I Tried Harklinikken, the Buzzy Scandinavian Hair-Growth System

My hair has always been my “thing.” There was no product or treatment I wouldn’t try if it promised me longer, straighter, thicker, glossier hair. From Japanese straightening to Brazilian blowouts to every deep conditioning scalp treatment under the sun (and let’s not forget those three years of tape-in hair extensions), I've pretty much tried it all; my quest for gorgeous hair was never-ending.

However, my most recent hair escapade stopped me dead in my tracks. On Tuesday, June 4, 2019, I checked myself into a hair rehab of sorts at the flagship Harklinikken Clinic in New York City, and it has since been my most eye-opening and, dare I say, life-changing hair experience to date. Keep reading to find out what Harklinikken is all about and my experience.

The Bottom Line

The Harklinikken hair system is pricey, but the consultation, custom formula, hands-on approach to hair loss, and the results make it worth your money (and time).

What Is Harklinikken?

Harklinikken is a Scandinavian brand dedicated to those dealing with hair thinning, loss, or other hair issues. While it’s hardly the first company to help in the hair loss fight—brands like Rogaine and Nioxin have been serving up fan-favorite over-the-counter minoxidil formulas for decades—the Harklinikken difference lies in the education and personalized experience built off of 27 years of clinical research.

Think of them as the personal trainers of hair treatments, building customer regimens for each client and providing a loyal support system to keep you on track for results. While it’s not a difficult process, it is a process, and one that requires a daily change in your typical rinse-repeat hair regimen you’re likely currently following.

How Harklinikken Works

The knowledgeable team at Harklinikken breaks things down quite simply, noting that strong, healthy hairs are deeply rooted in your scalp and take up 100 percent of the root surface area. Over time, as hair goes through its normal life cycle and sheds, the hair that grows back in its place is often not as deeply rooted and takes up only a fraction of the surface area of the original strand. Imagine this process, known as miniaturization, multiplied over your entire head and re-occurring over several hair life cycles, with each new hair coming back as a fraction of what it once was. When this is influenced by hormones, it's known as female. pattern or androgenetic alopecia, which can create severe thinning.

The team explains that the Harklinikken treatment aims to reverse the miniaturization process by boosting the quality of the hair follicles currently on your head and helping to activate dormant hair follicles that had shrunken to nothingness.

About My Hair

I have to admit: leading up to this day, I was an advocate for the twice, even once, per week shampoo schedule. Regularly using dry shampoo and other instant hair-refreshing products helped me skip daily washing. I was so dedicated to my fool-proof, lazy-girl system that I proudly published articles about my strategic haircare routine and how I’d expertly stretch a blowout to last me seven full days.

My hair was long, with the typical split ends that come from occasionally sandwiching your hair between two 400-degree hot plates. And while from an outsider’s glance, my hair appeared relatively healthy, I was admittedly experiencing regular dry, flaky patches on my scalp, and I was becoming increasingly self-conscious about the fine, cowlick-y patches I had along my hairline by my temples. I also felt that despite my best efforts, my hair was halted at that medium-long-but-not-long-long length, which I was desperate to move past.

The Science Behind Topical Treatments for Hair Loss

"There is real science behind topical treatments for hair loss," board-certified dermatologist Jeremy Fenton, MD, explains. "However, the strength of that science varies quite a bit depending on the ingredients. For example, topical minoxidil has the strongest scientific evidence that it can slow the rate of loss and even regrow hair. It's the only FDA-approved topical treatment for hair loss."

Cosmetic chemist David Petrillo echoes that assessment, noting that some topical treatments "can help with hair growth and improve the appearance of thinning hair. However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of these treatments can vary depending on the underlying cause of hair loss and individual factors."

When looking at the ingredients in the Harklinikken products, there are some oils (like argan) that anecdotally have been found to help with hair strength, but as dermatologist Hadley King, MD, notes, the jury's out on their scientific efficacy. "The bottom line, for oil treatments, is that we need bigger and better studies to concretely evaluate whether or not these kinds of ingredients may help and why," she says.

The Consultation

The first step was a scalp analysis, which can also be booked as an online consultation using Facetime or Skype if you're not conveniently located near one of the brand's three locations (New York, Tampa, and Los Angeles).

