I Tried the Meghan Markle-Backed Highbrow Hippie Hair Growth Treatment—Here Are the Results

Before beginning any supplement, you should consult your doctor to see if it’s right for you. I had eight doctors evaluate the supplement ingredients, just to get their take on whether they’d be effective; their answers were honest, and a bit mixed (more on that in a minute).

During the 90-day period, I committed to adding a few drops of the Root Replenish Active Growth Serum and massaging it into my scalp twice a day, for 30 seconds as directed. Additionally, I’d take the Essential Wellbeing Complex supplements twice a day, with food, in the afternoon and evening.

When I shared the Essential Wellbeing Complex ingredients with doctors, hair surgeons and trichologists, the response was largely positive—though all were careful to caution that it wouldn’t be a silver bullet. “It’s a thoughtful blend that could promote hair health, especially for those with mild thinning or stress-related shedding,” Dr. Ross Kopelman, hair transplant surgeon at Kopelman Hair Restoration and The Hair Doctors podcast host, explained. “But it’s not a replacement for FDA-approved medications like minoxidil or finasteride when those are indicated.”

“From a functional and integrative standpoint, the Essential Wellbeing Complex includes several ingredients that can certainly support a healthy foundation for hair growth,” said Dr. Alan J. Bauman, board-certified hair restoration physician at Bauman Medical in Boca Raton, Florida. He noted that ingredients like Ashwagandha have “shown promise in helping to modulate cortisol levels,” since “chronic stress is a well-known trigger for hair shedding,” that saw palmetto is a DHT blocker (“though its effectiveness varies from person to person”), MSM and collagen support the hair shaft structure, and that biotin is popular for “supporting keratin structure.”

However, he—and other doctors I spoke to—were quick to note that as buzzy as biotin is, a deficiency here is rare, and that excessive amounts can interfere with lab test results (something Highbrow Hippie also cautions about in its product details). The brand also warned that anyone who is taking blood thinners, is pregnant, looking to conceive or breastfeeding should not take the Essential Wellbeing Complex.

The serum is very lightweight and isn’t sticky or tacky, absorbing into my scalp and leaving almost no signs of greasiness once the allotted 30 seconds of massaging were over. Better yet, it didn’t slick down my super-fine hair, like other serums I’ve tried. And, when paired with a scalp massager, it gave me a little lift at the roots—a nice bonus.

The real power, though, is its ability to help nourish and balance out the scalp’s microbiome, thanks to its use of fermented resveratrol and DHT blockers (DHT is a hormone that's been linked to hair loss). As someone who dealt with an itchy, off-kilter scalp postpartum—the only relief was letting clinical-strength Head and Shoulders sit on my scalp for a few minutes each wash day—I was wary of how it’d affect my head. Thankfully, it was gentle and soothing.

While the Essential Wellbeing Complex wasn’t as tasty as, say, gummy vitamins, the capsules were easy to swallow, and I never had issues with them upsetting my stomach (though I also always followed the recommendation to take them with food). Admittedly, here is where I faltered: I often only took the pills once a day, so perhaps I would’ve seen more dramatic results had I fully committed to the twice-a-day regimen.

That said, about 45 days in, I started noticing little baby hairs all around my head. Could this be a sign of new growth?! It sure looked like it. (Considering my son is now two, I’m well past the postpartum hair-fallout-and-early-growth stage.)

At the end of each month, I measured my hair. Hair grows around half a centimeter to 1.7 centimeters per month, depending on ethnicity, with the “optimal growth” years occurring when you’re 15 to 30, according to The Trichological Society. (The National Library of Medicine reports that hair grows roughly 1 centimeter a month, on average, or about 0.4 inches.)

 At 38, I’m well past the optimal years, and I’ve found that my hair tends to grow under half an inch each month, with enough breakage at the ends that my stylist is often asking me to go shorter and blunter with my haircuts to create more of a sense of fullness. After using this combo, my hair seems to be growing at a rate of about 0.6 inches per month—a solid boost—and I’m noticing less breakage overall. (And no, I don’t think all those baby hairs are signs of breakage; my hair would be much punier in a ponytail if so.)

Here’s the sticking point: At $206 for the duo (sold as the Healthy Hair Duo, BTW), the supplements and serum are pricier than some of the other supplements and serums on the market. They’re an investment—especially since, if you follow their regimen exactly, the duo will last you about a month. But if you’ve tried everything and are looking for a holistic approach to haircare—and your doctor agrees it’s a fit for you—it could be well worth it.