Does Drinking Water Help Hair Growth?
Water is one of the tried and true, ever-faithful beauty cornerstones. There’s a reason celebrities and influencers tout their water-drinking habits during their morning routine videos. From celebrity stylists to dermatologists, they all agree water is crucial to maintaining healthy, glowing hair and nails.
What’s driving their excitement? Does water really make the difference that they all claim? More specifically, will it help my hair grow both longer and fuller? As we age, our bodies' water content naturally declines. It becomes even more crucial to stay on top of hydration for overall health — and hair health!
We want to give you the inside knowledge you need to enjoy the hair growth you crave as you age.
What Determines Hair Health and Encourages Hair Growth?
As with everything, lifestyle, genetics, and overall health play a big role in promoting hair growth. Thick, long hair begins with a healthy scalp. You can improve your scalp health in several ways while caring for the hair you have already grown.
Multiple factors go into a healthy head of hair. Lifestyle, care, maintenance, products, and overall health play into the equation. Let’s take a moment to focus on two of the major lifestyle factors that support your hair.
Diet: Fueling Your Hair Growth Journey
The daily foods you enjoy can impact your overall hair health. Expanding your menus to include a balanced amount of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates is one step towards beautiful hair. As we age, our bodies absorb nutrients differently, so it's important to continue to check in with yourself and your diet.
Foods like salmon, spinach, sweet potatoes, eggs, and seeds are full of healthy fats and nutrients that can help your hair feel strong and look shinier than ever.
It's time to explore some of those TikTok recipes and Pinterest boards you’ve had bookmarked. Let us know below if you have any healthy-hair mealtime favorites.
Hydration: Is Water Good for Hair Growth?
Research suggests adult women should aim to intake a total of nine cups of water. This intake is vital to the functioning and health of our entire body.
When low on water, our body limits the use of this water to the most necessary purposes. This can leave your skin and scalp lacking the proper amount of hydration.
The rate of hair growth is a common way to measure the overall health of the hair and scalp. The average person’s hair grows half an inch each month. Improving your hair growth requires proper hydration and healthy skin.
As you likely already know, the scalp is the key to strong, luxurious hair. Remaining well hydrated can dramatically improve the health of both your hair and scalp. The consequences of dehydration can exacerbate common hair health concerns.
Does Drinking Water Help Hair Growth? Strategies for Daily Hydration
You’ve probably heard all about the health benefits of drinking large amounts of water. Naturally, you may have tried to up your intake more than a few times over the years.
It can be challenging to establish a new routine or norm. We have our systems and habits, and we go through them day in and day out with little to no hesitation.
Finding ways to add water to your day can be a challenge. You’re not alone in the struggle. There’s a reason for fun water intake apps, water reminders, and motivating water bottles. For many of us, hydration is an afterthought.
However, taking the time to establish long-lasting habits that benefit your health is one of the best ways to invest in your beauty. Here are a few ways you can increase your water intake.
Keep Water Beside Your Bed
Waking up and drinking a glass of water can help refresh your body and mind after a long period of rest. Keeping a water bottle and cup beside your bed can be a natural transition into your morning routine.
Plus, that way, water is one of the first things you reach for in the morning.
Ease Into the Morning With Lemon Tea
If a cool glass of water is a bit too chilly for your mornings, hot water with lemon can serve as a great alternative. Drinking this not only helps to hydrate your body but can also promote healthy digestion. If you’re feeling extra inspired, add a sprig of mint or a spoonful of honey to your tea.
If you’re someone who loves to sit with their coffee and soak in the morning, make your first mug a cup of dandelion tea. Its bitter taste is similar to coffee, and its aroma might convince you to drink more tea (and, therefore, water).
The Container Matters
This one seems a bit odd, but it can make a huge difference. Truly being hydrated requires more than a few glasses of water in the morning. You want to keep the momentum you have built going throughout the day.
Finding a cup or bottle that is convenient and enjoyable can help you reach for your glass more than before.
Consider if you’re often on the go or at home. You may prefer a metal straw or screw-top. Regardless of what you choose, find something that you can keep by your desk, in the car, or on the counter while you go about your day.
