How to Grow Hair Faster

Introduction

Hair typically grows at an average rate of half an inch per month, resulting in about six inches of growth per year. However, various factors can influence hair growth, such as age (hair tends to thin as we age), overall health (including vitamin deficiencies), and lifestyle factors like stress and daily habits (such as smoking).

Fortunately, there are several ways to support hair growth, including physical stimulation like scalp massages. Massaging your scalp with natural ingredients can help promote hair length and give your strands a healthier appearance. Additionally, treatments like egg yolk masks and hot castor oil treatments are also popular methods.

With a range of natural and over-the-counter options available, achieving your desired hair goals doesn't have to be impossible. It's important to note, however, that no ingredient or method can accelerate hair growth from the root. For expert advice on enhancing the overall health and strength of your hair, minimizing breakage, and promoting hair growth, it is advisable to seek guidance from professionals in the field.

1. Massage Your Scalp

We often overlook the importance of our scalp when it comes to hair growth, focusing instead on the multitude of hair products we use. Just as healthy soil is essential for the growth of plants and flowers, a well-nourished scalp is vital for promoting healthy hair growth.

Studies indicate that massaging the scalp can have beneficial effects on stress hormones, blood pressure, and heart rate. Massaging your scalp can promote hair growth by boosting blood circulation, fortifying your hair roots, and enhancing the distribution of essential nutrients to your hair follicles.

For an even better scalp massage experience, consider using a nourishing oil. This will boost the benefits and give your scalp and hair the essential nourishment they need. If you have oily roots, it's best to use this treatment no more than once a week.

2. Don't Smoke

Smoking is an individual decision, and it is not our place to pass judgment. However, it must be acknowledged that smoking can have an impact on the health of your hair.

According to Bauman (Widely acclaimed beauty dermatologist), smoking can reduce blood flow to the scalp and follicles, leading to a decrease in the essential oxygen and nutrients necessary for healthy hair and scalp. Additionally, the toxins from smoking have the potential to penetrate the hair follicles, resulting in potential disturbances.

3. Try a Yolk Egg Mask

Bauman explains that the average rate of hair growth is about a quarter to half an inch per month. While it is not possible to accelerate this process, it is within our control to influence the quality of the hair strands produced by each follicle.

By stimulating a greater number of hair follicles on the scalp, one can maintain more hair in the growth phase, resulting in thicker, healthier, and fuller hair. Therefore, the way in which one cares for their hair is essential for natural hair growth. If hair tends to break easily before reaching shoulder length, an egg yolk mask can be a beneficial remedy. Eggs are rich in lecithin and protein, which work to strengthen, nourish, and repair the hair strands. Moreover, the elevated sulfur levels found in eggs could reduce dandruff.

Mix two eggs and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to make the mask. To make it less sticky, add half a cup of water to the mixture. Apply the mask directly onto dry, detangled hair and leave it on for up to 30 minutes. Then, wash and condition your hair as usual.

4. Verify Your Prescriptions

Bauman highlights the numerous prescription medications linked to hair loss. He points out that certain categories of drugs, such as antihypertensives, cholesterol medications (statins), hormone replacements (e.g., thyroid, birth control, testosterone), and specific antidepressants, can worsen hair loss. Before discontinuing any medications, it is advisable to consult your doctor about potential side effects.

5. Exchange Healthy Fats for Supplements for Hair Growth

Consuming a hair growth supplement may seem like a convenient option, but the effectiveness of such products remains to be determined.

Additionally, these supplements often contain excessive amounts of minerals and vitamins, such as biotin, which can potentially have adverse effects, like causing breakouts. Opting for a diet rich in nutrients is a more advisable approach to promoting faster hair growth, as the body more easily absorbs natural vitamins and minerals found in food and provides a balanced ratio of nutrients.

According to Pritchard, incorporating healthy fats like omega-3s into your diet can stimulate hair growth. Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for maintaining healthy hair because our bodies cannot produce them on their own. Including omega-3 sources in your diet, such as salmon, tuna, flaxseed, walnuts, and plant oils like soybean and canola oil, can nourish your hair follicles and promote strong, glossy hair.

6. Use Hot Castor Oil to Treat

Castor oil is a beneficial product for hair care that often goes unnoticed. It possesses anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that can aid in fighting scalp infections, thus promoting hair growth.

Moreover, it contains omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, proteins, and a variety of nutrients that can deeply penetrate the hair strands, effectively sealing the hair shaft to retain moisture. Furthermore, castor oil is excellent for hot oil treatments, as massaging it into the scalp allows for optimal absorption of nutrients, ultimately supporting hair growth. To do a hot oil treatment, start by applying the oil from the roots to the tips of your hair. Then, gather your hair on the crown of your head, cover it with a shower cap, and use a blow dryer for 15 minutes. Afterward, shampoo and condition as usual to experience instantly softer hair strands.

7. Restrict Heat Style

Likely, you are already aware of this, but hairstylists emphasize that the most apparent method to accelerate hair growth is to abandon the use of hot tools in your hair care routine. (Regrettably, we understand the disappointment this may cause).

According to Bauman, "Blow-dryers and styling irons have the potential to harm your hair by causing dryness and brittleness, which can result in breakage and hinder hair lengthening." For the best hair growth, it's recommended to let your hair air dry and avoid using hot styling tools. If you must use heat, be sure to use a heat-protectant spray.

