FIT FOR GROWTH – How Exercise Helps With Hair Growth

exercise collage 1

 

Hello ladies

Majority of the posts on Hairducation focus on how we should care for our hair externally for us to retain hair length.  I have mentioned vaguely that being healthy internally is also very important for hair growth however I haven’t really delved into this deeply.
I recently began exercising more regularly.  I’ve been trying to exercise two or three times a week for about 3 months and noticed that I seemed to have more new growth than usual. This reminded me of how improved overall health really does facilitate healthy hair growth.

In this blog post, I will set out the positive effects of exercise on hair growth and the types of exercise that facilitate hair growth.

HOW EXERCISE AFFECTS HAIR GROWTH

1)    Improved Overall Health

Exercise is very beneficial to our entire bodies.  Regular exercise strengthens our cardiovascular systems, reduces risk of sickness and some medical conditions that may affect hair growth.  Having a healthy body is a good basis for growing healthy hair, nail fibres and naturally glowing skin.  The healthier we are, the better our bodies will function which includes growing strong and healthy hair.

2)   Stress Reduction

Exercise is a good way to reduce stress and stress is bad for our hair.
Cortisone is a hormone our bodies produces when we are stressed out.  In some extreme cases, can lead high levels of shedding and alopecia.
Exercising on the other hand causes our bodies to produce a hormone called serotonin which helps to reduce stress.  The less stressed out we are, the healthier we are likely to be and as point one above noted, healthy bodies produce healthy hair.

3)    Better Cell Regeneration

Our cells regenerate whilst we are sleeping. There is increased production of new cells and slower breakdown of protein during deep sleep.  Remember that proteins are needed for cell growth and that our hair is made up of mostly protein.
Regular exercise over a pre-longed period helps us sleep better.  Better sleep results in better cell regeneration/renewal.  This improves our overall health, how we feel and how we look (better looking skin and good hair and nail growth).  Its called beauty sleep for a reason

4)    Better Nourished Hair Follicles

hair-follicle

Each hair follicle (hair root) has blood vessels that nourish it by supplying it with nutrients and oxygen. The supply of nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles is necessary for hair growth to occur.
Exercising increases our body temperature and increases blood flow and circulation to our skin and scalp.  More blood flow results in more nutrients and oxygen being delivered to our scalp.  This in turn encourages more hair growth.

 

 

 

Best Exercises for Hair Growth

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Cardio

Cardio exercises such as brisk walking or running, cycling, dance and aerobics classes, etc,  will increase your temperature and get blood pumping through your body and to your scalp. Incorporating 30 minutes of cardio exercises two or three times a week will do you and your hair a world of good.

Yoga

Exercises which involve inverted poses or back bends will increase blood flow to the head and scalp.
Yoga is believed to be great for promoting hair growth because it involves many types of inverted poses such as sun salutations, downward facing dog, shoulder stands, etc.  Yoga is also very calming and is great for reducing stress levels.
I have practiced yoga and pilates on and off for about 7 years and I think it has so many awesome physical benefits.  It makes you feel more supple, improves your posture, you stand, walk and sit better and feel strengthened overall.
 

Whilst exercising, it is important to keep your hair in a confined style (bun, high ponytail) or covered with appropriate head wear to keep it protected and minimise it coming in contact with sweat.  Ensure you keep up with your hair regimen to keep your hair and scalp cleaned and well conditioned.  Obviously when exercise you sweat more you don’t want to start skipping wash days and leave all that sweat residue on your scalp and hair.

I hope I keep up with my exercise regimen and once I am fully settled and committed to it, I intend to tackle my diet.  I guess I am just going through a “eat right, live right, feel right” phase….but I am hoping I can make it a new habit.  I stuck to a healthy hair journey so maybe it’s time I take on another positive challenge.

Is anyone with me? Have you recently started or would you like to start exercising?  Are you a little bit more motivated because of all the good it can do for your hair???

Happy hair journey ladies

X

Lade

Learn | Change | Grow

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17 Comments

  1. July 21, 2014 / 2:17 pm

    Great article! I also notice more hair growth when I’m exercising more. I love to do relaxing yoga after an hour of intensive ballet. But I didn’t exercise these past two months and it already feels like my hair grows much slower 🙁

    • omolade
      Author
      July 25, 2014 / 5:34 pm

      Thanks Jaleesa! !
      I am so jealous, I’ve always wanted to try ballet gym classes.
      hope you get back on the exercise band wagon soon.
      X
      Lade

  2. Adanna
    July 22, 2014 / 6:45 pm

    I’ve started workin out too, dancing…. hope that will do, GURRL you need a youtube channel lol 😀 You’d be great!

    • omolade
      Author
      July 25, 2014 / 5:36 pm

      Dancing your way to a healthy body and longer hair sounds awesome. Not sure I can fit in making and editing videos for now……but maybe some day soon.

