Growing hair is something that can be on a lot of people's minds. Whether it's combating baldness or growing long locks, many are looking for a way to make it grow faster, longer and stronger. Hair growth takes place in cycles and some research shows that green tea may have an impact on this cycle, encouraging your hair to grow.
Mechanism
Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) are fibroblasts within the hair follicle that control hair growth. According to an article in "Phytomedicine," problems with the function of these DPCs are responsible for some hair conditions like alopecia, which causes hair to fall out. They also report that epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a component of green tea known as EGCH, appeared to have a growth effect on hair.
Stimulation with EGCG
Korean researchers at the Seoul National University College of Medicine and the Seoul National University Hospital combined to study the effect EGCH has on hair grown in vitro. They also researched changes to DPCs. The results showed that EGCG promoted growth of hair follicles and stimulated the DPCs to increase hair production. When the research was continued on human scalps, results were similar.
Recovering Hair Loss
The Green Tea Library points to research which shows drinking green tea to increase hair gain. The study, conducted by the Department of Otolaryngology at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, was done on mice that had spontaneous hair loss. Of those given green tea in their drinking water, 33 percent experienced hair regrowth. This new growth was considered to be significant.
Strengthening Hair
Another way in which green tea may be beneficial to hair growth is in its ability to strengthen hair. Even before it gained popularity, green tea was touted in a 1999 "Women's Wear Daily" article as a good source of panthenol. This vitamin B is often used in shampoos and conditioners to manage split ends and strengthen hair. Panthenol and the antioxidants and vitamins in green tea can help you grown healthy hair.
Considerations
Studies done on green tea for hair growth involve both drinking it and applying it directly to the scalp. Since it appears to have benefits for hair growth, look for hair products containing EGCG or green tea. If you decide to add green tea to your diet, be aware that it can interfere with certain medications like blood thinners and anti-depressants, so check with your health care provider.
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