More Magnesium for More Hair Volume
Magnesium—it's the unsung hero of hair care, and chances are, you've been overlooking it. This mineral does a lot more than just keep your muscles relaxed after a workout or support heart health. In fact, it plays a major role in over 700 functions in your body! And one of its lesser-known talents? Helping your hair grow.
If you're struggling with hair thinning or hair loss, it could be because your magnesium levels are falling short. Here's how magnesium works its magic when it comes to hair health, and why it's time to give this mighty mineral the attention it deserves.
The Magnesium-Hair Connection: How It Helps Your Strands Grow
1. Magnesium Prevents Scalp Calcification (Yes, Calcium Can Be a Hair Villain!)
We often think of calcium as being good for our bones, but when it builds up in the blood vessels of your scalp, it can spell trouble for your hair. This calcium buildup, known as scalp calcification, causes the blood vessels in your scalp to stiffen, reducing blood flow to your hair follicles. Without the right nutrients and oxygen, your hair can stop growing and even fall out.
Magnesium steps in like a boss babe, preventing calcium from clogging up your scalp. It helps improve circulation, so blood (and all the nutrients your hair needs to thrive) can reach your follicles and keep the growth cycle going strong. Healthy blood flow means healthy hair!
2. Protein Synthesis: Magnesium Helps Build the Foundation for Healthy Hair
Healthy hair is built on strong protein structures, like keratin, which forms the core of each strand. Magnesium is crucial for protein synthesis—the process that creates proteins like keratin and melanin (the pigment that gives your hair color). Without enough magnesium, protein synthesis slows down, and that could lead to weaker hair or even halt the growth process altogether.
3. Magnesium Deficiency and Hair Loss: It’s Real!
So, can a lack of magnesium cause hair loss? Absolutely. And the list of things that can deplete your magnesium levels is surprisingly long. Here are just a few:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Gut issues like Crohn’s disease or celiac
- Aging—older adults are more prone to magnesium deficiency
- Medications, such as diuretics and antibiotics
- Excessive sweating or urination
Low magnesium can lead to a whole host of issues beyond hair loss—muscle cramps, fatigue, mood swings, and even problems with bone density. When it comes to your hair, magnesium deficiency can result in thinning, premature graying, or shedding, so don't underestimate the impact of a poor diet.
How to Boost Magnesium for Better Hair Growth
Good news: you can easily bump up your magnesium levels and give your hair the boost it needs. Whether through your diet or skin (which happens to be your largest organ) here's how to get more of this essential mineral:
Magnesium Supplements
Taking a magnesium supplement is a simple way to boost your levels if you're concerned about deficiency. However, the magnesium inside of supplements may not be as readily absorbed in dry powder form.
Magnesium-Rich Foods
Food is always the best medicine, and there are plenty of delicious, magnesium-packed options to choose from. Try adding more of these to your diet:
- Avocados – Great for your skin and your hair.
- Dark chocolate – Yes, you read that right. Treat yourself!
- Nuts and seeds – Perfect for snacking and rich in magnesium.
- Tofu – A plant-based source of magnesium that’s great for your hair.
- Beans – From black beans to kidney beans, they’re full of magnesium.
- Fatty fish – Salmon and mackerel are not only heart-healthy but also help nourish your hair.
- Bananas – A tasty, convenient magnesium boost.
- Leafy greens – Spinach, kale, and other greens are packed with magnesium.
Last, but not least, the easiest way that we found is through topical magnesium creams and salts. Taking a warm epsom salt bath (magnesium flakes) is a great way to absorb the mineral. Magnesium is easily and readily absorbed through the skin. Don't have time for a bath? Try using an all natural magnesium based body cream like Serene. Just add to your daily skincare routine. Your skin — and your hair — will thank you.
Addressing Other Deficiencies for Optimal Hair Health
Magnesium isn’t the only nutrient your hair needs to grow healthy and strong. If you’re dealing with multiple deficiencies, such as low vitamin D or iron, your hair could suffer as well. In fact, vitamin D also plays a key role in helping your body absorb magnesium, so if you have a vitamin D deficiency, your magnesium levels may not be as optimal as they could be.
Make sure you’re tackling all the nutritional needs your body has for maximum hair growth benefits!
Don’t Underestimate Magnesium
Magnesium is a key player in hair thickness and hair volume, and it’s time to start giving it the credit it deserves. By making sure you’re getting enough magnesium so you can help support your hair’s growth cycle, improve circulation to your scalp, and even potentially prevent hair loss. So, the next time you're thinking about your hair care routine, remember that magnesium should definitely be part of the equation.
Stay Gorgeous!