      X
      Lade

  3. Soul
    July 23, 2014 / 4:27 pm

    My dear, I sent and resent you an e-mail on your U-part wigs( the ones for sale not the custom made)., i’m actually disappointed that it’s taken 2 weeks and yet not even the slightest reply to a mail I’ve sent twice. Not all of us live in Lagos so we try to take our opportunities when they come. There’s no helpline to call, no phone number, nothing at all. I just thought I should let you know. Thank you

    • omolade
      Author
      July 25, 2014 / 5:39 pm

      Hello Soul, I am sorry you haven’t received a response. I made a note of your email address and re – checked the type 4 inbox and there is no email from you. Kindly resend your email.
      Thanks
      Lade

      • Soul
        August 12, 2014 / 7:44 pm

        I’ve resent the email. I hope you get it. But just in case, just mail me prices and other important details of your wigs since you can see my email addy.. I and my gfs are interested. Thanks a lot

  4. July 25, 2014 / 12:38 am

    Yah Lade !
    Exercise + Healthy Diet + Good Hair Practices = Amazing Growth,
    FYI i Am an Inversion Method Lady all the Way !

    • omolade
      Author
      July 25, 2014 / 5:42 pm

      Hello Sita

      Yes that is the formula!!!!! Inversion (via yoga) definitely works for me.
      Happy hair journey
      x
      Lade

  5. kafayat
    July 28, 2014 / 6:56 pm

    Hi Lade, nice post n thanks for d good work. Looks lyk my hair is falling out most especially wen I comb or jus touch the hair @ d tips I can see it coming out. Don’t knoknow if its breaking or shedding. Its really scary. Pls I need ur advice on this. Thanks

    • omolade
      Author
      August 6, 2014 / 11:00 pm

      Thank you kafayat
      If your hair breaks just from being touched it is likely that it is either extremely damaged or perhaps extremely dry and brittle ( or a combination of both) Do you have a hair regimen? You should learn how to minimise damage and how to keep your hair hydrated. With regards to whether your hair is breaking or shedding please see the information on the following link.
      http://www.rehairducation.com/?s=shedding

      It should direct you to blog post I have written about breakage and shedding.
      I hope it helps

      x
      Lade

  6. Lael
    July 31, 2014 / 7:17 pm

    Hello Lade,
    my elder sister introduced me to your blog much earlier but I never visited it until today. I must tell you that I regret not visiting your blog earlier. I totally love everything you have on blog. Thank you for following this passion. And yes, I am with the live right campaign. Your entry on exercising has motivated me to keep eating right, living right (exercising) and now feeling right.
    Joining in on the hair journey.
    Your’s Hair-fully,
    Lael.

    • omolade
      Author
      August 8, 2014 / 10:23 pm

      Thanks Lael!!
      I am truly glad that Hairlista has had such good feedback so far…..I am happy you love it!!!!
      I have to find a way to be more consistent in “living right” especially when I get super busy….I hope you are having better luck with it than I am.
      Actually your comment has encouraged me to get back into the swing of it. :).
      Good luck with the hair journey
      x
      Lade

  7. Anonymous
    August 13, 2014 / 6:01 am

    Hi.I have been trying to comment for a long time now but I am yet to see it posted on the blog or answered by you.I am just 13 years old and I have decided that I would like to grow out my hair but as you can understand my mum is not willing to buy hair care products and all the hair care products available are quite stripping of my hair’s essential oils.Please is there any way I can get my hair healthy without having to buy so many products because as I previously mentioned,my mum is not hearing anything about buying products as she thinks I am too young to start attempting a hair journey even though I really want to.Thanks!

  8. ifegirl
    August 18, 2014 / 10:11 am

    Hi Lade. Have you stopped blogging or just on a long recess?

  9. Kayla UK
    August 19, 2014 / 11:22 am

    Hi Lade,
    I just want to start by saying thank-you so much for your blogs – they are sooo informative! I’m just beginning my hair journey and you’ve provide me with a wealth of knowledge. I’m from the UK and it’s so encouraging to know that someone who spent time in the UK managed to retain such healthy hair!! I have a question that I would love for you to answer: How should you look after your hair before and after a workout at the gym? I’m going to be doing exercise at least 3 times a week and what hoping that there’s a way that doesn’t require me to wash after every session. Also, what would you advise if i wanted to do swimming (or would you not recommend to do on a weekly basis if I want hair growth)? So sorry for such a long message :S !! I’ll look forward to hearing back from you!!

  10. Memie
    March 26, 2016 / 4:59 am

    Hello, you have great tips to promote healthy hair and growth and I absolutely love it! I was never really taking care of my hair because I’ve had previous traumas with it because my aunt will continuously shave it off. That was about 4 years ago (it’s complicated) but anyway I have been thinking all along that my hair doesn’t grow past my ears because of the incident and me wearing weave the entire time to hide my flaws. I always wanted to go natural just for it to grow faster instead of it being so much underneath a weave all the time but I’m just afraid of what anyone will think. I have been bullied during elementary because of it and I am an 18 year old Junior in high school and is taking Biotin (supplement for hair and nails growth) and working out the best I can. But I don’t know how to care for my hair because for one I don’t have a job and can’t keep buying weave with allowances. I also think it’ll save me so much more money if I go natural and just moisturize and keep it up but the social embarrassment is taking the best of me. How can I begin my healthy hair and growth journey? Help please. I’ve never felt more insecure in my life and it’s too the point where I just want to shave it all off since it’s not growing anyways. Suggestions? Sorry for the long paragraph.