There are plenty of reasons you might be hunting for a way to make your hair grow faster, from a big chop gone wrong to bangs you regret to breakage-prone strands and genetic or stress-related hair loss.
By Iman Balagam
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
“While hair holds huge psychological importance, it isn’t an essential tissue in terms of physical health,” explains Anabel Kingsley, trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley. “Hair cells are among the second fastest dividing cells in the body, making hair a very demanding tissue. Since hair is both needy and dispensable, hair growth is highly sensitive to dietary inadequacies, such as skipping meals or restrictive eating.”
Regarding what to eat, Dr. Kingsley recommends incorporating at least a palm-sized portion of protein with breakfast and lunch, adding a portion of complex carbs to each meal, and including iron-rich foods, vitamin B12, and zinc in your weekly diet.
Manage your stress levels
“High-stress levels throw off hormone levels, and they can also inflame and irritate your scalp—both of which can impact hair growth,” says Dr. Kingsley. When you’re stressed, you might not eat well, and your body may also struggle to absorb nutrients, which can harm your strands.
Avoid excessive heat styling
We know it can be hard to put down the hot tools, but according to dermatologist and founder of Sobel Skin, Dr. Howard Sobel, “Extreme styling heat and hot temperatures can be damaging to both the hair and the hair shaft, leading to breakage, brittleness, and dehydration, which in turn can slow down hair growth.” And even when you do straighten or curl your strands with heat, apply plenty of heat protectant to ward off as much damage as possible.
Use bond-building products
Breakage is enemy number one when it comes to growing out your hair—your locks won’t appear any longer, no matter how quickly they grow, if your ends keep snapping off.
“Your scalp houses your hair follicles and serves as your hair’s support system, so if it isn’t in good condition, your hair won’t grow as well as it could,” warns Dr. Kingsley. Studies show that a flaky scalp can cause hair loss, and it also impacts the quality and strength of hairs as they emerge from the hair follicle. To encourage a healthy scalp, she suggests adopting a scalp care routine that mirrors your skincare routine—after all, the scalp is skin and benefits from similar TLC. Cleanse (i.e. shampoo) regularly, use a targeted serum daily/nightly, and apply a weekly intensive scalp mask or treatment
Get a health screening
If you’ve noticed a change in your hair, a health screening is a great way to know if you may need to top up on any vitamins, minerals, etc., or just to check everything over. “For example, thyroid issues can interfere with hair growth and thickness,” says Xavier. “Prevention and management are important lines of defense to maintain luscious hair,” he adds.
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