Some snake oil sellers say their product helps hair to grow by unclogging pores and allowing the hair follicle to "breathe". Apparently the claim is that hair follicles need exposure to air in order to grow hair. Hair follicles so not need exposure to air. Hair follicles receive their nutrients and oxygen entirely from the blood stream as does any other living body tissue.

In some experimental research procedures hair follicles have been transplanted to internal areas of the body such as into the kidney. The hair follicles successfully grew without the need for any exposure to the skin surface.