Among the many unconventional hair growth remedies people try, a few come with actual research behind them. One surprising example: pig oil (lard). Some studies suggest it promotes hair growth — but is it better than Minoxidil?
In this article based on his educational video, Dr. John Watts — a noted dermatologist, trichologist and hair transplant surgeon in Hyderabad who has performed over 1,900 hair transplant procedures — demystifies the treatment potential of pig oil for hair growth and explains the current research results.
The rat study: pig oil vs Minoxidil
Dr. Watts cites an experimental study on rats by researchers Surve G.M., Pawar M.H., Tembhurne S.V. and Sakarkar D.M. "The study titled 'Hair Growth promoting activity of Pig oil on Wister rats' showed that pig oil promotes hair growth on those suffering from alopecia," explained Dr. Watts.
In the experiment, Wister rats were divided into three groups after a small portion of their hair was removed with hair removal cream. The first group received 0.5 ml of pig oil, the second 0.5 ml of Minoxidil, and the third group was left untouched.
The pig oil group showed good hair growth by the 30th day, while the Minoxidil group showed results by the 35th day. "The results showed that pig oil has better potential for hair growth than Minoxidil," explained Dr. Watts.
The human self-experiment
Dr. Watts also narrated a human study — "Beneficial Effect of Lard in Androgenic Alopecia" — by researchers Thangaraju, Harmanjit Singh, Dibyajyoti Banerjee and Eswaran Thangaraju. One of the researchers, diagnosed with androgenic alopecia himself, had applied Minoxidil for 6 months three years earlier with no result on his bald spot.
For the experiment, he extracted 250 ml of pig oil by heating one kilogram of pig meat. "For over one year, he applied 5 ml of pig oil every day at night before going to sleep and photographed his scalp on the first day, 4th month and 8th month period," explained Dr. Watts. The study reported that lard brought very good results.
So should you use pig oil?
Despite the promising findings, Dr. Watts' answer is clear. "The answer is NO as more human trials are needed at this time. Though pig oil is highly potential for hair growth promotion, more studies are required. At the most, now only two FDA-approved drugs namely Minoxidil & Finasteride are available for use. For better results, a hair transplant procedure is also a solution," he explained.
The bottom line
Early research on pig oil is genuinely interesting — a rat study and one human self-experiment both showed encouraging hair growth. But two small studies do not make a treatment. Until larger human trials exist, stick to the proven options: the FDA-approved drugs Minoxidil and Finasteride, or a hair transplant for a permanent solution.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a qualified dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Does research support pig oil for hair growth?
Two studies show promise: a rat study where pig oil produced hair growth by day 30 (vs day 35 for Minoxidil), and a year-long human self-experiment in androgenic alopecia that reported very good results.
Does Dr. John Watts recommend using pig oil for hair growth?
No. He says more human trials are needed before it can be recommended, despite its potential.
What are the proven alternatives to pig oil?
Currently only two FDA-approved drugs are available — Minoxidil and Finasteride — and a hair transplant procedure is an option for better, permanent results.
