The accumulation of free radicals over time contribute to the hair follicle closing off, thereby limiting growth and eventually leading to shedding.
“This oxidative stress will affect the quality of your hair growth. It happens when you have product, dirt, and oil building up around your follicle opening—which is where your hair grows out of—and that buildup starts to slowly suffocate your hair root,” says trained trichologist and hairstylist Shab Reslan.
First up, make sure you are regularly washing your scalp with gentle washes. “While shampooing, massage the scalp to increase the flow of blood, relieve stress, and stimulate hair follicles. It’s a win-win!” says hairstylist Miko Branch.
Additionally, regular scalp massages have been shown to increase hair fullness2 in small studies, and in some self-reported cases, individuals who gave themselves daily scalp massages, over the course of months, saw hair loss stabilization or regrowth3.
While there are limitations to both studies (one being a small sample size, and the other being self-reported), the research suggests there is potential for hair regrowth with consistent standardized scalp massages.
How might this happen? Scalp massages encourage blood circulation to the area, which helps deliver vital nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicle.
Supplements like collagen peptides and the essential B vitamin biotin have gained increasing popularity for their potential hair health and growth benefits*—but do they actually work? Let’s get into it.
Let’s explore the essential micronutrient first. There is limited research on the use of biotin for hair growth in healthy and nutrient-replete individuals (i.e., including the B vitamin biotin).
