Hair Loss and Bodybuilding: Do Bodybuilders Often Lose Hair?

Hair loss and bodybuilding are thought to have a connection, although this is generally a myth.

Although many bodybuilders can be bald or experience hair loss, this is simply a correlation and not a causal relationship.

Hair growth and loss are affected by diet, environment, stress levels, and genetics, amongst many other factors.

Keep reading below to learn about the connection between bodybuilding and hair loss.

Common Myths About Hair Loss and Bodybuilding

Are you worried about thinning hair as a result of following bodybuilding workouts? If so, you shouldn’t.

Here are some common myths about bodybuilding and hair loss that you should know to avoid:

Weight Lifting and Hair Loss Go Hand-in-Hand

A common fitness myth tells people that bodybuilding, weightlifting, and hair loss go hand in hand.

This is not true at all, but a lot of people believe it.

While it’s true that testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), DHT is associated with hair thinning, and DHT levels are higher in those who exercise, the relationship is not as direct as increased DHT equals hair loss.

Several factors determine whether or not hair loss or hair thinning occurs, and simply taking a DHT blocker while starting a bodybuilding career will not make a significant difference if you are genetically predisposed to hair loss or live a lifestyle that promotes hair loss.

The More Nutrients You Intake, the Thicker Hair You’ll Have

Bodybuilders and health nuts love to use supplements, and many do so with the mistaken belief that the more nutrients you put into your body, the better your overall health. Unfortunately, this isn’t the way to go about improving your health.

There are limits to how much you should get of each nutrient.

Too much Vitamin A, for example, can make you lose hair and cause other troubling problems, such as cardiovascular problems.

Don’t believe the companies promoting products that contain hundreds or thousands of times the RDA or DRI of certain vitamins or minerals, claiming that they will improve your hair. Instead, focus on consuming a healthy diet containing all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Sweat Causes Baldness

There is absolutely nothing harmful about sweating if you’re healthy. Additionally, sweat is a good thing for your body!

Sweat rids toxins from your pores, including your hair.

For example, if you quit smoking or drinking sugary drinks, sweat is one of the most common types of detoxification to rid your body of harmful toxins!

Sweating is the result of increased heat and increased blood flow, and this increased blood flow also improves circulation, which in turn promotes healing and even thicker hair.

These are all great things!

Sweat is only a problem when you let it build up and dry on your scalp, which can clog your hair follicles, leading to irritation and infections.

So, make sure you shower after your workouts, and always use shampoo on your scalp.

There’s Nothing You Can Do To Promote Hair Growth

Unless your hair loss problems are deeply genetic based, there are many ways to promote hair growth.

Can exercise help thin hair grow back? It doesn’t hurt, especially because it can help promote better circulation.

Cardio workouts are recommended to get the blood flowing and stimulate hair follicles.

Getting enough of the right vitamins and minerals promotes hair growth as well. So, ensure that you’re eating a diet high in plant foods that contain various vitamins and minerals and occasional animal foods to fill in additional vitamin and mineral gaps.

Minerals like zinc, magnesium, sulfur, and vitamins like folic acid, biotin, and inositol play a vital role in maintaining healthy and beautiful hair!

Don’t rely solely on supplements to get your nutrition, either.

Eating a healthy diet with additional supplements or superfood powders is the best way to get all your necessary vitamins and minerals!

Causes of Hair Loss for Bodybuilders

As I mentioned before, the most likely causes of hair loss for bodybuilders are genetic factors and stress.

Additionally, the hormone DHT may play a role in hair loss for bodybuilders. Although it will likely not cause hair loss on its own, the relationship between bodybuilders, hair loss, and DHT is important to be mindful of.

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a hormone produced in the body through the conversion of testosterone by the enzyme 5AR (5 Alpha Reductase).

DHT may play a role in hair loss, as it can bind to receptors in the hair follicles and cause them to shrink.

Over time, this can lead to thinning hair and hair loss.

Due to this, DHT blocker supplements may be useful.

In fact, Finasteride, an inhibitor of type II 5alpha-reductase, decreases serum and scalp DHT by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT, slowing the progression of hair loss, and increasing hair growth in a 2-year clinical trial.

Dietary Factors and Hair Loss in Bodybuilding

Dietary factors are incredibly important in enabling your hair to grow consistently.

A diet high in refined sugar, bad dietary fats, and low in fruits and vegetables will leave your body depleted and unable to grow hair quickly or at any rate.

Eating a diet high in various fruits, vegetables, fish, and other whole foods will allow your body to work optimally and maintain a healthy head of hair.

Salmon, for example, is a great food to consume regularly to promote hair growth and reduce hair loss.

Salmon contains significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, lean protein, and necessary vitamins and minerals.

Eating salmon once or twice per week can help promote healthy hair growth.

Sweet potatoes are another superfood for your hair.

Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A by the body, which is crucial for the health of your hair and increasing the blood flow to the scalp.

Vitamin A promotes sebum production in the hair, helping to keep it healthy and stopping the follicles from regressing and the hair from becoming brittle.

Sweet potatoes are also one of the best carbs for bodybuilding in general!

Lastly, coconut oil is an oil that can drastically improve the look and health of your hair whether you use it topically or you ingest it.

Coconut oil is widely known to be the richest source of natural medium-chain triglycerides (healthy fatty acids), and it is particularly high in lauric acid, which naturally occurs in human breast milk and supports hormone and cellular health.

Consuming a diet high in these and other nutrient-dense whole foods is a great way to naturally reduce the risk of hair loss and promote hair growth!

Concluding Thoughts – Hair Loss and Bodybuilders

Hair loss is a common concern for many people, particularly as they age.

However, due to myths and actual biology, hair loss can be particularly concerning for bodybuilders.

Controlling dietary factors, stress levels, and the environment around you can aid in your ability to slow hair loss and increase hair growth.