Hair loss is a sensitive issue for both men and women alike. It can be a blow to one’s self-esteem, especially for those whose careers are in fields that demand constant social interaction. A receding hairline, a few bald spots here and there, a tuft of hair waiting to fall off at any second—all these can make you want to die every time you look into the mirror.

Because hair loss has become a pretty normal, albeit unwanted, occurrence, resources for dealing with this matter are found all over, be it online or offline. Methods range from the tried and tested, such as these powerful ways to halt hair loss, to the extraordinary, sometimes bordering on the bizarre.

No one ever said the road to hair growth is straight and easy. Going down that path requires tons of patience, moments of trial and error, and an open mind. This makes sense, though, considering hair growth doesn’t take place in an instant.

These 5 strange but effective methods to promote hair growth fall under that classification: in words and theory they appear bizarre and kooky, but in practice they aren’t so bad, after all.

Do these weird methods really work? Try out these 5 bizarre strategies yourself, and you be the judge of that.

1. Hang upside down.

Don’t say you weren’t warned; these are odd methods, after all! That being said, there are people who swear by this strategy.

Popularly known as the inversion method, hanging upside down is believed to stimulate hair growth because it increases blood flow to the scalp. Blood is rich in nutrients that nourish the scalp; thus, with nourishment, proponents of this technique believe hair is likely to grow faster.

Perform the inversion method by letting your head hang over your bed for a few minutes. Or if you can perform a headstand, you can opt to do so. Practice this method for a few minutes every day until you see results.

2. Wear a shower cap to bed.

Apparently, in the realm of hair growth, a shower cap isn’t exclusively meant for the shower. When worn outside its intended purpose, this material can help you grow your hair faster too.

Even better is that the process requires you to do virtually nothing. Simply put on your shower cap (or a cling wrap, if you wish) before you hit the sack, and leave it on overnight.

The theory is that with the shower cap left on overnight, the scalp doubles its usual amount of sebum, or oil. This increase in sebum production is said to promote hair growth.

To facilitate the process, massage a few drops of essential oil on your scalp before putting on a shower cap. You can also incorporate acai berry into this step to improve your hair’s health.

3. Apply a cayenne pepper mask to the scalp.

Cayenne pepper isn’t just for your taste buds; it’s for your scalp too. Regular application of this hair mask boosts hair growth, thanks to the natural properties present in pepper.

To create the mask, combine powdered cayenne pepper and oil (any natural oil will do). Mix the two briskly. Shield your hands from the sting by putting on gloves. With that, scoop out a generous amount of the mixture and gently massage into your scalp.

The stinging sensation brought about by the cayenne pepper draws fresh, nutritious blood into the scalp. Apply this scalp mask on a regular basis to see significant results.

4. Coat your hair and scalp with peanut butter.

Peanut butter is rich in alpha-tocopherol, which is a type of vitamin E that has been proven to strengthen hair follicles. Strong hair follicles mean faster-growing hair, and this has been your goal all along, right?

Go for an easy-spread variant of peanut butter to make application easier. Or you can go for the smoothie form, which is somehow easier to put on and rinse off. Whatever works for you. Make sure to cover every inch of your scalp as well as all the hair on your head.

5. Replace cotton pillowcases with silk ones.

Believe it or not, the material your head lays down on has a say in whether or not your hair grows faster. Who’d have thought your sheets, specifically your pillowcases, affect your hair health in any way, right?

They do, though. Studies reveal cotton can be quite harsh on the hair, causing it to easily break. If you’ve been seeing more hair strands on your bed, perhaps your pillowcases have something to do with it.

Silk, on the other hand, is gentler on hair. In fact, people report seeing a decrease in the number of hair strands they find on their bed every day.

If these methods are too kooky for you, there’s always Oway Hair Loss and Hair Rebuilding Treatments to address hair thinning concerns. These organic treatments use the hair stimulating and reparative benefits of biodynamic botanicals and pure essential oils to encourage growth and nourish damaged hair.

Oway Hair Loss Treatment

This organic hair loss treatment harnesses the powers of Denisplant, Buddleja Davidii, and Hair Spa Complex™ to help renew the hair follicles, stimulating hair growth. The micronized Helichrysum and Zanthoxylum will activate hair follicle growth by soothing any inflammation that’s preventing the follicles from taking in nutrients.

Oway Rebuilding Treatment

Hair loss can be caused by damaged hair as well. When hair lacks protein and moisture, the hair becomes weak and prone to breakage. This organic hair rebuilding treatment helps repair the hair’s keratin chains by supplying amino acids and sugar cane oligosaccharides.