This page is an ever growing list of products that help Trichotillomania.
I will list the product, what it’s good for and where to get it (if I know, not everything is available in every country).
I will keep adding to this list as I find things that help me and others.
Products That Help Trichotillomania
HabitAware Keen Bracelets
I have personally been wearing these Keen bracelets and they make a difference if you are not aware when you’re pulling. I was someone who would pull subconsciously not really thinking about it.
There are other methods to becoming aware but I found this to be an effective one for me. The bracelets go on your wrists (you need two if you pull with both hands), you train them with an app on your smartphone to know which hand positions to look for.
The bracelets buzz you when you’re hands are doing the things you’ve trained them to look for, there are a ton of different things you can train Keen for, like nail biting, thumb sucking, skin picking, etc.
You can read more about Keen bracelets in my blog posts about them.
Scalp Massager for the Shower
This scalp massager? It’s my daily dose of pure bliss. I can’t even begin to describe the sensation when I let the warm shower water cascade over my head while this little magic wand does its thing—it’s like a headgasm, no kidding. The relief, distraction, and sheer invigoration it brings are next level. But it’s not just about the feels; this gem also sweeps away dead skin and stirs up those natural oils that are basically the VIPs of healthier hair growth. I’ve noticed a difference in my hair texture and growth since this gem entered my shower routine, and now? I won’t step into the shower without it. Trich tip: Go for one with comfy bristles, and none of that scratchy business. I swear by the soft, long, rubber bristles like the ones on mine.
NAC Supplement
I have been personally taking this amino acid supplement for awhile now and it does help a lot. I had been hearing so many good things about it that I really felt led to try it. It doesn’t work instantly, you do have to give it some time.
It doesn’t always work for everyone for whatever reason but there is reasonable evidence to support that it does help a lot of people reduce their hair pulling urges.
It’s a natural supplement and here’s what’s been reported in some published studies:
Recently several reports have indicated that N-acetylcysteine, a glutamate modulator, could be effective in reducing symptoms of trichotillomania. It acts by restoring the extracellular glutamate concentration in the nucleus accumbens, decreasing its levels, which seem responsible for the pathogenesis of compulsive behaviors, and therefore, trichotillomania.
The dosage seems to vary and the length of time it takes also varies but there’s a lot of success stories of people using this to stop hair pulling.
Related: My Review of NAC for Trichotillomania. The Dosage and Side Effects.
A Trichotillomania Therapy Journal
I created this journal so that I could track my pulling patterns and then figure out ways to keep myself out of the situations that made me pull more.
It tracks sleep, eating, daily things like feelings and the who, what, where and stuff that has to do with pulling.
It’s a great place to start if you don’t know what to track.
You can pinpoint places, people, foods and all sorts of things that perhaps make it worse and that way you can avoid those things.
If you’re looking to reduce your hair pulling and find out what’s triggering you the most, a journal like this can help. There’s this one or create one of your own.
It doesn’t matter how you start tracking, just do it! You’re going to be shocked at the patterns once you see them down on paper after awhile.
Hair-Towels To Stop Night Pulling
I recently purchased this head towel because I wanted a barrier to stop me from pulling my hair at night.
The hair towel wraps around my head and is securely fastened by pulling the end of the towel through a loop at the top.
The towel doesn’t move, it stays in place all night and it blocks me from being able to twist or pull out my hair in the middle of the night.
There is a lot of these kinds of head towels to choose from on Amazon, I got this one because I wanted something thick.
Another option that was suggested to me from someone in my private group was a skull cap. A skull cap works similar to the head towel but fits a little tighter.
Related: How To Stop Pulling Out Hair While Sleeping
CBD Oil Helps Trichotillomania
This! This! This! CBD oil has been a game changer for my mood and sleeplessness.
This powerful little oil has made me an overall happier, less anxious person.
Anxiety has always been a trigger for my hair pulling and CBD oil has helped reduce that feeling by leaps and bounds!
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a powerful alternative treatment for anxiety related issues as well as a whole host of other things like pain, insomnia, epilepsy and PSTD.
CBD targets areas of the brain that are particularly affected by stress, anxiety, and depression.
Make sure you’re buying quality CBD oil because anything at the grocery store or Walmart is not the same as getting it from a reputable supplier.
Related: 3 Benefits of Using CBD That I Noticed Right Away!
The Hair Pulling Habit and You
I ordered this book because I have had a lot of success using similar methods that were listed in the description and I’m always looking to educate myself more to help others in my private group and on my blog.
The reviews are phenomenal and I really love how everyone stated they liked the approach of “no condemnation” for this habit.
The whole book is loaded with cool ideas, from sticker charts, self monitoring, in depth assessments and reviews. I love the way it is written, it’s very easy to read, it’s in large print and there’s a parents guide loaded with tips.
