Arginine for Hair Growth: Health and Effectiveness

Using Arginine for Hair Growth – Health and Effectiveness

Whether you suffer from hair loss, receding lines, patterned baldness, thin hair or excessive breakage, you need a solution that cultivates the healthiest follicular environment for hair growth, thickness and health.

Arginine is a scientifically supported ingredient for hair health, and there is ample research backing its effectiveness. 

At Divi, we want you to feel confident in maintaining thick, healthy and full hair. Divi’s Scalp Serum includes arginine among a full suite of clinically supported ingredients. Continue reading below to learn what arginine can do for your hair and scalp. 

What Is Arginine? 

Your hair consists primarily of proteins, which are made up of amino acids. L-arginine, or arginine, is an amino acid helping your body build the proteins necessary for healthy hair. Your body converts arginine into nitric oxide, which helps widen cell potassium channels and increases blood flow throughout blood vessels. A good blood supply to the scalp improves scalp health, among other benefits.

In combination with the other ingredients in Divi’s Scalp Serum, arginine also offers moisturizing and protective barrier effects that can strengthen hair follicles and prevent damage. 

Common Causes of Hair Loss in Men and Women 

Before discussing the potential of arginine to support hair growth, we will first look at why hair loss and damage happen. Hair loss may occur because of many different hereditary or environmental factors. Some common causes of hair loss affecting men and women include:

• Prescription medications
• Burns, injuries, X-rays and chemotherapy treatment (causing anagen effluvium)
• Cosmetic procedures
• Aging
• Iron deficiencies
• Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, etc.)
• Hypothyroidism
• Tinea capitis (a fungal infection of the scalp)
• Skin and follicle inflammatory conditions (folliculitis, lichen planus, lichen planopilaris, etc.)
• Bamboo hair (genetic abnormal hair shaft condition)
• Telogen effluvium (excessive hair shedding after trauma or stress)
• Trichotillomania (a disorder that causes urges to pull out hair)
• Loose anagen syndrome (loose hair roots causing excess shedding)
• Autoimmune diseases and conditions, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hypopituitarism, celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and temporal arteritis

Male Hair Loss Causes

Aside from the items listed above, men can lose hair for the following reasons:

• Male-pattern baldness, also called androgenic alopecia, is the top cause of hair loss in aging men. It may begin as a receding hairline or a thinning spot near the crown of the head. The hair typically continues thinning for many years.
• Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a sex hormone derived from testosterone that can cause male hair loss, specifically in aging men. DHT shortens and shrinks hair, making it easier to fall out.

Female Hair Loss Causes

Women may suffer hair loss as a result of:

• Menopause and other hormonal changes
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Female-pattern baldness (alopecia caused by aging, genetics and hormones)

Other Scalp and Hair Conditions

Aside from hair loss, many people suffer from uncomfortable scalp conditions or unhealthy hair follicles dampening the hair's overall health and appearance. Common scalp conditions that can affect hair growth and overall comfort include:

• Dry and itchy scalp
• Dandruff
• Seborrheic dermatitis (eczema of the scalp)
• Non-bacterial folliculitis
• Psoriasis
• Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis
• Sensitive skin

The above conditions and other hair health-related problems can cause frizziness, brittleness, dullness, split ends, damage and greasiness.

What Can Arginine Do for Your Hair?

Arginine is a dynamic amino acid targeting hair growth and health in multiple ways. Because arginine synthesizes nitric oxide, it offers a wide range of benefits. Explore the science-backed methods supporting the use of arginine for hair growth below.

Improves Blood Circulation

Arginine increases nitric oxide levels as your body converts the ingredient into a helpful substance. Nitric oxide can relax and open arteries, lowering blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health.

The ingredient also has the unique ability to increase blood flow throughout your body, including your scalp. Increased blood flow to your scalp and hair fibers provides the necessary nourishment and environment for hair to grow.

Strengthens Hair

Not only can arginine stimulate hair growth, but it can also strengthen existing strands. A clinical study on the role of arginine in hair health examined results from participants with excess damage from triple-bleached hair. Of the participants who used the arginine-based solution, 21% saw increased hair strength after only one application, and the results improved with continual application. 

Decreases Hair Breakage

Arginine has antioxidant properties that can remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals are chemically reactive, unpaired electrons that can cause all sorts of harm to your body and hair. Most notably, free radicals can break down the cells inside your hair, causing hair damage and dullness. 

By removing excess free radicals, which increase as you age, arginine decreases natural hair breakage and damage. Arginine can also prevent bleached and colored hair damage through its oxidative process, which increases tensile strength. Arginine can form a thin coating over your hair that locks moisture inside and protects your follicles from any product or heat-related damage. 

Stimulates Hair Follicles and Minimizes Hair Loss 

By decreasing hair breakage and improving growth, arginine ultimately minimizes hair loss. Hair loss happens for many reasons, some of which relate to your scalp's environment. Arginine can counteract hair loss by providing better scalp nourishment, which stimulates hair follicles so more hair can grow.

Increases Hair Elasticity 

Hair elasticity refers to how much hair can stretch before it breaks. Brittle hair may result from poor nutrition, a lack of moisturizing, harmful chemicals or genetic conditions. For example, bamboo hair is a genetic skin condition causing increased hair brittleness and breakage. 

Arginine increases hair elasticity by stimulating your body's collagen production. Collagen is an essential protein that provides structure to your hair, skin, nails and other connective tissues. As you age, your body produces less collagen, which causes common aging symptoms (e.g., wrinkles). 

Increased collagen levels improve hair and skin elasticity, strengthening your hair and smoothing fine wrinkles. 

