8 surprising ways exercise gives you healthier hair

by Tina Sendin April 28, 2020

Why do people work out?

To get answers to this million dollar question, we visited the be-all and end-all of all Q&A’s… Reddit. And here are some of the interesting responses:

 

 

All good and interesting answers.

But how about adding this to the mix – “So I’ll have thicker and fuller hair.” 

Odd as that sound, exercise can lead to healthier hair. While there’s no study or scientific evidence supporting this claim, the connection makes total sense. Regular exercise leads to improved blood circulation, which stimulates growth in hair follicles. Essentially, having a healthy body means glowing skin and a shiny, luscious mane.

Here are 8 other ways regular exercise can lead to healthier hair:

 

1. Overall enhanced health

Regular workout results in a healthier cardiovascular system and helps you avoid certain risks of suffering from medical conditions that may eventually affect hair growth.

 

2. Less stress and anxiety

Notice that happier and lighter feeling you get post-workout? Most people call that “happy hormones.” When you exercise, you release serotonin, which is responsible for that happier and lighter feeling. [1] This is why some people go to the gym or attend yoga sessions regularly – they instantly get into a much better mood. What’s the link with hair growth? Stress and anxiety can lead to hair loss. [2] The less stressed and anxious you are, the healthier your mane gets.

via GIPHY

 

3. Better cell renewal

When we sleep, cell regeneration occurs. Given that hair is composed of proteins, which are essential for cell growth and regeneration, getting ample sleep is very important. Regular exercise allows us to get better quality sleep, resulting in better cell renewal and healthier hair.

 

4. Nourished hair follicles

Our hair follicles get oxygen and nutrients through blood vessels. When we regularly workout, our blood flow and body temperature rises in the scalp and throughout our body. Increased blood circulation means more nutrients and oxygen for our hair, prompting faster growth.

 

5. Faster blood pumping

Cardio exercises get our heart beating faster, resulting in faster pumping of blood throughout our system. This repairs the damage caused by harmful pollutants, sun exposure, harsh wind, chemicals from hair products, etc. Regular cardio exercises – say 2-3x a week – results in more efficient blood circulation in the scalp, resulting in healthy hair!

 

6. Sweating

Perspiration not only gets rid of dirt and toxins from your body, it also regulates hormones in your system. Your scalp will definitely thank you for breaking a sweat as it says adieu to free-radicals and inflammation.

 

7. More natural oils

Workout prompts your scalp to produce more natural oils, which conditions your hair and gives it the natural shine and luster. Who needs conditioner off the shelf?

 

8. Back bends and inverted poses

Yoga helps in increasing blood circulation in the scalp because of inverted poses. It also eases stress and anxiety because of the meditation that goes with it.

via GIPHY

 

 

Conclusion

You can steer clear of hair loss by keeping a healthy mind and body. Veer away from stress, anxiety and medical conditions by exercising regularly and complementing it with a healthy diet and the right hair care supplements.

While exercise does all these amazing things for our locks, remember that proper hair care regimen is still very important. Look after your hair during workouts by wearing appropriate gear to prevent contact with sweat.

Also, cardio can definitely bring about the aforementioned benefits, but it can’t necessarily fix hair loss. Working out is only good for preventing hair loss and alleviating your overall health and mood; it does NOT treat nor reverse hair loss. 

For optimal results for your skin and hair, the American Heart Association recommends the following level of physical activity for adults:  [3]

• Get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week.
• Add moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity (such as resistance or weights) on at least 2 days per week.
• Spend less time sitting. Even light-intensity activity can offset some of the risks of being sedentary.
• Gain even more benefits by being active at least 300 minutes (5 hours) per week.
• Increase amount and intensity of exercise gradually over time.

 

Sources 

[1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/serotonin-facts-232248

[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/expert-answers/stress-and-hair-loss/faq-20057820

[3] http://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults

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