Sports and hair health: commonplaces and false myths

Our eyes are on the Paris Olympics. Watching the diving, fencing thrusts, synchronized swimming routines, or the strides in athletics, we are getting the urge to play sports again, to engage in an activity that makes us feel good and fit. However, many small things hold us back, from laziness to the shyness of going to the gym after not working out for a long time, from days so full of commitments that we don’t even have five minutes to dedicate to ourselves, to the weather being too hot or too cold. One of the most absurd excuses? I can't exercise because I just washed my hair. It may sound strange, but many people still believe that sports negatively impact our hair. Carlos Portinha, doctor and Chief Clinical Officer of Insparya, a group specializing in hair transplants, helps us debunk common misconceptions and false myths about the relationship between sports and hair health, revealing that, in reality, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

Healthier and Stronger Hair Thanks to Increased Blood Flow

"With physical activity, blood flow increases and, consequently, so does the oxygenation of follicular units, which is essential to prevent hair loss and make the scalp more toned," explains Dr. Carlos Portinha. "Additionally, the hair root is strengthened, leaving the hair shinier and more voluminous."

Less Stress Equals Less Hair Loss

Prolonged stress tends to increase levels of cortisol, a hormone that alters proteoglycans, molecules that influence the normal functioning of the hair follicle. Thus, hair grows weaker and is more prone to fall out before completing its natural life cycle. Regular physical activity promotes both increased scalp sweating and, consequently, the elimination of toxins through the skin, as well as the release of natural oils, providing greater nourishment to the roots and facilitating healthy hair growth.

Sweat Is Both a Friend and a Foe

We just mentioned that sweat, composed of 99% water, plus salts and other substances, can be a useful nutrient but can also cause dryness and damage to hair follicles, making hair more fragile and prone to breakage.

If You Practice Water Sports, Your Hair Needs Extra Care

According to various studies, swimming is the best sport of all. It is useful for toning and training all the muscles of the body, but saltwater and chlorine can weaken keratin fibers, dehydrating the hair, and can cause loss of color and shine in the case of highlights and colored hair. How to avoid this? By taking a fresh water shower before entering the pool to saturate the hair fibers with clean water, thus preventing the absorption of chlorine, and thoroughly rinsing the hair after swimming in the sea to remove excess salt. Dr. Portinha also suggests amino acid-based strengthening treatments to protect the hair from the negative effects of sea or pool water.

Playing Sports Outdoors? You Need Sunscreen

We can’t emphasize it enough: sunscreen should always be applied to the skin and hair whenever we are outdoors, even when doing sports. It is essential to protect the hair from sun rays, which can cause dryness and hair loss. We can avoid these negative effects by applying a specific product or sunscreen for the scalp and hair lengths.

Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Nutrition for Hair

Olympic athletes follow well-balanced diets and we should take inspiration from them, consult a certified nutritionist, and follow their advice. Because proper nutrition is essential for overall well-being, including maintaining healthy hair. Dr. Portinha emphasizes focusing more on this rather than resorting to sports supplements, which "can have effects contrary to those desired, especially for hair health. In particular, we discourage the use of anabolic steroids."