In a world where scalp popping is going viral, it’s no surprise that people are jumping on other crazy trends to achieve healthy and glossy tresses. One such popular trend is nail rubbing for hair growth.
Certain people, magazines, and blogs claim that rubbing your nails can stimulate healthy hair growth. But is there any truth to this exercise, or is it merely fiction? Everything you need to know about nail rubbing and its connection to hair growth is right here. Keep reading to know more.
In This Article
1. Nail Rubbing For Hair Growth – Any Evidence?
2. What Is Balayam?
3. How To Perform Balayam?
4. How Is Balayam Thought To Help?
5. Acupuncture And Hair Growth
6. Who Should Avoid Balayam?
7. When Can You See Results?
8. Precautions To Be Followed
9. Infographic: How To Practice Nail Rubbing To Boost Hair Growth
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Key Takeaways
Nail Rubbing For Hair Growth – Any Evidence?
Nail rubbing, also known as Balayam, is a traditional Indian practice in Ayurveda and acupressure, believed by some to stimulate hair growth. It involves rubbing the fingernails of both hands against each other, and proponents claim it can improve hair health, reduce hair fall, and promote new growth.
How It’s Supposed to Work:
The theory behind nail rubbing suggests that nerve endings beneath the fingernails are connected to the scalp and hair follicles. By stimulating these nerves, the practice is thought to improve blood circulation to the scalp, thereby strengthening hair follicles and encouraging hair growth.
Scientific Evidence:
There is no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of nail rubbing for hair growth. While improved blood circulation is known to promote healthier hair, there are no clinical trials or peer-reviewed studies confirming that nail rubbing specifically stimulates hair growth or reduces hair loss.
Hair growth is influenced by a combination of factors, including genetics, hormones (like DHT), nutrition, and lifestyle. Established treatments for hair loss, such as minoxidil (Rogaine), finasteride (Propecia), and other medically approved therapies, have far more research backing their effectiveness.
Potential Benefits:
- Stress Relief: Nail rubbing might help with relaxation, which can lower stress levels. Since stress is a known contributor to hair loss, reducing stress might have an indirect positive impact on hair health.
- No Known Side Effects: The practice is safe, with no documented harmful side effects, so it can be tried without significant risk, though expectations should remain realistic.
Conclusion:
While nail rubbing is a safe and low-risk practice, there is no credible scientific evidence that it directly contributes to hair growth. For those experiencing significant hair loss, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist or healthcare professional for evidence-based treatments.
What Is Balayam?
Balayam is a part of yoga. Similar to how the various yoga poses enrich the body, balayam is thought to enrich the hair.
Balayam is focused on hair health. It gets the name from two separate words – bal, which means hair, and vyayam, which means exercise.
It is an activity that targets the hair follicles. Proponents claim that it helps reduce hair loss, graying, and hair thinning
How To Perform Balayam?
Unlike other yoga poses that require you to involve your legs or the body, balayam uses only your fingers. Here is how you can practice it:
- Stand or sit straight.
- Keep both your hands at your chest level. Shape them as loose half-fists, with the curled fingers facing each other. Keep both the thumbs upright and out of the way.
- Bring your hands together such that the nails of the two hands touch.
- Rub the nails against each other, back and forth. Continue for 5 to 10 minutes.
Proponents claim that performing balayam every day can give desirable results.
But, as discussed, evidence is lacking. How, then, is balayam thought to promote hair growth?
How Is Balayam Thought To Help?
Rubbing nails with enough pressure is thought to activate the nerves on the nail beds and stimulate blood circulation. However, practice caution. Excessive rubbing can potentially damage nails and cause more harm than good.
Although there is no scientific evidence supporting the practice of balayam in maintaining hair health, ayurveda seems to have an explanation. According to ayurveda, nails and hair are waste products of the metabolic activities that form the skeletal system. The universal life force manifests in everybody as three doshasi – vata, pitta, and kapha. Although present in everyone, the percentage of each dosha differs from person to person.
It is speculated that an excess of one dosha over others leads to an imbalance in the body that impacts the skeletal system, including the nails and hair.
