Quitting Chewing Tobacco and Hair Growth: What You Need to Know

Strong evidence suggests that smoking can contribute to hair loss, but you might wonder if the same is true of chewing tobacco. If you’re losing hair and you dip, can you expect to see hair growth after quitting chewing tobacco? Is your smokeless tobacco habit to blame for hair loss in the first place?

There isn’t a ton of research exploring the link between chewing tobacco and hair loss, But that doesn’t mean a link doesn’t exist — just that the exact relationship is understudied. Much of what we know about hair loss and smoking cigarettes can also be applied to dip since both are tobacco products containing nicotine.

Below, we’ll break down what we know about hair loss and chewing tobacco, the positive effects of quitting dipping on your hair (and overall health), and strategies to help you quit.

You may think that because smokeless tobacco is, well…smokeless, it can’t affect your hair. After all, if there’s no smoke swirling around your head, how could chewing tobacco impact your strands?

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. A lot of the harm from tobacco products comes from nicotine entering the bloodstream. For context, we’ll start with a brief overview of smoking and hair loss before diving into chewing tobacco specifically.

The effects of cigarettes on hair loss are well-documented. A meta-analysis of eight studies found smoking to be a risk factor for both the development and worsening of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), otherwise known as male pattern baldness.

The odds of developing AGA are significantly higher in men who smoke at least 10 cigarettes a day than those who smoke less and non-smokers.

There’s also some evidence showing a possible relationship between how much someone smokes, what age they start experiencing baldness, and the severity of their hair loss.

Does chewing tobacco cause hair loss? We don’t have much research to draw on that specifically answers this question. But this also means there isn’t any evidence saying that chewing tobacco products don’t cause hair loss.

And generally, if something isn’t good for your overall health (chewing tobacco is a known cause of oral cancer), you can assume it’s not good for your hair, either.

Here’s what we know about hair growth and chewing tobacco.

Chewing Tobacco Can Alter Hormone Levels

We know smoking can affect hormones. This includes DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the androgen (male hormone) largely responsible for male pattern baldness.

Disrupted hormone levels caused by smoking or chewing tobacco could exacerbate hair loss for guys who are already predisposed to it genetically.

Here’s what the research says:

• A 2022 study on 600 men found that those who used chewing tobacco had a 24 percent lower sperm count than those who didn’t. However, their testosterone levels were about 14 percent higher.

• Since DHT is a byproduct of testosterone, more testosterone tends to equal more DHT — and higher levels of DHT correlate with hair loss.

• But a second 2022 study found the opposite. Baseball players who chewed nicotine had lower levels of testosterone in their saliva after 30 minutes.

While more research is needed to specifically flesh out the relationship, there appears to be a connection between chewing tobacco and hormones.

Nicotine Increases Cortisol

You’re probably familiar with the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol isn’t all bad — for example, it rises in the morning to wake you up. However, high cortisol levels correspond with stress, and there’s a link between chronic stress and hair loss.

You won’t start losing hair after spending an hour in traffic or having a hard week at work. But chronic stress (which causes consistently elevated cortisol levels) can wreak havoc on your body, including your hair.

Just like regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine pouches, chewing tobacco contains nicotine (that’s the addictive part), and nicotine raises cortisol levels. So, if you’re dipping daily, it’s reasonable to assume you have continuously elevated levels of cortisol.

What does that mean for your hair? Cortisol can disrupt how hair follicles function and mess with the natural hair growth cycle, both of which can contribute to hair loss. Chronic stress is also associated with a type of hair loss known as telogen effluvium.

Nicotine Constricts Blood Vessels and Hair Follicles

Research (on electronic cigarettes specifically) has shown that nicotine can constrict hair follicles and blood vessels on the skin’s surface.

The size of the hair follicles affects the size of each individual hair. Think of it like a pasta maker — the smaller the holes, the smaller the strands. That means you get angel hair instead of bucatini.

