Podcast 322: What the hair loss industry isn’t telling you

Hair loss is one of the most searched beauty concerns online – and yet, much of what you’re being told about it simply doesn’t hold up.

In this thought-provoking and vulnerable episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier pulls back the curtain on the hair loss industry – opening up about her own hair loss experience – and reveals why so many products, trends and viral TikTok remedies may not be giving you the full picture.

If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling late at night, adding so-called ‘miracle’ solutions to your basket, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar – but also incredibly eye-opening.

Building directly on last week’s interview with trichologist Chloe Heyworth, this week’s episode explores the complexity of female hair loss. Because here’s the truth: hair loss isn’t one single condition, yet the beauty industry often treats it as if it is.

From rice water trends to rosemary oil hype and even clinically approved treatments, Lorraine reveals what’s backed by evidence, what isn’t, and what the industry would rather you didn’t question.

Whether you care about making informed choices rather than emotional purchases, or are dealing with some hair loss yourself, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

“The question isn’t really about which product works. It’s about whether you’re even asking the right question in the first place.” — Lorraine Dallmeier

Key takeaways:

• Hair loss is not one single condition – and treating it as such is one of the biggest misconceptions in the beauty industry: Lorraine explains that androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata all have completely different causes, from genetics and hormones to stress and autoimmune responses. Because these conditions behave differently, they also require entirely different approaches. Yet most marketing fails to acknowledge this complexity, leaving consumers trying products that may never have been suitable for their specific situation in the first place.
• Viral hair loss remedies often rely more on storytelling than scientific evidence: The episode unpacks popular trends like rice water, which has a compelling cultural narrative but lacks clinical proof for hair growth or hair loss prevention. While some early research exists on rice-derived ingredients, it doesn’t translate to DIY treatments seen on social media. Lorraine highlights how easily consumers (including her!) can be persuaded by before-and-after videos, even when the underlying evidence is weak or non-existent.
• Rosemary oil sits in a grey area between promising research and overstated claims: There is some clinical evidence suggesting rosemary oil may perform similarly to minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia, but the nuance is critical. The research is limited, sometimes contested, and only applies to specific types of hair loss. The industry often skips over these details, marketing rosemary oil as a universal solution, which can mislead consumers who are experiencing different forms of hair shedding.
• There is an important legal and scientific distinction between cosmetics and medicines: Lorraine explains that only treatments like minoxidil and finasteride are approved to actively affect physiological processes linked to hair loss. Cosmetics, including oils and serums, are not permitted to make these claims – yet marketing language often blurs this line. This creates confusion and can lead consumers to expect drug-like results from products that are not designed or regulated to deliver them.
• The emotional instinct to “buy a solution” is exactly what the beauty industry relies on: Lorraine reflects and shares her own experience of immediately turning to products instead of investigating the root cause of her hair shedding. She challenges listeners to pause before purchasing and instead ask two critical questions: what type of hair loss am I experiencing, and is this product actually designed for that type? This shift in thinking can prevent unnecessary spending and lead to more effective, durable, and informed decisions.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Lorraine Dallmeier

Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.