You know your routine and lifestyle best. Find the most natural way to incorporate water into your diet. The less “friction” the new habit creates, the more likely you are to continue.
How To Increase Moisture Beyond Your Water Intake
Water can help promote hydration, but it may not provide all of the hydration that your hair and scalp need. If your hair still seems to be lacking in moisture, you may want to add a few of the following ideas to your beauty regime.
Pro Tip: You can have your own spa day each week by routinely incorporating your weekly beauty extras into a calm moment all to yourself. Add in some aroma therapy and cozy slippers, and you have yourself a much-needed reset each week.
Give Your Scalp Some Extra Love
One of the best ways to promote hair growth is by pampering your scalp. The proper treatment and nourishment of your scalp can go a long way. Look for products that encourage hair growth, such as our Superpower™ Fortifying Hair and Scalp Serum.
This serum contains gotu kola to help nourish your hair follicles, caffeine to rejuvenate, and niacinamide to support scalp health. This revitalizing serum is good for all hair types and is paraben-free to support hair health.
Consider Upgrading Your Supplements
Supplements can be the extra push your body needs to really thrive both from the inside and out. If you think a supplement change might be right for you, contact your primary care provider and research your best options.
Both gluten and dairy-free, our Skin and Scalp Collagen Gummies are designed to promote collagen production. And since collagen contains many of the ingredients necessary to build keratin, which is what your hair is made out of, these gummies can also help support strong and beautiful hair.
Treat Yourself to a Massage
Encouraging blood flow through massage can improve the overall health of your scalp. Take the salon to your home by adding a massage into your weekly routine.
There is more than one way to make this happen. Options could include a scalp massager, a generous partner, or the occasional trip to your favorite spa.
Add a Clarifying Shampoo
Clarifying shampoos can be used routinely to rid your scalp of build up caused by products, pollution, and oil.
When choosing a clarifying shampoo, look for nourishing products that will not strip your hair of what it needs. Read the label to determine how regularly you should use your clarifying shampoo based on your hair needs.
Love the Hair You Have
While it all begins at the scalp, hair growth requires the care and love of the hair already present. Some ways you can do this include:
Rinsing Your Hair With Vinegar or Rice Water
Parisians swear by vinegar rinses to promote the appearance of healthy, shiny hair. Their admiration for simple, timeless beauty methods keeps to tradition for a reason. Keep a small bottle of vinegar in the shower for an extra boost during the week.
Alternatively, rice water rinses are growing in popularity. Believed to increase the strength, elasticity, and moisture of the hair strands, this method is catching on quickly.
To create your own, rinse and soak rice keeping the water. Leave overnight. Then, similar to the vinegar rinse, simply pour and rinse!
Handle With Care
Hair is at its most vulnerable when wet. Take the time to carefully protect your strands by waiting to brush your hair. If you want to tame your tresses before they dry, stick to a wide-tooth comb. This effectively tames hair without risking damage or breaks to your hair as it dries.
Pro Tip: Scrunch your hair with a cotton t-shirt rather than rubbing it dry with your towel. The rough friction your towel creates can cause frizz and damage that a t-shirt won’t. Bonus? Now your favorite live-in tee can serve more than one purpose.
Indulge in Hair Masks and Leave-In Conditioners
While more of a best practice than indulgence, who doesn’t feel pampered by a deep conditioning treatment? We like to enjoy our Redemption Restorative Hair Masque alongside our favorite drink while we unwind at the end of the day.
Our proprietary blend of Mango, Macadamia, Cupuaçu, Murumuru, and Avocado nut butters penetrates deep into hair strands to instantly moisturize and repair. Make an event out of your haircare and add in some of your favorite beauty treatments while you wait for the mask to work its magic.
The Bottom Line
Your scalp and hair health are worth time and care if you want to have thicker, fuller, hair.
Aging doesn’t just affect your skin — it also affects your hair needs. Here at Better Not Younger, we meticulously formulate our products with your unique hair in mind. Take our quiz to discover the best products for your hair, no matter what age and stage you are in.
Tell us what products of ours have made the most impact on your hair growth. We love getting to learn more about your experience. Leave it in the comments below!
Sources:
What You Eat Promotes Radiant Hair, Skin and Nails Naturally | Mayo Clinic Health System