How to make your hair grow faster: Tips and more

Table Of Content

• What Makes the Hair Grow Naturally?
• Castor Oil
• Eat the right diet.
• Apply antioxidants to your scalp

Bleach and other chemical hair treatments like permanents weaken your hair, so it's more likely to break before it grows to your longed-for length. If you choose a hue not too far from your natural color -- say, three shades -- you’ll need less damaging peroxide. Always spot-test store-bought dye before applying it to your whole head. The remaining strands are in either a resting state or preparing to die and fall out.

What Makes the Hair Grow Naturally?

Further, Nutrafol’s ingredients like biotin, saw palmetto, marine collagen, and horsetail extract are believed to support hair follicles, improve circulation, and provide essential nutrients for hair vitality. From color treatments to heat styling, a number of factors can lead to weakened, less-than-shiny hair. However, according to experts, there are many ways to address this dilemma. Ahead, a dermatologist and a hairstylist share eight ways to strengthen your hair at home.

Castor Oil

Split ends can travel up your hair shafts and make your locks even shorter. Your hair grows about 1/2 inch a month, so you might aim for a 1/4-inch trim every 3 months or so. Chloe Metzger was deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with 10 years of experience writing about hair, makeup, nails, and skincare, with stories like the curly girl method and curly hair products. She’s tested hundreds of hair-growth treatments over her career that helped her write this story. 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).

Eat the right diet.

Shamban recommends any scalp scrub formulas with salicylic acid (which strips away the outer layer of cells and sebum buildup) and glycolic acid (which penetrates even more deeply). You can also try making your own using sugar, olive oil, honey, and apple cider vinegar. Or simply incorporate a once-weekly shampoo that’s equal parts clarifying and hydrating. Shamban prefers the Philip B. Peppermint Avocado Shampoo, which gets rid of buildup without stripping your scalp of its natural oils. Here, eight science-backed tips to encourage hair growth—no matter your length goals.

The 7 Best Shampoos for Hair Growth of 2024, Tested and Reviewed - PEOPLE

The 7 Best Shampoos for Hair Growth of 2024, Tested and Reviewed.

Posted: Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If you are dealing with increased hair loss as a result of factors like severe stress, illness, or the changes that occur after you’ve had a baby, your hair growth will accelerate naturally once the situation resolves. If you’ve tried everything else on this list without success, PRP (platelet-rich plasma) might be your solution. “This increasingly popular treatment works wonders in improving the function of hair follicles by utilizing high-volume platelets derived from the patient’s own blood,” says Dr. Sobel. As he describes, this “liquid gold” solution stimulates cell regeneration and triggers and maintains the hair’s growth phase. An additional advantage of PRP is that it comes from the individual’s blood, ensuring there are no adverse or allergic reactions to worry about.

After all, “harsh brushing can cause breakage, so especially if you have curly, fragile, damaged, or fine hair, be mindful when brushing and styling,” says celebrity hairstylist Marley Xavier. When brushing, Xavier recommends switching to a gentle brush like the Manta detangling brush. “Unlike traditional treatments that work superficially, molecular repair treatments (like L’Oréal Professionnel's Absolut Repair Molecular) address the inner structure of the hair. The peptide bonder rebuilds bonds, and 5 amino acids repair hair structure at a molecular level. This means that hair is up to 82 percent stronger, and the hair’s original elasticity and movement are restored.

Choose hair-care products with targeted ingredients.

Wearing your hair pulled back tightly in a bun, ponytail, or tight braids (like cornrows) can damage hair and contribute to hair loss. The same is true of wearing hair rollers to bed, or wearing hair extensions for long periods of time. Experts recommend changing up your hairstyle frequently if you like to adopt these practices and give your hair more time to be loose and relaxed.

Consider Hair Growth Supplements

However, there are things we can avoid that may cause impaired growth and increased shedding. Rumor has it that over-shampooing can lead to broken, dry, and brittle locks, due to the cleanser stripping the hair of its natural oils. Depending on your hair type, the number of times you should shampoo your hair per week varies. Thicker, coarser hair types can get away without washing their hair for a few days, while thinner hair types may find their hair feels greasy even after one day. In such cases, dry shampoo can work wonders in soaking up excess grease as you await longer strands.

Or gently press, stretch, and pinch your own scalp for several minutes each day. If you brush it when it’s dripping, you could break strands or damage the cuticle, the shingle-like cells that protect each hair. Using heat tools on very wet hair can create bubbles in the hair shaft, making it extra fragile. If your hair's straight, let it air-dry, then comb gently with a wide-tooth comb.

In the grand scheme of things, 12 centimeters (or 4.7 inches) of hair growth a year is a decent amount, but for those of us whose patience tends to run extremely thin, a centimeter a month sounds like a very slow burn. Fine, coarse, curly, colored — different hair types have different needs. If your hair is dry, for instance, wash it less frequently and use a heavier conditioner. Avoid brushing while it’s wet and use products designed for your hair type.

Avoid dehydration to keep your hair less brittle and more resilient against breakage. Apply fresh lemon juice to your scalp and hair 15 minutes before you shampoo. You can also use lemon essential oil diluted in a carrier oil as part of a hair mask. Speak with a healthcare professional before introducing supplements to your diet and follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage.

“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,” Dr. Bhanusali 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. "I always keep two to three in my shower and rotate as our hair can get used to one thing and you won't get the same great results you once did." As for washing, that depends on your specific hair type! Anabel Kingsley tells us, "If you have fine hair, shampoo daily to every other day... For those with coiled curls or coarse hair, try not to leave more than three or four days between shampoos."