How to Reopen Hair Follicles for Hair Growth
Whether it’s a receding hairline or thinning all over your scalp, most forms of hair loss start when hair follicles become damaged or inactive. With this in mind, you might be wondering how to reopen hair follicles to get your hair growing again.
There are quite a few ways of stimulating hair follicles, including medications like minoxidil, supplements, and natural remedies like scalp massage.
We’ll dive into how you can reopen dormant hair follicles to stop hair loss and promote new hair growth.
What Is a Closed or Inactive Hair Follicle?
Let’s start with a quick biology lesson. When people talk about closed, dormant, or inactive hair follicles, they’re referring to hair follicles that have stopped producing hair.
So, the idea is that reopening hair follicles can get your hair growing again.
Here’s how it works.
Each hair follicle passes through different stages of the hair growth cycle:
Anagen phase. This is known as the growth stage. It can last anywhere from two to six years. At any given time, 85 to 90 percent of hair follicles are in active growth, meaning hair cells grow from the hair follicle, which is fed by the blood vessels in the scalp.
Catagen phase. Once a hair strand has finished growing, it’ll enter the catagen phase. That’s when cell division stops and the hair stops growing for several weeks. This allows each hair to transition from the anagen phase of active growth to a dormant phase.
Telogen phase. The telogen phase is a resting phase during which your hair doesn’t actively grow. Hairs typically remain in a dormant state for 100 days before falling out.
The shedding process is sometimes viewed as its own distinct phase of the hair growth cycle, known as the exogen phase. You typically lose (or shed) about 50 to 100 hairs every day.
After the hair strand falls out, the hair growth cycle begins again. A new hair will start growing from the follicle — as long as the follicle isn’t damaged or dead — to replace the recently shed strand of hair.
Cool, huh?
Most healthy people have 80,000 to 120,000 hairs on their scalp at any given time, with each hair follicle growing its strand on a different schedule.
You can’t change biology, but — depending on the type of hair loss you’re experiencing — you can stimulate your hair follicles into producing new hair.
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How to Reopen Hair Follicles
Depending on the type of hair loss you’re experiencing, you might be able to stimulate your hair follicles to promote new hair growth.
Here’s how to reactivate hair follicles and get your hair growing again.
Finasteride
Also available under the brand name Propecia®, finasteride is a prescription medication approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to treat androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness).
Finasteride works by preventing the production of the male sex hormone DHT, short for dihydrotestosterone.
And it’s pretty effective. Long-term placebo-controlled clinical trials looked at the effects of oral finasteride use at 5 milligrams (MG) a day in men with hair loss. Around 90 percent of participants found that the medication either prevented further hair loss or increased hair growth.
Topical finasteride seems effective too (but the topical version isn’t FDA-approved for hair loss). A 2021 clinical trial looked at 458 patients with male pattern baldness and concluded that topical finasteride significantly improved hair count.
Minoxidil
Another clinically proven hair loss treatment is minoxidil, sold under the brand name Rogaine®.
This FDA-approved topical medication works by moving hair follicles into the anagen phase. Minoxidil also stimulates blood flow to the scalp, which may boost hair growth by upping the supply of nutrients to hair follicles.
Both minoxidil and finasteride are effective at treating male hair loss on their own, but they work better together. A 2020 review of clinical trials found that combining oral finasteride and topical minoxidil is more effective than using just one of the treatments.
We offer oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in our combo kit, as well as a combination topical finasteride & minoxidil spray for treating hair loss.
Scalp Massage
Massaging your scalp can potentially stimulate hair growth and keep follicles active.
In a 2019 study published in the journal Dermatology and Therapy, researchers found that scalp massages produced hair regrowth in many men with pattern hair loss. This may be because it improves blood circulation to the dermal papilla cells (located at the base of hair follicles), which play a role in forming new strands.
Other research has found that regular scalp massages (about four minutes a day) can increase hair thickness and the expression of genes related to the hair growth cycle.
You can massage your scalp by gently moving your fingertips in small circles in areas with hair loss. Using light to moderate pressure, try massaging for a few minutes each day for optimal results.