With yoga in general and balayam in particular, there is a possibility of stabilizing the doshas to promote hair health.
The hair-promoting effects of balayam have also been attributed to acupuncture.
Acupuncture And Hair Growth
Acupuncture is a complementary medical science that deals with various pressure points related to the nervous system. The reflexology principles of acupuncture may help relieve bodily stress and potentially aid in hair loss prevention.
In acupuncture, pressing specific points in the feet or hands relaxes the body’s nerves. Some believe this act can calm down the signals in the body that cause hair fall or graying. Also, acupuncture is said to bring balance to the body’s internal organs and cause them to function at their best.
Therefore, it is assumed that rubbing nails trigger those nerves that boost blood flow to the scalp. This increased blood flow is thought to play a part in hair growth stimulation.
Though balayam is a relatively safe yoga procedure, certain individuals are often suggested to avoid it.
Who Should Avoid Balayam?
Certain people are discouraged from performing balayam. However, there is no scientific research to support these statements. They are merely based on anecdotal evidence.
- Pregnant ladies: Rubbing nails together as one performs balayam may cause uterine contractions. This may be harmful during pregnancy.
- Individuals with hypertension: Balayam involves rubbing nails rapidly to stimulate the nerves. Those with hypertension (high blood pressure) are thought to face issues.
- Individuals with nail ailments: People who have weak nails or are dealing with nail ailments must refrain from performing balayam. Rubbing nails together might aggravate the condition and cause pain.
In some individuals, balayam is also thought to increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. However, there is no research to support this statement. Balayam does not involve the rubbing of thumbnails. Rubbing thumbnails is believed to stimulate the growth of facial hair – something that may not be desirable for women.
When Can You See Results?
Given the lack of research, there is no definitive timeline for results. Proponents of balayam claim an individual, with regular practice, may see results in two to six months.
Most people who practice balayam also tend to follow other natural remedies and ingredients to promote hair health. More often than not, balayam, in combination with these remedies, may enhance hair strength and shine.
Precautions To Be Followed
Balayam is generally safe. However, certain factors are to be kept in mind.
Do not rub your nails vigorously. Doing so can cause your nails to lose their luster and even lead to pain in the nail beds.
Also, moderation is key. Do balayam only for 5 to 10 minutes regularly. Do not go overboard. Start slow and steady.
Infographic: How To Practice Nail Rubbing To Boost Hair Growth
As discussed earlier, nail rubbing (or balayam) is an ancient yoga technique for inducing hair growth and improving hair strength. Although it is not medically proven, anecdotal evidence suggests that this practice can prevent premature thinning and graying of the hair by stimulating the nervous system and blood circulation. To understand how to perform nail rubbing step by step, take a look at the infographic below.
Nail rubbing (balayam), according to alternative treatments like Ayurvedai and acupuncture, is said to help improve hair growth by targeting the hair follicles. This traditional practice is believed to activate the nerves and improve blood circulation to the scalp and, subsequently, hair follicles. According to acupuncture, nail rubbing can help relieve stress and reduce hair loss. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that pregnant women, hypertensive individuals, and those with nail ailments must avoid nail rubbing for hair growth. Remember, balayam does not recommend rubbing thumbnails as it is believed to stimulate facial hair growth. So, take note of these things and safely incorporate nail rubbing in your hair care routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I perform nail rubbing with any type of oil?
Yes, you can perform nail rubbing with popular oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, etc.
2. Can I apply nail rubbing on all hair types, including colored or chemically treated hair?
Yes, even if there is no scientific evidence to support the benefits of nail rubbing on hair development, you can give it a try to activate your acupuncture points and promote hair growth on all types of hair.
3. Are there any underlying scalp conditions that would make nail rubbing unsuitable?
Possibly not. There is a lack of scientific evidence and anecdotal reports that claim certain scalp conditions may aggravate if you rub your nails.
Key Takeaways
- According to Ayurveda, nail rubbing (also known as balayam) supports hair growth.
- This practice is done by rubbing your nails back and forth for 5-10 minutes.
- It activates the nerves on the nail bed and promotes blood circulation.
- The results are generally seen in 2-6 months with regular practice.
