Every so often, a hair trend goes viral claiming to unlock extreme hair growth in a short time. One such trend is the inversion method hair growth trick, which involves hanging your head upside down for a few minutes daily to stimulate blood flow to the scalp. Devotees of the inversion method claim it can make hair grow an extra inch or more in a week – results that would be astounding if true. But can hanging upside down really make your hair grow faster, or is this just another overhyped internet myth? Let’s examine the logic and evidence (or lack thereof) behind the inversion method, and discuss whether it’s worth trying.
What is the Inversion Method?
The inversion method is straightforward: once a day (often for seven consecutive days a month), you flip your head upside down (some people lie on a bed with head hanging off, others do a forward bend or even a handstand if they’re athletic). You stay inverted for about 4 minutes. Many recommend massaging warm oil (like coconut, olive, or castor oil) into your scalp before inverting to further stimulate blood flow and nourish the scalp. After the time is up, you slowly sit up to avoid dizziness. That’s it – you repeat daily for a week, and purportedly you’ll see a noticeable growth spurt. Some folks claim 1 inch in a week (which is about 4x the normal rate!), others even more. Then you’re supposed to take a break and maybe do it again next month, as some say doing it constantly will diminish results (or, cynically, maybe because hair can only grow so fast in a sustained manner).
The Theory Behind It
Proponents of the inversion method argue that by hanging upside down, you dramatically increase blood circulation to the scalp. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen to hair follicles, so more blood flow could mean follicles are better nourished and can produce hair more quickly. It’s true that scalp massage and potentially improved circulation might help hair growth to some extent – hair follicles are highly vascular (lots of blood vessels feeding them), and poor circulation (for example, due to very tight scalps or certain medical conditions) could potentially limit hair growth. However, for most people, the scalp already gets sufficient blood supply when you’re upright. Your body regulates blood flow pretty effectively; you don’t normally have a “starved” scalp unless there’s a vascular issue. So the inversion method is kind of like giving your scalp an extra flush of blood beyond the norm.
While the theory isn’t utterly far-fetched (blood flow is important), the claims of how much extra growth you get are dubious. If mild scalp massage can help a bit over months, can a 4-minute daily inversion turbo-boost that by 4 times in one week? That’s a big leap. It’s also worth noting: extreme increased blood pressure (which is what happens when you’re inverted; the blood pressure in your head rises) could have downsides, like bursting tiny blood vessels or causing lightheadedness. It’s something to consider safety-wise (more on that later).
What Does the Science Say?
There have been no scientific studies specifically on the inversion method for hair growth. A search of the literature finds nothing like “inversion hair growth study.” So we have to extrapolate from general knowledge: - Scalp Massage: There’s a small 2016 study in Japan where 9 men did 4 minutes of scalp massage daily, and after 24 weeks they had slightly thicker hair (an increase in hair diameter). They didn’t necessarily show hair growing faster, but the quality improved, possibly due to better blood flow or direct stimulation of cells. Another survey study of hundreds of people who did scalp massage found about 69% reported their hair loss slowed or improved (i.e., less shedding or some regrowth). These suggest that massaging the scalp regularly can be beneficial to hair health. However, massage is not the same as inversion – in these cases, people weren’t all hanging upside down (though some may have been bending over to massage). - Blood Flow and Hair Growth: Hair follicles in the growth phase do require good blood supply. Some hair loss treatments like minoxidil work in part by increasing blood circulation to the scalp. On the flip side, conditions like androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness) are linked to DHT and genetics, not a simple blood flow deficiency; you can have a bald scalp that still has normal circulation. There was a study that circadian rhythm misalignment (like in shift workers) can reduce hair growth rate (because hair follicles also have a “clock”), but that’s not directly about blood flow – it’s more about hormonal timing. So while blood flow is necessary, it might not be the rate-limiting factor for growth for most of us. - Inversion safety: In yoga, inverted poses (like headstand, handstand) are practiced, but typically only for short periods. Being inverted increases intracranial pressure and blood pressure. For a healthy individual for 4 minutes, this is usually tolerated, but people with high blood pressure, heart issues, or other conditions are often warned against inversions. There’s no research saying “inversions grow hair” – likely because it hasn’t been taken seriously enough to study, and any effect is probably minimal or hard to measure.
