I Tried Both Oils on My Thinning Edges. Here's What Happened

By the Edge Naturale Editorial Team · Medically reviewed by Shelia Davis, Edge Naturale Medical Team · Last updated June 2026

Quick answer: Both products can support a healthier scalp and edges, but they work differently. The Mane Choice Do It Fro the Culture Oil is a multi-purpose scalp oil. Edge Naturale Follicle Enhancer is a cream specifically made for the hairline and edges, with peppermint to stimulate circulation and a richer base designed for targeted application.

Why Are Your Edges Thinning in the First Place?

Before we even talk about products, let's talk about what's actually happening. Thinning edges almost always trace back to one (or several) of the same causes: repeated tension from braids, weaves, wigs, or tight ponytails; lace front glue pulling at delicate follicles; postpartum shedding; or just the cumulative wear of years of protective styles without enough recovery time.

The American Academy of Dermatology recognizes traction alopecia as one of the most common preventable causes of hair loss in Black women. The follicle itself gets damaged from repeated pulling. If it's caught early, the follicle can recover. If the tension continues too long, the damage becomes permanent. That's the real urgency here.

No oil or cream will undo scar tissue. But if your follicles are still alive and just stressed, dormant, or inflamed, the right scalp care routine can make a real difference.

What Is The Mane Choice Do It Fro the Culture Oil?

The Mane Choice Do It Fro the Culture Oil is a blend of natural oils marketed toward promoting scalp health and supporting growth. It includes ingredients like castor oil, coconut oil, and various botanical oils. It has a loose, liquid consistency that spreads easily across the scalp.

Many people like it as a general scalp oil they can use across the whole head. It's light enough not to feel heavy, and the brand has a solid following in the natural hair community.

What it isn't, though, is a product built specifically for the hairline. The edges are a different situation. The skin there is thin, the follicles are small, and what works on the crown or nape doesn't always perform the same way at the perimeter.

What Is the Edge Naturale Follicle Enhancer?

The Follicle Enhancer is a cream, not an oil. That distinction matters. It's built around peppermint oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil. The peppermint brings a light cooling sensation that may help increase blood flow to the area when massaged in. Jojoba is structurally similar to the scalp's own sebum, so it absorbs without clogging. Argan and coconut give the formula enough slip and moisture to support fragile baby hairs.

The cream consistency means you can control exactly where it goes. No dripping down your face, no oil staining your pillowcase, no fighting to keep it on a one-inch strip of hairline. It was designed for edge work specifically, and that focus shows.

How Do They Actually Compare?

So Which One Should You Actually Use?

If your edges are noticeably thinning and you're trying to restore your hairline, use the product built for that job. Generalist products can play a supporting role, but they're not engineered for what you're dealing with.

That said, you don't have to choose one forever. Some women use a scalp oil like the Mane Choice across the rest of their scalp and use the Follicle Enhancer specifically on their edges. That's a completely reasonable approach.

A Step-by-Step Routine That Actually Targets Thinning Edges

1. Stop the damage first. No product works if you're still pulling your edges tight every day. Give the hairline real breaks between protective styles. This step is non-negotiable.
2. Cleanse regularly. Product buildup blocks follicles. Use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo on your edges every one to two weeks at minimum.
3. Apply a targeted product to the hairline. After washing and while your scalp is slightly damp, massage a small amount of Follicle Enhancer into your edges with your fingertips. The massage itself matters. It gets circulation going.
4. Be consistent. Daily application for at least eight to twelve weeks gives stressed follicles a real chance to respond. Results won't show up in two weeks. That's just how hair growth works.
5. Protect at night. Wrap your edges with a satin scarf or use a satin pillowcase. Friction at night is a slow but real source of breakage.
6. Track your progress. Take a photo every four weeks in the same lighting. This keeps you honest and motivated when progress feels slow.

The Myth I Need to Address

Here's the thing that nobody in this space says plainly enough: no oil, no cream, no serum can force a follicle to grow. What these products can do is create better conditions. They can reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, add moisture to brittle baby hairs, and make the scalp environment more hospitable to growth. Your body does the actual work.

If your edges have been thinning for years and you've had no results with anything, please see a board-certified dermatologist before spending more money on products. Permanent traction alopecia, alopecia areata, and androgenetic alopecia all need professional attention that no topical product replaces.

FAQs

Can I use both Edge Naturale Follicle Enhancer and The Mane Choice oil at the same time?

Yes, many women do. Use the Mane Choice oil across your scalp for general moisture and apply the Follicle Enhancer specifically to your edges. Just don't layer them on the same spot at the same time. Too much product on the hairline can clog follicles and cause more harm than good.

How long before I see results from either product?

Hair grows roughly half an inch per month on average. Visible regrowth at the edges typically takes a minimum of two to three months of consistent use, and that's only if the follicles are still active. Be patient and take monthly photos to track real progress.

Is The Mane Choice Do It Fro the Culture Oil good for traction alopecia specifically?

It may help support general scalp health, but it wasn't formulated specifically for traction alopecia or the unique needs of the hairline. If traction alopecia is your diagnosis, a product built for that area will give you better results than a general scalp oil.

Why does the Edge Naturale Follicle Enhancer use peppermint oil?

Peppermint oil creates a mild vasodilating effect when applied to the skin, which may increase circulation in the applied area. A small 2014 study published in Toxicological Research found that peppermint oil applied topically promoted hair growth in mice, though human clinical data is limited. What most users notice is the cooling sensation, which is the circulation response at work. Massage amplifies that effect.

My edges have been gone for years. Is it too late for products to help?

It depends on whether there's scar tissue. Long-standing traction alopecia can cause fibrosis in the follicle, which means the follicle can no longer produce hair. If the area is smooth, shiny, and has been bare for many years, a dermatologist can assess whether the follicles are still viable. If some activity remains, targeted scalp care may still help. Please get checked before assuming it's permanent.

Does the cream formula in the Follicle Enhancer work better on edges than a liquid oil?

For hairline application, yes, a cream tends to perform better in practice. It stays exactly where you put it, which matters when you're targeting a half-inch strip of skin. A liquid oil can spread past the hairline and onto the forehead or down the neck, which wastes product and can clog facial pores. For the edges specifically, precision matters.

This article is for education and is not medical advice. If you are worried about hair loss, see a board-certified dermatologist. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Edge Naturale products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.