Licorice Root for Hair: What the Research Shows

Licorice root is a traditional herbal ingredient that shows up in hair products, and there is some early research behind licorice-containing preparations. But the evidence on licorice root for hair is thin, and taken regularly in food or supplements it has a real safety caveat for blood pressure.

Here's what the research shows, what it doesn't, and what to watch for.

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Key Takeaways

• A 2023 systematic review of nutritional treatments for hair loss listed compound glycyrrhizin tablets among interventions with the highest-quality evidence of potential benefit. That is a prepared tablet, not licorice root as a food or tea.
• A lab study of a herbal microemulsion containing licorice root plus rice bran, shallot and corn extracts increased the growth of human dermal papilla cells. The mix, not licorice alone, was tested.
• We found no study of licorice root alone for hair growth in people.
• Regular licorice intake is linked to higher blood pressure and lower potassium.

What Is Licorice Root?

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a plant root used in herbal medicine, foods and personal care. Its main active compound is glycyrrhizin, which is what the safety research on licorice focuses on.

Does Licorice Root Help Hair?

Honestly, we can't say. The two hair findings below involve a licorice-containing preparation and a licorice-derived tablet, and neither tested licorice root on its own. Treat licorice products for hair as unproven.

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Using Licorice Safely

• Limit regular intake. Chronic licorice ingestion has effects on blood pressure and potassium, even at modest doses.
• Be careful if you have heart or blood pressure issues. Check with your doctor first.
• Patch test topical products and stop if you notice irritation.

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What The Research Shows

A Systematic Review Of Hair Loss Supplements

A 2023 systematic review looked at nutritional interventions for hair loss in people without a known nutritional deficiency. Interventions with the highest-quality evidence of potential benefit included compound glycyrrhizin tablets, along with zinc, an apple nutraceutical and others. Adverse effects were rare and mild across the therapies evaluated (Drake et al., 2023).

A Herbal Mix In The Lab

A microemulsion made from rice bran, shallot bulb, licorice root and corn kernel extracts increased the proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla cells more than minoxidil in the lab, upregulated hair growth signalling pathways, and inhibited 5α-reductase. It was a four-extract mix tested in cells, so it can't show what licorice root does by itself (Muangsanguan et al., 2024).

Blood Pressure And Potassium

A meta-analysis of 18 studies (337 people) found that chronic ingestion of products with at least 100 mg of glycyrrhizic acid a day raised systolic blood pressure by 5.45 mm Hg and diastolic by 3.19 mm Hg, and lowered plasma potassium. The authors flagged particular relevance for people with cardiovascular disease (Penninkilampi et al., 2017).

See also: Oyster Extract for Hair: Zinc, Evidence & What to Know · Hair Growth Products: What the Research Supports

Frequently Asked Questions

Can licorice root help with hair loss?

We found no study of licorice root alone for hair loss. A review listed a compound glycyrrhizin tablet among interventions with potential benefit, and a lab study of a licorice-containing mix showed effects on follicle cells.

Is licorice root safe?

In small amounts occasionally, probably. Regular intake of glycyrrhizic acid raised blood pressure and lowered potassium in a meta-analysis, so talk to your doctor if you have a heart condition or blood pressure concerns.

Is it safe for all hair types?

We found no study that addresses hair types. Patch test any new product.

References

1. Drake L, Reyes-Hadsall S, Martinez J, et al. Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements for Treating Hair Loss: A Systematic Review. JAMA Dermatol. 2023. PubMed
2. Muangsanguan A, Ruksiriwanich W, Linsaenkart P, et al. Synergistic Phytochemical and Pharmacological Actions of Hair Rise(TM) Microemulsion: A Novel Herbal Formulation for Androgenetic Alopecia and Hair Growth Stimulation. Plants (Basel). 2024. PubMed
3. Penninkilampi R, Eslick EM, Eslick GD. The association between consistent licorice ingestion, hypertension and hypokalaemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hum Hypertens. 2017. PubMed