Can Aspirin Really Help You Regrow Your Hair? (2 of 4)

Why Do People Put Aspirin in Their Hair?

Most of the excitement concerning this hair-growth method comes from aspirin’s connection to the aforementioned salicylic acid, an ingredient found in some skincare and scalp-care products. Aside from its intended use, salicylic acid also helps loosen and remove dry, scaly skin. Properly formulated shampoos containing the ingredient may reduce flakes and buildup associated with dandruff, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis.

However, simply crushing an aspirin pill you’ve had lying around for months is not the same as using a professionally formulated salicylic acid shampoo. There are usually other inactive ingredients mixed into the pills, and a homemade mixture offers no reliable control over its strength, acidity, or distribution across the scalp.

Medicated shampoos also contain concentrations developed specifically for topical use. Crushing a few pills into ordinary shampoo can lead to unpredictable results or no results at all.

Can Aspirin Make Hair Grow?

There is currently no clinical evidence that would prove applying aspirin to the scalp stimulates new hair growth or treats pattern baldness. It may reduce scalp inflammation, improve circulation, fight infections, or block dihydrotestosterone (DHT), but these claims go well beyond what research has established.

Inflammation can certainly affect scalp health, and some inflammatory conditions may contribute to temporary shedding. Treating the underlying condition can help protect the hair that is already there. However, that does not mean aspirin itself can restart dead follicles.

Aspirin is not an antifungal medicine either and should not be presented as a treatment for conditions such as tinea capitis. Seborrheic dermatitis is commonly managed with specially formulated shampoos containing ingredients such as ketoconazole, ciclopirox, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, or salicylic acid. Simply put, it’s not a DIY remedy with some crushed aspirin and avocado oil.