Most of us would like that thick, long, luscious hair we see in the magazines but the reality is that some of us just can’t seem to grow it past a certain length. Either it breaks off or becomes limp and heavy and neither make for a good hair day. Remember though, hair doesn’t grow over night. Hair grows a maximum of half an inch a month and that’s only if it is super healthy hair, so be patient. If you are looking to grow hair faster, grow out a bob or want cascading hair down to your hips here are some top tips on how to grow hair fast and healthily. Happy hair growing everyone!
1. Scissors are your friend – Many people stay away from the hairdresser’s chair when growing long hair as they don’t want to lose any length but the truth is regular trims (although they won’t make your hair grow faster) will keep your hair from splitting and breaking as easily, keeping your locks smoother for longer. Split ends can creep up the hair shaft and the longer you leave them, the more you will have to chop off so make sure you are getting a small amount chopped off every 8-10 weeks.
2. Don’t shampoo every time you shower – I’m certainly guilty of this hair faux pas and I’m sure most of you are too. It’s automatic for us to shampoo our hair and then condition it but it seems we have been doing this all wrong. A lot of women skip conditioner when washing their hair thinking it will aggravate their greasy roots but in actual fact it’s the worst thing you can do when trying to grow your hair. Instead we should be skipping the shampoo as much as possible. Shampoo is designed to wash away dirt and product build up but it can also take with it some of the essential, natural oils that keep our hair soft and healthy. Try to keep shampooing to a minimum but when you do have to do it then be gentle, only lathering up at the roots and letting the suds slide down the rest of the hair as the water rinses away.
3. Use conditioner every time you shampoo – Over time strands start to get thinner at the bottom from colouring, heat styling and constant brushing. Conditioner helps to replace the lipids and proteins inside the hair shaft as well as seal the cuticle to stop further damage, allowing your hair to grow longer and look healthier. If your hair is wet then you need to condition it. If you shampooed it recently then skip to the conditioner and only concentrate it on the mid lengths through to the ends.
4. Use a treatment every week – When your hair grows past your shoulders it is several years old and will need more TLC than just regular conditioner. It is best to use a deep conditioning mask or oil treatment once a week to give hair a deep surge of moisture. Either use a mask in place of your normal conditioner, leaving it on for at least 5-10 minutes in the shower or alternatively try making your own oil treatment. All you need is: 1 cup of coconut oil mixed with 1 tablespoon of almond oil, one of macadamia oil and one of jojoba oil. Apply this to dry hair and leave in for 30 minutes or so, then shampoo and condition as normal. The oil based treatments need to be washed out as the oils can leave a residue on the hair but the shampoo actually helps seal the fatty acids inside the hair.
5. Try taking hair-boosting supplements – Even if we eat a varied diet it can still be hard to obtain all the right nutrients and vitamins our hair needs to grow strong. The Reseed R21 Micro Nutrients will help boost hair growth and maintain healthy hair and scalp. The complex mixture of ingredients give you maximum strength yet are completely safe to take along with a balanced diet. Taking a hair supplement like this will encourage healthy hair to grow from the follicle giving it a better chance of staying strong when trying to grow your hair.
6. Don’t wrap your hair in a big towel, EVER! – Another one I have been guilty of in the past but it causes so much breakage. Your hair can get caught in the woven fibres of the towel and if a heavy towel is wrapped too tightly around your face, all the small, fragile hairs around your face are prone to break. You know those annoying short baby hairs around you head? Yeah…it causes those! Instead, opt for a thin, microfiber hair towel to wrap up your hair.
7. Brush your hair with care – Brushing can be very damaging for the hair especially on wet hair. When detangling wet hair always start from the bottom, detangling knots at the ends then brushing from the root. Doing it from root to tip can bring small tangles into one large knot, resulting in you losing large clumps of hair which, if brushed correctly, you wouldn’t necessarily lose.