There are also scalp massage tools you can try, including manual and battery-powered gadgets.
Essential Oils
Some research suggests certain essential oils can stimulate hair regrowth.
Try these to reopen hair follicles:
Rosemary. In one study, regular scalp massages with rosemary essential oil worked as well as minoxidil at improving hair count. Rosemary oil, however, was less likely to cause an itchy scalp, a common side effect of minoxidil.
Peppermint. A 2014 study found that peppermint essential oil increased follicle count and hair growth in mice. But there haven’t been any clinical trials that tested whether peppermint oil improves human hair growth.
Though there’s a lack of research on the benefits of essential oils for stimulating human hair growth, it could be worth a try — especially if you’re pairing them with regular scalp massages.
Bear in mind, essential oils are super strong and can irritate your scalp if you don’t dilute them. You can mix a few drops into a carrier oil (like jojoba oil or coconut oil) before applying them to your scalp. Alternatively, add essential oils to your shampoo or other hair products.
Hair Products for Hair Regrowth
Many hair care products contain ingredients that could stimulate hair follicles.
For example, a shampoo formulated with saw palmetto. Research suggests that this herbal substance could block DHT, thus protecting hair follicles from damage.
Another ingredient to consider in hair growth products is caffeine. One study found that a caffeine-based topical hair product worked about as well as 5% minoxidil solution to improve hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia.
Because poor scalp health can cause hair loss, it’s crucial to look after the overall health of your scalp. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should wash your hair frequently and use a shampoo and conditioner appropriate for your hair type.
Dandruff should also be treated with the right shampoo or topical product.
Microneedling
If you’re not afraid of needles, microneedling with a derma-roller could be an option for stimulating hair regrowth.
In a 2013 study, 100 men with male pattern baldness were given a treatment that included either minoxidil or minoxidil used with a derma-roller. While both groups experienced hair regrowth, those who used a derma-roller with minoxidil had a statistically significant increase in growth.
More recently, a 2017 review concluded that microneedling for hair loss is “promising” and has few side effects when done correctly.
You can do it at home with a microneedling tool (those for the scalp are usually more like stamps than rollers) or get an in-office treatment.
Corticosteroid Injections
If your hair loss is caused by alopecia areata, anti-inflammatory medications may be necessary.
Corticosteroids, a type of anti-inflammatory drug, can be injected directly into the scalp to reduce scalp inflammation. This prevents further damage to your hair follicles.
A 2022 study showed that corticosteroid injections are generally effective at stimulating hair growth in people with alopecia areata. However, your hair loss might start again when you stop using the injections.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP, involves drawing your blood and placing it into a machine that separates it into parts, one being platelet-rich plasma. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into your scalp.
While PRP for hair loss is a fairly new treatment, it’s become quite popular over the past few years. Research has found that PRP treatments prolong the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.
That said, this type of hair growth treatment should be repeated on a regular basis and needs to be done by a professional, so it can become pretty costly.
Laser Therapy
Laser hair growth treatment — also called low-level light therapy or LTTT — uses laser light to stimulate follicular growth. Like PRP and corticosteroid injections, it requires repeated sessions.
Laser therapy may improve hair growth by stimulating hair follicles and moving them into the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. It can be helpful for treating hair loss caused by alopecia areata or chemotherapy.
A 2020 review published in the journal Skin Appendage Disorders concluded that laser hair therapy appears to be effective for the treatment of hair loss. Most side effects are minor, but the review noted that some of the studies on LLLT were funded by the laser hair device industry.
Supplements
To give your hair follicles a fighting chance, you have to give them all the nutrients they need. This can come from a balanced diet, but sometimes, supplements can help keep your hair follicles happy and healthy — particularly if you have a nutritional deficiency.
For optimum hair health, consider supplements like:
Consult a healthcare professional to find out if you have any nutritional deficiencies that could be contributing to hair loss and which supplements might help.
Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair follicles can die. So in that case, when it comes to how to stimulate dead hair follicles, your options are more limited — and your hair loss may be permanent.
This is where hair transplants come in.
Hair transplant surgery involves taking hair follicles from an area of your scalp with normal hair growth and transplanting them to an area with significant hair loss (for example, on the crown or hairline).