Minoxidil (an FDA-approved topical treatment for hair loss) works specifically by dilating the hair follicle and blood vessels in the scalp, which increases blood flow and oxygen and makes for thicker hair.

Nicotine does the exact opposite, meaning it constricts where minoxidil dilates. You don’t need to be a researcher to know this isn’t good news for your hair.

Chewing Tobacco Can Cause Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is caused by many things, including poor nutrition, alcohol use, environmental factors (think pollution and UV rays), and smoking.

It’s well known that chewing tobacco causes oxidative stress on the body. This essentially means there are too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants to fend them off. Smokeless tobacco is actually more toxic than plain nicotine.

Here’s why this is a concern:

• Smoking-induced oxidative stress can potentially lead to something called lipid peroxidation (basically deterioration), where free radicals attack lipids. Lipids are fatty compounds that make up cell membranes, including hair cells, and this peroxidation can lead to the death of hair cells.

• Chewing tobacco also contains arsenic. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, arsenic can contribute to hair loss. When you’re no longer exposed to arsenic, hair regrowth is possible.

• If arsenic isn’t enough, smokeless tobacco contains 28 known carcinogens (substances that can cause cancer), including formaldehyde, acetone, and ammonia. We don’t know the exact effect this has on hair, but it’s probably not helping.

Chewing Tobacco Can Cause Premature Graying

Nothing but respect for silver foxes, but hair graying is technically a sign of damaged DNA. This can be a natural (and celebrated) part of the aging process — or it could mean you’ve been exposed to something that’s had a harmful effect on your hair.

One study found that folks with gray hair were actually more likely to chew than smoke, which indicated a “greater genotoxic effect of chewing tobacco.”

Huh? This basically means chewing is damaging to DNA — and the effects can show up in your hair. We don’t know exactly what the consequences are for hair loss, but it’s safe to say dipping isn’t a friend of hair health.

Whether your excess shedding is from chewing tobacco, smoking, stress, or genetics (or some combo of things), there are ways to slow down hair loss and even see new hair growth.

Here’s a rundown of hair loss treatments to consider.

Finasteride

Finasteride (you may have heard it called Propecia®) is proven to slow hair loss and potentially stimulate new hair growth.

Studies show that finasteride reduces the amount of DHT in the body by as much as 90 percent. The less DHT you have swirling around, the more likely you are to keep your hair. 

Minoxidil 

Minoxidil is FDA-approved as a hair loss and regrowth treatment. We touched on this earlier, but to recap — it’s a vasodilator that increases blood circulation to the scalp and hair follicles.

Topical Finasteride and Minoxidil

Our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray combines the two clinically proven ingredients. They both treat hair loss but work differently, and for that reason, they’re a dynamic duo. 

One study looked at the effectiveness of minoxidil and finasteride separately and when used together. The best results were found in the group using both.

Biotin

Supplementing with biotin gummies may help with hair loss in some situations, but it’s most effective for people with a true vitamin deficiency.

Besides biotin, our biotin gummies contain ingredients that support healthy hair, like vitamin C and folic acid.

Saw Palmetto

The plant extract known as saw palmetto isn’t as well-studied as FDA-approved hair loss medications. However, some scientific evidence suggests it may partially block the effects of DHT, like nature’s version of finasteride.

In one study (notably lacking a control group), 50 men with male pattern baldness used a topical saw palmetto treatment for 24 weeks. Participants experienced increased hair count at 12 and 24 weeks.

Our thickening shampoo contains saw palmetto if you’d like to give it a try.

If you or a loved one has ever unsuccessfully tried to stop using chewing tobacco, you already know how tough it is to quit dipping. Chewing tobacco is an addictive substance, partly because the nicotine can give you a momentary feeling of relaxation.

The nicotine content in a typical can of dip (sometimes called snuff or just chew) is right around 144 milligrams. That’s equal to about 80 cigarettes — or four packs.

