What Makes Hair Grow Faster: What Helps Hair Growth

Does your hair not grow as fast as you’d like? It’s a common issue for many. Perhaps you got a haircut and prefer the way it looked before, making you eager to quickly grow out your locks. Or, maybe you’ve had issues with growing out your hair for quite some time, and you finally want a solution that will speed up the hair growth process.

Can You Make Your Hair Grow Faster?

The secret to very fast hair growth is that there isn’t one. Everyone’s hair goes through the same growth cycle, which includes the growth, transition, and rest phase (also known as anagen, catagen, and telogen). [1] For most people, this means their hair grows around half an inch a month, although this can be more or less depending on the person.

That isn’t to say you can’t promote stronger hair growth – just that there isn’t some magic supplement to make your hair grow five inches in a month. The best methods are all about promoting healthier hair, which means you’ll be able to enjoy longer, thicker, more luscious locks in the long run. Below, find out how to make hair grow faster, including the best food for hair growth.

Massaging Your Scalp

You can stimulate your hair follicles with a massage, with one study showing standardized scalp massages resulted in participants experiencing thicker hair after twenty-four weeks. [2] It’s thought to work by increasing blood flow to the scalp. The best part is that you can easily incorporate it into your routine – simply massage your scalp with your fingertips in circular motions. If you enjoy a pampering session, you could even get a regular scalp massage for hair growth at your local clinic. That way, you can enjoy a mix of relaxation and promote hair growth!

Getting Regular Trims

It might seem backward to suggest that trimming your hair promotes hair growth, but regular trims can help your hair grow healthier. That’s because trimming your hair gets rid of the split ends at the bottom, so your hair won’t be so damaged as it grows. Generally, it’s best to get a small trim every couple of months while growing out your hair for best results.

Having a Good Hair Care Routine

To strengthen, protect, and overall look after your hair, create a good hair care routine that’s tailored to your locks. Here are some of the steps to include:

A Hair Oil

Hair oils can enhance the moisture of your strands, protecting them and preventing things like damage and split ends. Some hair oils are even known for their hair-growing properties, including rosemary oil and pumpkin seed oil. Use a hair oil at least twice a week to experience the benefits.

A Hair Mask

A hair mask is a lot like a conditioner, only it is a lot more intensive. Use a hair mask routinely to give your hair the moisture and hydration it needs – your locks will feel far softer after! Even just once a week will help.

Shampoo and Conditioner

On hair wash days, you’ll need a good shampoo and conditioner to clean and protect your hair. Your technique is important here. For shampooing, focus on your roots and let the shampoo wash down to your ends. For conditioner it’s the opposite – focus more on the ends, where you’re more likely to have dry, split ends.

Keep in mind the best hair care routines use the right products for you. Whether you have fine, frizzy, curly, or straight hair, there are excellent products available to help you handle your tresses. Doing a little research can go a long way.

Managing Hormonal Changes

One of the things that can lead to hair loss is hormonal changes, which is why many women who go through pregnancy or menopause experience hair loss, even if they previously had very thick hair. The best way to combat this and promote healthy hair growth is to manage these hormonal changes. If experiencing hair loss, speak to your doctor, as they may be able to recommend a hormonal medication to help you get back your locks.

Protecting Strands from Damage

It’s essential to protect your hair strands from damage, especially if you want to grow long, healthy hair. If you repeatedly damage your hair, you will only stunt that growth. These handy tips will help you ensure your hair doesn’t experience excessive breakage or split ends:

Avoid the Heat

Blow-drying your hair every day will result in damage over time. Let yourself have a break from time to time by putting down the heated hair styling products.

Always Use Heat Protectant

If using heat on your hair, use a heat protectant whenever you can. Heat protection provides a sort of invisible shield for your strands against the sizzling heat of a curling iron or hair straightener, meaning it won’t sustain as much damage in the long run.

Avoid Chemical Damage

Many people dye their hair, but you shouldn’t do it too often, or you run the risk of your hair breaking off – especially if you’re dying your hair a much lighter colour. It’s best to space out dying your hair as much as possible and always get it done by a professional who knows what they are doing.

Don’t Brush Wet Hair

Your hair is at its most vulnerable when it is wet. At this stage, it’s more susceptible to breakage, so avoid brushing and styling your hair until it’s completely dry. Remember – hair that stays intact without breaking is likelier to grow longer and healthier.

Sleep on a Silk Pillow

The last way to protect your hair from damage is to sleep on a silk pillow. Cotton pillows are fine for sleeping in general, but they can cause your hair to tangle and, in turn, sustain damage. On the other hand, a silk pillow ensures less friction on your strands, meaning you won’t wake up with tangled, frizzy hair. As a bonus, a silk pillow helps you stay nice and cool during the warmer months.

Taking Certain Supplements

One of the most common reasons people can’t grow healthy hair is due to a deficiency. Specifically, nutritional deficiencies in vitamin D, iron, vitamin B12, and folate are known to be related to hair loss. So, if you’re deficient in folate, for example, you could take folic acid for hair growth and hopefully see some results.

However, be aware that many supplements likely won’t do anything unless you have a deficiency – it’s best to speak to your doctor, who can run blood tests before buying any supplements that promise hair growth.

Eating a Healthy Diet

For those without a nutritional deficiency, you can prevent hair loss and promote healthy, shiny locks by eating a balanced diet. This isn’t about taking a supplement like collagen for hair growth – instead, it’s about ensuring your meals contain all the essential nutrients necessary for your hair’s optimal health. Here are some of the best foods for your locks, thanks to their richness in protein, omega-3, vitamins, and more:

• Spinach
• Eggs
• Salmon
• Greek Yoghurt
• Chicken
• Berries
• Turkey
• Acai Berries
• Chia Seeds
• Lentils
• Almonds

Incorporating more of these foods above into your diet could help you grow your hair faster and healthier. The best part is they can be delicious! It’s not about depriving yourself – in fact, eating too little can lead to hair loss – it’s about including all the healthy stuff in your meals.

Managing Stress

Did you know that stress can lead to hair loss? It’s unfortunately true. Too much stress can lead to telogen effluvium [3], a condition that results in shock hair loss. This hair loss is quite fast and temporary, but it may have a long-term effect if you don’t handle your stress.

Stress isn’t just something you feel physically – it’s something you can see, too, and that includes in your hair. By managing your stress better, you are more likely to be able to grow healthier locks. There are plenty of good stress management techniques, such as breathing exercises and yoga, but if your stress is getting the better of you and you’re overwhelmed, speak to a professional. Your doctor will be able to help.

A Hair Transplant

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter what you do; your hair doesn’t grow. Perhaps you experience hair loss, and your hair doesn’t grow back, no matter how many supplements or hair products you try. In this case, it might be time to consider a hair transplant. Hair transplants are a popular method for regrowing your hair, as they involve a tiny incision into the scalp to extract the follicle, which then gets placed into the balding area. After around six months, you’ll notice new hair growing through. Keep in mind this isn’t a hair-growing method for those with hair that seems to grow slowly; rather, it’s a method for those with androgenetic alopecia.

The Takeaway

Hopefully, we’ve answered the question, “What makes hair grow faster?”. While there is no magic pill to make your hair grow overnight, there are healthy habits to incorporate into your life that can help your hair grow thick and strong. Mainly, it’s about protecting your strands and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you’re still experiencing hair loss, something like a hair transplant may be the answer, especially if your hair loss has defeated your confidence.

Sources: 

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/#:~:text=The%20growth%20of%20the%20hair,%2C%20and%20telogen%20(rest).
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740347/
3. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-stress-causes-hair-loss