Does Drinking Water Help Hair Grow? 4 Benefits + Tips

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Are you seeking ways to boost hair growth without success? 

Despite trying various products promising instant results, you might wonder, “Does drinking water help hair grow?” 

Young girl in red striped outfit laughs and drinks water from bottle on isolated background

Surprisingly, water’s benefits extend beyond digestion and brain function to potentially aiding hair growth. 

This post will explore the effectiveness of drinking water to grow hair, so stay tuned for a comprehensive answer to your question.

Fast Facts

  • Water helps hair growth by enhancing scalp blood circulation, delivering essential nutrients to hair roots, and hydrating strands.
  • It prevents dandruff and scalp buildup and regulates cortisol production to reduce stress-related hair loss.
  • Hydration tips include keeping water accessible at all times, drinking before and after meals, and using reminders or hydration apps to maintain regular intake.

Does Drinking Water Help Your Hair Grow?

Yes, regularly drinking water benefits your hair. It allows the blood to deliver all the needed nutrients to your scalp properly. 

When that happens, the roots maintain an active hair growth cycle and consistently produce healthy hair strands. 

It’s a domino effect. Your hair must absorb water for its vigor, so keeping yourself hydrated is essential.

Other significant changes can also be observed. For example, a hydrated hair strand can swell up to 30% and may stay that way as long as you consistently have enough water. 

Important Note

It’s equally essential to acknowledge that drinking more water won’t significantly affect your hair’s health and growth if you already have sufficient fluid intake. 

You are more likely to notice dramatic developments if you were once chronically dehydrated.

How Much Water To Drink Per Day 

After knowing the answer to the question, “Is drinking water good for your hair?” the next important thing to know is how much water to drink daily. 

The amount of water to drink daily depends on several factors, such as environment and activity. 

Here’s the general water intake recommendation:

GenderIn CupsIn Liters
Men15.53.7
Women11.52.7

However, if your day-to-day routine causes you to sweat intensely, you must consume more water to replenish yourself. The same is true if you live in hot, humid places.

Learn to listen to what your body tells you and drink as much water as you need.

The video below discusses further how you can determine the amount of water you need daily based on your proportions:

You’ll be glad to know that the recommended portions of water you need each day already include other fluids and sources of such, including the following:

  • Tea
  • Coffee
  • Juice
  • Fruits             

It’s important to ensure that most of your hydration comes from water rather than relying primarily on juices or other processed beverages.

White mug with hot coffee in the hands of a young girl.

Quick Tip

It’s advisable to consume caffeine in moderation. The general guideline for most healthy adults is up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily. 

Excessive caffeine consumption can lead to negative effects like dehydration, insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, stomach irritation, rapid heart rate, and muscle tremors.

Benefits of Water for Hair

So drinking water for natural hair growth works, but why? What does drinking water do for your hair?

Every time you reach your daily goal of consuming water, you’re allowing your body to perform well, directly affecting your scalp and hair condition. 

Here are the primary advantages of drinking water for your glorious locks:

1. It Prevents Dandruff

Frequent scratching due to dandruff or scalp buildup can inflame the skin and temporarily harm hair follicles. 

Drinking water, however, can combat this by improving scalp health. Water boosts circulation, ensuring the scalp stays hydrated and elastic, reducing dandruff and buildup. 

Thus, it’s important to monitor your daily water intake and treat any underlying conditions contributing to scalp issues.

2. It Regulates Cortisol Production

High cortisol levels, triggered by stress, can lead to scalp inflammation and damage hair follicles, causing hair loss. 

Dehydration exacerbates this by increasing cortisol levels, leading to fatigue, headaches, and potentially seizures. 

Staying hydrated helps balance brain chemicals and reduce cortisol, mitigating these negative effects on hair growth.

A young woman in a white dress standing in front of a window.

3. Helps Strengthen Your Roots

Regular hydration is essential for healthy hair roots. When you drink enough water, your scalp, roots, and hair follicles receive vital nutrients that energize them. 

This supports the growth of healthy hair strands, which are composed of lipids and water. 

Therefore, maintaining adequate water intake is crucial for the health of your hair roots, influencing both hair growth and the quality of the hair shaft.

4. Provides Nutrients to Your Hair

A glass of water contains many nutrients that help improve hair growth. 

Some of the elements it contains are listed below:

  • Iron aids in repairing tissues and supplying oxygen to your scalp  
  • Zinc — increases strand diameter and helps strengthen hair follicles
  • Copper — boosts hair health by preventing your strands from thinning 
  • Calcium — promotes the secretion of hormones responsible for new hair growth

So if you ever wonder, “Does drinking water help thicken hair?” the answer is yes. 

With these contents, it becomes clearer that you need to drink water as frequently as recommended.

Consider these as your hair’s sustenance. Your tresses need water daily so they can become vibrant, strong, and healthy. 