This was where I met the man I can only refer to as a hair magician: Harklinikken founder and head of research and development Lars Skjoth. One look under the microscope and Lars informed me that my scalp health was out of whack. As it turns out, my lack of washing and excessive dry shampoo usage left me with a minor bacterial skin condition on my scalp that needed to be addressed before I could even begin the extract treatment.

The Detox Regimen

This was when I began the "pre-tox detox." My product arsenal consisted of Harklinkken Balancing Shampoo and Daily Conditioner for my ends and Nizoral— an over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoo—for my roots. For four weeks, I was to wash my hair every day—which, for the record, was a major life change for me. The real catch was that the Nizoral shampoo was to be applied only to my roots, massaged for 30 seconds, then left to sit for 10 minutes—which, in shower time, feels like an eternity. I had to carefully rinse out the shampoo, tilting my head just right so that the Nizoral went straight down the drain without running through the ends of my hair, which were being washed with a more hydrating formula. It was hardly the most glamorous step in this hair rehab process, but a necessary reset before I could begin treatment. I was committed.

When I returned to the Harklinikken Clinic four weeks later, I received a glowing checkup from Lars and was cleared to begin treatment. Lars then walked me through my new hair rehab process. While my scalp health had improved dramatically during pre-tox, he explained that the luster, thickness, and regrowth could be improved by 60 to 75 percent if I committed to the treatment. Say what? The concept of nearly doubling my hair's thickness seemed impossible. I'm the first to admit it wasn't nearly as thick as it once was during college, but I'd hardly consider my hair thinning. Nonetheless, the promise of living out my real-life Blake Lively hair dreams was enough to get me to commit and follow everything this hair genius told me.

The Harklinikken At-Home Regimen

The actual Harklinikken treatment consisted of more Harklinikken Balancing Shampoo and Daily Conditioner for daily washings, then the Harklinkken Leave-In Hair Hydrating Crème to apply to my lengths multiple times a day, followed with Harklinkken Extract, which is formulated with burdock root, marigold, and proprietary ingredients derived from cow's milk that bring your hair back to life. In some cases, low-dose minoxidil may be added to the extract in concentrations lower than those currently available over the counter; however, this is rare and customized based on the client's needs. The custom extract is individually tailored to serve your specific hair care needs and formulated by a Harklinikken specialist, who continually adjusts the blend throughout the program based on progress and ongoing evaluations.

This was the slightly tricky part: I was supposed to apply the topical extract twice a day on dry hair—the first and second applications needed to be applied one hour apart and massaged into the scalp for about 30 seconds once applied. Then, I was to leave it on for at least eight hours before washing it out. The extract comes with a plastic applicator syringe to help measure the four milliliter, twice-daily treatments and has a fine tip that makes it easy to trace along your scalp to apply. I start at one side of my head, working my way over to the other, applying in straight lines from the hairline back.

The Feel

The Balancing Shampoo is a gel-texture shampoo that provides a gentle, non-stripping lather that's perfect for all hair types. The Daily Conditioner rounds out the formula with aloe vera and avocado oil, two ingredients that lend this product its creamy, yet lightweight feel. You only need one to two pumps to completely coat your strands. The Extract is the "messiest" of the bunch—its texture is slightly heavier than water, so you kind of need to tilt your head back to prevent it from dripping down your face.

The Results

My Six Week Checkup

It took a little strategizing to sync up the washing and application routine, but I became accustomed to packing my extract and syringe with me everywhere so I could always get the job done. I was super diligent during the first six weeks of treatment. I eliminated the use of all hot tools and washed every single day (except July 22, and yes, I still feel a little guilty about it, and applied the leave-in cream upwards of four times a day for added hydration). My six-week check-up with Lars was the proof: The first set of before and after photos revealed noticeable improvement in hair density, fullness, and shine. If that’s not motivation to keep on keeping on, I don’t know what is.

My Eight Month Update

Eight months after I first committed to Harklinikken’s hair rehab clinic, my hair had never looked better. The texture became noticeably softer but also significantly stronger and less brittle. The color and shine reached glossy levels I previously only knew possible after a salon visit. My split ends were practically nonexistent, and the sparse, thinning areas were slowly filling in. Despite the new growth being itty bitty (only about one to two inches off my scalp), I could definitely feel the fullness of the new hairs filling in and have the pictures to prove it.

While I didn't notice the subtle day-to-day (or even week-to-week) improvements, the side-by-side comparisons of my results over eight months can confirm some amazing things were happening behind the scenes.