Given the lack of evidence, the inversion method’s dramatic results are not scientifically backed. If it truly gave everyone an extra inch a week, we’d all know – imagine, that’s 52 inches a year, over four feet of hair growth! Clearly, that doesn’t happen. Even those who try it and say it worked often note the growth was temporary or within normal variation.
Real-Life Reports and Risks
This method became popular via blogs and YouTube, not dermatologists. Many who’ve tried it report mixed outcomes: - Some say, “Wow, I got 3/4 inch in a week!” But one must consider measuring hair growth in a short period is tricky. Did they stretch the hair the same way when measuring? Is it possible their hair was already growing a bit faster that month due to other factors or that they measured slightly differently? Also, if someone normally grows 1/2 inch a month, in one week that’s about 1/8 inch. It’s possible to see slightly more if they were in a growth spurt or after a trim (hair sometimes appears to grow a touch faster after a fresh cut, possibly due to removing split ends – though that’s debatable too). Point is, a lot of “results” can be within margin of error or normal variation. - Others report no change or say it’s “just a relaxing thing to do but my hair didn’t grow faster.” - And some warn of side effects: headaches, dizziness, burst blood vessels in the eye, or feeling sick. Indeed, hanging upside down can cause a head rush. Some people may also hurt their back or neck if doing it in an awkward position.
Risks to note: If you have any kind of medical condition like high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma, or even sinus issues, you should not do inversion method without doctor approval. Even if you’re healthy, doing it too long could cause dizziness – you must rise slowly to avoid possibly fainting. There are stories of people who got dizzy and fell (which could cause injury). So it’s not 100% benign.
Why It’s Likely Not a Hair Growth Panacea
Hair Growth Physiology: Hair grows from the root matrix where cells divide. This process can be influenced by nutrients and hormones, but it’s not instant. Even if you supercharged blood flow, the cells can only divide so fast (and that speed is set by genetics and metabolic rate). Getting more blood doesn’t make them break the biological speed limit. Think of watering a plant – watering more (to a point) helps it stay healthy, but it won’t necessarily make a rose bloom overnight. The plant grows at its own rate; you just ensure it has enough water and nutrients. Similarly, as long as your scalp has decent blood flow normally, extra might not do much. If someone had very poor circulation (say, they always kept their hair tightly in a bun and had a tense scalp, or they smoke which constricts vessels), maybe inversion gives a slight improvement. But for most, the scalp’s fine with normal upright blood flow.
Temporary Gains vs. Long Term: Some claim inversion method should only be done one week a month else it stops working. This isn’t based on science; it sounds like a built-in excuse for why hair doesn’t keep growing 1” every week continuously (because clearly that doesn’t happen). More likely, if it “works” the first time, it could be because doing frequent scalp massages (with oil) and being gentle for a week prevented breakage and gave hair a chance to show its normal growth. Or maybe increased blood flow did kick some follicles that were in resting phase into growth phase a tad sooner, giving a one-time spurt. But hair growth tends to average out. You might see a little more one week, less another. Over months, it’ll revert to your baseline average.
Placebo and Perception: When you’re intensely focused on your hair (like doing this ritual daily), you might pay more attention and perceive it as longer. Also, oiling hair can make it appear longer/smoother because it lies flat, and measuring oil-soaked straight hair vs previously frizzy hair can give a false impression of growth. Many inversion testimonials involve oiling hair – a confounding factor is that oil treatments themselves can improve hair’s moisture and reduce breakage, so hair retains length better. That’s not growth at the root; it’s preventing loss at the ends. If someone gained 1/2” of actual length but normally might have broken 1/4” of that due to brittleness, they might feel like they got 1/2” more than usual, when really they just didn’t break as much. So inversion might be piggybacking on good hair care (massage + oil = good, inversion part = questionable).
Should You Try It?
The inversion method is low-cost (it’s basically just time, and maybe some oil). If you’re healthy and you do it carefully, the worst is probably a mild headache. Just manage expectations – don’t expect miraculous growth. Think of it as a scalp massage technique. In fact, you could likely get similar benefits just massaging your scalp upright for 4 minutes a day. Some might argue inversion is more effective because gravity helps more blood come. Perhaps a bit, but is that difference huge for hair? Likely not.
