7 Ways Great Sex Leads to Great Hair (Yes, Really!)

It’s undeniable that an enjoyable sex life is a great way to improve your pleasure, intimacy and connection with your body. But there’s a hidden benefit you might not know about—having good sex is a great way to support your hair!

Your body has a number of mechanisms associated with sexual pleasure that helps support the growth of healthier, happier strands. Read on to discover the surprising links between a healthy sex life and healthier hair. Plus, find out what products you really should be using to support healthy hair.

7 Ways Good Sex Leads to Good Hair

Here are a few ways that sex can impact your overall hair wellness:

1. Increased Blood Flow Stimulates Hair Growth

Sexual arousal boosts blood flow to all the important places — and yes, that includes your scalp!

“Increasing blood flow stimulates your hair follicles,” said relationship coach and New York Times bestselling author Laura Doyle. “Why is this so important? Your hair follicles rely on your blood to deliver both oxygen and nutrients that assist with the health of the hair. The better the blood flow, the more oxygen and nutrients your locks get. Think of blood as your hair’s transport system.”

Boosting blood flow to your follicles is great for all kinds of reasons, including increased oxygenation and improved nutrition delivered to your roots, which help support new growth. Most studies that link blood flow and hair health look at scalp massages, but whatever gets you going will get your blood flowing —and help support new growth of healthy hair.

Read: 5 Benefits of Scalp Massages

2. Helps You Absorb Nutrients

Having adequate levels of essential nutrients like vitamins C, D and E, biotin, iron and zinc are essential to support healthy hair growth. And if you’re eating a healthy rainbow diet of fruits and veggies, some studies indicate that sex might actually help you soak up some of the good stuff, probably because pleasure has been shown to increase nutrient absorption.

“Sex improves your body’s ability to absorb and metabolize nutrients – meaning intercourse stimulates your body, including your hair follicles, to soak up and utilize more of the building blocks you need for overall good health,” said Doyle. More nutrients mean happier, healthier strands to go along with a happier and sexually satisfied you!

Read: The 5 Nutrients Your Hair Needs, According to a Nutritionist

3. Helps Decrease the Stress Hormone Cortisol

Stress is the strand killer. Even if you eat right, are gentle with your strands and generally practice good self-care, experiencing elevated levels of stress over a long period of time can lead to the development of alopecia areata, a form of stress-induced hair loss.

“If you’re stressed, your body is producing higher levels of cortisol and this hormonal increase can cause your hair to thin or fall out,” said Doyle. “Cortisol is basically the stress hormone and it can wreak havoc on your mane.”

Sex can help by reducing stress, helping you feel calmer and more at ease and eliminating your body’s hair shedding response to the fight or flight cycle. “Stress-induced hair loss can be combated with a romp between the sheets!” said Doyle. “Reduce your stress and stimulate hair growth with a boost in estrogen levels. In other words, sex is great for your hair. “

4. Elevates Hormonal Responses

Your body produces a number of hormonal signals in response to sexual activity, one of them being an uptick in estrogen and testosterone levels. “Sex can aid estrogen production,” said board-certified MD Dr. Kimberley Langdon. “When you have sex, your estrogen levels are likely to spike, which may help hair growth.”

Sexual activity could also help balance your hormones throughout your cycle, said Dr. Langdon. “Sex can also assist with iron deficiency by easing your menstruation and maintaining hormonal balance. It is also beneficial to your hair.”

While much of the science devoted to understanding the reasons behind the interaction between hormones and hair growth is still in development, we do know that higher hormonal levels lead to increased hair growth. That post-sex hormonal infusion might be the boost your hair needs!

5. Leads to Good Sleep

Good sleep is one of the best predictors of good health, and your hair is no exception. Melatonin, a hormone related to the sleep cycle, also helps regulate hair loss. While there are a number of factors that contribute to sleep quality, a healthy sex life can play a big role. When you have a satisfying sexual encounter, your body releases hormones that might help you sleep more deeply, experiencing more of the healing benefits a good night’s sleep can offer your strands.

Shop: Heidi Powell’s Top VEGAMOUR Picks

6. Supports Heart Health

When you’re enamored with your sexual partner, your heart skips a beat. And while all that heart-beating action doesn’t exactly count as cardio, it does improve your heart health! Studies show that having mutually satisfying sex has heart health benefits, and sufferers of heart ailments are known to have higher levels of hair loss. So when it comes to hair health and sexuality, it’s all in your heart.

7. Orgasms Make You Happier

Last but not least, one of the best reasons to have sex for good hair health is that it simply makes you happier. “Sex is not only a great mood booster it can also be great for your hair,” said sexologist and relationship advisor Katie Lasson.“When we have sex we release a hormone called oxytocin, one of the happy hormones. This feel-good hormone helps to reduce our stress levels meaning your hair grows faster and stronger.”

Better Together

A healthy sex life simultaneously stimulates multiple systems of your body, helping make sure you feel physically satisfied and emotionally fulfilled. All that and healthier, happier strands? Sounds like a winning combination!

More from VEGAMOUR

The Best Vegan Foods for Hair Growth
3 Ways Nutrition Impacts Your Hair
9 Natural Ways to Lower Cortisol

Photo credit: Maksim Goncharenok/Pexels

Author

Emily Beyda