7 Ways to Stimulate Hair Growth

For the follically challenged, science could not move fast enough. The past few decades has seen some fantastic progression in the fight against hair loss with treatments: platelet rich plasma (PRP) scalp injections; probiotics for hair growth; surgical hair transplant; hair cloning, topical serums like redensyl, minoxidil and folliflo; exosomes; oral supplements like finasteride and nutrafol; low-level laser (aka cold laser) therapy devices, caps, or wands; toupees, lace-front hairpieces and wigs. All showing real promise to be remedies and luckily whatever new technologies may come, people will likely mix and match them to find their perfect hair growing or restoration regime. However, why is there such an investment, both monetarily and emotionally, made by people whilst dealing with the prospect of hair loss? What is the history behind hair treatment globally?

Over the last few thousand years, there have been many cosmetic treatments that give the illusion of more hair. Since the beginning of recorded history, men and women have searched out cures for hair loss. From 3000 B.C. when hairpieces and wigs became extremely popular among the Greeks, Assyrians,  Persians, and Cretans, mainly because of status, to a little bit later on in the 1600s where the two main prescriptions for baldness, were walnut kernels and sugar beet respectively, people have been trying, failing and trying again to get to the root of their hair loss issues. 

Even Hippocrates – the famous Greek physician – who is widely considered as the father of modern medicine, attempted many medical solutions for his own progressive hair loss, Hippocrates was the first to describe an effective surgical solution to hair loss, this solution unfortunately would not be neither culturally nor commercially acceptable. This is because Hippocrates deduced in his collection of astute observations called the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, that that Persian Army eunuchs guarding the king’s harem never experienced hair loss. He noticed that virile men went bald, but since eunuchs were castrated, they lacked “hot blood,” and therefore retained their hair. In Aphorism XXVIII he states: “Eunuchs are not affected by gout, nor do they become bald.” This was proven true, a couple thousands of years later when it was found that castration before or shortly after puberty reduces testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the blood to such a degree that genetic hair loss is prevented. However, this quite obviously is not a viable modern solution to the long standing problem. 

The most common type of hair loss occurs in a predictable pattern form, and when this pattern hair loss occurs when the normal cycle of hair growth changes. Usually pattern hair loss starts slowly, and continues to get progressively worse. Progressive pattern hair loss is a common occurrence among men, and less apparent but still quite common among women. While men typically suffer pattern baldness with receding hairlines and bald spots on the crown of the head, women typically experience generalized thinning hair over the entire top of the head. It is said that deficiencies of vitamins, like vitamin D, and minerals, like iron, are believed to contribute to hair loss in addition to a genetically shorter hair-growing period and a longer period between the shedding and growth phases. Age and hormones may play a part, too, as it’s more common after menopause when estrogen levels are reduced which in turn means that that the hormones – androgen – that linked with male pattern baldness are more prevalent in the woman’s body. As for men, pattern baldness causing caused by their genetic makeup and male sex hormones. 

A follicle is a tiny hole in the skin from whence each strand of hair on the body sits in. Typically, baldness occurs when the hair follicle shrinks over time, resulting in shorter and finer hairs. Hair is nearly the fastest growing part of the body. It is surpassed only by bone marrow. A person could expect to grow about six inches per year, normally. Each hair follicle grows strands of hair on a different schedule, following a cyclic pattern. Actually, from the 150,000 or so hair follicles on a person’s scalp, they would shed about 50 to 100 hairs a day which was a sign that those hairs are progressing through the fourth stage of hair growth, known as the exogen growth phase. There are four known stages of hair growth: The anagen (growth) stage, the catagen (transition) phase, the telogen (rest) phase and the exogen phase.

The anagen stage of hair growth could last between two to six years. Hair grows when at a root of protein in the hair follicle, is fed by blood vessels in the scalp that create more cells to allow the hair to grow. It is said that 90% of hair is in this phase at any time. 

In the catagen stage, the hair ceases to actively grow for one to two weeks, serving as a true transition between the anagen phase and telogen phase. Less than 1% of scalp hair is in this phase at any time.

The telogen stage of hair growth lasts three to four months and is a resting phase between when hair ceases growing and hair shedding. 

And finally the exogen stage, which is the part of the cycle when the hair strands disconnect and release from the hair follicle, or shed.

Eventually, the follicle does not grow new hair, even though that is the case these follicles remain alive, which suggests that it is still possible to grow new hair. That being said, what are the ways a person could attempt to stimulate their hair follicles to encourage growth? The following should engender a few ideas. 

What Are The Ways To Encourage Hair Growth?

1. Minoxidil – Minoxidil is a topical treatment that works on the cells of the hair follicles, encouraging hair growth and reducing hair loss. It is sold as a generic drug, or under the brand name of Rogaine.
2. Avoid using hair dryers – Hair dryers can actually cause major damage to hair and can dry out scalp which could contribute to hair loss. 
3. Take zinc and vitamin B12 – Zinc and vitamin B12 should be naturally found in a person’s diet but taking a daily zinc and vitamin B12 supplement could give hair growth a boost. 
4. Microneedling – Microneedling with a dermaroller has been proven to stimulate hair regrowth on some people’s scalp. 
5. Shampoo every other day – People should always use conditioner whenever they shampoo to hydrate their scalp and keep their hair healthy, which will encourage new growth.
6. Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy – PRP works when blood is drawn and placed into a machine that separates it into parts. The part of the blood that is plasma will be separated out and the platelet rich part is taken and injected into the areas experiencing hair loss to stimulate hair regrowth.
7. Try biotin supplements – Biotin is a vitamin that helps a person’s body break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, and if there is not enough of it, it can lead to hair loss. So if there is an effort to encourage healthy hair growth, taking a biotin supplement should make sure there is no deficiency.