Are you looking for all-natural treatments for hair growth? If so then you might have heard of cayenne pepper being used for hair growth. In this article, we are going to break down everything that you need to know about cayenne pepper and hair growth.
So, once you are done reading it, you should have a much better idea about whether or not this spicy pepper can work to help you grow your hair, how to use it properly for hair growth, etc.
Table of Contents
- 1 What is Cayenne Pepper?
- 2 The History of Cayenne Pepper
- 3 Does Cayenne Pepper Help with Hair Loss?
- 4 What Does the Science Say?
- 5 How to Use Cayenne Pepper for Hair Growth
- 6 How Long Until You Can See Results
- 7 Cayenne Pepper for Hair Growth Side Effects
- 8 Conclusion
- 9 Cayenne Pepper for Hair Growth FAQs
What is Cayenne Pepper?
If you are unfamiliar with cayenne pepper, it is a pepper that is a part of a group of sweet and chili peppers. It is an edible pepper that is hot to the taste. For this reason it is commonly used in hot sauces and spicy recipes.
Rather than eating the whole pepper, most people eat cayenne pepper as a spice in powder form. The scientific name for cayenne pepper is capsicum annum cayenne. Cayenne pepper has a variety of nutrients in it including vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. Its dense nutritional profile is part of the reason why many people try to use cayenne pepper to stimulate hair growth.
The History of Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper has been used as a source of food for thousands of years. It has been used as a medicine for centuries as well. This is because cayenne pepper has the potential to stimulate many of the body’s natural healing properties.
Natural health experts commonly prescribe cayenne pepper for digestive issues, the flu, colds, joint pain, heart problems, open wounds, sores, and more. The pepper was originally used as a spice in south and central America. But, it spread to Asia, Europe, and North America in the 15th century.
Cayenne pepper is believed to be native to the Cayenne region of French Guiana, in South America. However, it is common to find Cayenne peppers growing in the wild in most tropical and subtropical regions. Some of the countries that grow the pepper for business purposes include the United States, India, and Mexico.
Does Cayenne Pepper Help with Hair Loss?
Because of its ability to stimulate the body’s natural healing capabilities and the fact that it contains a lot of nutrients, many people have wondered if there is a connection between cayenne pepper and hair growth.
There are several theories about cayenne pepper’s benefits for hair growth. Here is a breakdown of some of these theories:
- Inducing Inflammation
The premise behind this theory is that applying cayenne pepper topically causes inflammation to occur at the cellular level on the scalp. The inflammation occurs by the capsaicin (a compound in the cayenne pepper) causing the sensory neurons to become excited, resulting in a burning sensation and neurogenic inflammation.
After inflammation is triggered by the cayenne pepper, the immune system will respond by flooding the area with anti-inflammatory chemicals. This will result in the body activating the cellular healing process, which can potentially lead to the repair and rejuvenation of the hair follicles, creating hair growth.
- Blocking Cannabinoids
The endocannabinoid system is a group of receptors that help to manage many different processes in the body such as pain, appetite, and others. Although the endocannabinoid system is beneficial for the body’s self-regulation, it is believed that when it interacts with certain cannabinoids, especially during times of high stress, it can result in hair loss. Cannabinoids are compounds that are found in certain plants and medicines such as marijuana.
Cayenne pepper contains a cannabinoid blocker called CB1. This blocker prevents the cannabinoids from reaching the cannabinoid receptors. As a result, the theory is that using cayenne pepper or a cayenne pepper oil for hair growth can prevent cannabinoid-related hair loss. As a side note, you should also be aware that this theory also suggests that smoking marijuana can cause hair loss, so you might want to consider cutting back on that habit if you are someone who does it and if you want to prevent hair loss.
- Capsaicin Triggering Hair Growth
Capsaicin is a compound that is found in cayenne pepper that some people believe is a stimulant that can increase hair growth on the scalp. According to the capsaicin triggering hair growth theory, capsaicin has the ability to activate receptors beneath the skin that produce certain peptides.
These peptides boost the production of insulin-like growth factor I. Insulin-like growth factor I helps the body to create hair. So, hypothetically, using cayenne pepper regularly could help to increase the body’s ability to grow hair.
What Does the Science Say?
There have been a number of promising studies done regarding cayenne pepper’s ability to stimulate hair growth.
This study showed that capsaicin increases IGF-I production in hair follicles, which can boost hair growth.
This study also suggests that cayenne peppers have the potential to boost hair growth.
Cayenne pepper is still gaining steam as a hair loss treatment and more scientific research needs to be done. However, the science thus far is encouraging. For this reason, many people have been experimenting with cayenne pepper paste for hair growth.
How to Use Cayenne Pepper for Hair Growth
If you want to try cayenne pepper as a hair loss treatment, then there are a number of different approaches that you can take. Applying cayenne pepper by itself directly to the scalp is too intense and causes too much irritation for many people. Therefore, cayenne pepper is usually mixed with another substance in order to create an oil or paste that can be applied to the scalp.
For example, you can try any of the following cayenne pepper mixtures:
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Cayenne Pepper and Coconut
½ cup of coconut oil
½ cup of olive oil
2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper powder
Instructions: – Mix all the ingredients together, let the mixture sit for 2 weeks. When it is ready, apply two tablespoons of the mixture to your scalp. Leave it in for about 30-40 minutes, then rinse it out of your hair in the shower and apply shampoo as you usually would.
