From dry and damaged to long and luscious, here are some handy tips for growing the healthiest hair in as little time possible.

Faster Hair Growth

When it comes to growing hair, a common question is if it's possible to make hair grow faster. Products that promote hair growth fall short of their claims for a simple reason. The rate of hair growth cannot be changed. However, this doesn't mean you have to settle for hair you can't be proud of. There are several ways to encourage hair growth and to keep the hair you have soft and shiny while it grows out. 

The average person's hair grows about ½ inch per month. Your hair growth rate depends mostly on genetics and while there isn't any way to speed up that rate, there are some factors that can slow it down. Illness and poor nutrition are examples. Other factors like breakage and damage give hair the appearance of slow growth but the actual rate isn't changed. This is because damaged hair tends to break or get split ends. Both of these will nullify whatever progress was made. 

Having curly hair is a factor that gives hair the appearance of it not growing. Rest assured it is. However, because it's spiraling it only feels like it's taking an unusually long time to grow. If you take a few strands of hair and gently pull them until they're straight it's easy to see that the hair is longer than it seems. 

Hair loss is a common reason why someone would want to make their hair grow faster. Giving birth, stress, improper diet, harsh chemicals, overly tight or stressful hairstyles, and illness can all contribute to hair falling out. But take heart. There are steps you can take to encourage healthy hair growth and to greatly reduce how much hair is lost. If you've lost a considerable amount of hair recently, in many cases, it can be reversed.  

Let's look at some ways to repair the damage, encourage new hair growth, and ensure the healthiest locks possible. 

Hair is made up of protein. Because of this, it's important to supply your body with plenty of protein. A diet rich in protein gives your hair the best start. Legumes like black beans, lentils, nuts, peas, edamame, and tofu are all excellent sources of protein. You can also get protein from lean meats like fish, beef, and chicken. Other sources of protein include eggs and dairy like cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.

Supplementing your diet with vitamins that encourage healthy hair is key to giving your hair a healthy head start. Supplements help when proper nutrition isn't enough. More than just for hair, vitamin supplements help other areas of the body. From immune system health to brain function, the right supplement can help you with your overall health. Our Hair Growth Vitamins are crafted from premium-quality ingredients to ensure that your hair grows as healthy as possible. 

Jump-start your hair growth with a scalp massage. Gentle massage stimulates blood vessels and circulation in hair follicles into producing hair. It's important to be gentle to avoid damaging the hair that's already there, especially if that hair has already been chemically treated or is fragile from tight hairstyles. Use the pads of your fingers and massage the scalp in relaxed circular motions. Commercial scalp massagers are also available. Scalp massages are calming too. Even ten minutes a day can not only encourage hair growth but remove stress too. 

Treat your hair and scalp and encourage increased growth by adding natural oils to your hair care routine. Various plant-based oils offer a host of benefits that help hair follicles and hair recover from damage. When applied directly to hair, the oil and fatty acids get absorbed into the hair shafts and lock in moisture. This locked-in moisture is what makes hair supple, soft, and shiny. Different oils have different thicknesses and many times work together when blended. Lighter and thinner oils like almond easily penetrate the hair and heavier oils form a protective seal on the outside of the hair. Other oils like castor oil are very effective in both penetrating the hair shaft and protecting it. Our Hair Growth Oil offers a luxurious cocktail of natural essential oils that will not only make your hair soft but will help new growth start off healthy and strong. When combined with a gentle scalp massage your hair and scalp will be well on their way to being in the best condition possible.

Massages and oil aren't the only options for growing healthy hair. Hair masks offer numerous benefits for replenishing moisture, sealing it in, smoothing texture, and adding remarkable shine. Our Crowned Protein Masque is carefully crafted to replenish damaged hair with protein, amino acids, and botanicals, leaving it super soft and healthy. Just apply to clean and wet hair and leave it on for 15 minutes.Rinse your hair with cool water. Why cool water? Because it closes the cuticle and seals in the moisture and nutrients. Although it's crafted to help restore damaged hair back to health, applying it to healthy hair helps keep it in its best shape while you grow your hair out.

One of the least expensive and effective methods to growing long and healthy hair is by sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase. You can also wrap your hair in a satin headwrap or cover your hair with a silk or satin sleeping cap. It's surprising how much hair is lost while dreaming. Silk and satin fabric provide a slippery surface that won't catch or pull hair. It also draws heat away from your head and keeps you cooler while you sleep. 

Another step to getting long hair is to stop using harsh chemical relaxers. This process removes the curl from the hair and is permanent. Chemicals are applied to the hair then combed until the desired straightness is achieved. While relaxers offer fast results, they're very harsh and will damage your hair. They strip the protective cuticle from the hair shaft, leaving it exposed. Without the cuticle, the hair shaft loses moisture and becomes very brittle. This in turn contributes to hair loss and/or slowed hair growth. When this happens, any growth is destroyed. Choosing to stop using harsh chemicals on your hair can be a big decision, especially if you've been doing it for several years. But choosing to stop coloring/straightening your hair is a healthy decision your hair will thank you for. As it grows out you can style your hair in a protective style until it gets long enough to cut or trim off the damaged hair. 

Coloring your hair to a shade lighter than your natural color also causes damage. The peroxide opens up the cuticle so it can strip the hair of its color and make it available to add the color desired. But just like when using chemical relaxers, this process damages the hair, leaving it dry, brittle, and prone to breaking. There are, however, temporary hair colors that provide gorgeous results without damage. Some even condition your hair. It's worth trying them out.

When it comes to growing long and luscious hair, protecting it from further damage is important. When possible avoid using heated styling tools. Daily use or using them at too high of heat breaks down the hair and causes dryness and breakage. If you must use them, choose a reputable brand with customizable temperatures. Choose the lowest heat possible that's effective with a single pass. Multiple passes literally cook the hair resulting in brittle and dry strands. Using a heat protectant puts a barrier in between the head and your hair. It helps reduce damage but will not completely eliminate it. Heat protectants are available at beauty supply stores and online.

If you've tried all of the above methods and still aren't seeing real results, it might be time to see your healthcare professional. Sometimes underlying medical conditions or taking certain medications can affect hair texture, growth, and can contribute to hair loss. 

Growing long hair takes a little patience but the results are well worth it. By taking the proper steps you'll give your newly growing hair a strong and healthy foundation. It'll grow thicker and will provide the best environment for the current tresses to thrive.