Combining a hair transplant with minoxidil can make the procedure more effective.
This procedure can be costly — the price will depend on how many hair follicles you need to transplant.
Explore the differences between FUT versus FUE hair transplants in our guide.
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What Are the Main Types of Hair Loss?
There are many types of hair loss, each with its own causes and unique characteristics. Some are temporary, but others are permanent, so you can’t just reopen your hair follicles and expect a miracle in all cases.
The point is, the type and cause of hair loss should be considered before making a plan for how to reopen hair follicles.
Androgenetic Alopecia
The most common type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia (sometimes called androgenic alopecia or male pattern hair loss).
With androgenetic alopecia, you might experience:
Thinning hair on the top of your head
A bald patch at the crown of your head
A receding hairline near your forehead and temples
Androgenetic alopecia is caused by a combination of genetic factors and sensitivity to DHT.
Telogen Effluvium
Telogen effluvium is when more hair follicles than normal enter into the telogen phase. As a result, you’ll shed more hair than usual, resulting in diffuse thinning (thinner hair all over the scalp).
Many issues can cause telogen effluvium, including:
Severe emotional stress and trauma
Certain medications
Physical stress (like surgery, high fever, chronic illnesses, or major blood loss)
Thyroid issues
Hormonal imbalances
The good news is that this type of hair loss is usually temporary — and typically, it resolves on its own once the underlying issue goes away.
Learn more about telogen effluvium versus androgenetic alopecia in our guide.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is hair loss caused by an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and damages hair follicles, making the hair on your scalp, face, or body fall out in patches.
Mild alopecia areata typically causes small patches of hair loss on the scalp. But more severe forms — such as alopecia universalis — can result in large areas of near-complete hair loss.
Traumatic Alopecia
Traumatic alopecia happens when hair follicles are physically damaged. This type of hair loss can be caused by:
Bleaching your hair
Using harsh chemicals on your scalp
Deliberately pulling your hair out
Wearing overly tight hairstyles (aka traction alopecia)
Traumatic alopecia can be permanent if left untreated. But if you treat it quickly, it’s possible to reverse the damage and regrow healthy new hair from your follicles.
Anagen Effluvium
Sometimes, medication disrupts the natural hair cycle. If a prescription drug interferes with your hair’s ability to grow during the anagen phase, you might experience anagen effluvium.
This is a condition where inflammation damages the hair shaft and increases hair breakage.
Chemotherapy, for example, can cause anagen effluvium. While this may be temporary, it could be permanent if the hair follicle damage can’t be reversed.
Tinea Capitis
Tinea capitis is a fungal infection on the scalp that can cause hair loss. The fungus affects the follicles, making it harder for them to grow new hairs.
Severe tinea capitis can scar the scalp, which could damage hair follicles and lead to permanent hair loss.
As you can see, reopening your hair follicles isn’t a cure-all for every type of hair loss. If you’re not sure what’s behind your hair loss, speak with a dermatologist, a trichologist (a scalp specialist), or another healthcare provider to find out what could be to blame.
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The Bottom Line on How to Reopen Hair Follicles
It’s sometimes possible to reopen dormant hair follicles and get your hair growing again.
Here’s the cheat sheet on how to restore hair follicles:
Treatment will depend on the cause of hair loss. For instance, while finasteride is proven to be effective for treating androgenetic alopecia (genetic hair loss), corticosteroids are more suitable for those with alopecia areata (autoimmune hair loss).
Medication is generally the most effective way to reactivate hair follicles. Finasteride and minoxidil — which can be combined — are FDA-approved medications scientifically proven to treat hair loss.
You can take natural approaches to reduce hair loss. Scalp massages might stimulate hair follicles, while supplements can ensure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs to create new hair cells.
Want to learn more? Read about science-backed tips for hair growth.
We offer a number of men’s hair loss treatments, including minoxidil and finasteride, as well as various supplements and products to support healthy hair growth.
If you’ve noticed hair loss or excessive hair shedding, it’s best to act sooner rather than later. To get started, connect with an online healthcare provider to learn about your options for stimulating hair growth.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.