Everything You Need to Know About PRP for Hair Loss From Someone Who’s Tried It

*Heads up, this article talks about a medical treatment involving blood and needles, in case anyone's squeamish.

If someone had told me 1.5 years ago that I would be trying a PRP hair treatment that involved injecting needles into my scalp every month for 10 months, I would have said...

No thanks.

But here we are, 12 months after I tried PRP for the first time.

And not only did I do it, but I am so glad I did. You may remember an article I wrote a couple years ago about my hair loss journey for Beauty IQ. 

To give a quick recap, I started losing my hair around the age of 25.

At the time, I thought it was just a phase. But after seeking medical advice, I was diagnosed with female patterned baldness.

A very unsexy genetic condition that causes hair loss. Yay for me! 

Since then, I’ve been taking prescribed medication to manage my symptoms under the advice of my medical professional.

And while I was seeing an improvement in general hair growth and hair retention, the front and the crown of my scalp felt a little thin still. 

Unfortunately, the way the medication works, you can’t target specific areas. It can only encourage an all-encompassing hair growth.

Slightly unfortunate for my chin. 

Following my initial article about hair loss, I was approached by a clinician who suggested I explore a treatment called PRP.

You might know of PRP as the Kim Kardashian 'Vampire Facial', but at the time, I had no idea what PRP and PRP for hair growth were.

The team of doctors and nurses at Elucell (that's the clinic I went to, for anyone Googling 'PRP hair treatment Melbourne') explained PRP hair loss treatment is a three-step process.

It involves scalp injections of a liquid called ‘plasma’, which is derived from a sample of your own blood. 

Now, if you know me, you will know there are three things that terrify me in life:

Snakes, spiders and needles.

Oh, and I once fainted watching my partner give blood. Not my proudest moment. 

So, to say I was ‘nervous’ about a treatment involving not only needles but blood was a big understatement. But after navigating hair loss for a few years, I was willing to give anything a go.

And MAN, am I glad I did. 

I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘it was so much more comfortable than I expected.'

That would be a lie.

But what I will say is the results I saw were far beyond what I could have expected. 

Editor's note: Check out the difference in hair growth around the temple area in these two selfies of Karin taken about 14 months apart!?

I posted about my PRP treatment and PRP hair thickness on my personal Instagram, and I received quite a few questions about it.

So, I thought I'd put together an honest guide to PRP for hair loss and how it's helped me.

And for the questions that require medical expertise, the Elucell experts were more than happy to answer.

Let’s get into it. (And yes, I've included my PRP for hair loss before and after photos!)

What Is PRP for Hair Loss?

If you've heard of PRP, read any PRP hair treatment reviews or searched, 'PRP hair treatment female' and 'PRP hair treatment results', then you've come to the right article.

PRP therapy is a 3-step procedure used to treat hair loss. 

It involves drawing blood and injecting a concentration of your own platelets into the scalp to promote hair growth.

How Does PRP Work?

Essentially, the procedure aims to increase the number of active hair follicles. 

Typically, healthy hair growth occurs in 4 stages:

• Stage 1: Growth

• Stage 2: Regression

• Stage 3: Resting

• Stage 4: Shedding 

Once a hair reaches Stage 4, the cycle resets to Stage 1. And on it goes. 

But when you’re experiencing hair loss, your hair is usually stuck in Stage 3 (resting stage) before it then sheds. 

And what you are left with is hair that grows back slower and weaker or hair that completes the process too quickly thus resulting in a quicker turnover of hair. 

PRP treatment uses plasma components from the blood, which contains growth and regenerative factors, to help stimulate the hair follicles to return to Stage 1 of the hair growth cycle. 

Think of it like pressing the reset button on a computer that’s frozen.

Who Can & Can't Get PRP For Hair Loss?

A suitable candidate is a person who is in the early stages of their hair loss and still has active hair follicles. 

Someone who has been experiencing hair loss for 5+ years or is experiencing chronic bald patches, can still see some results but may struggle to grow new hair. 

This is due to the scar tissue forming as a result of chronic inflammation and obliterating the hair follicle. 

PRP is also a great option for people who have had hair transplants and are wanting to maintain the results. 

The main thing to remember is that PRP will not be able to create hairlines that the individual never had.

You can watch my You Tube video below to find out more about the do's and don'ts of hair loss.

PRP Treatment Steps.

An appointment goes for approximately 45-60 minutes and involves the following steps:

Step 1. A scanning machine is used to take a photo of your scalp and measure the hair loss/thinning.

Step 2. Topical anaesthesia is used to minimise discomfort on the scalp.

Step 3. Withdrawal of 20-40ml of blood which is then spun in a centrifuge to separate the PRP.

Step 4. The nurse extracts the PRP into several syringes.

Step 5. The numbing cream is wiped off and the scalp is disinfected.

Step 6. The PRP is injected into all of the areas of the scalp that are being treated.

Does PRP for Hair Loss Hurt? What Does It Feel Like?

Pain varies for everyone.

The local anaesthetic helps to minimise the pain and you can also take some Panadol before your appointment (not Neurofen). 

The needles used are small which helps reduce pain. Sometimes it may feel a bit pinchy or a bit of pressure. 