If you do try: - Be safe: Sit on a chair and bend over, or lie on a bed with head hanging, rather than full handstand (unless you’re experienced). Set a timer for no more than 4-5 minutes to be safe. Come back up slowly. Stop if you feel dizzy or painful pressure. - Use it as relaxation: It can be a self-care moment. Play music, gently rub your scalp with your fingertips. This can relieve stress, which indirectly helps hair (stress can cause shedding). - Use oil if you want: Warm a bit of oil (not too hot!). Massage in for a couple minutes before you invert. Oil can condition the scalp and hair. Just remember to wash it out later; leaving heavy oil on scalp long-term can cause issues. - Don’t do it if contraindicated: Again, medical conditions like high blood pressure (the inversion spikes it) or glaucoma (increased eye pressure could worsen it) mean skip this. It’s not worth risking your health for hair.
And importantly: track your normal hair growth for comparison. If you normally get 1/2” a month, you’d expect about 1/8” a week. If after inversion week you get 1/4”, maybe it did something modest. But if it’s the same, you’ll know it doesn’t work for you (or generally). If you get 1” (which would be surprising), maybe you’re a person whose hair responds exceptionally. Just be careful with measurement – measure the same section of hair under the same conditions (dry vs wet can differ).
Expert Opinions
Most hair experts and dermatologists don’t endorse the inversion method as a proven technique. Many label it as another internet myth that at best might increase blood flow a little but not enough to dramatically alter growth. They often point out there’s no scientific evidence and hair growth doesn’t change that radically. However, they do often promote scalp massage (without hanging upside down) as part of healthy hair care, as well as things like good diet and avoiding damaging practices, which we’ve covered. So, the inversion method can be seen as overkill on the massage idea. Instead of just rubbing, people thought “hey, if I dangle upside down, even more blood – that must really do it!” It’s an intuitive leap but not one backed by research.
Dermatologist Dr. Yazdan, for example, has publicly stated that the inversion method does not have scientific proof for hair growth and that hair growth depends more on genetics and overall health, not brief changes in blood flow.
Healthline and other reputable sources when discussing scalp massage mention the inversion method as something said to help, but note there’s no evidence to prove it works. One Healthline article on scalp massage said while inversion is claimed to help, “there is no scientific evidence to prove that the inversion method works” and cautioned about the potential dangers (like dizziness or for those with certain conditions).
Conclusion: Inversion – Truth or Hype?
Considering all of the above, it’s fair to conclude that the inversion method is more hype than a breakthrough. Hanging upside down for a few minutes might be a fun experiment and could slightly increase blood flow, but it’s unlikely to make a meaningful difference in how fast your hair grows. Certainly not to the extreme some people claim. If you enjoy doing it and it encourages you to massage your scalp or relax, it’s not harmful (if you’re healthy), so you can continue – just do it safely. However, don’t rely on it as your main hair growth strategy.
Your time might be better spent focusing on proven fundamentals: maintain a nutritious diet, ensure you’re not deficient in key vitamins/minerals, keep your scalp clean and healthy, minimize breakage by gentle hair care, and perhaps use known hair growth aids (like topical minoxidil, low-level laser therapy, or peptides – if appropriate for thinning hair conditions).
To answer the question directly: Can hanging upside down make hair grow faster? There’s no solid evidence that it significantly does. At best, it might be a slight boost or just help in retention of length from better scalp/hair condition. At worst, it’s an internet fad that could give you a headache or a neck crick. So take inversion method “success stories” with a grain of salt – correlation is not causation. Many people doing inversion are also doing other helpful things (oiling, massaging, taking supplements) so any growth spurt could be from those or natural variation.
In hair care, if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Patience and consistency trump quick fixes. The inversion method falls into the category of “probably not necessary but mostly harmless for most people.” It won’t transform your hair growth overnight. If you tried it and felt your hair benefited, by all means, you can use it as part of your routine (the scalp massage part, especially). But keep expectations realistic and prioritize overall hair health.
This is the end of this article.