You don’t have to fit the stereotype of a middle-aged man to experience hair loss. In fact, no one is immune. In fact, around 3% of pediatric appointments each year are booked in relation to hair loss in children! Obviously, a healthy diet and a daily hair care routine will help slow hair fall. But did you know that cardio increases hair growth, too?

Studies have shown that an active lifestyle and regular participation in cardiovascular activity can help to reduce the loss of hair. Cardio has even been shown to indirectly help hair grow. So how is it that cardio helps hair growth? Let’s look at the facts!

How Does Cardio Help Your Body?

The benefits of cardiovascular exercise are, in a word, proven. For years we’ve known that cardio exercise will improve your heart health, strengthen your lungs, help you sleep better and boost your confidence. Cardio will also help to increase your bone density as well as reduce stress and the onset of depression. The benefits are countless.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults participate in at least two and a half hours of aerobic activity each week. In addition to this, adults should fit about 75 minutes of intense cardio into their fitness schedule each week.

Don’t worry! You don’t have to complete your entire fitness routine in at once. Instead, try jogging three times each week and taking a walk the other four. It’s easy to get just the right amount of exercise by spreading it out throughout your week.

In short, any type of regular exercise is going to improve your body and your brain. Cardio workouts provide the most effective and efficient way to maintain a healthy body and a happy mind.

Cardio Helps Hair Growth, Too!

It’s likely that you’re already aware of the more commonly recognized benefits of working out. But you may not be familiar with the benefits of cardio to your hair health.

How is cardio good for hair growth? In the same way that exercise is food for your overall health and well-being, it’s also good for your hair. As far back as 2001, studies have been conducted which prove that the health of blood vessels is critical to hair growth. In fact, studies have suggested that people who experience hair loss may have fewer active blood vessels. Cardio exercise will strengthen the health of your blood vessels, which in turn promotes hair growth. The treatments one can take often stimulates blood flow to your follicles by dilating blood vessels, whether it’s a hair Topical Spray, or a hair loss pill.

Cardiovascular exercise will also help your body absorb the minerals and nutrients you consume. There are many vitamins which are crucial to the healthy growth of hair, but even a regular multivitamin will be more readily absorbed when taken in concert with an established cardio routine.

Finally, exercise causes a domino effect which ultimately promotes hair growth. First, as you exercise your body will release endorphins. These endorphins make you feel good and will relieve stress in the long term. The reduction of stress will cause you to sleep better, feel better and be generally more healthy. All of these are important for a healthy head of hair.

What If You Don’t Exercise?

Just as exercise can help to benefit the health of your hair, the lack of exercise can cause hair loss. Your body will be less readily able to absorb vitamins and proteins. Protein and iron, in particular are crucial to healthy hair. Without exercise, your body will be depleted of these nutrients, which can cause hair thinning and loss.

Aside from the nutrients you’ll lose by not exercising, you’ll also feel more stressed. Stress and hair loss are proven to be correlated; loss can happen for a number of reasons. Here are the most common three:

1. Telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is a fancy way of saying that you have fewer hair follicles. In some cases, there are simply fewer active hair follicles.
2. Trichotillomania. Trichotillomania is a stress-related disorder which causes hair loss directly. Those who suffer from this condition literally pull their own hair out. It’s a chronic condition, and there’s no known cure. It’s been shown, however, that stress will exacerbate the symptoms of trichotillomania.
3. Alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is the most commonly occurring hair loss condition associated with stress. It’s an autoimmune disorder in which stress causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles. This results in poor hair health, hair thinning and hair loss.

A regular cardio routine will help to alleviate stress related symptoms, and will help to promote healthy hair growth. It goes without saying that exercise in conjunction with a healthy diet will promote that health even more.

Cardio Exercises for Hair Growth

There are, of course, many factors which contribute to hair loss in humans, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender or genetic makeup. But while some of these factors can’t be changed, incorporating cardio workouts into your weekly routine is something you can do!

Any cardio exercise will help promote hair growth and stop hair loss in its tracks. Even participating in sports can pay off in the long run. But if you’re at a loss as to which exercises you’d like to do, read on to find out the best cardio exercises for hair growth.

• Running – It doesn’t matter if you hop on a treadmill or hit the road; running is one of the most beneficial cardio exercises across the board. You’ll burn more calories running than you will walking or jogging. Your brain will release endorphins, which will make you feel good. And you’ll be promoting hair growth in the process!
• Walking – There could be a number of reasons why you choose not to run. You might have an old knee injury or you might not have access to safe trails. It could be, quite simply, that you hate running. (It’s not for everyone!) If you don’t want to run or jog, try a brisk walk 5 or 6 times each week.
• Swimming – Swimming is a double-edged sword when it comes to hair loss, so be careful. On the one hand, it’s a great cardio exercise for hair growth. But on the other hand, chlorine can be very damaging to the scalp and to your hair. Swimming is great for people who suffer arthritis or other conditions; it’s low impact and easy on the joints.

Running, walking and swimming are the most popular cardio exercises. But if you’re looking for a few different options, try the following exercises.

• Jumping rope – Jumping rope isn’t great for those who have knee and joint problems, but it’s a lot of fun! There are even national jump rope competitions you may choose to participate in if you’d like a challenge.
• Trampoline – What could be more fun than promoting healthy hair while learning tricks on a trampoline? In just ten minutes, the average adult burns around 42 calories, and it’s a great cardio exercise. For added fun, visit your local trampoline park.
• Dance – When in doubt, just dance! You’ve got a stronger, healthier head of hair thanks to your cardio exercise. It’s time to go show it off. Head out to the local club or dance hall, whatever fits your style. Dance will help promote hair growth, and can burn as many as 440 calories per hour!

A healthy diet and hair care routine is critical to hair growth and hair loss prevention. But check with your doctor, then start adding cardio activity to your daily routine. Your hair will be all the healthier for it.