Whether you want to have long hair for a specific event, like your wedding, or you simply want to grow your hair out, getting those extra inches can seem to take forever. Are you wondering how to increase hair growth?
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can increase hair growth naturally. Some tips and habits help you get optimal growth conditions and prevent breakage. Keep reading to see just how you can get your hair to grow faster!
How Does Hair Growth Work?
Hair has two distinct sections: the follicle found in your skin and the shaft you see above your scalp. Human hair growth is random and not silicone or seasonal. At any time, an arbitrary number of hairs on your head will be in one of the three stages of growth discussed below.
Growth Phase/Anagen
Anagen is the active phase where the cells in your hair root divide rapidly.
New hair forms and pushes hair no longer in the Anagen phase out the follicle and the scalp. The phase lasts for two to six years. The hair on the eyelashes, legs, and arms has a very short anagen, which is why they grow shorter than scalp hair.
Transitional Phase/ Catagen
During the transitional phase, growth ceases. Then, the outer root sheath shrinks and attaches to the hair root. Your hair separates from the bottom of the follicle but remains in place during the final growth days. Catagen lasts two weeks and accounts for 85-90% of hair.
Resting Phase/ Telogen
The resting phase lasts five to six weeks and accounts for 5-10% of all hairs. Resting hair remains in your follicle until the growth of new anagen hair pushes the telogen hair out.
The phase is, however, longer for hair on your arms, legs, eyelashes, and eyebrows. The hair follicle is at rest during telogen, and scalp hair is completely formed.
Tips To Increase Hair Growth Faster
Here are some quick tips to promote growth.
Head Massage
Massage your scalp when you shampoo, oil your hair, or at other convenient times. Scalp massage encourages blood flow to your follicles. As a result, your hair roots receive essential nutrients and oxygen that support hair growth.
Scalp massages also deal with stress, one of the factors that contribute to hair loss. It is convenient and can happen in your leisure time.
To massage, start at the center of your hairline and use your finger to make circles on your scalp. Then, move towards the center and back until you finish the whole head. The process isn’t so intensive and should take about five minutes.
Avoid Hot Water and Excessive Heat
Wash-ups are crucial for healthy hair growth. Use warm or lukewarm water because hot water dries out your scalp and strands.
Warm water opens up your follicles to allow a thorough cleanup. So, use a blast of cold water after your condition to seal your strands and cuticles.
Also, limit the use of straighteners, hair dryers, and tongs. Instead, let your hair air dry and avoid heat styles. But, if you must apply heat, use a thermal protector.
Get Regular Trims
Your hair develops split ends and hair breakage during its last growth stages. If you regularly split your hair, you avoid the third stage. So, your hair gets the desire for continuous development.
If you don’t control the split ends, the splits grow further and weaken some portions of the strand. In the end, you’ll have to cut off a longer part; otherwise, you’ll lose more of your hair.
Incorporate Rice Water Rinse
Fermented rice water is the secret behind the Yao women’s long hair. The water is rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and minerals, which protect and prevent hair damage. Nonetheless, if you have low porosity hair, don’t overuse rice water, as excessive protein will make your hair brittle.
To prepare rice water for your hair, rinse a cup of rice, then soak the rice for about 15 minutes. Then, sieve and transfer the water to an airtight container.
Eat Healthily
Healthy food supports optimal hair growth from the inside of your body. For example, biotin, a supplement to increase hair growth, is found in natural foods. Such foods include eggs, milk, walnuts, avocado, chicken, and salmon.
Oil Your Hair Regularly
Use an appropriate oil to nourish and moisturize your hair naturally. Examples of options are castor oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil. The mentioned oils strengthen your hair from root to tip and prevent the occurrence of split ends.
Ideal oils also help retain moisture in your scalp. Besides, the oils prevent microbial activities that often cause dandruff. Finally, the minerals present in oils improve hair quality and boost growth.
Infuse Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera can give your hair complete spa treatment. The gel from the aloe vera plant is a moisturizer and cleanser that repairs and strengthens hair follicles. Aloe vera is also rich in proteolytic enzymes, which repair and heal damaged scalp cells.
Further, aloe vera has folic acid, vitamins A, B, B12, and C, which contribute to cell growth and regeneration. The fatty acids in aloe vera also have anti-inflammatory properties. So, aloe vera is an ideal solution if you have an itchy scalp or flaky skin.
Minimize the Use of Color Treatments
The chemical process used to dye your hair compromises growth in three ways. The dye:
- Breaks down hair proteins
- Changes your cuticle’s structure
- Causes loss of hair lipids
If you must bleach or dye, stay within three shades of your natural hair color. A closer shade means you will need less peroxide, hence less damage.
Use a Topical Protein Treatment
Protein promotes hair growth and protects from environmental and chemical damage. The treatment also makes your hair strong and less prone to fallouts. Use protein treatment more often if you style or use heat on your hair.
