Everybody would love to have thick and healthy hair because it is generally a sign of beauty and well-being. Unfortunately, not all of us were blessed with that feature, and many people experience a number of hair-related issues such as hair loss, split ends, breakage, premature balding, and others.
Luckily, nowadays, there are plenty of successful methods that can help provide a solution for these hair health problems. Some of them are natural remedies that you can try at home, while others are medical procedures performed by doctors and hair experts.
How to Stimulate Hair Growth: 10 Common Ways to Support Healthy Hair and a Healthy Scalp
Because of our lifestyle, hormonal imbalances, or hereditary factors, we are either dealt age-resistant natural hair with healthy hair growth, or we have to deal with hair loss or slow hair growth. The following hair care techniques can help you stimulate natural hair growth, primarily through working your way to a healthy scalp.
Let’s start with the natural remedies that anybody can try at home, and then work our way through some modern medical procedures.
Natural Ways to Support Regular Hair Growth
There are plenty of things you can do at home that may promote healthy hair growth. Here are some of the most common solutions:
- Massaging the Scalp
A scalp that has proper blood circulation is healthier and allows the hair to grow quicker. If blood flow doesn’t reach your hair follicles, they will wither and die. It also appears that scalp massages can lead to thicker hair strands. You can use essential oils to perform this activity or create your own mix of natural oils and natural ingredients that contain ginseng, peppermint, coconut oil, castor oil, lavender, and even olive oil.
- Use a Hydrating Conditioner
Your hair tresses need proper and constant hydration. You can achieve that by applying a good conditioner on a regular basis. This is an excellent way to offer your hair its much-needed nutrients. Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Maintain a Well-Balanced Diet
One of the main reasons that lead to impaired hair growth can be zinc or iron deficiency. Make sure to consume enough lean meat and green veggies because they are rich in the aforementioned minerals. You could also try multivitamin tablets or dietary supplements that contain one or a combo of the following nutrients, which all support the overall health of your scalp and hair follicles: biotin, keratin, vitamin E, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Regardless of what you decide to supplement your diet with, you should always check with your physician before adding it to your regimen to make sure it fits and doesn’t interact with anything else.
Finally, you could also make some healthy changes to your daily diet:
- Consume foods that are rich in B vitamins
- Make sure your meals are made with ingredients that contain amino acids
- Include lean protein in your eating habits
- Take Good Care of Your Hair
Comb your hair daily and do it properly by starting from the roots and finishing around the tips. If your hair tends to get tangled easily, you should do this process the other way around, starting from the tips. Combing your hair resembles a scalp massage that improves blood circulation.
Keep both your hair strands and scalp clean but avoid using harsh hair products. Instead, opt for a milder shampoo. If you choose to apply hair oils or hair masks, you should rinse very carefully after (with the exception of leave-in products).
Another way to go is by minimizing heat styling. Overusing tools like hair straighteners might damage your hair and make it frizzy and dull. Don’t get carried away by the latest hairstyles that involve the use of many hair styling products. Side effects of applying too much of them or using them improperly can lead to hair and scalp damage.
- Sleep on Silk Pillows
A silk pillow has a smooth surface, which lowers hair friction. Too much hair friction when you’re asleep can cause hair thinning. If you protect your hair and prevent these damages, you will reap the benefits of better hair growth.
How to Stimulate Hair Growth through Adequate Medical Treatments and Procedures
If all the remedies you have tried at home didn’t work, you should probably go see a specialist and discover whether or not there’s a more serious problem that leads to your impaired hair growth. Here are some of the treatments and procedures that doctors could recommend.
- Collagen Powder
It appears that collagen, especially the marine-sourced kind, can support healthy hair growth. More studies are needed to come to some final conclusions, but it is said that collagen powder might lead to thicker, healthier hair if you apply it between 3 and 6 months, on a daily basis.
- Minoxidil
The generic name of Rogaine is minoxidil, which is a drug that was first used as a cure for high blood pressure. Many patients then noticed that, after the treatment, their hair appeared to thicken. So, now a lot of people believe that a small dose of minoxidil can help promote regular hair growth.
