Formulation And Evaluation of Herbal Serum for Hair Growth

Hair loss is a common problem today because of increased stress levels, pollution and an imbalanced diet. Various marketed formulations exist to treat hair loss, but these mostly contain synthetic chemicals, are oil based and expensive. Oil based serums give a greasy appearance to the scalp and hair, leading to consumer dissatisfaction, while synthetic chemicals can cause scalp irritation and itching. Hence there is a need for herbal formulations that offer fewer side effects with a non-sticky, non-greasy feel. The present study aimed to formulate a water based herbal gel serum. The optimized formulation contains hibiscus, amla, green tea and linseed gel, ingredients rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins that support hair growth while reducing hair loss. Three formulations (F1, F2, F3) were prepared and evaluated; F3 showed the best gelling property, viscosity and overall stability. Stability studies showed that the formulation remained physically and chemically stable under various storage conditions, with no phase separation or significant change in appearance or pH. Antimicrobial activity, assessed using the zone of inhibition method, showed significant effectiveness with a zone of inhibition of 19.32 mm. Additional microbial and preservative efficacy studies confirmed the formulation's safety and stability. The findings indicate that the developed herbal hair serum gel can serve as a safe, stable and cost-effective alternative to synthetic hair care products.