Allow enough treatment to penetrate each strand, especially further from the root where a sufficient supply of protein from the scalp isn’t available. Yet, control the frequency of the procedure since excessive protein weakens your strands.
Use Protective Hairstyles
Tight and nonprotective hairstyles make your hair constantly break. As a result, your hair stagnates and doesn’t achieve the desired length. On the flip side, protective hairstyles grow hair and cover the ends of hair to safeguard against harsh elements. Examples of styles include cornrows, ponytails, box braids, and flat twists.
Avoid Stress
Duress makes your hair skip the phase that coaxes growth and instead makes your hair go into the resting stage. Unfortunately, stress also increases the risk of alopecia areata, a condition where your immune system attacks hair follicles. If you can’t avoid stress, find ways to manage duress so your hair can grow back.
Try an Egg Mask
A natural hair mask improves the quality of the hair shafts your follicles produce. Egg contains protein and lecithin, which nourish, strengthen, and heal your strands. By applying an egg mask, you get strong, shiny, and silky hair strands. Eggs also have a high sulfur content which reduces dandruff.
Mix two tablespoons of olive oil with two eggs to make the mask. Then, add half a cup of water to dilute and reduce stickiness. Apply the mask to dry hair and leave for 30 minutes—finally, shampoo and condition as usual.
Avoid Towel Rubs
After your regular wash-up, wrap your head and let the towel absorb the water. Don’t rub because the tension, twists, and rubs on wet hair deter the growth. Also, use a microfiber fabric towel because coarse materials damage your hair.
Keep Your Hair Moisturized
Your hair is a dry part of your body; you’ll have to moisturize it regularly. You’ll have a high hydration task if your texture is naturally drier. In addition, dry hair becomes brittle and easily breaks.
The ideal product to use depends on your hair type. You can use conditioners, oil concentrates, water, or hydrating hair masks to moisturize your hair. If you use water, add a layer of oil to lock in the moisture.
Brush Gently
The parts of your strands in the growth phase can sometimes be delicate. Skip brushing too often, you could accidentally tug out some of the vital growth phase strands.
Always start to brush your hair at the ends, then work your way up to the roots. Also, use a wide tooth comb to prevent the strain and breakage caused by other combs.
Sleep on Silk
Tangles decelerate healthy hair growth. Friction, too, causes split ends, knotting, and hair damage. So, switch your cotton pillowcases and get a silk one. Silk is a poor absorbent and will help retain your hair’s natural oils and moisture.
Before bed, you could also wrap your hair in a silk or satin bonnet. The smoother fabric reduces friction between your strands. So, you will have fewer tangles when you wake up.
Shampoo Appropriately
Sunlight and dirt accumulation can make your hair follicles brittle and tired. So, you should regularly shampoo your hair to enhance its strength. Nonetheless, exercise caution since excessive use of shampoo can alter your scalp’s natural oil and pH levels.
Use Antioxidants
Your hair ages and becomes thin with time. The stress of oxidants reduces the speed at which your hair grows. But, antioxidants neutralize free radicals and compact oxidative stress.
You can get antioxidants from supplements, sprays, serums, and plant foods. Healthy food includes radish, collard green, beetroot, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about faster hair growth.
How long does it usually take to grow hair?
Different hair types grow at different rates. Yet, you shouldn’t expect an overnight change, even for fast-growing hair. The hair tips above promote healthy hair regrowth naturally and prevent foreign elements from hindering the natural process. Yet, the expected growth is six inches per year. But, with consistent care, you can expect speedier results.
Can You Promote Hair Growth?
You can’t change the number of hair follicles on your head, but you can increase hair growth and density. So healthy practices improve hair growth and appearance.
Are hair supplements safe for hair growth?
Hair supplements such as multivitamin tablets, viviscal, and biotin promote faster hair growth. However, you should check with your medical practitioner before you take any medicine.
In what season does human hair grow faster?
So far, no scientific evidence proves that hair grows faster in a given season. However, an old study reveals that 14 white men had peak hair growth in March and low growth in September.
Does hair growth slow down when hair gets longer?
Your hair doesn’t stop growing at a certain length. Instead, the growth stops when the hair growth cycle passes. Once you reach the end of the cycle, your hair sheds off or breaks.
Which oils promote faster hair growth?
Essential and homemade oils add strength and shine and boost hair growth. Some options to consider are rosemary, lemon grass, and peppermint.
What foods increase hair growth faster?
Foods rich in proteins, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals boost hair growth. Ideal options include nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Long, strong hair is a dream that you can achieve with appropriate habits. The above tips prevent breakage and hair loss and enhance growth. Nonetheless, don’t hesitate to seek medication if you have a condition that causes hair loss.