8. Make a DIY Mask using Cinnamon

Cinnamon has more uses than just being a topping for your breakfast oatmeal. Its antimicrobial properties offer advantages for hair as well by promoting blood circulation and providing nourishment to the strands.

Combine equal amounts of cinnamon and coconut oil, then gently apply the mixture to your hair, focusing on the roots. Leave it on for 45 minutes before washing it off to maximize the benefits.

9. Regularly Trim Split Ends

Regular trims may seem counterproductive to those desiring longer hair, but they are essential for eliminating dry, damaged split ends and promoting healthy growth. Neglecting split ends can lead to further breakage as they travel up the hair shafts, hindering growth progress.

However, excessive trimming by your stylist can impede length retention, so it is crucial to communicate your hair goals clearly. The frequency of trims required varies based on hair condition, hairstyle, and daily maintenance routine, ranging from every six weeks to six months. Proper daily hair care reduces the need for frequent trims, allowing for natural hair growth over time.

10. Brush Gently When Detangling

Properly untangling the knots in your hair can be a true test of patience, but it is a crucial step in promoting faster hair growth and should not be rushed. If you tend to hastily and carelessly brush through your hair, consider reconsidering your approach.

Proper care should be maintained while brushing to avoid hair breakage and split ends, which is counterproductive to achieving longer hair. When it comes to brushing, it is important to use a slow and gentle technique.

Interestingly, the type of brush you choose can make a difference. For best results in preventing breakage and untangling knots, it is recommended to use a comb with wide teeth, a detangling brush, or a paddle brush with soft bristles. Avoid using brushes with metal bristles. Equally important to the choice of brush is the timing of your brushing routine. Instead of detangling your hair after showering when it is most vulnerable and fragile, it is advisable to comb through the knots before washing your hair.

Dr. Young McMahan, a board-certified dermatologist with U.S. Dermatology Partners Waco, suggests that in addition to using over-the-counter topical minoxidil extra strength to slow down hair shedding, adopting gentle hair practices can also help minimize hair loss. Pulling your hair tightly back in braids or ponytails can damage the hair follicles, which are responsible for hair growth, and consequently worsen hair loss.

11. Take Stress Away

Stress can have various impacts on the body, including potentially leading to hair loss. According to Bauman, significant stressors or prolonged chronic stress are typically required to trigger hair loss.

Additionally, certain autoimmune conditions affecting the hair and scalp, such as alopecia areata, may be exacerbated by periods of stress. To manage stress levels, individuals can practice an ancient Eastern medicine hand technique or dedicate a few minutes each day to meditation.

12. Use a Silk Pillowcase When you Sleep

Using a silk or satin hair cover or pillowcase can provide greater advantages for the overall well-being of your hair compared to using cotton.

Cotton tends to absorb moisture from your hair strands, potentially causing tangles and breakage. Although using a silk pillowcase may not directly accelerate the hair growth process, it does help in reducing friction and provides a smoother surface for your hair to rest on.

13. Make Use of Keratin-Based Products

Keratin-based products can address dryness and enhance the shine of hair. Moreover, they possess the capacity to fortify the hair and safeguard it against potential breakage.

This protein, known for its protective properties, nourishes the hair with vital oils and nutrients, creating an optimal condition for the growth of healthy strands.

14. Consult a Specialist

McMahan suggests that individuals who are facing hair loss or shedding should consult an expert in order to identify the underlying cause of the issue.

According to McMahan, there are various types of hair loss or alopecia, and multiple factors contribute to hair loss in females. It is important to schedule a consultation with a certified dermatologist who specializes in identifying the specific type of alopecia a person may have. This will enable them to receive a personalized treatment plan that addresses the root cause of their alopecia.

Before the appointment, McMahan recommends making a comprehensive list of all medications, including over-the-counter ones, and noting the timeline of when the hair loss was first noticed. Additionally, it is important to mention any illnesses, surgeries, or significant medical events that occurred within the six months prior to the onset of hair loss. These details will assist the healthcare provider in narrowing down the potential root cause and developing a tailored treatment plan to promote hair regrowth.

15. Use Strong Ingredients

McMahan advises individuals who are not pregnant or breastfeeding to initiate a twice-daily application of over-the-counter topical minoxidil (Rogaine) for extra strength.

McMahan further cautions his patients about the potential initial exacerbation of hair shedding during the first month of minoxidil use, which typically resolves with continued medication usage. Furthermore, McMahan recommends that individuals suffering from alopecia should consider adding 1500 IU of vitamin D, 3500 mcg of biotin, and 90 mg of zinc gluconate to their daily routine as additional measures.

Conclusion

To accelerate hair growth, it is crucial to engage in scalp massages, refrain from smoking, experiment with an egg yolk mask, assess your medications, substitute hair growth supplements with beneficial fats, apply a hot castor oil treatment, reduce heat styling, create a cinnamon-infused mask, regularly trim split ends, delicately detangle hair when brushing, minimize stress, sleep on a silk pillowcase, utilize keratin-infused products, seek professional advice, and incorporate potent ingredients such as minoxidil, vitamin D, biotin, and zinc gluconate.