14 Simple Ways to Grow Your Hair Longer and Faster, According to Experts
Everyone wants healthier, thicker, and stronger hair. How to get grow hair is arguably the question most beauty experts are tired of hearing—because there is no one right answer.
When you're trying to grow your hair thicker and longer, the process can seem to take forever. Hair grows about six inches each year on average, according to The American Academy of Dermatology Association, but oftentimes that growth feels minimal — especially when most folks lose 50-100 hairs each day.
Don't waste your time on pills or products that won't work for you. We spoke with a trichologist and celebrity hairstylists to break down everything you need to know about growing thick and long hair—the right way.
Get frequent trims.
It may seem counterintuitive, but if you want long hair that's actually healthy, you need to get regular trims. "While haircuts don't make your hair grow any faster, they get rid of split ends that break your hair," explains Michael Dueñas, a celebrity hairstylist for Aloxxi in Los Angeles. "Eliminating the breakage gives the appearance that your hair is growing faster." After all, a split end that breaks can lead to your hair losing length — not to mention shine, volume, and smoothness.
Eat Smarter
We have great hair news for avocado fanatics. According to Michelle Blaisure, product and technical specialist and certified trichologist for Bosley Professional Strength, a diet full of healthy fats is essential for thick and healthy hair. “While genetics determines hair texture and curl, our diet plays a role in how genes can get expressed,” Blaisure says. “Be sure to get plenty of good-quality protein and good fats like olive oil and Omega 3.” She recommends foods such as salmon, avocados, nuts, vegetables, and fruit to get all the key nutrients needed for growing stronger hair.
Use the Right Shampoo & Conditioner
It's obvious but bears repeating: Different hair types require specific products that cater to their exact needs. Cutler salon senior stylist Jenny Balding says those with fine hair should look for volume-building shampoo and conditioners, such as the Redken High Rise Volume, to boost the appearance of thickness and add shine. For those with coarse hair, Balding suggests products that tame frizz and moisturize, like Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day Conditioner.
Resist the urge to go blonde.
As chic as platinum hair looks, going from a darker shade to light blonde could stand between you and your longest-possible hair. "When the cuticle of the hair is damaged from bleach, you can have more breakage or split ends," explains Elizabeth Hiserodt, senior colorist at Cutler Salon in New York City. "The fewer chemical treatments, the better your hair will grow."
The weekly nourishment through oil and masks
A hair mask or oiling of the hair should be religiously followed on a weekly basis. This is important if you want to boost hair growth. This also helps the hair retain essential fats, which keeps it healthier. A tip for oiling your hair is applying oil to damp hair.
This will help you shampoo off the oil completely and easily.
Getting spa treatments is one way to do this, but you can do it at home too by making hair packs that can work wonders for your tresses. Ingredients like honey, lemon, avocado, olive oil, and, onion juice are some of the ingredients that can be used for making a hair mask.
Skip the daily shampoo.
By now, you've likely heard all the testimonials attributing great hair to going "no 'poo," but do you know why it actually helps your hair? "Shampooing your hair two to three times a week allows your natural oils to penetrate your hair, allowing it to hydrate and repair itself," explains Ken Paves, a celebrity hairstylist in LA. For thicker and fuller-looking hair fast, choose a formula labeled "volumizing" or "thickening."
Keep your showers cooler and focus on scalp care.
A hot shower can dehydrate your skin — and it's also rough on your hair. "Turn the water temperature down when cleansing," recommends Paves. But give your scalp a little extra love: Give it a mini massage as you shampoo to deeply de-gunk and help boost circulation.
Be careful when you brush wet hair.
Don't Over Wash
Too much of a good thing can harm your hair. According to Lucy Flora, a stylist at Frédéric Fekkai in New York City's SoHo, the number-one mistake she sees clients make is over-washing. "There is nothing better for shine than the hair’s natural oils," Flora says. You can help distribute the natural oils by gently brushing your hair regularly. Just don't go more than a few days before a shampoo; you still need to rinse away product buildup to maintain a healthy scalp. Speaking of your scalp…
Start With Your Scalp
When it comes to hair growth, don't sleep on your scalp. (Well, you know what we mean.) The scalp has a rich microbiome of bacteria and fungus necessary to keep the skin—and hair it grows—healthy, explains Blaisure. When we don’t shampoo enough or use harsh cleansers, it leads to skin problems that negatively affect hair growth. “The skin has immunity functions and is our first line of defense against toxins and environment aggressors. When the scalp is compromised, the scalp cannot defend itself,” she says. “Keeping a healthy balance of moisture and natural oils is important on the scalp just as it is on your face.”
She blames the overuse of hair stylers and harsh cleaning agents, like baking soda, for stripping the hair and disrupting the scalp’s pH balance. She recommends avoiding thickening products that leave behind a heavy residue and make hair look dull, as well as anything with a high pH level.
Add a vitamin to your a.m. routine.
If your diet isn't supplying you with enough nutrition, a supplement could make a world of difference. "Look for a multivitamin that's formulated and labeled 'for hair, skin, and nails,'" Dr. Fusco suggests. "Those contain important vitamins like biotin and C and B that support hair health." Bonus: You may get better skin in the process!
Let your hair breathe
Our busy schedules, and time spent outdoors force us to use several things on our hair. This makes our hair tired and much more prone to damage. First, if your mission is to have long hair, don't tie it back too tight. This unnecessary pulling can cause splits and breakage.
Hair also tends to catch microbial infections which can lead to poor hair growth. So it's important to get antimicrobial treatments from time to time to let the hair grow without any hindrance. Another important thing to keep in mind is covering your hair when going out. The heat of the sun can cause bad damage to your hair just like it can to your skin.
Ditch Hot Tools
We know it can be hard to break up with your hairdryer or flat iron. But if you truly want healthier hair, start writing that breakup text. “Keeping hot tool use at a minimum will lessen hair damage,” says Balding. “It will make a huge difference.” She stresses that if you cannot stay away from your favorite hot tools (guilty), it’s crucial to use a heat protectant spray, (B000J25ZR2) like the Cutler Protectant Treatment Spray, and a hot tool brand that regulates heat and temperature evenly, like the T3 Single Pass Straight Iron. We also love the Dyson Airwrap Styler, a styling tool and dryer hybrid that uses air and minimal heat to dry and curl hair.
Have patience
Hair cannot grow overnight. But the stress about it will have a negative effect for sure. On average, a hair strand grows a quarter of an inch to half an inch per month. Even if you perform all the above things, it can grow up to 1 inch at the max.
So, it's important that you have patience, keep following the hair growth plan, and don't stop doing treatments in between. After all, you have dreamt of having long silky tresses which may take time.
Healthy, long, and shining hair are everybody's dream and a difficult task at the same time. We hope we have given you solutions for some of your difficulties. Please share more of the tips you use to make your strands lovely.
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