I would choose this book over other expensive options first.
Related: Can Hair Pulling Be Cured? Success Stories and How They Did It
Wild Hair Growth Oil
This hair oil came recommended to me from a hair dresser and it’s great for styling hair if you have Trich because it promotes healthy hair growth. It’s made of coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba, and some essential oils.
It detangles, protects against breakage and makes it harder to pull the hairs out if you use it on your scalp.
If you read the reviews on Amazon, you will see a lot of people have seen hair growth improvement in short periods of time. I’ve been using this in combination with some other things to help me stop pulling and regrow my hair.
Related: 6 Trichotillomania Hair Regrowth Products For Quicker Results!
Toppik Hair Building Fibers
This product is for thinning hair and bald spots. Everyone in the groups swears by it.
It’s a powder that you can dust on different areas of the scalp that covers in a way that looks like your own hair.
There’s a special applicator comb that helps apply it to different areas so it looks natural.
It’s a great cover-up and it comes in different colors.
Another one that is always mentioned is Boost Blend.
Rubber Finger Grips
These are awesome, they were suggested to me in a group. If you need something to help you not pull these are great and they certainly make you aware because you can’t get to the hair.
Anything that can make pulling difficult is a good item to have and these we’re just neat, not your average product.
Other items that work are band-aids, press on nails, and some finger tape.
Use them to cover the tips of your fingers so pulling isn’t easy.
Make it difficult for yourself to pull so you become aware and find something else to do with your hands instead.
They are available on Amazon (in some countries), someone also said that they carry them at Walmart in the office area.
Bracelet with Rubber Hairs on It
There are a ton of fidget toys that people love, I like these rubber hair bracelets – it just depends and luckily they are relatively cheap to buy so you can figure out what works for you.
If you like to pull hairs, this is a good distraction.
It’s a rubber bracelet that goes on the wrist and it has rubber hairs that you can pluck at.
(I have a list of the fidgets I own here)
Prohibere by Biomaterix
This product is no longer sold anywhere. If you read what I wrote in my review, it’s basically a numbing cream, like Icy Hot or Bengay.
I bought this Prohibere because it was a very intriguing product that cured the creators Trichotillomania.
It’s a numbing creme that goes on your hot spots. It feels very similar to Icy Hot if you’ve ever tried that. It’s basically Bengay for your head.
Once the area is numb, it does reduce the urge to pull.
I wish it was stronger, I wish it lasted longer, but overall, it’s a good product that does what it says it would do.
Read my full review before deciding to buy some please, there are things you may not like about it.
Seabreeze Sensitive Skin
If you have hot posts Sebreeze Sensitive Skin has been a lifesaver for Mai Mai in our private group.
A good friend of mine has been able to overcome Trich for 12 years now and she swears by her Seabreeze.
It’s one of the things we listed on our Overcoming Trich prep sheet because it works as inflammatory and helps take away the irritation in the inflamed area.
Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
This one you may already have at home!
Apple Cider Vinegar has a lot of benefits for hair pullers.
I saw an improvement in my state of mind after taking Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar.
The alkalinity in the body plays a role in the state of our mental health. Drinking some of this daily will detoxify the body, balance alkalinity and overall improve your mental and physical health.
Apple Cider Vinegar is great for using on the scalp because of it’s anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties. It helps heal wounds faster! (it works similar to the SeaBreeze above and it’s all natural)
Is there anything ACV doesn’t do?
Related: Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help Hair Pulling Anxiety?
A Children’s Book About Hair
This is a book about hair pulling for children that was written by a child with trichotillomania.
If you want a reassuring book to read with your child, this would be a good one because they can see that they are not alone.
Here’s this book with a kid who understands them.
This would be a good book for a class discussion or open conversation with other kids.
Sticker Charts
One of the thing that really helps me is having a sticker chart to track my pull free days.
It’s really nice to have that incentive and see the progress that I have made.
You can do this by just adding incentive stickers to your calendar or keep a separate one like this free one here.
A lot of different places suggest using a sticker chart to help you see your progress.
They’re great for kids and I use them as an adult to keep me motivated.
Fidget Toys (No Surprise There)
There are so many cool fidget toys these days to choose from. I have a ton of them myself. My desk often looks like the desk of a 5th grader. I need them for work though. When I’m sitting idle for too long I need a distraction to keep me from doing things I don’t want to do, like pulling my hair, biting my nails, sucking my thumb, etc.
I use my Keen bracelets to make me aware and then I grab a fidget toy to distract myself!
Here are some of the ones that I have here. It’s an ever expanding collection!
Updates Coming Soon!
I will be updating this list soon with some more recent products that have been really helpful for me in my journey to overcoming trichotillomania.
Feel free to let me know below what some of your favorite trichotillomania products are.
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