With the nourishment each hair strand gets from the elements in water, they exhibit an increased volume, resulting in thicker and more lustrous hair. 

Portrait of lovely Indian lady brushing her wavy long hair, using wooden brush indoors.

Tips To Remind Yourself To Drink Water

Although drinking water is essential for many health benefits, including better hair condition, not everyone is meticulous about how frequently they drink.

We often get so preoccupied with work and other activities that we forget to hydrate ourselves.

If it’s the same case for you and you want to make drinking water a habit, we curated a list of effective tips so you’re always reminded to chug from your bottle. 

1. Keep Water Within Your Reach

Whether you’re off to the office, gym, grocery store, or park, carrying your water bottle with you is a great first step to help you drink regularly.

You may also consider having a bottle of water on your bedside table so you’d have something to drink right away after you wake up and another one in the living room while you watch your favorite TV show.

When you have water within your reach, you’d be less likely to compromise on how much you drink daily. 

Quick Tip

Here are some reminders as you try to do this:

  • Opt for a large, reusable water bottle to reduce the need for frequent refills. A good choice is the leak-resistant Under Armour Playmaker Sport Jug, which holds up to 2 liters and comes in a range of vibrant colors, complete with an ergonomic handle for comfortable use.

2. Drink a Glass of Water Before and After Meals

Start associating your meals with drinking water. You can finish a glass before and after eating to reach your water intake goals easily.

It’s a simple technique and easy-to-do routine since you’re already at the table. 

Drinks always go with food, so it’s hard to forget to incorporate hydration into your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

3. Set a Frequent Reminder on Your Phone

Most people’s devices are always in their pockets. With a phone alarm, forgetting to take a sip is not an excuse anymore.

You can customize your reminders and set them as many times as needed until you complete the amount of water you need to drink daily.

Apart from utilizing the alarm feature of your phone, you can also download hydration apps from Google Play or App Store.

Positive happy toothy smiling woman with long healthy long curly hair holding the glass of pure water and showing the finger on it on white background

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Drinking Water Help Hair Grow Back?

Drinking water improves hair growth if dehydration is the main reason for hair loss. Although many factors influence your hair’s condition, drinking enough water is worth trying. 

You can also include other helpful routines to boost the chances of your hair growing back: 

  • Go for organic hair products. 
  • Invest in appropriate hair growth serums or natural oils like marula and other hair care solutions.
  • Massage your scalp regularly to improve your hair and scalp’s blood circulation.

It’s also recommended that you consult a licensed trichologist so they can assess your hair condition and tailor a hair growth plan for you.

Does Drinking Lemon Water Help Your Hair Grow?

Lemon is rich in vitamin C, so adding it to your drinking water also helps boost collagen production. It can also activate your dormant hair follicles.

The fruit also contains antioxidants, which help cleanse your organs and eliminate your body’s toxins.

If you religiously drink lemon water, you’ll experience many positive changes in your health, especially regarding your hair. 

a close-up image of a woman washing rice and saving the rice water in a white bowl

Does Drinking Rice Water Help Hair Growth?

While research on rice water‘s role in hair growth remains inconclusive, it’s established that rice water is rich in carbohydrates. 

These carbs can enhance energy and mood, potentially reducing stress levels. Lower stress may positively influence hair growth as stress is a known factor in hair health.

Does Drinking Water Help Frizzy Hair?

Apart from the common inquiry, “Does drinking a lot of water help grow hair?” you might also be curious whether it helps resolve frizzy hair.

Drinking enough water does help with this common hair issue because regular hydration will prevent your locks from looking for moisture in the air, which is what happens when you have frizzy hair. 

Does Drinking Water Make Your Hair Grow Faster?

Drinking water can make your hair grow faster than when you’re dehydrated. 

With enough moisture, your hair follicles can fully support hair growth and prompt the production of new strands.

Profile photo of attractive cute model lady demonstrating ideal neat long healthy hairstyle flying on air

Start the Habit of Drinking Water for Your Hair

So does water help with hair growth? Yes, it does. 

Water aids hair growth simply by drinking it, without needing any additives. Its benefits include improved blood flow, delivering nutrients to the scalp, and hydrating hair strands. 

By meeting your body’s water needs, your scalp’s skin cells and hair follicles function more effectively. To ensure regular hydration, consider setting reminders or alarms, especially during busy schedules. 

Let us know your progress with consistent water intake in the comments!

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Author

  • Janille Gultiano

    Jan, a distinguished freelance makeup artist, also boasts a BA in Mass Communication, laying the foundation for her diverse talents. For over four years, she's carved a niche as a captivating content writer, with her articles resonating in various spheres. Beyond writing, her expertise extends to crafting robust Public Relations and Corporate Communications strategies. Each endeavor reflects Jan's unique blend of creativity and precision

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