Exercises and Hair Growth: Do Workouts Really Help Hair Loss Prevention?

Exercise and hair growth? A healthy lifestyle is undoubtedly good for your body, and when it comes to hair growth, exercise may help speed things up. If you want healthier, thicker and richer hair, you may want to ramp up your exercise routine.

How does exercise help with hair growth?

Below, we'll explain a few of the benefits of exercise for hair growth.

Benefits of Exercises for Hair Growth

Many of the reasons people exercise can also help with hair growth: improved circulation, better sleep, stress reduction, immune system boost and more.

We're going to explain exactly how your exercise can help you boost hair growth, starting with circulation.

TIP: If you add in rice water hair care treatments, you can further improve your hair growth.

Increased Circulation

Blood circulation is indicative of a healthy lifestyle. The more you move, the more you “get your blood flowing.” Your hair follicles need oxygen and nutrients to grow, and how do you supply them?

Circulation.

Studies show that vascular supply increases with exercise, nourishing your hair follicles in the process.

Better Sleep

Exercise for hair growth goes beyond just your waking hours. A good night’s sleep improves cell regeneration. During the shedding cycle, your hair follicles need sleep to allow tissue growth.

Lack of sleep has also been shown to weaken hair follicles and impact hormones.

If you have dry and dull hair, try sleeping more.

DHT Reduction

DHT stimulates the hair follicles, and if levels are too high, overstimulation occurs and can actually lead to thinner, lighter hair. Cardio activities will increase DHT levels for up to 60 minutes after exercise and then they’ll fall afterward.

Stress Reduction

Stress is never good for your hair. Mayo Clinic reports that high-stress levels lead to hair loss – the exact opposite of what you want to achieve. Exercise and hair growth are intrinsically tied together because exercise will:

• Reduce stress by 30% or higher in most people
• Improve the production of endorphins

Even a 20-minute walk or run can help reduce stress levels.

Oxygen Supply

Exercise causes you to expend more energy, and if you’re performing cardio or HIIT, you’ll try to catch your breath, too. Increasing your physical fitness helps your body more efficiently transport oxygen to your body and hair follicles.

Boosts Immune System

Can exercise help hair growth? Yes, in many ways. One reason that people exercise, aside from wanting to look and feel good, is because it boosts their immune system. If your immune system is weak, it can lead to:

• Infections
• Hair loss

Strengthening your immune system through exercise reduces these risks, allowing your hair to remain healthy and strong.

Balances Hormones

Exercise for hair growth also involves hormones. A properly planned fitness routine helps the body regulate hormones, improving overall hair growth.

Exercises for Hair Growth and Prevention of Hair Loss

Virtually any exercise can help improve hair growth and prevent hair loss, but some are more effective than others. These are the best exercises to support hair growth.

Cardio

Although more research is needed, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence linking cardio and hair growth.

Cardio workouts get your heart pumping and your blood flowing. The increased blood circulation and oxygen to your blood cells benefit your hair follicles by encouraging a longer growth phase.

Swimming

If you’re not a fan of traditional cardiovascular exercise, swimming can provide the same hair growth benefits. In fact, swimming is a type of cardio exercise, so every lap you complete, you’re doing your part to boost your circulation and nourish your hair follicles.

Neck Exercises

Simple neck stretches and exercises can help alleviate tension and stress in this key area of the body, allowing more blood to flow to your scalp.

Try adding neck rotations, flexions and bend-strengthening exercises to your routine to support your hair growth.

Scalp Massage

There is plenty of evidence linking physical exercise and hair growth, but there’s another form of exercise that can be just as effective: scalp massage.

A scalp massage is, in a way, a form of exercise for your hair follicles. The massaging motion helps stimulate circulation and blood flow to your scalp. You can use your fingers to give your scalp a gentle massage, or you can use a shower brush to help stimulate your scalp.

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HIIT Exercises

Like with cardio, HIIT exercise and hair growth go hand-in-hand. High-intensity training – moving from one exercise to another with no rest – elevates your heart rate. HIIT boosts your circulation and causes you to work up a sweat, which is also great for your scalp health.

Jogging or Running

Many athletes believe there’s a link between running and hair growth. Jogging or running increases oxygen levels in your blood cells and improves blood flow to all areas of the body, including your scalp.

Final Thoughts

Can exercise stimulate hair growth? Evidence suggests that, yes, there is a link between the two. Exercise boosts circulation and oxygen levels, which may help extend your hair growth phase. But exercise also helps support body functions that contribute to hair growth and health.