Nettle and Horsetail for Hair Growth. Do They Actually Work?

Nettle and horsetail have a long history in herbal hair products, teas and supplements, but there is currently not good clinical evidence that either herb, taken or applied on its own, reliably makes thinning hair grow back.

That does not mean the plants are useless or that every product containing them is ineffective. It means the popularity of nettle and horsetail for hair growth has moved considerably faster than the research. If you are considering either one because your hair is shedding or thinning, it helps to know what has actually been studied and where the claims become speculation.

The short answer

Nettle, also known as stinging nettle or Urtica dioica, contains a range of biologically active plant compounds and has attracted interest in hair-loss products. Horsetail, Equisetum arvense, is often promoted for hair because it contains silica.

Neither fact proves that taking the herbs will stimulate human hair follicles.

Recent reviews of plant-based approaches to hair loss show that herbal treatments are an active area of research, but the evidence varies enormously between ingredients. Reviews also highlight familiar problems such as small studies, different formulations and a shortage of strong human clinical trials.

For nettle and horsetail specifically, convincing clinical evidence for hair regrowth is lacking. That makes them very different from a treatment such as topical minoxidil, which the British Association of Dermatologists recognises as an option that may slow female pattern hair loss and partially restore hair in some women.

Why are nettle and horsetail associated with hair growth?

Both herbs have qualities that make them easy to market as “hair herbs”.

Nettle contains plant compounds including flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids, amino acids and fatty acids. Horsetail is notable for its mineral content and is particularly associated with silica.

From there, the claims can quickly become much bigger.

You may read that nettle “blocks DHT”, that horsetail “strengthens follicles”, or that silica automatically produces thicker hair. These explanations can sound scientific while skipping an essential step: showing that a particular preparation actually improves hair growth in people.

A plausible mechanism is not the same as a proven treatment.

Does nettle help hair grow?

At present, there is not enough good human evidence to say that nettle alone is an effective treatment for hair loss.

Stinging nettle has been researched for a number of potential health applications. Reviews describe numerous compounds within the plant and laboratory findings that make it biologically interesting. However, that is not the same as demonstrating clinically meaningful hair regrowth.

This distinction matters because laboratory research can help scientists decide what deserves further investigation. It cannot tell you that drinking nettle tea or rubbing nettle extract into your scalp will reproduce a laboratory effect.

Recent systematic reviews of herbal remedies for hair loss have found promising clinical evidence for some plant-derived interventions, but nettle has not emerged as a well-established standalone hair-loss treatment.

So if a supplement describes nettle as a proven hair-growth ingredient, the evidence does not currently justify that certainty.

Does nettle block DHT?

This is one of the most common claims surrounding nettle and hair loss.

Dihydrotestosterone, usually shortened to DHT, is an androgen hormone involved in androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss. Female pattern hair loss is influenced by genetic and hormonal factors, although the relationship between androgens and female hair loss is complex.

Nettle has been investigated for biological effects involving hormone-related pathways, particularly in research unrelated to hair loss. Nettle root has also been studied in relation to benign prostate enlargement.

That does not establish that taking nettle meaningfully reduces DHT at the scalp or treats female pattern hair loss.

It is better to treat “nettle blocks DHT” as a proposed mechanism behind some products, not as a clinically proven reason to use nettle for hair growth.

What about nettle tea?

Nettle tea can be enjoyed as a herbal drink, but there is no good evidence that drinking nettle tea will regrow thinning hair.

This is a useful example of how hair claims can become detached from the actual product being used.

A laboratory experiment involving a concentrated plant extract, research on nettle root for another condition, a capsule containing a standardised extract and a cup of nettle-leaf tea are not equivalent interventions.

The amount and types of plant compounds reaching the body can be very different.

If you like nettle tea, you do not need a hair-growth reason to drink it. Just avoid treating it as a substitute for investigating unexplained hair loss.

Can you use nettle directly on the scalp?

Nettle extracts appear in shampoos, scalp tonics and other cosmetic products.

There is currently not enough evidence to say that a typical nettle shampoo or homemade nettle rinse will stimulate meaningful hair regrowth. A rinse may still be something you enjoy as part of your routine, but that is a cosmetic preference rather than an established treatment.

A finished cosmetic product should be used according to its instructions. If you are trying a new scalp product, patch test where the manufacturer recommends it and stop using it if you develop irritation.

Homemade preparations bring an extra difficulty because their concentration and composition are not standardised.

Does horsetail help hair grow?

Horsetail has an even stronger association with “hair, skin and nails” supplements, largely because of its silica content.

Silicon is a trace element found in the body and diet. Some research has investigated particular forms of bioavailable silicon in relation to hair characteristics. That has helped fuel the idea that horsetail, as a silica-containing plant, must improve hair.

The leap is too large.

Evidence involving a specific silicon supplement does not automatically prove that horsetail extract has the same effect. It also does not show that horsetail treats hair loss at the follicle.

There is currently not strong clinical evidence showing that horsetail itself reliably increases hair growth in people with common forms of hair loss.

What is skrzyp and is it the same as horsetail?

Yes. If you have encountered skrzyp in Polish hair supplements, herbal teas or pharmacies, it usually refers to field horsetail, Equisetum arvense.

Skrzyp has a particularly strong reputation in Poland and elsewhere in Europe as a traditional herb for hair and nails. It is commonly sold alone or combined with nettle.

Its traditional use and popularity do not necessarily reflect the strength of clinical evidence.

