7 Exercises You Can Do to Make Your Hair Lush

Hair can often be very difficult to maintain, and to keep it in tip-top shape, women are constantly looking out for new products to keep it lush. However, you should know that there are some simple exercises you can do yourself, at home, that can also help with this.

Today, Bright Side will highlight exercises, like poses and massages, that can do wonders for your hair.

1. Warming up the scalp

For hair growth, blood circulation to the scalp is essential, and you can improve this circulation with simple scalp massage exercises. You can easily do these yourself at home.

1. Begin at the crown of your head and start rubbing your fingers into your scalp, in circular motions.

2. Continue massaging the sides and back, in the same way, for around 5 to 10 minutes a day.

You can also easily do some hands-free scalp exercises on-the-go.

1. Lift your eyebrows as high as you can and remain in that position for 2 minutes before returning to the resting position.

2. Furrow your eyebrows as high as possible, remaining in that position for 2 minutes before returning to the resting position.

3. Lift your eyebrows as high as you can and remain in that position for 3 minutes before returning to the resting position.

You can also use the tips of your fingers to stretch the skin of your scalp. Simply place your fingers on your forehead and push and pull them away from each other.

Aside from promoting hair growth, this can also relieve tension and stress.

2. Indian head massage

The Indian head massage is an ancient practice based on Ayurveda, which is more than 1,000 years old. This massage involves rhythmic movements to acupressure points that are traditionally called Marma points.

1. Gently push your fingers with both hands onto your scalp and rub — repeat this process 2 or 3 times, with whatever pressure feels good to you.
2. Grab ahold of fistfuls of hair and gently pull it to relieve tension from your scalp.
3. With the use of the heels of your hands, squeeze your temples, and with your fingertips pointing upward, make slow, circular movements.
4. Massage your neck, from your shoulders to the nape of your neck on both sides. Repeat this process several times.
5. Massage with your thumbs, making little circles on the back of your head, where the base of the skull meets the spine. Again, keep the pressure at comfortable level.
6. Then, move on to the shoulders, with one hand on the opposite shoulder, squeeze the muscle from the base of the neck to the tip of the shoulder, then go down the arm all the way to the elbow. Do this 3 times before moving on to the other shoulder. Then, soothe those shoulders with large circular movements in the same area.
7. Finish by rubbing your hands through your hair from the front of the head to the base of the neck. Repeat a few times, and you’re done!

Aside from being a great practice to keep your hair lush, this also reduces stress and anxiety, relaxes the muscles (especially those in the face), relieves eye strain and insomnia, restores joint movement, and boosts the immune system.

3. Neck exercises

Neck exercises are great at encouraging hair growth. To perform this exercise, simply perform front-to-back and side-to-side movements, which will cause your neck muscles to stretch.

1. Stand up straight with your hands down in a natural position.

2. Move your head forward and backward, and extend it as much as you can.

3. Perform the same extension movements, but sideways, and hold on each side for around 10 seconds.

By stretching those muscles in your neck, it allows any trapped tension and stress to be released, improving blood flow, and ultimately, it not only promotes hair growth but also helps heal damaged hair.

4. Yoga poses

Some of the most popular methods for promoting hair growth involve yoga poses. Uttanasana, which is also called Standing Forward Fold Pose, stimulates blood flow to the scalp. It also relieves stress, one of the main causes of hair loss.

1. Stand upright with your hands in the air.

2. With your knees straight, try to touch your feet with the tips of your fingers. At first, it might be difficult to do. But doing this 5 to 10 times a day will allow you to quickly improve, and your hair will love you for it.

You may also want to perform Vajrasana, or Diamond Pose, which helps avoid hair loss and promotes hair growth. This exercise should only be done after lunch or dinner.

1. Begin by kneeling on the floor, with your buttocks touching your heels.

2. Then, keep your hands on your thighs and allow yourself to sit in this comfortable position. The goal is to try and stay positioned this way for as long as you can.

5. Breathing exercises

Certain breathing exercises such as Kapal Bhati pranayama, which is a practice performed in yoga, are great at promoting hair growth. Kapal Bhati in English means “shining forehead,” and you can easily perform this exercise yourself at home today.

The “shining forehead” exercise involves a series of inhalations and exhalations.

1. Begin by sitting in a comfortable position with your back straight.

2. Then, take a deep breath, and while you do so, pull your stomach in as much as possible. Keep the exhalation brief and the inhalation longer.

3. Perform this 20 times to complete one round.

Kapal Bhati pranayama is great at strengthening damaged hair and helping the growth of new hair by pumping fresh oxygen to the scalp. It also keeps hair roots strong and delays the premature greying of the hair.

6. Inverted poses

This inversion method is a popular technique for stimulating hair growth. This technique is composed of 2 parts. First, you’ll want to perform a head massage to stimulate your hair follicles. Then, the second part involves hanging upside down to increase the blood flow to the scalp.

1. Begin by applying olive oil, argan oil, or coconut oil to your hair and performing a massage by focusing on the scalp and combing through the hair thoroughly.

2. Use your fingers to massage your head in circles, switching between a clockwise and counterclockwise motion for around 5 minutes.

3. Lay down on your bed with your head hanging down and your neck supported by the edge of the bed.

4. Remain in this position for 4 minutes, and you’re done!

Once the 4 minutes have passed, slowly maneuver your head back to a natural position and wash off the oil from your hair. It is advised to perform this every day for a week each month to stimulate hair growth. If you want to go the extra step, you can measure your hair each week and write down your progress.

7. Cardio exercises

Another great way to promote hair growth is by performing cardio exercises regularly, and these should be part of your hair care routine. One such exercise is the side-to-side hop, which as the name indicates, involves hopping from side to side.

1. Begin by standing straight with a hip-width gap between both feet. Keep your arms placed as if you were jogging.
2. Then, slightly bend your knees and jump sideways, left to right.

3. Continue repeating this process.

The way that this contributes to hair growth is thanks to the release of sebum, an oily substance that prevents your scalp and hair from drying out. To go one step further, you may want to relax in a steam bath after you are done exercising, as it increases sebum production even more.

Have you ever tried any of these exercises? If so, please let us know how it went in the comments!