Trying to grow hair longer or get thicker hair can feel like an endless waiting game. While hair is the fastest-growing tissue in the human body, according to the Trichological Society, the average rate of growth is 0.5 to 1.7 centimeters per month or anywhere from about two to eight inches per year. That growth can feel minimal — especially when you’re waiting for it to happen.
It’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), but if you think your growth is really stunted, there are certain tweaks you can make to your day-to-day haircare regimen to boost hair growth. You can try using a different hair brush, adjusting how often you use your hair dryer to dial down damage to your hair or adding in hair growth oils and foods to make hair grow quicker to your routine.
These are the secrets and home remedies that grow hair fast, according to top dermatologists, celebrity hairstylists, skincare experts and our own Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab pros.
1. 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 based 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.
2. Eat the right diet.
Having long, strong hair doesn’t just depend on which products you put on your hair; it also depends on what you put into your body. “To promote hair growth, you need to ‘feed’ the hair from the inside,” explains Francesca Fusco, M.D., a dermatologist in NYC. So what foods make hair grow quicker? Those high in protein, the building blocks of hair, including meats and other sources. “Try increasing your protein intake with foods like fish, beans, nuts and whole grains,” she recommends. Even if you’re not a meat lover, you should still aim to maintain a diet high in protein for hair growth. Women who don’t get enough of it often experience “more hair shedding,” Dr. Fusco says.
And steer clear of trendy “cleanses” for a multitude of reasons. “Doing a cleanse is terrible for your hair because you’re depriving your body of nutrients,” Dueñas warns. “After doing a cleanse even for a week, you’ll notice slower hair growth and lackluster locks.”
3. Add a hair-healthy 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 can support hair health.” Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab deputy director Stefani Sassos suggests these vitamins and minerals to contribute to healthier hair:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Zinc
- Iron
- Omega-3 fatty acids
4. Shampoo less and hydrate more.
How often you shampoo your hair does actually impact your hair’s health. “Shampooing your hair [only] 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 L.A. For thicker and fuller-looking hair fast, choose a shampoo labeled “volumizing” or “thickening.”
Coating your strands in a silky deep conditioner or hair mask or a hair detangler regularly can also help to prevent damage while detangling strands, according to GH Beauty Lab pros. Slather on a store-bought or DIY hair mask from root to tip once a week: One with cinnamon can stimulate blood circulation to encourage stronger, longer hair in no time, says Liana Zingarino, a freelance hair stylist based in New York City.
5. Lay off the bleach.
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.”
6. Avoid excessive heat styling.
“Stop over-styling your hair,” says Paves. If you must use heat, he recommends decreasing the temperature and always using a heat protectant — otherwise, you risk damaging your hair, leading to breakage and frizz.
7. Brush hair regularly.
Going to bed with unbrushed hair may seem tempting when you’re tired, but giving your hair a few quick strokes can be great for your hair and scalp’s overall health. “Starting at the scalp, use a boar bristle brush to distribute your scalp’s oils evenly onto your hair so it stays naturally moisturized,” recommends Meri Kate O’Connor, celebrity stylist and colorist at Cooper in West Hollywood, CA. Bonus: This simple step each night also helps increase circulation, which helps make your scalp healthier.
8. 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, and give your scalp a little extra love. Massage with your fingers as you shampoo to deeply de-gunk and help boost circulation.
9. Protect hair from physical damage.
Hair is especially susceptible to breakage when it’s wet, so instead, detangle hair before shampooing. “Water exposure swells and stretches the hair’s shaft, which causes the shingle-like outer layer to lift, and adding stress from brushing in that state can cause it to break,” says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab senior chemist Sabina Wizemann.
If you have to detangle hair when wet, do it the right way: Apply a top-rated leave-in conditioner from roots to ends and use a gentler wide-tooth comb or detangling brush to reduce friction, working from the ends up in small sections to prevent tearing hair, Wizemann advises.
10. Sleep on a silk pillowcase.
Getting better hair overnight is possible — all you need is to switch up your pillowcase and reap the hair-healthy benefits of silk. “Silk is easier on hair — it helps avoid tangles and breakage,” says Jesleen Ahluwalia, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai in NYC. The less breakage your hair experiences, the longer your hair will be. In fact, they’re so good that the Good Housekeeping Institute even conducted an entire study to find the best silk pillowcases.
Source- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/a34377/how-to-grow-hair-faster-tips/
How fast does hair grow?
According to research, hair naturally grows at a rate of 0.35 millimeters per day, which equals roughly ½-inch per month for a total of 6 inches per year. Note: The shorter your hair (whether you’re working with a bob, lob, bangs, or a buzzcut), the faster your hair will appear to grow—even though the rate hasn’t changed. Similarly, already-long hair may appear to be at a standstill, when it’s actually steadily growing (barring, of course, medical complications; more on that below).