Don’t expect this drug to work as a miracle solution, although it doesn’t restore the entire hairline or hair density, it can produce the appearance of new fine hair strands. Still, patients must wait a couple of months before seeing any significant results.
- Laser Treatments
Laser treatments are some of the modern high-tech regrowth therapies. During this type of procedure, our hair and scalp are exposed to mild levels of laser light. It is believed that this can increase the amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in your hair follicles.
ATP is in charge of how much energy follicle cells receive, and when they are fed with enough energy, those cells may see improved functioning, hence the promotion of hair growth. Apparently, you need to attend weekly sessions of laser therapy for about three months to kick-start this hair-loss treatment.
- Microneedling
Microneedling is done with a tool that’s called a derma-roller, which is a roller that features many tiny needles. Those needles go through the skin on your scalp and create minor skin injuries, and it is believed that this method can promote regular new hair growth.
- Hair Transplant- The proven and most effective method!
Hair transplant is a very popular procedure in the United States and around the world. It was first introduced as a solution to hair loss in the 1950s. Early on, doctors would perform it to treat androgenic alopecia. Nowadays, technology is much more advanced, and the procedure is significantly less painful, with a quicker recovery.
Many surgeons are now relying on follicular unit transplantation (FUT). This technique became available in the 1990s. During this operation, the doctor removes a small scalp strip and then divides it into numerous tiny grafts. Each graft contains several hairs. The grafts are then inserted in those places where the hair is missing.
Doctors at the NHI Medical perform both types of hair transplants: FUT and FUE, which stand for “follicular unit transplant” and “follicular unit excision,” respectively. These procedures are permanent, which means the results should last a lifetime if they are done correctly.
How to Stimulate Hair Growth – FAQ
Here are some questions that people usually ask when it comes to hair loss, hair transplants, and other hair-related treatments.
How old do you have to be to get a hair transplant?
Most surgeons think that patients should wait until they turn 30 before doing a hair transplant, but some doctors agree to perform these procedures on people who are in their mid-20s. That depends a lot on each patient’s situation and the intensity of their problem.
The ideal candidates are individuals between 25 and 65 years old. Men should wait till they turn 25 to see exactly their fully-formed hairline pattern.
Are hair transplants permanent?
Yes, hair transplants, as long as they are performed properly by an experienced surgeon, can last a lifetime. Even if signs of aging start to show, they might appear only after more than 20 years since the procedure. So, hair transplants are considered permanent medical solutions for hair loss.
How can you effectively stimulate hair follicles?
You can encourage proper hair growth by stimulating your hair follicles in several different ways:
- Massaging your scalp with essential oils is one way to go. Not only could this promote regular hair growth, but it will also hydrate and nourish your hair roots and scalp. Using oils while doing this is recommended because, otherwise, you may tangle your hair strands.
- Comb your hair with a boar bristle brush that has natural bristles. Start from the tips of your hairs to detangle them and then work your way until you reach the roots. Combing your hair should be done with long and gentle strokes.
What types of oils might stimulate hair growth?
Here are some of the essential oils that are said to support hair growth and nourish your scalp:
- Lavender oil
- Rosemary oil
- Lemongrass oil
- Peppermint oil
- Thyme oil
- Tea tree essential oil
Could dead follicles grow back?
Dead follicles cannot regrow hair. But, even if you deal with thin hair strands that feature a fuzzy texture, it means that your follicles are still alive, which further means that you can work to improve their health as long as you take proper care of your head of hair.
How to Stimulate Hair Growth – Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many methods that can support your body’s normal function of new hair growth: natural, medicinal, and surgical. For some people, natural remedies can go a long way, but for many others, those methods are simply not enough. In those cases, making an appointment with a hair-loss specialist and perhaps scheduling a hair transplant might be the only viable solution.
Sources:
1.https://www.hairguard.com/how-to-stimulate-new-hair-growth/
2.https://www.allure.com/story/hair-loss-treatment-plans
3.https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/cosmetic-procedures-hair-loss#1
4.https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/regrow-hair-naturally#massage
5.https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/treating-female-pattern-hair-loss