Many people use these terms interchangeably, but in fact, hair growth and hair regrowth serve different purposes and produce different effects. By understanding the difference, you can choose the hair care approach that best suits your needs.
Hair growth care focuses on nurturing the hair you currently have, helping it grow stronger and healthier.
On the other hand, hair regrowth refers to stimulating new hair to grow from follicles where hair has already fallen out.
When hair becomes thin and prone to falling out, it can eventually lead to hair thinning or hair loss. Strengthening existing hair—making it thicker, stronger, and less likely to shed—also helps prevent hair loss. By practicing proper hair growth care, you can create a healthy environment for your hair.
Hair regrowth care is important for encouraging new hair to grow from follicles where hair has been lost due to various causes. Depending on the cause of hair loss, regrowth treatments or medications may be effective. By promoting regrowth while preventing further hair loss, these treatments can help improve thinning hair.
If you’re not overly concerned about thinning hair but have recently noticed increased shedding or a lack of volume and strength, hair growth care may be right for you.
If you experience significant hair loss and feel that thinning is progressing, it may be time to consider hair regrowth solutions.
Hair growth products and hair regrowth products differ in purpose and effectiveness. It’s not a matter of which is better or worse—choosing the right option depends on your hair condition.
Hair growth products are classified as quasi-drugs designed to support healthy hair, while hair regrowth products are medications that can actively stimulate new hair growth.
The first step in hair growth care is reviewing your daily habits. A balanced diet, adequate sleep and rest, keeping the scalp clean, regular exercise, and a low-stress lifestyle all contribute to healthy hair.
Start by adopting a hair-friendly lifestyle.
Hair care for growth not only helps reduce hair loss and breakage but also prevents scalp issues such as dandruff and itching. Learning proper hair care techniques and maintaining a healthy scalp condition is essential.
Washing your hair too often is not recommended, as it can remove too much natural sebum from the scalp.
Pre-wash your scalp and hair with lukewarm water at around 40°C (104°F) to remove dirt. Lather the shampoo in your hands first, then wash gently. Rinsing thoroughly is essential, so be sure no shampoo residue remains on the scalp.
Proper brushing can be beneficial for hair growth. Start by gently detangling the ends, then brush softly from the hairline toward the crown, followed by brushing from the sides toward the top of the head.
This helps remove dirt from the hair and scalp while stimulating the scalp and improving blood circulation.
The chemicals used in hair coloring and perms can place stress on the scalp and damage hair roots. People with sensitive skin or thinning hair should be especially cautious. Repeating coloring or perm treatments frequently over a short period can also damage the scalp and should be avoided.
Excessive use of hair wax or styling products can clog and dirty the scalp, so moderation is important.
While it’s essential to wash these products out thoroughly, over-washing can remove necessary sebum and cause scalp issues. Be careful to maintain balance.
It has not been definitively proven that alcohol and smoking directly damage hair, but excessive drinking and smoking are harmful to overall health. To maintain healthy hair and scalp, it’s best to drink in moderation and avoid smoking when possible.
Hair growth products support the scalp environment to help existing hair grow healthier and stronger. Just as trees need rich soil to grow, healthy hair requires a healthy scalp. Improving scalp conditions helps produce hair that is less likely to fall out.
A normal hair growth cycle consists of a long and stable growth phase lasting 2 to 6 years, followed by the regression and resting phases.
In people with thinning hair, the hair falls out before it can fully thicken. As a result, the growth phase may last only a few months to one year, causing an irregular hair cycle.
Hair consists of the visible hair shaft above the scalp and the hair root embedded within the scalp. The hair follicle is the tissue that surrounds the hair root and forms a bulb-like structure at the base. Healthy hair growth depends on enlarging and strengthening the hair root within the follicle.
Causes of hair thinning and hair loss include androgenetic alopecia (AGA), alopecia areata, hair loss caused by illness, and hair loss as a side effect of medication. In AGA, disruption of the hair cycle due to male hormones is a known contributing factor.
The male hormone testosterone, which plays a role in survival and development, is converted into an abnormal hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT shortens the hair growth phase, causing hair to fall out while still thin and short, leading to progressive hair thinning and hair loss.
Depending on the cause of hair thinning, ingredients in hair regrowth products may help normalize and enlarge hair follicles and extend the growth phase of the hair cycle.
This can promote new hair growth, stimulate hair development, and help prevent further hair loss.
If excess sebum or dirt clogs the hair follicles, regrowth products may not absorb effectively. Always apply them to a clean scalp.
Using at-home peeling devices or scalp massage tools to cleanse pores can help hair regrowth products penetrate more effectively.
If you’re unsure which care method or product is right for you, consider consulting a hair or scalp professional for personalized advice.
A specialist can evaluate the condition of your hair and scalp and propose a personalized hair care plan tailored to your needs.
These are the 20 essential points you should understand regarding the differences between hair growth and hair regrowth, along with the correct knowledge needed to care for your hair.
Understanding your current hair condition and identifying what kind of care you need is the first step toward healthy hair. By gaining the right knowledge, you can make informed choices and build a long-term relationship with your hair’s health.
Source : https://answerweb.artnature.co.jp/archives/2111