My New Routine

My washing frequency evolved over the months I was using the products. I went from shampooing daily (as I did during the first eight weeks) to three or four times a week for the last five months. The Harklinikken specialists ensure this is an acceptable adjustment that fits within the prescribed hair rehab compliance scope. My hot tool usage remained limited, although I did turn to the occasional blow dryer and heated paddle brush from time to time. I have, however, sworn off my flatiron indefinitely (RIP). Although in fairness, it has become easier and easier to accept my natural hair texture and wavy curl pattern as it’s continued to evolve into glossier, shinier strands over the last eight months.

So, you might be thinking—where exactly did I fall short? The answer lies in the extract. While I was religious about getting the first application on my scalp daily, the second application (which is supposed to be applied 30 to 60 minutes after the first) regularly posed a challenge for me. I was consistently skipping the second application about half the time, and no, I don’t have any good excuse why. Sometimes I forgot about it completely; sometimes, I was straight-up lazy. I don’t mean to beat myself up about this—after all, I’m only human, and all things considered, I was doing a pretty good job with the process. However, a visit to Harklinikken for a checkup put matters into perspective for me. The Harklinikken specialists shared the following compliance chart with me, which mapped out the expected results based on how well you were sticking to the regimen.

In complying with the two extract applications only 50 percent of the time, my results percentage went from 90 percent to a jaw-dropping 30 percent. Yikes! Here I was putting in almost all the work and reaping one-third of the potential benefit. The reality was the incredible results that people were experiencing with Harklinikken’s treatment were completely dependent on compliance. This is also a huge reason why their experience is so personalized and grounded in education and support, which empowers you to prioritize your commitment to the program to experience max potential improvements. In pursuit of the best results possible, I quickly found time to squeeze in that second 30-second application and have made it happen 100 percent of the time ever since that checkup (funny how that works).

The Cost

The process begins with a consultation with a Harklinikken hair specialist, which ranges from $49 for an online live chat meeting to $175 for an in-person appointment. If it’s determined that your hair loss concerns are aligned with their results-driven regimen, you are recommended a hair treatment system consisting of two to five products. A typical hair regimen includes the basics, like shampoo and conditioner, and a selection of hydrating and styling products, including masks, leave-ins, gels, and sprays that best fit your haircare needs. Side note: My daily, can’t-live-without favorite product from the mix is the Harklinikken Leave-In Hair Hydrating Crème. I apply it to wet hair post-shower and dry hair at least two to three times throughout the day for added conditioning and smoothing effects. I have relied on this bottle as my only styling product for the last eight months, and I swear it’s helped to seal my once prominent split ends to the point that I can’t even find any to pick at anymore.

Favorites aide, the real star of the Harklinikken hair loss treatment system is the custom hair growth extract. This extract is the secret sauce responsible for stimulating the dormant hair follicles and triggering all the impressive hair regrowth you see in the pictures. There’s no way to sugarcoat it: $100-$250+ every one to two months for your haircare products is an investment. But similar to your skincare regimen or gym membership, it’s a commitment to feeling your best self.

Pros + Cons

Pros

• Personalized experience
• Consults available via Skype or FaceTime
• Reverses hair loss
• Products soothe the scalp and nourish hair

Cons

• Must follow regimen strictly
• Results take time
• Results aren't for everyone

As Fenton notes, these results might not be the same for everyone. "Topical treatments such as minoxidil (and possibly ketoconazole) can certainly stimulate growth in some people [if the] hair follicles just recently shut down," Fenton says. "But once a follicle has been dormant for a certain amount of time, that hair follicle will never regrow again. Many of the other topical treatments on the market are likely just going to make your existing hair look fuller and less thin without actually increasing the number of active hair follicles."

The Final Verdict

My first hair rehab feature stirred up tons of responses from family, friends, and readers. I was once again shocked by how many people—friends and strangers—were struggling with hair loss insecurities and searching for a solution or, at the very least, a relatable set of ears to open up to about their frustrations and concerns.

Before this experience, I was quick to ignore my own hair-thinning insecurities, often relying on a strategic hair flip or a good blowout to mask my lack of confidence. I am grateful to be able to share my experience using the Harklinikken Hair Loss Treatment and shed some light on the once-taboo topic of hair thinning and loss. Remember, you’re not alone. If my journey and results are any indication, there are solutions that work in helping you achieve the hair of your beauty dreams. All it takes is an investment in yourself. And a whole lot of patience.