Caffeine: The world’s most widely consumed psychoactive drug and… a highly effective way to stimulate hair growth?
Yup. Your go-to morning cup of coffee has a surprisingly stronger connection to growing longer, healthier hair than you might think. Before you start downing more mugs, read along to learn how caffeine works and the safest ways to incorporate it into your hair care journey.
Caffeine: Not just coffee
While mostly associated with coffee and tea, caffeine itself is a central nervous system stimulant that affects the brain when consumed. Once caffeine enters the bloodstream, it blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter responsible for making you feel tired. Caffeine may also increase blood adrenaline levels and increase brain activity of dopamine and norepinephrine-neurotransmitters that control a handful of functions including alertness, mood, and movement.
Caffeine is both a naturally occurring ingredient and synthetically manufactured by many companies. Common foods and drinks that contain the stimulant include coffee, teas, energy drinks, soft drinks, and chocolate.
Hair Growth & CaffeineMost hair loss is caused by a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which damages hair follicles. According to a study, when caffeine interacts directly with the hair follicle, it helps block this hormone and increases the likelihood of promoting hair growth.
A large part of the hair growth cycle relies on healthy blood circulation, as hair follicles receive important nutrients to grow from surrounding blood vessels. Caffeine helps increase blood flow and circulation to the scalp by stimulating cell metabolism; a mechanism that counteracts DHT-induced miniaturization of the hair follicle.
The results of another study showed that caffeine made the actual hair root bigger, prolonged the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle, and produced more keratin — the protein that makes up a majority of the hair shaft.
Just so we’re clear: Caffeine is an effective ingredient when it comes to hair growth, but increasing how many cups of coffee you have in the morning will not make your hair grow longer.
Scientists have noted that it would take 50–60 cups of coffee to see the effects of caffeine on hair growth. This being said, caffeine can be extracted and become a single ingredient used in a variety of topically-applied products.
A Different Morning Routine with CaffeineA note to the ladies: Caffeine in hair growth products, according to a study, is especially important for you as hair follicles from females showed higher sensitivity to caffeine than hair follicles from males.
Instead of reusing day-old coffee, we recommend looking for products that include caffeine as an active ingredient for hair growth. There are plenty of serums, shampoos, and conditioners on the market that provide an option of facilitating healthy hair growth through the use of caffeine.
Remember, if you suffer from major hair loss, adding some coffee beans everyday to your hair care routine will not promise lengthy locks, rather, it is a beneficial supplement to a well-rounded treatment plan. Reach out to your doctor to see if caffeine products will be a healthy fit to your daily routine.
