7 Remedies to Increase Blood Circulation to Scalp & Hair

Are you starting to see a concerning trend where hair is starting to fall off more often than usual or your hair is not growing as quickly as before? While there’s no foolproof way to make your hair grow faster or to reduce hair loss, there are certain remedies you can use at home to maintain healthy hair, one of which is to improve blood circulation to the scalp.

Does Blood Flow Affect Hair Growth?

There are enough research studies to suggest that blood flow has some connection to hair growth. For example, a study in 2001 by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that promoting blood vessel growth led to an increase in hair volume for mice.

In theory, it would make sense that blood circulation can affect growth as better blood circulation would also mean better circulation of nutrients and oxygen, which are vital for the maintenance of hair. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take by yourself to help improve the blood circulation to the scalp and hair follicles.

How to Increase Blood Circulation to Scalp

Try using a combination of these remedies to improve your hair health over time. Don’t expect your hair to just magically become lush after you try these remedies once or twice. It will take some longer-term consistency (in addition to making environmental or habitual changes) to see some results.

1. Apply Essential Oil to the Scalp

Some studies have suggested that essential oils can help with improving blood circulation to the scalp. For example, a small study back in 1998 found that people who had their scalp massaged using a mixture of essential oils (e.g. cedar wood, rosemary, and lavender oil) were able to experience significant hair growth over a seven-month period.

In addition to improving blood circulation to the hair follicles, essential oils may also provide other benefits such as offering antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. There are a number of ways essential oil can be safely applied to the scalp and hair.

One method we suggest is to mix several drops of essential oil with three tablespoons of olive oil then to gently massage this mixture onto the scalp. Let the essential oil mixture sit on your scalp for ten minutes before you wash it away with shampoo. Before you apply the essential oil, we suggest you apply a small amount first to make sure there’s no adverse reaction. You should also never use essential oil on its own. Dilute it first.

There are many types of essential oils you could use including lavender oil, cedar wood oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and thyme oil. Be sure to get the essential oil from a trustworthy brand that uses high-quality ingredients. Your hair is at stake here!

2. Massage Your Scalp for Better Hair

Another important blood circulation remedy you can do on your own is to massage your scalp. There are various massaging methods you can use and we strongly advise you read up on these methods. Otherwise, you might be doing more damage than good to your hair.

Some general tips include using your fingertips to make gentle circular motions on your scalp, and to work the roots of the hair until you feel a bit of warmth returning to the scalp. You don’t need to spend more than five to ten minutes per day massaging your scalp so it’s a worthwhile habit to get into for those who are concerned about their hair growth.

You can also grab a simple hair scalp massager if you don’t feel comfortable with using your hands, or if you want to take it to the next level, there are also electronic devices designed to give your scalp a gentle massage with minimum effort.

3. Consider Trying Inversion Treatment

It might sound like a fancy term but all you are doing as part of an inversion treatment is to hang upside down for a few minutes to increase blood flow to the scalp. Obviously, you don’t want to hang upside down for too long or else you will suffer from dizziness, or in a worst case scenario, suffer from neck injury.

The safest way of trying inversion treatment is to lie down on your bed with your upper body hanging on the side then to slowly drop your upper body until you start to feel a rush of blood to your head. You don’t need to do this more than once per day.

Lifestyle Changes for Better Blood Circulation

None of the above will make a strong impact to the health of your scalp if you don’t maintain a healthy lifestyle. Here are some simple changes you can make to promote better blood circulation to the head, which in turn, will improve hair growth.

4. Eat a Healthy Diet

We can’t stress enough how much of an influence a healthy diet can have on one’s hair (and overall health). There are certain minerals and nutrients that are known for promoting blood circulation and hair growth including biotin, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids.

5. Exercise Regularly

Exercising doesn’t just promote better blood circulation, it can also reduce the level of daily stress you endure. Did you know that stress can also have an impact on hair loss? According to the Mayo clinic, significant levels of stress may cause hair follicles to go into a resting phase, which can eventually lead to hair falling out.

6. Drink Enough Water

If you are the type of person who prefers a soft drink or flavored drink to water then this is an important time for change. Water plays a very important role in facilitating blood circulation throughout the whole body, including the scalp. We suggest you drink an appropriate amount of water every day to help maintain the efficiency of the blood circulation system.

7. Take a Cold Shower

It’s not for everybody but taking a cold shower may also play a part in improving blood circulation to the scalp. If you don’t want to use cold water throughout the whole shower then you can just reserve it for your head.