Statistics show that over 25 million women and 35 million men experience hair loss by the age of 35. Many of these cases can be attributed to stress, something which could potentially be combatted with exercise.
In this article, we explore how exercise could encourage hair growth by reducing stress levels.
Exercising can play an important role in promoting hair growth.
Exercise is a stress reliever and can help open hair follicles which leads to new hair growth. Additionally, exercise can also increase blood flow to the scalp, skin, and muscles. Increased blood flow brings more oxygen and nutrients, which nourish hair roots and encourage hair growth.
Exercise And Hair Growth
Stress is a leading cause of hair loss and many choose to combat stress through regular exercise.
As you exercise, your body produces endorphins, a chemical responsible for boosting your mood.
The production of endorphins also helps you sleep better, which significantly reduces your stress level.
Regular exercise also helps to release natural oils from your scalp, which nourish and moisturize the roots of your hair.
This helps to stimulate the hair follicles and can encourage hair growth.
Too much dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can also cause hair loss.
In fact, high levels of DHT have been associated with male pattern baldness.
Performing moderate exercises at least five times a week can help regulate the production of DHT.
Do however be careful with extreme performance sports like bodybuilding as this can increase your DHT production.
Also Read: How To Use Pomelo Oil For Hair Growth
How Much Growth Can You Expect?
Your hair grows at an average rate of 0.5 to 1.7 centimeters per month or 0.7 inches per month.
Therefore, if you exercise regularly, you can potentially expect to improve your hair growth by more than this rate.
It is however important to note that different factors dictate how fast your hair grows. They include:
- Sex – Males have faster hair growth than females
- Age – Hair grows faster when you’re between 15 and 30 years. After this age, some follicles can stop working, which is why some people go bald or have thinner hair
- Nutrition – Good nutrition is vital for the growth and maintenance of healthy hair.
Best Exercises for Hair Growth
Performing moderate to high-level workouts can help boost hair growth.
Here’s a detailed insight into the different exercises that can help improve your hair growth:
Jogging
Jogging helps you sweat.
When this happens, it opens your scalp pores and flushes out toxin build-up in your hair.
This leads to an increase in the blood flowing to your scalp, promoting the healthy growth of your hair.
Cardio Exercises
Cardio exercises help in boosting sebum production. This is an oily substance which coats your hair strands, preventing your hair and scalp from drying.
Performing cardio exercises at least three times a week can help to promote healthy hair.
An excellent exercise you may want to consider is the side-to-side hop exercise.
Here are the steps to take for better results.
- You need to stand straight, keeping your feet at a hip-width gap, and position your arms like you’re jogging
- You then bend backward in the same manner
- Jump left and right for about three minutes
Neck Exercises
Neck exercise is a good way to increase hair growth as it releases stress and tension in your surrounding muscles.
By doing front-to-back and side-to-side movements, it helps in improving the circulation of blood to your scalp, which enhances the growth of your hair.
For better results, here are a few steps to take:
- Stand upright and ensure your hands are relaxed on either side
- You should then slowly bend your neck to the back and in the front. Ensure that you extend it as much as you can
- Bend your head to the side and stretch it for about 10 seconds.
Breathing Exercises
This exercise is also commonly referred to as a shining forehead.
It involves different exhalations and inhalations that can assist in delaying the greying of hair. It can also prevent loss of hair and promote hair growth.
- Find a comfortable sitting position and ensure that you keep your back straight
- Breath in and at the same time pulling in your stomach, then exhale
- Ensure that your exhalation is brief and inhalation longer
- Do this continuously 20 times
Scalp Massage
This is an inexpensive, simple exercise that can help boost the growth of your hair.
Massaging your scalp helps increase the blood flowing to your scalp as it opens the pores on your head.
It even enables you to relax, which reduces your stress level, boosting hair growth.
- Choose an oil that packs a lot of nutrients and warm it up
- Use a comb to part your hair, then apply oil on your scalp using your fingers
- Use gentle strokes to distribute oil around your scalp
- Increase the stroke intensity to help improve the blood flowing to your scalp
Also Read: How To Use Black Pepper Oil for Hair Growth
The Inversion Method
This is a technique that helps your hair become more lustrous by increasing blood flow to the scalp.
The first step is to perform a head massage which is necessary for stimulating your follicles.
It would also be best if you hung upside down as it helps increase the blood flowing to your scalp.
Here’s the proper process to follow for this technique:
- Begin by applying hair oil on your scalp and rub it in a circular motion with your fingers for five minutes.
- Lay in your bed and ensure that your head is facing down towards the floor. It’s also crucial that the edge of your bed supports your neck
- Stay in this position for a few minutes
Note: consult a doctor before attempting the inversion method if you have any medical conditions.
Washing Your Hair After Exercise
Most people think that they have to wash their hair after every workout session.
When you exercise, the build-up of sweat can make you feel like you need a good scrub.
Regardless, it’s always advisable to shampoo your hair at least three times a week, even if you are a heavy sweater.
Why Is This Necessary
Excessive shampoo can deprive your scalp of its natural oils. This means that regular shampooing can make your hair drier.
So, if you exercise daily, ensure that you thoroughly rinse your hair with plain water and apply conditioner afterward. Do this at least four to five days a week.
Steps To Wash Your Hair the Right Way
If you exercise for hair growth regularly and sweat heavily, it’s necessary to know how to wash your hair the right way. Here are the steps you need to follow.
1. Prepare Your Hair
Before you begin to shampoo your hair, it’s important to brush out your tangles. This ensures that your hair doesn’t get matted as you shampoo.
You should then oil your hair and leave it for about an hour before washing it.
This helps to open the scalp pores for better absorption of oil nutrients.
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2. Rinse Your Hair Gently
When rinsing your hair, be sure to use lukewarm water as it helps to wash off dry skin and removes extra oil from hair.
Remember that you should never rub your hair immediately, but you have to wait until it’s soaking wet.
3. Choose a Shampoo for Your Hair Type
Picking a shampoo for your hair type is essential because you may damage your hair if you don’t take this measure seriously.
If you have fine hair (you can’t feel or see a hairline between your fingertips), consider using a clarifying shampoo.
A coarse or thick hair requires that you use products with moisturizing properties.
If you have color-treated hair, you may want to consider a product that doesn’t strip your hair dye when you wash it.
When applying shampoo, begin from the scalp moving down to the tip of your hair. Ensure that you work it up to lather before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
Remember, if you exercise daily, you must wash your hair with shampoo at least three to four times a day.
For the remaining days, rinse your hair with lukewarm water and apply a conditioner.
4. Apply Conditioner
You need to apply a hair conditioner once you have thoroughly rinsed the shampoo from your hair.
This is necessary as it helps to bind your hair cuticles and ensures your hair retains moisture.
When applying your conditioner, do it along the length of your hair, not the scalp.
You should then leave it for about one minute before rinsing it with cold water.
Other Tips to Make Hair Grow Faster
Besides doing exercise for hair growth, there are different ways to make your hair grow faster. Here are a few worth noting.
- Be sure to abstain from any hairstyle that’s tight or tying your hair too often. This can result in inflamed follicles, which hinder hair growth.
- Don’t use any tool that produces a lot of heat. Hot hair equipment and straighteners will not only cause your hair to break and dry, but they can strip away its moisture content.
- In addition to exercising, you need to eat the right food. Foods that are rich in vitamin A omega-3 and iron can help to promote healthy hair
- It’s advisable to invest in hair serum to offer instant shine and prevent hair damage by reducing tangles
- Ensure that you wrap your hair with a microfiber towel as it helps absorb more water. Rubbing the hair with a towel causes more damage.
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