Hair Loss Shampoo? Dog Shampoo Was Fine Too

A few days ago, I got a KakaoTalk message from a junior colleague.

"Hyung, what shampoo should I use for hair loss? Please recommend one."

At this point, it’s such a familiar question.

If this had been years ago, I would have gone on at length about ingredients like caffeine, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, and selenium.

I would have said something like, "There are studies suggesting these ingredients may help with hair loss management, but the actual effect within a shampoo formula is limited."

But these days, the answer is very simple.

"Shampoo honestly doesn’t matter that much. It’s like chest cream. You know? Putting it on doesn’t make your chest bigger."

And then I add a bunch of "lololololololol."

Because that’s really how it is.

As I’ve emphasized many times on the blog and on YouTube, the conclusion is the same.

Shampoo is not a treatment.

Think of it as a high-end soap that gives you a nice scent, rich lather, and a pleasant cleansing feel.

Of course, since it is a product used directly on the scalp, it can’t be completely ignored.

There’s a reason dermatology clinics also include soap or shampoo in treatment prescriptions.

But expecting one shampoo to prevent hair loss or make your hair grow back is no different from trying to stop a typhoon with one umbrella.

A story suddenly came to mind after my junior asked that question.

A few months ago, my wife put a new shampoo in my bathroom.

My wife always does that. If she tries a product and doesn’t like it, she sends it to my bathroom.

I started using that shampoo without thinking much about it. It smelled good, the lather was soft, and my hair felt a bit smoother.

Dog Kevin

One day, after happily using it for several days, I picked up Kevin, the dog, after a walk and smelled a familiar scent.

"Huh? This smells like my shampoo."

I found it a little strange and checked the bathroom where the dog bath products were kept, and then I realized.

My wife had accidentally put the dog shampoo on my shower rack.

In the end, I had been washing my hair with dog shampoo for about a week.

Surprisingly, there was no problem at all, and I was actually quite satisfied.

What I want to say through this story is simple.

Shampoo really is just an accessory.

Even dog shampoo was fine.

When I see people obsessing over shampoo, it reminds me of when I first started learning guitar.

Back then, as a beginner, I was obsessed only with gear—whether it was Fender or Gibson, what effects pedals to use, and so on.

But in the end, what determines your skill is practice.

Hair loss treatment is the same.

Consistency with medication, regular checkups, lifestyle improvements, stress management.

These are the real essentials.

Shampoo? It’s more like a pretty outfit that makes you feel good.

It may lift your mood, but it doesn’t improve your ability.

Of course, a good shampoo can provide positive stimulation to the scalp.

Some products can reduce dead skin cells or help control sebum secretion.

A scent you like and rich lather can make the hair loss treatment process a little more comfortable.

But don’t place too much expectation on shampoo.

It’s similar to asking, "If I apply this cream, will my cheekbones come up?"

That’s a problem that needs surgery.

Now, I almost want to ask my junior colleagues instead.

"Do you really think one shampoo can prevent hair loss?"

And then I add with a laugh,

"Hey, try dog shampoo. It really makes hair grow well."

No matter what shampoo you use, hair ultimately goes its own way.

All we can do is make that journey a little more comfortable and pleasant.

If shampoo adds a small bit of enjoyment to that process, isn’t that enough?