How Hyaluronic Acid Can Promote Hair Growth

People always seek the perfect ingredient that leads to luscious, healthy locks. Could that ingredient be hyaluronic acid? In this guide, learn all you need to know about how hyaluronic acid for hair works, including how it may be able to promote hair growth.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a natural carbohydrate molecule in various tissues in the human body. Its key feature is its humectant properties, which means it attracts and binds water, giving the skin more plumpness and hydration. As such, it’s commonly found in many skincare products, but what about hair products?

Is Hyaluronic Acid Good for Hair?

Yes – hyaluronic acid is good for the hair and skin. Its humectant properties help the hair maintain moisture, which leads to a reduction of frizz and healthier locks overall. You will often find hyaluronic acid as a key ingredient in various hair care products for this reason, and incorporating it into your haircare routine would positively impact how your locks look and feel.

The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid for Hair Growth

If you want to boost your hair health and encourage hair growth, hyaluronic acid is a good product to use more often. Here are some of the benefits of hyaluronic acid for hair growth.

It Locks in Moisture

Hyaluronic acid is amazing due to its incredible hydrating properties, working well on the hair strands and skin. When placed on the hair, it locks in more moisture, making it healthier and more hydrated.

It Treats Damaged Locks

Hyaluronic acid works particularly well for those with dry, damaged hair. This is because the hyaluronic acid increases hydration, adding a plumping effect to the shaft and contributing to reparation.

It Reduces Frizz

Hyaluronic acid can reduce frizz. This helps boost hair growth as frizzy hair tends to be more susceptible to breakage, making growing longer hair much easier.

It Improves Scalp Health

Another hyaluronic acid benefit is that it even improves scalp health. The humectant properties help retain moisture, leading to a more hydrated scalp. This creates a more ideal environment for the hair follicles, leading to healthier hair growth. Without a hydrated scalp, many people experience dryness and stunted hair growth.

It Works for All Hair Types

One of the best things about hyaluronic acid for hair is that it works well for all hair types and textures. You could benefit from this hydrating ingredient if you have curly, dry, damaged, frizzy, or straight hair.

It’s Cheap and Easy to Use

Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient in various beauty products – many of which are very cheap. It’s also very easy to use, making it easily accessible for anyone wanting to boost their hair and scalp health.

As you can see, there are lots of benefits of hyaluronic acid for hair growth. If you want to know whether the ingredient genuinely affects growth, though, it helps to use a hair track app.

How to Use Hyaluronic Acid for Hair

Find the Right Product

First, you must find the right hyaluronic acid hair product. There are a few factors to consider here, such as the molecular weight, price, and other ingredients in the product. For example, you may get a haircare product with hyaluronic acid and argan oil for optimal results. If you want to maximise hydration, you may choose a leave in conditioner that contains hyaluronic acid.

Coat All of the Hair

To maximise the benefits of hyaluronic acid on the hair, applying hyaluronic acid all over the hair works best. That means starting at the roots and working the product down the shaft to the ends of the locks.

Use a Few Times a Week

You can use hyaluronic acid as often as you’d like. First, use the product at least a few times a week. Applying it daily is also an option, especially if you wash your hair more frequently.

Use on Wet Hair

While you can apply hyaluronic acid to wet or dry hair, to make the most of its moisture, use it on wet hair. This works better due to the humectant properties – when applied to wet hair, it retains the moisture on the hair at that time, leading to better hydration.

Apply After Washing

You do not have to wash out hyaluronic acid – it will not weigh down your hair or exacerbate grease. So, apply the product after washing with shampoo and conditioner, leaving it in until you next wash your hair (at which point, apply again).

Other Ways to Use Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is not only beneficial for your locks – it’s also helpful in other areas. Here are some ways to incorporate hyaluronic acid into your life to reap its benefits.

In Skincare: Hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient, so you will commonly find it listed in skincare products. It works well for keeping skin plump and hydrated, reducing the appearance of fine lines. You can find hyaluronic acid serums for the skin for an affordable price.

On Your Nails: If you have problems with dry, brittle nails, hyaluronic acid can help. It hydrates the entire area when applied, meaning the nails won’t be as prone to breaking.

In Dermal Fillers: Hyaluronic acid is a common ingredient in dermal fillers. Dermal fillers are often applied to lips, cheeks, jaw, temples, and under eyes to improve a person’s appearance. Hyaluronic acid is a popular choice as it is a naturally occurring substance (so it is safe) and provides plenty of hydration and volume after injection. Plus, this substance can be easily dissolved if the patient is unhappy with the results.

Healing Wounds: Hyaluronic acid can even help speed up wound healing. [1] It manages this by keeping the area moist, boosting cell migration, and reducing inflammation. There is even some evidence that hyaluronic acid has antibacterial properties, which can help reduce the chances of infection. [2]

As a Supplement: You can even take hyaluronic acid supplements. It may be beneficial for hydrating the skin and joints, with one study providing evidence that taking hyaluronic acid orally can promote skin health. [3]

So, as well as hyaluronic acid and hair working well together, the substance is also highly beneficial for skin, nails, and wounds.

Should You Use Hyaluronic Acid if You’re Experiencing Hair Loss?

While a hyaluronic acid hydrating hair treatment is good for promoting healthy hair, that doesn’t mean it should be solely used when a person experiences hair loss. Whether caused by genetics, hormones, or stress, a more targeted treatment is usually a better option for hair loss, as hyaluronic acid alone cannot treat these conditions.

If you are looking for another hair loss treatment, here are some to consider.

Hair Loss Medications

There are several hair loss medications with proven benefits. One popular one is minoxidil, an over-the-counter medication commonly used to treat male pattern baldness, although it also works for women experiencing androgenetic alopecia. It’s typically applied topically.

Some other hair loss medications include finasteride and dutasteride, which are solely for men experiencing hair loss. Both require a prescription, so you’ll need to speak to a medical professional if you are curious about using one for hair restoration.

Non-Surgical Clinical Treatments

Some non-surgical clinical treatments provide excellent results for anyone looking to restore hair growth. Two common ones are PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections and low-level laser therapy. PRP injections work by taking blood from the patient and reinjecting it into the scalp, with the growth factors in the plasma stimulating growth from the follicles. Low-level laser therapy works by stimulating blood flow to the follicles.

Hair Transplant

A hair transplant is a minimally invasive surgery that takes individual follicles from one area of the scalp and transplants them to a recipient area – the area experiencing hair loss. There are different types of hair transplants, including DHI, FUE, and FUT methods, all of which have their benefits.

Hair transplants are more invasive than medications or hair products, but many people choose this option when they have extensive hair loss and want a permanent solution. The success rate is very high and can dramatically improve a person’s confidence.

While hyaluronic acid hair treatments are effective, to treat hair loss directly, you’ll need a more targeted approach like the ones listed above.

Hyaluronic Acid Hair Growth: Final Thoughts

Hyaluronic acid is a highly hydrating substance that helps the hair retain moisture, promoting healthier hair and scalp. As a result, many people find they can grow longer, healthier hair when using hyaluronic acid. However, it’s not a direct hair restoration treatment – for actual hair loss, other hair treatments are necessary to stimulate the follicles.

Are you ready to regrow a full head of hair? The team here at Harley Street Hair Clinic can help. To learn more about what our methods can achieve, head over to our patients gallery.

Sources:

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7950635/
2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hyaluronic-acid-benefits#:~:text=Hyaluronic%20acid%20also%20plays%20a,speed%20up%20the%20recovery%20process.
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10661223/