How to Grow Longer, Thicker Hair With Horse Shampoo

Choose a shampoo that's designed for show horses.

Horse shampoo is designed to make a horse's mane grow thicker and stronger, while also cleaning it. The shampoo can have the same desirable effects on human tresses. It works, in part, by swelling the hair shaft, making it thicker and longer as a result. However, an unfortunate side effect is that the hair also becomes coarser and rougher. Since horse shampoos range from mild to strong, it may take some trial and error for you to find just the right formula that won't damage your particular type of hair.

Things You'll Need

• Horse shampoo
• Conditioner
• Wide-tooth comb

Instructions

1. Squirt a half-dollar-size amount of shampoo into the palm of your hand, while in the shower. The amount should be enough to adequately lather your entire head. Add more if needed.

2. Gently massage the shampoo into your scalp. Use your fingers to ensure that the shampoo reaches the roots of your hair. Massage it in for several minutes, allowing the shampoo to go to work. When finished, rinse it out thoroughly.

3. Use a softening conditioner after rinsing. This type of conditioner will help protect your hair from drying out and becoming straw-like, which is a common problem when using horse shampoo. Work the conditioner in thoroughly and leave it in your hair for three minutes before rinsing it out.

4. Towel-dry your hair after rinsing. Use a wide-tooth comb while the hair is still damp to remove any tangles. Depending on your hair type, horse shampoo may cause more tangling than your regular shampoo.

5. Monitor the condition of your hair. Horse shampoos range from mild to strong. Some gentle brands, such as Mane 'n Tail, are designed to be used on human hair as well as horse hair. The ones designed for human use probably can be used daily without causing damage to your tresses, depending on what type of hair you have. Stronger formulas should be used sparingly -- perhaps only once or twice a week. Listen to your hair. If it starts drying out or becoming unruly, stop using the shampoo immediately.

6. Give your hair a weekly deep-conditioning treatment, especially if you notice some dryness, to keep your locks in the best possible condition. You can also switch to a gentler horse shampoo formulation if dryness occurs.

Tips & Warnings

• If you experience dryness when using horse shampoo, you may want to forgo using a blow dryer, hot rollers, curling iron, or straightening iron, which will only dry out your hair further.

• Certain styling products, such as hairspray, mousse, and gel, contain alcohol and can dry out your hair as well. You may want to use these types of styling aids sparingly until you see how your hair reacts to the shampoo.

References

• Hair Finder: Horse Shampoo for Hair Growth
• The Confessions of a Product Junkie: Horse Shampoo -- Does Mane 'n Tail make your hair grow faster?