dye #1

The primary ingredients in NANO shampoo are the B Vitamins and the ingredients that stimulate circulation and blood flow. These can somewhat substantiate the claims that NANO shampoo is similar to minoxidil, as minoxidil primary function is to dilate the blood vessels and increase blood flow.

Disclosure of Ingredients

The ingredients of NANO shampoo are clearly available on the website.

Clinical Studies:

I found two scholarly papers on the ingredients in NANO shampoo and they are referenced here. The problem is they are both written by Dr. Peter Proctor, the maker of the product which makes it difficult to ascertain their credibility.

Free Radicals and Human Disease by Peter H. Proctor, PhD, MD CRC Handbook of Free Radicals and Antioxidants, vol 1 (1989), p209-221.Endothelium-Derived Relaxing Factor and Minoxidil: Active Mechanisms in Hair Growth In: Archives in Dermatology, vol 125, August, 1989

Dosage and Use

Shampoo, lather, leave on one to two minutes, rinse. Use three to six times per week. You should expect NANO shampoo to take at least three to six months for results.

Marketing

The website includes a few pictures of thinning heads of hair, presumably before and after photos. Surprisingly, the site is not inundated with testimonials.

Cost: The cost for a 2-3 month Supply of NANO shampoo is $39.95.

Guarantee

There is no mention anywhere of a guarantee, so it would seem likely that the product has none. This is a major red flag. After all, if you had a product that really did stop hair loss, wouldn’t you guarantee it? I would. Not having a guarantee makes people suspicious. Well, it makes me suspicious.

Conclusion

I think that Vitamin B and ingredients that stimulate blood flow and circulation have been shown to possibly help hair growth. Therefore, NANO by Dr. Proctor is as likely as any other unproven method to regrow hair.

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