How to make your hair grow faster
Want to grow out a haircut you hate or try to achieve an ass-grazing length?Did you just get a short haircut and are now finding yourself regretting it? Luckily for you, there are lots of ways to encourage it to grow fast, healthy, and strong. Massaging your scalp or applying special hair treatments are both good bets. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can also help encourage your hair to grow. Most importantly, however, make sure that you take good care of your hair to prevent damage from occurring. Damaged, unhealthy hair tends to break, which won't help at all if you're trying to grow it out!
Trying Scalp and Hair Treatments
Massage your scalp. Massaging any part of your body
improves circulation by increasing blood flow to the area, and your
scalp is no exception. When you massage your scalp, the increased blood
flow stimulates your hair follicles to grow. Scalp massage is a simple
and easy technique for helping your hair grow in healthy and fast.
- Try massaging your scalp every time you take a shower. Use the tips of your fingers to gently rub your scalp in a circular motion. Be sure to cover the front, back and sides of your head.
- Repeat the process as much as you like. It has the added benefit of reducing tension and helping you feel calm.
Rub your scalp with essential oils. Certain essential
oils have been shown to help stimulate new hair growth. Increase the
benefits of your scalp massage by working in a small amount of essential
oil. Pour five to ten drops of oil over your fingertips and massage the
oil all over your scalp. Try one of these essential oils:
- Peppermint, which improves circulation.
- Tea tree oil, which soothes the scalp and helps improve dandruff.
- Lemon oil, which promotes healthy hair growth.
Do an oil conditioning treatment. This serves the
dual purpose of helping promote hair growth and keeping the hair you
have strong and soft. Coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil and castor oil
are all thought to help hair grow in thick and strong. To do a
conditioning treatment, follow these steps:
- For olive oil, have damp hair and distribute it throughout your hair. Then flip your head upside down and massage your scalp for 2-3 minutes.
- Wet your hair and massage one to two tablespoons of oil into your scalp for five minutes.
- Run your fingers through your hair to distribute the oil from your roots to the tips of your hair. You can also use a wide-tooth comb.
- Cover your hair with a shower cap and let the oil soak in for one to two hours.
- Shampoo your hair as normal. You may have to wash it twice to remove excess oil.
Make a restorative hair mask. If your hair is dry or
thin, treating it with a nutritious mask can help restore its luster. A
restorative hair mask may not help your hair grow quickly, but by
protecting the hair you have, it will keep you from having to trim off
split ends and take a step backward on your journey to having longer
hair. Here's how to make a hair mask:
- Crack one egg into a bowl and beat it lightly.
- Mix in two tablespoons of plain yogurt and one tablespoon of honey.
- Apply to wet hair and let it sit for 20 minutes.
- Shampoo your hair as normal to wash out the mask.
Use a boar bristle brush. This is a special type of
brush made with natural fibers that closely resemble the texture of
human hair. It is used to pull sebum, the natural oil secreted by your
scalp, all the way to the tips of your hair. This protects your hair
from roots to tips and keeps it healthy and strong. Here's how to use
one:
- Place the brush against your scalp and rub it back and forth to massage your head and pick up your natural oil.
- In one long stroke, pull the brush from your roots to the tips of your hair. Keep stroking the same section of hair until it looks glossy and smooth.
- Continue this process section by section until you have massaged your entire scalp and brushed out all of your hair.
- Make sure you get a boar bristle brush. This doesn't work with plastic or metal brushes.
Know what not to use on your hair. When
your goal is to grow your hair out fast, it's important to pay
attention to the products you use. Many products contain chemicals that
can damage your hair and cause it to be dry and brittle. Aim to use
products that are composed of mainly natural ingredients. Avoid products
that contain the following:
- Sulfates: found in shampoo, these are harsh cleansers that strip your hair of natural oils and dry it out.
- Silicone: found in conditioner, these build up in your hair and cause it to look weighed down and dull.
- Alcohols: found in hairspray, gel and other styling products, these dry out your hair and cause it to get brittle.
Eat plenty of protein. Hair is mostly composed of
protein, making it the most important component of a hair-healthy diet.
Examine your diet and make sure you're getting plenty of protein every
day. When your diet is protein deficient, your body doesn't produce as
much hair.
- Eat lean meats, fish, eggs and dairy products high in protein.
- Beans, leafy greens and tofu are good sources of protein for vegetarians.
Eat biotin. This is a B vitamin essential for hair
growth. Since it is mostly found in animal products, vegetarians and
vegans often find that they have a b vitamin deficiency. To make sure
you get plenty of b vitamins in your diet, eat the following foods:
- Eggs, nuts, salmon, avocados, meat products and wheat bran.
- If you feel you aren't able to meet your b vitamin needs with food alone, consider taking a biotin supplement.
Eat Vitamins A and C. These vitamins help hair stay
glossy and healthy. When you aren't getting enough vitamin A or C, your
hair can become weak and dull. Make sure you're eating plenty of the
following:
- Sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, butternut squash and pumpkin, which are all rich in Vitamin A.
- Broccoli, leafy greens, peppers, and citrus fruits, which contain high amounts of Vitamin C.
Eat omega 3 fatty acids. These "good" fats support
your scalp's health and promote healthy growth of hair and skin cells.
Omega 3 fatty acid is found in salmon, sardines, mackerel, flax seeds
and walnuts. You can take fish or flax seed oil supplements if you don't
enjoy eating foods that are rich in omega 3s.
Stay hydrated. When your body is dehydrated, it shows
in your hair. Your hair can become dry, brittle and more prone to
breakage. When your hair breaks and frays, it's more difficult to grow
it into the longer style you're after. Make sure you stay hydrated by
drinking plenty of water every day.
- Try replacing coffee, soda and alcoholic drinks with water whenever possible.
- Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day so you'll never have to go thirsty.