It’s also important to know that you were born with all of the hair follicles you’ll ever have—between 80,000 to 120,000—meaning you can’t create more hair follicles (or more hair strands) than what you were born with, even if a product claims to give you fuller, thicker hair. That being said, in certain cases, you can potentially stimulate your hair follicles to help with re-growth, which is where the following 10 expert tips and products come in. But first:
How do you make your hair grow faster?
Your hair growth is determined by your hormones, health, genetics, and age. So despite what advertisements and product labels may tell you, there’s no topical product that can truly grow your hair faster and longer (unless, of course, your body has a health condition or vitamin deficiency that, when resolved, can result in hair growth).
That being said, hair growth requires a healthy scalp, a healthy body, and healthy hair habits to work most effectively. So to find out exactly how to create the most optimal hair-growth conditions, along with the products that really do help to make your hair grow, keep reading.
1. Try topical hair-growth products
If you’re concerned your hair isn’t growing fast enough—and/or you’re experiencing hair loss and thinning—book an appointment with a dermatologist asap who will help you identify the cause and help you formulate a treatment plan, which might include a topical solution like minoxidil, i.e., the active ingredient found in topical products like Rogaine and Hers.
“We don’t know the exact mechanism for how it works, but we think a lot of it has to do with increasing blood flow to the scalp,” dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, has previously told Cosmo. “It’s like giving more water to the plant to help it grow.” If you do decide to try minoxidil-based products, you need to be consistent and commit to using it daily.
And if you’re dealing with irritation or you’re not seeing results after three to six months, head to your dermatologist for more prescription options, such as:
- spironolactone, a blood pressure medication commonly used off-label in women to treat breakouts and potentially help increase hair growth over time, Dr. Bhanusali has said.
- compounded topicals, like HairStim, that are custom-cocktailed by your dermatologist to include anything from higher-dose minoxidil to finasteride to topical spironolactone and more.
- PRP therapy, aka platelet-rich plasma therapy, a treatment where a doctor draws your blood, separates the plasma from it, then re-injects it into your scalp to stimulate follicle activity. “Studies show that 20 percent of people get a significant improvement [in hair growth], 20 percent get slim-to-no results, and, anecdotally, the other 40 percent get a 10 to 15 percent improvement,” Dr. Bhanusali has said.
2. Consider hair-growth vitamins
First, it’s important to note here that hair-growth supplements are not a miracle cure for growing hair faster (and usually won’t even work unless you’re actually deficient in vitamins). They also shouldn’t be taken without talking to your doctor first. Why? Because even though these gummies and vitamins seem innocent, they aren’t regulated by the FDA, meaning they can contain any ingredient they want and claim whatever fact they want.
Not only that, but if you eat at least somewhat balanced foods (more on that below), your body will already be filled with the only hair-strengthening ingredients it needs, like biotin, folic acid, vitamins D, A, C, and E. So doubling up your dose by popping hair supplements won’t make a difference. “Your body only keeps what it needs and then it gets rid of the rest,” says Burg.
That said, if you think you might be vitamin deficient, you could be a solid candidate for hair-growth supplements, ask your doctor. You’ll want to make sure you’re choosing the right amount (and type) of vitamins to help hair grow faster and longer, and that they won’t interact with any medications you’re currently taking. Once you get the green light, check out a few of the internet’s favorites:
3. Massage your scalp with hair-healthy oils
No, there isn’t some magical oil that will grow your hair faster in one week, but massaging your scalp will help increase blood circulation to your hair follicles that can create a healthy foundation for hair growth—especially when paired with the right oils. Dermatologist Hope Mitchell, MD, recommends pairing a scalp massage with hair oils such as:
- coconut oil (which acts as an antimicrobial and antifungal and also helps prevent free radicals from damaging hair)
- jojoba oil (which has antifungal properties and is rich in vitamin E and strengthening omega 6 and 9 fatty acids)
- castor oil (which has moisturizing ricinoleic acid and omega 6 fatty acids)
- rosemary oil (which has been shown in studies to be as effective as to 2.5 percent minoxidil for hair growth) for the most benefit.
4. Try caffeine hair treatments
According to Dr. Bhanusali, topical caffeine not only helps stimulate blood flow to your scalp (which is essential for healthy hair growth), but it also helps counteracts DHT, the hormone responsible for hair loss. Though it’s not guaranteed to grow your hair faster, it’s one of those at-home ingredients that can’t hurt to try.
Still, you’ll need to be patient: If caffeine does help reduce some of your hair loss—or have a positive effect on your hair density and health—it will stake take two or three months to see results. So start using one of these shampoos, scalp serums, or leave-ins asap if you’re after longer, thicker hair:
Source- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/a36065/tricks-for-growing-your-hair-really-really-long/
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