How Cannabis Affects Your Hair: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

You’d be forgiven for believing that cannabis could solve any problem and improve every aspect of your health. People are prone to misinterpreting research (both good and bad) for their own purposes. When it comes to cannabis and hair, there is no difference. Does weed cause your hair to grow? Is CBD effective for hair loss? Look for information on the internet that is affirmative, but the details are not entirely clear. To learn more about the possible advantages of medical marijuana for your hair, you might think about contacting a medical marijuana doctor Huntington.

Therefore, we will look at several studies in this article to see what effects cannabis might or might not have on your hair’s health.

The Connection Between Cannabis and Hair Well-being

While some say cannabis causes hair loss, others say it encourages hair growth. For hair benefits, some advise inhaling cannabis, while others suggest topical creams or other applications. To encourage hair growth, some advise THC, while others advise CBD.

What connection exists, then, between cannabis use and hair growth or loss? In a nutshell, it’s unclear and complex. It’s crucial to understand that cannabis does not affect hair growth in a single, clear way before moving on. This is primarily due to two factors.

First, a multitude of genetic and environmental factors influence hair growth. Cannabis might matter in certain situations, but it won’t likely be the deciding factor in any of them.

Second, there are hundreds of active compounds in cannabis, and every strain is different. Therefore, asserting that cannabis has a singular, consistent effect on hair growth ignores the reality that cannabis is not a single, homogeneous material.

Having said that, let’s try to simplify things a little and examine the potential effects of THC and CBD on hair growth in isolation. The answers won’t be clear even then.

It is advisable to speak with a medical marijuana doctorwhether you are seeking medical cannabis for mental health issues or hair health. They can offer advice on safe usage, details on state laws, and other pertinent information.

THC and Hair

THC is the most abundant cannabinoid found in most cannabis strains and is responsible for the well-known “high”. There is a lot of misinformation about how THC may affect hair health, but let’s try to “detangle” the research available.

Serum Testosterone

A 2017 study looked into the effects of THC intake on testosterone levels. Previous research had produced mixed, contradictory results, and this study sought to learn more by examining 1,577 men.

Finally, the study’s authors concluded that recency, rather than frequency, was the most important factor in determining testosterone levels. Men who had recently used cannabis had the highest serum testosterone levels, while those who had never or not recently used cannabis had normal levels.

Higher testosterone levels are thought to have the following effects on hair health:

• Encourage body hair growth.
• Increase the production of oil on the scalp.
• Increase the chances and severity of male pattern baldness.

However, it is unclear whether THC has any effect on these aspects of hair health.

Hormones

THC may affect hormone levels, which may have an impact on hair growth. Nevertheless, rather than the compound’s direct effects, this might be the result of lifestyle decisions and their effects.

It has been demonstrated that cannabis use affects the production of estradiol. The ovaries produce the estrogen hormone estradiol. Cannabis use and a sedentary lifestyle both have the effect of reducing estradiol production, which interferes with aromatase function.

Inhibiting the activity of aromatase can lead to a decrease in estrogen and an increase in testosterone in both men and women. The effects might be comparable to those mentioned above for men. Although it is unclear, lower estrogen levels may prevent hair growth in women.

It is known that the impacted hormones have a significant impact on hair growth, but more research is required to understand how all of this influences hair growth and health.

THC and Cortisol

While cannabis has a reputation for making people feel relaxed, on a physiological level, it appears to do the opposite.

It is well known that stress can harm hair health, increase the likelihood of pattern baldness, and increase the risk of other types of alopecia (hair loss). However, it is unknown whether cannabis-induced increased cortisol levels affect hair growth.

Another study discovered that frequent cannabis use may reduce the acute effects of cortisol, and that users may have a dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This could have far more serious consequences than poor hair growth (or lack thereof), and should be considered by all frequent cannabis users.

CBD and Hair

CBD, the second most abundant cannabinoid in cannabis, is thought to have primarily positive effects on hair growth. However, it is unclear whether and to what extent this is true.

Cannabinoid Receptors on the Scalp

It appears that the scalp is covered in CB1 and CB2 receptors, suggesting that cannabinoids can affect it.

In one study, the effects of topical CBD application on hair growth were investigated. It was interesting to learn that CBD by itself seemed to encourage hair growth. A single application of 3 to 4 mg of topical CBD per day increased the growth of non-vellus hair in 28 male and 7 female patients in a small study.

It’s important to remember that the same study raises the possibility that consuming cannabis in general and other cannabinoids specifically could be detrimental to hair growth.

According to a 2023 study, CBD may encourage the growth of hair. It was found that putting CBD topically blocked CB1 receptors on the scalp, which caused the hair shaft to elongate. Moreover, CBD binds to the vanilloid TRPV1 receptors, which control the activity of hair follicles.

Therefore, higher doses may result in hair loss even though moderate doses may encourage hair growth.

CBD and Stress

Research on CBD’s effects on anxiety and stress has revealed that it lowers cortisol and other hormone levels.

Stress has been demonstrated to negatively affect hair growth and health, as was previously mentioned. Therefore, using CBD—via edibles or inhalation—may be able to lessen these adverse effects. Having said that, CBD is not a panacea for a stressful lifestyle; although it can assist you in managing stressful situations, it cannot resolve the issue by itself.

The mode of ingestion is also very important. Numerous hazardous and poisonous substances, some of which are believed to be detrimental to hair health, are found in smoke. Therefore, attempting to improve the health of your hair by smoking CBD may actually make things worse. Choose your mode of consumption carefully.

Cannabis Hair Products

Thus, the question “Is weed good for hair?” remains unanswered. Compared to THC, CBD seems to have a more robust and favorable relationship with hair. Here is a list of well-liked CBD hair products, even though it’s unclear if cannabis hair products genuinely work.

Cannabis hair oil: The scalp and hair can be treated with this. It typically contains terpenes in different combinations along with CBD. Olive, hemp seed, and argan oils are among the natural oils that are infused into these cannabis products. Moreover, additives like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids are often added.

CBD shampoo and conditioner: The goal of these products is to replace conventional shampoos and conditioners with regular use. The best solutions have CBD and natural ingredients.

Hair supplements: These usually take the shape of gummies or capsules and are packed with various vitamins, minerals, and cannabinoids that are supposed to encourage the growth of hair.

Additional Elements Influencing Hair Wellness

Similar to skin, hair typically reflects general health and wellbeing. Although certain individuals may experience conditions (like genetic baldness) that have a single cause, hair health is typically influenced by a variety of factors.

Thus, you should aim to lead a generally healthy lifestyle if you want to improve the health of your hair. Reducing stress is one of the best things you can do for your hair. You should exercise, eat well, and get enough sleep to accomplish this. Cannabis may be one component of this multifaceted strategy for leading a healthy lifestyle, but it shouldn’t be your only stress-reduction tool.

Cannabis and Hair: Untangling the Truth

What effects cannabis might have on hair health are completely unknown. In the case of THC, it’s difficult to say for sure, so you shouldn’t make any firm judgments. Although the exact nature of CBD is still unknown, topical CBD creams appear to have the potential to promote hair growth.

Nevertheless, the growth of hair in a clinical setting differs from that of hair growing naturally, and baldness and alopecia are unlikely to be treated with CBD alone. However, maintaining slightly healthier hair in general might be beneficial.

Taking good care of your general health is the best way to take care of your hair. And while some of us value our hair highly, don’t worry too much about it—bodies change!