Did you know your scalp boasts the highest blood circulation in your body? It’s no wonder there’s a crucial relationship between blood flow and hair growth.
In this article, we’ll unpack the science, looking at what the research says about how good blood flow nourishes hair follicles and impacts the hair growth cycle — and conversely, how poor blood circulation may cause hair loss.
We’ll also look at the good stuff — how you can increase blood circulation to your scalp with simple, science-backed techniques like scalp massages and proven hair growth therapies.
Does Good Blood Circulation = Better Hair Growth?
To understand the role of blood circulation in hair growth, we’ve got to take a look at the hair growth process.
It starts with the hair follicle.
Your follicles grow hair in cycles called the hair growth cycle. There’s the anagen phase where hair grows, the catagen phase where the follicle degenerates, and the telogen phase where the follicle sheds the hair and rests.
Studies have found that blood flow to the scalp is pivotal during the anagen phase.
That’s because blood vessels feed oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles, which help them grow hair. Good blood circulation to the scalp prolongs the anagen phase and allows healthy hair to grow.
A 2001 study of mice found that follicles get a bigger blood supply during the growth phase — making this the first study to prove that a boost in blood circulation promotes hair growth.
Increased blood flow also promotes the transition from the telogen (shedding) phase to the anagen (growing) phase.
But of course, that means a reduced blood supply could cause the reverse.
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If your hair follicles don’t get the blood they need, they slowly shrink and can only produce short, brittle strands.
Give your follicles enough time without essential nutrients and oxygen and they may even shut down altogether, causing hair loss.
There’s plenty of evidence that poor circulation causes hair loss, including a study that found that men with male pattern baldness (MPB) had a subcutaneous blood flow 2.6 times lower than those without MPB.
A 2020 Japanese study also found that reduced blood flow may impair hair growth, contribute to grey hair, and cause hair loss.
Symptoms of Poor Blood Circulation in Scalp
Worried poor blood flow is affecting your hair growth? Here are some common symptoms:
- Lacklustre hair
- Weak hair
- More hair fall than normal
- Finer hair
- A decrease in hair volume
- Stunted new hair growth
- Hair loss
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7 Science-Backed Ways to Increase Blood Circulation to the Scalp
Look online and you’ll find plenty of suggestions about how to increase your blood circulation to the scalp.
For instance, some people recommend the inversion method — where you dunk your head upside — but no current research proves that it boosts blood circulation and hair growth.
The techniques we’ve listed below have proven scientific benefits.
Scalp Massages for Hair Growth
As if you didn’t need another excuse to book a massage, it turns out that scalp massages are one of the best ways to improve circulation.
Though it’s a treat to dash to your nearest massage parlour, this can also be done from the comfort of your couch (just like getting The Hairy Pill® hair loss therapy).
A small 2016 study found that standardised scalp massages increase hair thickness after 24 weeks. But that study only tracked nine healthy males.
In a bigger 2019 study, 327 people with androgenetic alopecia gave themselves daily massages of 11–20 minutes over roughly 6 months. Almost 70% of these people reported that their hair loss stabilised or they saw regrowth.
However, the results were more effective for those with specific areas of thinning than those with overall hair loss.
So what’s an effective scalp massage for hair growth?
Using your fingers, apply gentle pressure to your scalp while massaging in circular motions. This is enough to open up your blood vessels and stimulate circulation.
Scalp Cleanses
If your scalp contains too much sebum or sweat, the surrounding tissue may harden, obstructing blood circulation.
Consider washing your hair every few days if you have an oily scalp. If you have a dry scalp, make it every 3–4 days.
A Healthy Diet
Eating a diet rich in vitamins and amino acids is one of the surest ways to keep up a healthy blood flow to the scalp.
A range of foods have been shown to promote blood circulation, including onions, cinnamon, garlic, fatty fish, turmeric, and ginger
Want to know more?
Read our guide to the best foods for healthy hair.
Hydration
Staying hydrated any time is a good thing but it’s good for your hair too. If you don’t drink enough water, you end up with excess sodium levels in your bloodstream, causing your blood to thicken.
You don’t need to be a haematologist to understand how thick blood may be harder to move around the body.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a topical medication used to treat hair loss in men and, less commonly, hair loss in women.
Minoxidil uses a process called vasodilation, which means it enlarges certain small blood vessels to increase blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles.
It’s worth noting that it takes on average 6-9 months to see any results from minoxidil, and its success rate is typically 50% for men (even less for women).
Minoxidil should only be used with doctor supervision to track side effects while women who are pregnant should not use this treatment.
Cold Showers
Think of the rush you get when someone uses the kitchen tap while you’re in the middle of a warm shower. That hit of cold water makes your blood move faster to heat up your body.
Consider having an intentional cold shock at the end of your shower by rinsing your hair and scalp with cold water.
Other Therapies that May Stimulate Hair Regrowth
Sometimes the best hair loss therapy combines methods to stimulate hair growth.
The Hairy Pill® is a hair loss therapy available in more than 650 ingredient combinations, ensuring the treatment is personalised to your needs.
Treatment may contain clinical grade actives designed to target the root cause of hair loss to stop it in its tracks while stimulating hair to grow thicker, stronger, and healthier through increased blood flow to your scalp.
Delivered to your door, The Hairy Pill® subscription includes regular doctor consultations so that the doctors can adjust the ingredients or dosage to suit your needs. Learn more about our hair loss therapy for men and a dedicated hair loss therapy for women today.