Scalp Conditions Arginine Can Ease

Many people lose hair due to aging, although others suffer from underlying conditions affecting their scalp and follicles. Arginine can improve general hair health and growth, while easing the symptoms of such conditions. While arginine can't cure many autoimmune or genetic disorders causing hair loss, it can provide symptom relief and treatment. 

Itchy or Dry Scalp and Dandruff

Dry skin on your scalp is uncomfortable and frequently results in dandruff (tiny flakes of dead skin sprinkled throughout the hair). Dry scalps also means your hair lacks the nourishment it needs to grow and flourish. 

Arginine can increase your scalp’s blood flow and create a protective epidermal barrier helping to lock in moisture to reduce itchy and dry conditions. Clinical research found that participants with improved scalp health and reduced dandruff levels had increased arginine levels in their microbiomes. By supporting your scalp’s barrier, arginine can combat dandruff, itching and redness.

Irritant Dermatitis

Irritant dermatitis is a nonallergic skin reaction happening when an irritant, like a hair product, damages the outer protective coating of your skin or scalp, sometimes resulting in a rash. Such uncomfortable skin conditions create a poor growth environment for your hair. 

Arginine provides continual skin moisture improvements, which help your skin heal from irritant dermatitis faster. This ingredient enhances skin hydration in the outer skin layer, ultimately improving your skin's barrier function and enhancing antimicrobial peptides.

Clinical research also found that participants with irritant dermatitis had decreased arginine levels in their system, meaning an increase in arginine via a serum or other topical treatment could improve their condition. Additional research in atopic dermatitis and dry skin patients found that topical use of arginine improved skin moisture.

Sensitive Scalp

A sensitive scalp is a common condition caused by various factors resulting in increased uncomfortable scalp sensations, like itching, burning, tenderness and dryness. Arginine improves blood microcirculation, which stimulates your hair and clears the hair follicle bulb, the source of your hair’s nerve endings. This process can reduce harsh side effects related to sensitive scalp conditions.

Male-Pattern Baldness

Over 95% of male hair loss occurs because of male-pattern baldness. By the age of 35, 66% of American men begin to suffer hair loss; by 50, 85% experience thinning hair.

Arginine increases your body's nitric oxide, which promotes angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood cells from preexisting vessels. By enhancing angiogenesis and nitric oxide, arginine can support new hair growth and combat male-pattern baldness.

Female-Pattern Hair Loss

Female-pattern hair loss may be caused by genetics, hormones or aging. Although arginine can't alter your genetic makeup or reverse aging, it can revitalize the cells in your scalp by increasing blood flow via nitric oxide synthesis. Increased nitric oxide can stimulate hair growth and reduce hair loss effects.

Thinning Hair

Arginine can also improve hair thinning by increasing growth levels and volume. Thinning hair is the result of reduced growth. As arginine increases nitric oxide levels, it promotes improved hair growth and stimulates new follicles.

Alopecia and Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack hair follicles, resulting in sudden patches of hair loss. Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia causes permanent patches of hair loss from altered enzyme-encoding functions that reduce arginine levels in charge of critical hair shaft formations.   

A clinical study on patients with mild androgenic alopecia found that arginine treatments reduced hair loss in 89% of the participants. Arginine reduces hair loss by improving blood flow and increasing shaft thickness. 

Hair Follicle Malnutrition 

Nutrient deficiencies can result in hair loss. Diets lacking various essential vitamins and minerals, like those found in Divi’s Scalp Serum, can result in excessive hair shedding. Arginine nourishes hair follicles by relaxing blood vessels and supporting increased circulation, stimulating healthy hair growth and regeneration.

Post-Pregnancy Hair Loss

Hormones directly affect your hair. After giving birth, many women experience low estrogen levels causing excessive hair shedding. While this condition is temporary and common, it can cause reduced hair volume that dampens self-confidence.

Arginine helps fight sudden post-pregnancy hair loss by stimulating blood circulation, increasing necessary nutrients and supporting cell energy for maximum hair growth. 

Menopausal Hair Loss

Similar to post-pregnancy hair loss, menopausal hair loss results from hormonal changes. As estrogen and progesterone levels drop, androgen levels increase, which can cause excessive hair thinning and loss. Your hair follicles may shrink at this time, resulting in thinner shafts and reduced volume. 

Arginine reduces dihydrotestosterone androgen levels without increasing testosterone outputs, which can reduce thinning hair loss effects. Arginine's ability to increase blood supply can encourage continual hair growth and shaft thickness. 

Including Arginine Using Divi’s Scalp Serum 

If you're interested in arginine for hair growth, you've come to the right place. Divi’s Scalp Serum includes arginine as part of a full suite of other hair health ingredients to maximize results. The formula supports scalp health, thick hair and follicle protection.

To use Divi’s Scalp Serum, apply ¾ of a dropper of serum per day across your scalp. The topical application is absorbed within minutes. We recommend using the product daily for at least three months to see the desired results.

Does Arginine Have Any Side Effects? 

Because arginine is an amino acid naturally occurring in your body, you shouldn't experience any adverse side effects with topical arginine serums. Be sure to follow the recommended dosage, as any ingredient taken in excess has the potential to cause adverse reactions. 

Enjoy Thicker, Fuller and Healthier Hair with Divi’s Scalp Serum 

Arginine is a scientifically proven ingredient for hair growth, and ample research supports its success. If you want to add arginine to your beauty regime, consider a product with other components designed for hair health. At Divi, we provide a clean, lightweight, fast-absorbing, vegan and residue-free formula for fuller, healthier hair.

Shop online for Divi’s Hair Serum right now to buy a bottle, or contact our team to learn more about our products.