via JazzyFresh writes:
I read that cayenne pepper aids in circulation and stimulating blood flow. I’ve heard of many people adding cayenne pepper to hair oils (esp. Ayurvedic oils) and massaging it into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. I wonder if there is any science to this?
The Left Brain answers:
Surprisingly, there is some science linking pepper oil to hair growth, but it doesn’t work quite in the way you described.
Peppery Prose
According to a study entitled “Administration of capsaicin and isoflavone promotes hair growth by increasing insulin-like growth factor-I production in mice and in humans with alopecia,” researchers have hypothesized that capsaicin, the active ingredient in red pepper oil, can activate the insulin-like growth factors that help control hair growth. They tested this hypothesis by treating balding mice and humans with a mixture of capsaicin and isoflavone. The results showed that after 5 months the treatment not only boosted the correct biochemical markers (e.g., IGF-I) but also actually increased hair growth.
Here’s the catch: on mice the pepper/isoflavone mixture was administered subcutaneously (injected under the skin as opposed to applied topically) and in humans it was given orally. So the best research to date shows no indication that pepper oil is good for your scalp when it’s just rubbed on your skin. Of course this is just a single study, but it does give me hope that this could really work if we could just identify a way to enhance the penetration of capsaicin (perhaps using some type of nanosome).
I’ve seen tons of anecdotal evidence floating around the interwebs. Check out these threads–
CurlyNikkiForums
Longhaircareforum
Would I do it?
When I arrive in St. Louis, my first stop on the way home from the airport is the Chinaman– slang (and offensive I’m sure) for their greasy, delicious, world famous Chinese food. My order is always the same– a half order of pork fried rice, an order of crab rangoon, a peach Vess, and extra sweet and sour sauce and red pepper packets.
I then race home and proceed to eat the rice straight from the box, adding sweet & sour sauce and cayenne pepper as I go. On occasion, I’ll happen upon a very stubborn packet of pepper and hastily use my teeth to tear it open… and then instantly remember why I’m not supposed to do that. Lips…tongue… ON FIRE. The heat of a thousand suns that no amount of Vess soda can soothe.
All of that to say, there is no way in hell I’m putting that ish near my scalp.
Would you try a topical cayenne pepper treatment?
Hi,
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Sushanth
I've been putting cayenne pepper on my head with olive oil and it doesnt burn that much. It looks like the longer I keep it in the olive oil the more potent it gets.
i live in the STL, love the chinaman and love the canyenne pepper on my food and in my hair with olive oil to allow my hair to grow faster……and yes it does burn a lil but its tolerable and it helps stimulate blood flow. after a couple of treatments you wont even feel that lil tolerable burn anymore. my only problem is when i wash it out,im not always careful about not getting some in my eyes(when i hold my head forward over a sink to wash it out! despite that lil set back, i love it…….as a matter of fact,im doing it now;D
The popularity of this herb being used to treat hair loss has grown over the years.
THEORY: is that this remedy is 1 of the best options of hair-loss treatments. There is 'little Scientific Evidence' to prove the claims made about cayenne pepper treatments. The best way to use this treatment is to create a paste by mixing cayenne pepper and olive oil and massage it deep into the scalp. The olive oil will help to coat the hairs with the cayenne pepper. Allow the mixture sit on your head for 30 minutes and rise completely.
WARNING: It could cause irritation and sores on the scalp. Rinse the mixture out of your hair thoroughly to reduce the risk of this irritation.
BENEFITS:
While Cayenne pepper contains various chemicals and ingredients that may help your hair to grow quickly, there is little research to support this theory. Do not use this treatment without first consulting a dermatologist or physician.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK:
Always research what you read in Blogs. Most Popular Bloggers are not Board Certified/ Licensed Healthcare Professionals Trained in Family Medicine, Skincare or Haircare. Most surf the web to do online research to get the information posted; so do your own research as well to compare notes.
Have a good day Naturals!
I think am gonna try that cayenne pepper to, i need some hair growth.
lol ok i'm from st louis too and I'M SO MAD you actually typed chinaman. Crazy but thats almost the exact same meal I get when I'm home too!!!!! I live in DC so the first thing I hit is White Castles but my second meal when I'm home is "chinaman". I get pork fried rice, crab rangoon, and grape soda
Nikki!!! I needed that laugh. I am from the STL and I haven't heard the term Chinaman in a MINUTE and you did NOT say Vess soda. Dang, now I am craving crab rangoon. I can't find those bad boys in Raleigh.
I eat lots of hot peppers in my daily diet. It's something I grew up with, and I love spicy food. Recently I found out that eating spicy chillies promote circulation and a healthy metabolism… Go figure, might be why I've never had a problem with hair growth or weight gain. However, I would caution against using chillies as a topical treatment. When capsaicin, the substance that causes the sensation of heat in peppers, is applied to the skin, it can cause chemical burns. Irritating your scalp can actually cause hair loss over time.
I use olive oil infused with red peeper weekly and my hair is growing like a weed
girl, I could chinaman right now. I get sick everytime I go home now cause I gorge on it.
LOL Nikki! I am from STL too, and now that you've shared that little scenario (which I have also done many times over) I can't imagine burning my scalp with that. OAN: Now you have me wanting to go to the chinaman for lunch, thanks! LOL
I LOVE to eat hot peppers. They are great for Vitamin C. I will not be rubbing it on my scalp though.
The active ingredient in hot peppers (capsaicin) is also the active ingredient in an over the counter cream used for some skin conditions. I have seen it in the pharmacies. Never heard of it being used on the scalp though. I think folks may be taking hair growth help a bit far. Lol!
Next thing you know, someone will be reporting that WD-40 makes hair grow.
Spicy peppers are also apparently good for your heart. My husband and I eat habaneros like they are going out of style. It does seem to work for hair growth too – hubby also has curly hair. Even though I've built up quite a tolerance for spicy food, no way am I rubbing it on my scalp.
I've read some good reviews about "Strong Roots Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil" on Amazon, but will never dare to try myself !
Cayenne pepper does stimulate hair growth and their are some conditioner and scalp massage oils out there that use Cayenne as the key ingredient BUT check with your doctor before you use any product with Cayenne in it because it stimulates growth by increasing the blood flow so if you have high blood pressure or health issues relating to high blood pressure using products with Cayenne will be harmful.
Intrigued!
I've used cayenne pepper for years in pill form. It's great for cleansing the blood and as a catalyst for all of the other herbs I take. I use a pain relief rub made of cayenne pepper from my chinese herbalist and there are cayenne pain relief muscle patches sold in most drug stores. So there could actually be some truth to this cayenne pepper as a way to grow hair.
LMBO!!!!! Nikki, that was funny. The burning sensation of cayenne pepper on my scalp is the fist thing I thought about. I love adding cayenne pepper for flavoring but placing it on my scalp…hell to da naw! :).