How can I Speed Hair Growth?
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Hair growth is largely a factor of health and genetics, although a few steps can be taken to promote strong, healthy hair that may also grow a little bit faster. There is not, however, a magic bullet that will cause your hair to grow more quickly, so avoid products that make this claim. When growing hair out, your focus should be on growing healthy hair, rather than trying to grow it out quickly, and while it may take time, your patience will be rewarded.
Under normal conditions, hair grows at a rate of 6 inches (15 cm) each year. In old age, the rate of growth will be a little bit slower, while among some individuals who are genetically predisposed, the hair will grow more quickly. Hair usually does not grow faster than 1 inch (2.5 cm) a month, however. Most individuals also have limits on hair growth, meaning that their hair will only grow out so far before it begins to break and split.
Hair grows by pushing out from the follicle, where the actual living part of your hair is located. When hair is actively growing, it is called the anagen phase, and the majority of your hair will be in this phase at any given time. During the catagen phase, the follicle starts to detach and the whole hair dies, moving into the telogen phase, where it waits to be shed. All of the head is in different stages of hair growth, and you can expect to shed approximately 100 hairs every day as your head makes room for new hair.
While you cannot make hair grow more quickly, you can make it stronger, healthier, and more attractive to look at it by eating a balanced diet and adding supplements designed for hair. Like nails, hair is made from keratin, a type of protein, so increasing the protein in your diet will help make your hair stronger. In addition, you can take kelp tablets and gelatin to promote hair growth and strength. Use hair products balanced for your hair, and oil it periodically to keep it moist, flexible, and shiny. A hair stylist can give you additional suggestions for encouraging healthy growth for your hair type.
You can also take steps to reduce split ends, which will impede growth. Always wash the hair with lukewarm water, and finish with a cool rinse to close the follicle and smooth down the outside of the hair. Never brush your hair while it is wet, and always brush from the bottom to remove tangles. Use a towel to gently blot your hair dry after bathing, and avoid the use of excessive styling products, hair dryers, or the same hair style day after day. If you style your hair in the same way, you put repeated stress on the hair, which may result in bald spots. By feeding your hair and caring well for it, you will end up with strong, healthy, growing hair.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a BeautyAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a BeautyAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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![Eating a balanced diet makes hair stronger and healthier.]()
By: GlamyEating a balanced diet makes hair stronger and healthier. -
![Rinsing hair in cool water helps reduce split ends.]()
By: Konstantin YuganovRinsing hair in cool water helps reduce split ends. -
![Using a towel to gently blot hair can reduce the stress of styling.]()
By: volffUsing a towel to gently blot hair can reduce the stress of styling. -
![A hair stylist can give you suggestions for encouraging healthy growth for your hair type.]()
By: gemenacomA hair stylist can give you suggestions for encouraging healthy growth for your hair type. -
![Always wash hair with lukewarm water and rinse with cold water.]()
By: esp2kAlways wash hair with lukewarm water and rinse with cold water. -
![Hair should be trimmed regularly to avoid split ends.]()
By: Alexander RathsHair should be trimmed regularly to avoid split ends.
Discussion Comments
Is there any method to get rid of split ends in a week?
Great article! I use the Pro Naturals hair care system that helps a lot too because it cleanses the hair and scalp, removing built up residue and film that is left behind from the environment and hair products that don't let the hair grow, and it's all natural.
A good, complete supplement would be comprised of all the ingredients to help stop hair loss as well as provide the other ingredients that promote healthy hair growth. I tried using Reloxe for hair growth supplement for maximum benefit. It worked well for me!
HGP is an herbal hair loss treatment formula which has proven quite effective in stopping hair fall.
The best hair loss treatment I have found is a shampoo and conditioner that is made for horses. Has anyone here ever tried this? It works wonderfully for me.
You can find it in both the regular shampoo section and the pet section of stores. The label states that it is for both humans and horses.
I heard about it years ago, and all my friends claimed it made their hair grow quickly. I tried it, and within a couple of weeks, I had several inch-long sprouts coming out of my scalp! It looked weird, but I knew it meant that my hair was going to get thicker.
I used it most recently after getting my hair cut shoulder length. I was trying to grow it back out, and it made my hair grow twice as fast as it normally does!
@giddion – I believe it is true. Like you, I was losing way too much hair, so I decided to try a shampoo that didn't contain sodium lauryl sulfate.
I know that this ingredient is what makes the shampoo lather, and I'm not sure what ingredient my new shampoo has instead, but it works. I get a good lather, and I'm only losing about half the amount of hair now as I was before.
I am going to start eating healthier to see if that will make my hair grow even faster and look even better. It certainly can't hurt, and I think that eating more natural foods is better than taking a supplement.
I have heard that one of the causes of hair loss is using products with sodium lauryl sulfate in them. Just about every kind of shampoo contains this, including the one I've been using for years. It does seem like I'm losing a lot of hair in the shower, so could there be something to this?
@googie98 – I've heard that olive oil works better than the best hair growth products on the market. It's natural, so there are no side effects to worry about.
It can penetrate your hair and moisturize it deeply. It can make your hair stronger, and this means less breakage and the chance that each hair will live until it has grown long.
My friend massages warm olive oil all over her hair and scalp and wears a shower cap for half an hour. Then, she just washes and conditions her hair like she always does, and it looks so shiny and healthy afterward!
The best thing for making hair healthy and preventing hair loss is argan oil because it has tons of benefits and it’s super light on hair, and absorbs fast.
@bigmetal: There are many high dollar products out there who promise to speed up the growth of your hair and yes, your eyebrows. I just don’t have the money to spend on it. A friend told me about something that she tried and it actually works.
While trying to grow your eyebrows, put some olive oil on them every night. You can also use castor oil. You won’t see results overnight but it does speed up the process.
is there anything you can do to speed hair growth of your eyebrows?
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