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Cayenne Pepper and Honey for Hair Growth
4 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoon of ground cayenne pepper powder
Instructions: – Mix the ingredients together. Make your hair damp, then apply the mixture to your hair. Wrap your scalp with cellophane. Leave the mixture in your hair for roughly 40 minutes. Then rinse it out in the shower.
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Cayenne Pepper and Aloe Vera
1 cup of aloe vera juice
1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper powder
Mix the ingredients and store the mixture in a jaw for 10 days. Store it in a dark place. When it is ready, take it out and apply it to your scalp. Leave it on your head for about thirty minutes. Then, rinse it off and wash with shampoo in the shower.
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Onion Juice and Cayenne Pepper:
4-5 tablespoons of onion juice
1 tablespoon of aloe vera juice
2-3 tablespoons of cayenne pepper powder
Instructions: Mix the ingredients. Store the mixture in a jar and leave it in the sunlight for 6-8 hours. After this, apply the mixture to your scalp. Leave it on your head for 30-40 minutes, then rinse it off in the shower.
Science has yet to determine which method of using cayenne pepper is the most effective for stimulating hair growth. These are just some of the most common ways that people use cayenne pepper for hair growth. Some people also mix cayenne pepper with things like egg whites, vodka, and apple cider vinegar to make topical mixtures for hair growth.
How Long Until You Can See Results
You should apply the cayenne pepper mixture of your choice 2-3 times a week. You should be able to start seeing results within a few months. Of course, it will not work for everyone. But, if it is going to work for you, you should expect to see at least some results in the first few months.
Because this treatment is all-natural, it is safe to do for many months or even years. So, if you like the results, then you can just keep using these mixtures for as long as you want to.
Cayenne Pepper for Hair Growth Side Effects
If you are thinking about using cayenne pepper for hair growth, then you might be wondering whether or not there are any side effects of doing this. Cayenne pepper, generally speaking, is more intense than many other hair loss treatments, meaning that it can irritate people’s skin more.
Before you start trying cayenne pepper as a hair loss treatment, you should apply a small amount of the cayenne pepper mixture you want to use to your arm just to see how your skin reacts.
Some people are just too sensitive to use cayenne pepper for hair growth. So, if you have a bad reaction to your small trial, then you should look for other hair growth treatments.
All of the following side effects are regularly seen in people who use cayenne pepper as a hair growth treatment:
- Itching: Usually this will go away fairly quickly. However, if it doesn’t, then you should consider applying some type of moisturizer to help get relief quicker.
- Skin Irritation: Some skin irritation is normal. However, you should start out with a small quantity of a cayenne pepper mixture when you are starting your hair loss treatment to make sure that the irritation is within your tolerance level.
- Runny Nose: This often occurs for people who added too much cayenne pepper to their treatment mixture. If you are experiencing a lot of runny noses when you are using cayenne pepper as a hair loss treatment, then you should cut your dose back and take a break for a while.
- Burning/Inflammation: It is common for this to occur, and to some extent, it means that the cayenne pepper is doing its job. However, you want to make sure that you are not experiencing too much discomfort. If you are, then cut back on your dose, or make a more diluted mixture. You can also apply an ice pack to the affected area.
Conclusion
Many people wonder whether or not they should try some sort of cayenne pepper hair growth oil. If you fall into this category, then you might as well give it a shot. That is, unless you are allergic to peppers or have extremely sensitive skin. Considering the fact that the cayenne pepper will most likely cause at least some mild skin irritation in most people who try it, people with sensitive skin should look for another treatment.
But, if you aren’t allergic to peppers and if you don’t have overly sensitive skin, then you might as well give it a shot. After all, it is all-natural, and it just might work. The science is very encouraging, especially compared to some other hair loss treatments.
If you do decide to try cayenne pepper, you will have to choose a cayenne pepper for hair growth recipe. Although you might be able to find some product options available on the internet, these recipes are very simple to make yourself, so you might as well buy the ingredients and make several different cayenne pepper mixtures to try out.
You might find that one works better than the others. For example, if you try the cayenne pepper and coconut mixture, you might notice that it give you fewer side effect and stimulates more hair growth than the cayenne pepper and aloe vera mixture.
Whichever one you decide to try, just remember you have to give it at the very least 1-3 months before you will start seeing significant results.
Cayenne Pepper for Hair Growth FAQs
Does cayenne pepper really work for hair growth?
There have been some scientific studies done that suggest that cayenne pepper could be very effective in promoting hair growth. More research is needed though, it is not a guarantee.
Is it safe to use cayenne pepper for hair growth?
Yes, it is safe to use cayenne pepper for hair growth. However, if you start seeing a lot of side effects, you should reduce your usage of it as a hair growth treatment.
How should I use cayenne pepper for hair growth?
It is best to combine it with a substance such as coconut oil, olive oil, or onion juice. It is too intense to apply to the scalp by itself.
Does using cayenne pepper for hair growth hurt?
There can be a mild burning sensation and some skin irritation. The pain should not be severe, however.
Jolene Anderson is the proud Co-Founder of Kiierr Hair Growth Experts. She has 11 years experience in natural healing, laser therapy hair loss. She’s a caring mom of 2 and passionate about helping others. Connect with her on LinkedIn: Jolene Anderson – Co-Founder @ Kiierr.com