It makes sense that because dip is highly addictive, it’s also highly difficult to quit. But quitting is possible, and you’ll feel better for it (so will your hair).

The good news is that quitting chewing tobacco is definitely possible, and the health benefits of doing so start almost immediately.

Here are some tips for how to stop using dip:

• Make a list of reasons you want to quit. It can include things like improving your health or saving money. Put the list somewhere you’ll see it regularly.

• Consider nicotine replacement therapy, gum, or mints. But remember, nicotine gum and similar products are designed to be tapered off, not used indefinitely. Otherwise, your hair will still be affected by nicotine.

• Find something else to do when cravings hit. This can be as simple as popping a piece of gum in your mouth, playing a game on your phone, or working on a jigsaw puzzle.

• Work with a professional counselor or consider a support group. It can be helpful to connect with other people in a similar situation. Counselors can help you manage feelings that may make you reach for chew, like anxiety or irritability.

• Try a quitting app. There are both free and paid apps available specifically for help with quitting chewing tobacco or smoking. They can help keep you accountable and give you an immediate place to turn when a craving hits.

• Consider smoking cessation drugs. Medications like Chantix®, Zyban®, and other prescription drugs can help reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. You should always talk to a healthcare professional first, as these medications can have side effects.

When you start seeing hair loss from chewing tobacco, it’s normal to wonder if it’s permanent or if there’s something you can do to turn it around. The answer depends on a number of factors, including your genetics, the intensity of your chewing tobacco use, and how much hair you’ve lost.

Let’s say you’re not genetically predisposed to androgenic alopecia and your hair loss is caused by a lack of blood flow, chronic stress, or hormonal disruptions. In that case, quitting tobacco might slow or stop further hair loss.

But if you’re experiencing male pattern baldness, there’s no way to stop it completely (though you can slow it down). In either situation, hair loss can be improved with hair loss medications, but full regrowth is never guaranteed.

Many people wonder what happens when you quit dipping. It can be scary, but you’ll be doing yourself (and your loved ones) a serious solid.

The side effects of quitting chewing tobacco include:

• Having the urge to use dip

• Feeling irritable, down, or sad

• Having trouble sleeping

• Feeling foggy or having trouble concentrating

• Feeling jittery or restless 

• Feeling more hungry

• A slower heart rate

The quitting chewing tobacco timeline varies by person, but generally, symptoms should subside within four to five weeks.

Once the physical withdrawal is over, cravings will lessen (though they’ll still pop up occasionally). Over time, you’ll feel better both physically and mentally.

There are so many benefits to quitting, including lowering your risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and stroke, strengthening your immune system, and aesthetic changes like whiter teeth and healthier hair.

Does chewing tobacco cause hair loss? There just isn’t enough research on whether dipping causes hair loss, so it’s tough to say for sure that you’ll see hair growth after quitting chewing tobacco.

However, there does seem to be a correlation between chewing tobacco and hair loss (and a well-established connection between smoking and hair loss).

Here are a few things to keep in mind about hair growth after quitting chewing tobacco:

• By some estimates, there’s the equivalent of about 80 cigarettes in a can of dip — put frankly, that’s a ton of nicotine. Nicotine decreases blood flow, increases cortisol levels, alters hormone levels, damages DNA, and can cause premature hair graying. All of that takes a toll on hair health and can potentially contribute to hair loss.

• We can’t say for certain that quitting dip will help slow hair loss, especially if you’re genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. However, chewing tobacco is not good for overall health (and can cause cancer of the mouth and throat).

• Quitting chewing tobacco has many benefits — you’ll save money, have healthier teeth and gums, and lower your risk of cancer. You might also find that your hair and skin look better.

If you’re starting to notice hair loss and aren’t sure about the cause, connect with a healthcare professional to figure out what’s going on and explore your options.

You can also learn more about keeping your hair thick and healthy in our guide to the best treatments for thinning hair.