My personal experience: it also depends a lot on at what point during your cycle your appointment is.

If you’re nearing that time of the month, my advice to you is to reschedule until after your period. Trust me.  

You can also have a listen to my Beauty IQ podcast episode where I share my experience with female hair loss.

PRP Risks & Side Effects?

What are the PRP hair treatment side effects if any?

• Some tenderness/redness/bruising can occur for 4 - 5 days after your appointment. 

• Increased shedding of the Telogen Hair (Resting Stage Hair) in the first few months of treatment - this side effect is normal, but can be confronting! 

• Very rare complications include infections and tenderness/redness that is slow to resolve.

PRP After Care.

• Avoid the sun/solariums. 

• Avoid excessive exercise or hot environments (spas /swimming pools / saunas) for 48 hours, this minimises risk of infection or exposure to bacteria.

• Change your pillowcase/towels, keep the area as clean as possible. 

• Avoid washing hair until the following day.  

• Avoid using hair sprays, gels or hair products for four days while the area heals. 

• Avoid dying, bleaching or perming hair for 10 days before and after treatment.

How Much Does PRP Cost?

A ballpark estimate for 10 PRP treatments (the recommended amount) is around $2,000. 

What is the PRP hair treatment success rate?

The ultimate goal is at the end of 12 months hair loss is significantly reduced and new hair growth is occurring. 

The amount of treatments varies for everyone, but usually 10 treatments are recommended to see results. These treatments occur every three to six weeks.

The earliest you will see results is after five months (five treatments). 

After which you focus on maintenance, which involves one treatment every 3-12 months depending on the individual.

My PRP for Hair Loss Results.

One of the biggest changes I noticed was SO. MANY. BABY. HAIRS. 

While my medication definitely helped the overall hair growth, PRP has helped stimulate a more targeted hair growth. 

My pony tail feels thicker, my bangs look fuller and the crown has filled in a bit more.

I knew I was doing something right when I was at a dinner party and a stranger questioned my condition. 

They didn’t believe me until I showed them my initial article for Adore Beauty.

Because in their words I look like I “have so much hair”.  

And while it was probably a bit weird having to convince a complete stranger that I was losing hair, I was on cloud nine. 

To have someone in complete disbelief that I was experiencing hair loss, was such a huge turn of events.

And it was an amazing (and foreign) feeling.

My Haircare Routine for Hair Growth.

In addition to my medication, there are several things I use at home to help encourage a healthy scalp and healthy hair. 

These don't necessarily 'treat' my condition but they allow me to create an optimal environment for hair to grow.

1. Virtue Flourish Range.

This is Virtue’s newest range which is formulated for fine, fragile and/or thinning hair. 

The 3-step routine includes:

• Virtue Flourish Shampoo for Thinning Hair 240ml

• Virtue Flourish Conditioner for Thinning Hair 200ml

• Virtue Flourish Density Booster 120ml

It contains the signature Alpha Keratin 60ku to help repair and strengthen the hair. 

This is definitely going into my forever fave repertoire. 

It leaves my hair feeling cleansed but not stripped. It also doesn’t weigh my hair down which is a big plus for fine hair.

2. Kerastase Genesis Shampoo.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I freaking love this range. 

Kérastase Genesis Bain Hydra-Fortifiant Shampoo for Thin Hair is my favourite, the hydrating formula leaves my hair with some serious volume. 

You can read more about my verdict in my article 'I've Got Fine, Thin Hair and This Is the Only Shampoo That Doesn't Weigh It Down'.

3. Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo.

Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo 56g is for the days when you cannot be bothered.

My hairdresser put me onto this years ago because unlike many other dry shampoos this one doesn’t clog the pores. 

Which is ideal for when you’re trying to promote hair growth. 

Lastly, I also take supplements to support my hair growth journey. 

These supplements include Multi-B Complex, Iron and Vitamin D. 

A Final Word on PRP for Hair Loss.

At the end of the day, everyone is different. 

What works for me may not work for you. 

However, I always aim to be very open about my hair loss journey. 

This sort of treatment may not be the right option for you and that’s totally fine. 

But if you are someone who has been thinking about it but didn’t know what to expect, I hope this article has helped you in some shape, way or form.

And I mean does it hurt? I would be lying if I said no.

BUT - and it’s a big but - was it worth it? For me, it definitely was. 

If you’re considering this treatment, my biggest advice would be to schedule a consultation. 

Have a chat with a medical professional and take it step by step.

The way my hair is feeling and looking now 12 months on has given me a big boost in confidence. 

And, look, the journey isn’t over. It’s never going to be over. 

But for now, in this very moment, I am feeling pretty great about my hair. 

And for that I am buzzing like a bee.

This article is one person's experience and shouldn't be substituted for professional, personalised medical advice. Please chat to your GP or medical professional if hair loss is a concern for you.

Want more content about hair growth? Check out one of these helpful articles:

• I've Got Fine, Thin Hair and This Is the Only Shampoo That Doesn't Weigh It Down

• Do Hair Loss Products Work? We Asked a Hairstylist to Find Out

• The 9 Best Products for Fast Hair Growth in 2022