The average human hair grows at a rate of roughly half an inch (1.25 cm) per month. But with a few simple lifestyle changes like optimum nutrition and care for your scalp, hair strands can double their growth to as much as one inch (2.54 cm) per month.
Here are twelve easy ways to grow your hair thicker, and faster than normal:
- Combine optimum diet and hair growth – Eat foods that are rich in B vitamins, proteins, and iron. Foods like strawberries, avocados, bananas, apricots, bell peppers, lettuce, milk, fish, tomatoes, spinach, beans, broccoli, green yogurt, soy products, oregano, flaxseeds, nuts, and whole grains help to hasten hair growth. The following supplements are also known to accelerate the growth of hair: folic acid, selenium, silica, magnesium, saw palmetto (found in our Hair for Him and Hair for Her oils), and Vitamins B, C, E, and A. Protein plays a major role as well; protein forms keratin, the material which makes up the hair strand. Derive your protein from lean meat sources like eggs, fish, nuts, and legumes.
- Maintain a healthy body – Try to get 8 hours of sleep each night because growth hormones are secreted while you sleep. Quit smoking and avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine. Exercise 20-30 minutes a day will boost the flow of blood to your scalp. While these simple changes can have massive effects for the positive, the opposite can have equal effects for the negative: Stress and lack of sleep not only slow your hair growth; they will in fact promote hair loss. Identify your physical and emotional stressors and avoid them.
- Avoid excessive hair styling using heating tools and curling irons – Avoid, completely if possible, the use of chemicals on your hair. Harsh chemicals common in most hair products slow hair growth. Always choose mild hair care products. If you must blow dry your hair regularly, lather in a little bit of leave-in conditioner to your hair before you blow-dry it, this will act as a protective barrier.
- Massage your scalp at least three times a week – You don’t have to be an RMT to do this either: Use the tips of your fingers or a specially designed hair brush to massage the scalp in order to stimulate hair growth.
- Help your hair to grow fast using hot oil treatments and hair packs – Create a homemade hair pack from honey and egg yolk. Leave this on your scalp for 30 minutes before you rinse with lukewarm water. Do this twice a week as part of your hair care regimen. Natural Oils also promote hair growth, so you might want to apply warmed rosemary oil, teatree oil, avocado oil, or rosehip plant oils. All of these ingredients are found in our Hair for him and her products.
- If possible, avoid constricting your hair for extended periods of time- Tight chignons, ponytails, or buns tug at your hair roots and cause hair loss.
- Rinse your scalp thoroughly to remove any residue from all the hair care products that you use – Clogged hair follicles hamper hair growth. Make a homemade hair-rinsing mixture from equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water. This concoction eliminates scalp residue.
- For a few minutes every day, flip your hair upside down – This act reverses the blood flow which then stimulates the hair follicles and enables the hair to grow quickly.
- Keep your hair moisturized – If you use conditioner to achieve this, then apply it only on the lower half of your hair.
- Do not shampoo your hair every day – Do not shampoo during the weekends to allow your hair and your scalp to breathe.
- Avoid using a brush on wet hair since wet hair is at its most fragile state – Use a comb with widely spaced teeth instead, or allow your hair to dry substantially before brushing it. Make brushing your hair one of the last things you do in your morning routine will allow your hair enough time to breathe and dry naturally before brushing.
- Choose herbal and clear, noncomedogenic shampoos – Read the label! Avoid hair products with phosphates and sodium lauryl sulfate. There are many natural alternatives to these ingredients. What’s your favourite?
What did you think of these tips? Helpful? Have something to add? Have other tips to share? We would love to hear from, please get in touch with us by email, or on our Facebook page.