Does Vaping Cause Hair Thinning?
If your hair is shedding more than usual, feeling thinner, or you’re noticing some bald spots developing, you might be experiencing some form of hair loss. Vaping might seem unrelated, but it can affect your blood flow, stress out your hair follicles, and even mess with your hormones. All of which can impact hair health. If you vape regularly and your hair isn’t feeling like it used to, it could be contributing to the problem. Luckily, there are some proven things you can do to help your hair. Read below for everything you need to know about vaping and hair loss.
What Vaping Can Do to Your Hair
Vaping affects your blood flow, which can lead to hair loss. When nicotine enters your system, it makes your blood vessels tighten, including the ones that carry oxygen and nutrients to your scalp. Without enough of those blood vessels, your hair follicles can get weaker and start shedding earlier than they should. Nicotine also causes inflammation and oxidative stress, which can mess with your hair’s natural growth cycle.
If you’ve been vaping regularly and notice more hair falling out, slower growth, or thinner strands, vaping could be one of the reasons why.
What’s in Vapes Besides Nicotine?
Vape juice isn’t just flavored clouds. It usually contains ingredients like propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and artificial flavors, and even trace metals from the device itself. Some of these ingredients can dry out your scalp, cause irritation, or mess with your hormones, all of which can affect hair growth.
Researchers are still figuring out the long-term effects, but early studies suggest these additives might be doing more to your body than you think.
Who’s Most Affected by Vape-Related Hair Loss?
Hair loss from vaping can affect anyone, but some people may be more susceptible than others. You might be more at risk if:
You already have pattern baldness in your family
You vape heavily or use high-nicotine devices
You have underlying conditions like thyroid imbalance or iron deficiency
You’ve noticed recent hormonal changes or increased stress
Hair thinning doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some, it’s a wider part. For others, it’s just more hair falling out than usual. If you’re noticing changes, your body may be trying to tell you something. The sooner you can make a positive impact on your hair health, the sooner your hair can recover.
Quit Vaping With NRT
If you’ve noticed changes to your hair (or health in general) and you’re not feeling your best, quitting or cutting back on vaping could make you feel a whole lot better. And you’d be making a really healthy shift that your entire entire body will benefit from . With Jones, you don’t have to do it alone.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the most effective way to quit vaping and smoking and can seriously help manage cravings. Jones nicotine mints are a clean, on-the-go way to wean off nicotine without disrupting your daily routine. Our mints come in Classic Mint or Cherry with 2 mg or 4 mg options depending on how much you vape. With Jones, you also get a custom quit plan, app, and a community supporting you every step of the way.
Quitting Without Nicotine
Some people choose to quit vaping without using any nicotine at all, like going cold turkey , cutting back slowly, or using tools like mindfulness, breathwork, or habit-tracking apps. Others lean on therapy, online communities, or new routines that help break the habit.
That said, using a small, steady amount of nicotine (like with NRT products) can actually make quitting easier—and more successful long-term. You’ll end up getting less nicotine overall, without all the extra chemicals that come with vaping. It’s a cleaner, more controlled way to step down without feeling overwhelmed, irritable, or distracted.
What Happens When You Quit Vaping?
Once you stop vaping, your blood flow improves. That means more oxygen and nutrients can reach your scalp, and with less inflammation from vape chemicals, your follicles can start to recover.
Hair growth does take time though. You might not see a full comeback immediately after quitting, but a lot of people do notice less shedding just a few weeks later.
You can help kickstart hair regrowth with good sleep, hydration, and hair-healthy nutrients like biotin, iron and zinc, which can all give your strands the best chance of bouncing back.
Other Reasons You Might Be Losing Hair
While vaping can lead to hair loss, there could be other factors also contributing. Common causes of hair loss include:
Genetics
Hormonal changes like PCOS or menopause
Nutrient deficiencies, especially iron, protein, and vitamin D
Stress or sudden illness
Certain medications
Autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata
Should I talk to a doctor about hair loss from vaping?
Absolutely. If your hair loss is noticeable, patchy, or hasn’t improved after you quit vaping, check in with a dermatologist or your regular doctor. Even if you’ve already quit and things still aren’t getting better, a healthcare provider can help rule out other causes and figure out if something else is going on.
Not Ready to Quit Yet? Try These Steps First
If you’re not ready to start quitting today, that’s okay. Here are some other things you can do in the meantime to show your hair some love:
Try a gentle scalp massage to boost circulation
Stay hydrated to support your skin and follicles
Use sulfate-free shampoo and avoid excessive heat styling
Get enough protein, iron, zinc, and biotin in your diet
Start reducing how often you vape by using NRT like Jones mints
Want extra support? The free Jones app gives you helpful tracking tools, real motivation, proven behavioral change tips, and a community that gets what you’re going through.
FAQ:
Can vaping cause my hair to thin even if I’m young?
Yes. Your age doesn’t defend against the effects of nicotine. Even in your teens or 20s, vaping can impact blood flow and ultimately your hair follicles..
Will my hair start growing back after I quit?
It can. Regrowth often takes three to six months, depending on your hair cycle. Many people notice less shedding within a few weeks.
Is nicotine-free vaping better for hair?
Yes and no. Removing nicotine is a step in the right direction, but other vape chemicals may still affect your health. Quitting completely is the safest choice. (link to zero-nic)
Are flavored vapes more likely to cause issues?
Some flavored vapes contain more additives that may irritate your scalp or increase inflammation, which can impact hair growth.
The Author: Hilary Dubin
Hilary Dubin is the founder of Jones and quit nicotine herself using NRT. She knows the highs and lows of the quitting journey.
