Your regular cup of Joe helps to kick start your morning, but did you know caffeine has the potential to affect your hair growth? Keep reading to find out whether you should start or ditch your coffee binge. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of caffeine for your hair growth.
How caffeine can help your hair growth
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it contains antioxidants
Caffeine is packed with micronutrients such as antioxidants that are known to help stimulate healthy cell production. This is important, as it protects cells from free radical damage that could stunt hair growth. Tip: To get the most nutrients from your coffee, choose darker beans such as French roast or espresso, as it contains a greater amount of antioxidants.
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it halts hair loss
According to the research from International Journal of Dermatology, caffeine is known to be “a stimulator of human hair growth”. In their research on baldness from participants that suffered from DHT, the areas where caffeine was applied directly follicles showed significant growth as opposed to other areas of the scalp. Caffeine contains nutrients that deeply penetrates the scalp to increase the reproduction of hair follicles. From the results conducted, caffeine is now commonly used in several hair growth treatments, including those used to stop male pattern baldness.
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it speeds up hair growth cycle
Not yet sold on caffeine for hair growth? Here’s one. Caffeine is scientifically proven to speed up the hair growth cycle. Just ask Dr. Tobias Fischer, a researcher from Germany’s University of Jena, which conducted a study to find the effects of caffeine and hair growth. In the study, he found the control group that used caffeine saw the quickest hair growth. To conclude: not only does caffeine speeds up the hair cycle, but it significantly increases the length of the hairs from 33 to 40 percent.
How caffeine can hurt your hair growth
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it can slow it down
It’s a fact. Too much of a good thing, is a bad thing. An excessive amount of caffeine can actually slower your hair growth cycle. Overdose of vitamins and antioxidants could potentially put your body at risks for other health issues.
Which is better: Drinking or applying coffee topically?
Now don’t go start a coffee binge! Consuming coffee will never yield the same results as applying it topically. Too much caffeine can negatively affect your overall health, as it could disrupt normal heart function. For you to actually see results, it’s best to apply coffee topically.
Source: International Journal of Dermatology (Volume 46, Issue 1, pages 27-35″>
photos courtesy of nata_vkusidey for Getty Images