This is why a packet can quite legitimately contain horsetail while the bigger marketing implication, that it will make thinning hair grow, still requires evidence.

Does the silica in horsetail strengthen hair?

This claim needs a little unpacking because “stronger hair” can mean several different things.

The visible strand of hair is a fibre made largely of keratin. Its condition can be affected by washing, heat, chemical treatments, friction and breakage.

Hair loss, on the other hand, can involve changes happening within the follicle or changes to the hair-growth cycle.

A supplement that altered some characteristic of the hair fibre would not necessarily treat hair loss from the root.

There has been research into silicon and hair properties, but this should not be turned into the much broader claim that horsetail supplements prevent or reverse hair loss. We do not currently have strong evidence to support that conclusion.

Are nettle and horsetail supplements better than teas?

There is no good evidence showing that one of these forms is the best way to grow hair.

Supplements can contain more concentrated extracts than a cup of herbal tea, but a higher concentration does not automatically mean a better result. It may also mean greater potential for side effects or interactions.

Products differ in the part of the plant used, extraction method, concentration and additional ingredients. A “nettle and horsetail” capsule from one manufacturer may therefore be quite different from another.

Combination supplements make the evidence even harder to interpret. If a study tests a product containing several vitamins, minerals and botanical extracts, any result cannot automatically be credited to nettle or horsetail.

Could nettle and horsetail help if you have a nutritional deficiency?

They should not be used as a substitute for identifying and treating a deficiency.

Hair shedding can sometimes be associated with nutritional problems. The NHS lists iron deficiency as one possible cause of temporary hair loss. Significant weight loss can also trigger shedding.

If a deficiency is contributing to your hair loss, the useful step is to identify and address that particular issue with appropriate professional guidance.

Taking a general herbal hair supplement may not provide what you are deficient in, and it can make the routine feel as though the cause is being addressed when it has not actually been established.

If you suspect iron or another nutritional issue, speak to your GP rather than trying to diagnose it from your hair alone.

Are nettle and horsetail supplements safe?

“Natural” and “safe for everyone” are not the same thing.

Herbal products contain biologically active substances. The effects can depend on the plant species, part used, extraction process, concentration, dose and other ingredients in the product.

They can also be unsuitable in particular circumstances or interact with medicines.

If you take regular medication, have a medical condition, are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, check with a pharmacist, GP or another appropriate healthcare professional before starting herbal supplements.

Also check the complete ingredient list. Hair supplements often combine several herbs with vitamins and minerals, so it is easy to focus on the nettle or horsetail on the front of the packet and overlook everything else you are taking.

Why do so many people say nettle and horsetail worked for them?

Personal experiences can be genuine without proving cause and effect.

Hair shedding often changes naturally over time. The NHS notes that temporary hair loss can follow stress, illness, weight loss and iron deficiency. In some cases, hair grows back once the underlying trigger has resolved.

Imagine someone begins a nettle and horsetail supplement three months after recovering from an illness. Their hair starts looking fuller several months later. It is understandable that they may credit the supplement, even though natural recovery could also explain the change.

People may also change several things at once. They start a supplement, eat differently, massage their scalp, change shampoo and begin a medical treatment. If shedding later improves, it is impossible to tell which change mattered from the anecdote alone.

That is exactly why controlled clinical studies are useful.

What has better evidence for female pattern hair loss?

If the issue is female pattern hair loss, topical minoxidil has substantially more established clinical support.

The British Association of Dermatologists states that applying minoxidil to the scalp may slow progression and partially restore hair in some women. It does not work for everyone, and continued use is required to maintain its benefit.

That does not mean you have to use it. Treatment is a personal choice.

It does mean that nettle or horsetail should not be presented as equivalent alternatives simply because they are plant-derived.

Other types of hair loss require different approaches. A treatment that is relevant to female pattern hair loss may not be appropriate for temporary shedding, alopecia areata or another condition.

So are nettle and horsetail worth trying?

If you enjoy nettle tea, like a hair product containing nettle, or prefer a cosmetic routine involving plant ingredients, there is nothing wrong with choosing them for those reasons if they are suitable for you.

The expectation is the important part.

At the moment, nettle and horsetail for hair growth are better described as traditional and commercially popular ingredients than clinically proven hair-loss treatments.

You may prefer to spend money only on treatments with stronger evidence. You may decide you are comfortable trying a herbal product despite the uncertainty. There is no single right way to approach cosmetic hair care.

If you are considering an oral supplement specifically because your hair is falling out, however, finding out why the hair loss is happening is a better first step than choosing a herb.

When to get professional advice

The NHS recommends seeing a GP if you are worried about hair loss and advises finding out what is causing it before considering a commercial hair clinic.

Speak to a GP, pharmacist or dermatologist if:

your hair loss is sudden or unexplained
you are losing hair in patches
your parting is progressively widening or your hair is becoming noticeably thinner
your scalp is painful, inflamed, very itchy, scaly or scarred
you have other new symptoms alongside hair loss
you think iron deficiency, illness, weight loss or another health issue may be involved
you take regular medicines and want to start nettle, horsetail or another herbal supplement
you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive
a topical herbal product causes irritation
hair loss is affecting your wellbeing

Female pattern hair loss is only one possible explanation for thinning hair. The British Association of Dermatologists notes that diagnosis is usually based on the history and pattern of hair loss, with further investigation sometimes needed.

Getting the cause assessed does not commit you to treatment. It simply gives you better information about what is happening and which options, if any, are relevant.

Related reading will be added during editorial review