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5 Key Hacks For Growing Your Hair Long

Growing your hair may seem simple – just don’t get it cut so often – however, in reality, great hair needs to be shiny, lustrous and healthy, not just long. Here, GEORGIA DAY shares all the tips you need to know for nurturing longer, stronger locks

Beauty

Maximize your growth potential

On average, hair grows about half an inch per month, but the exact amount varies and is affected by everything from genetics and ethnicity to stress levels, medication and general health. There are three phases of growth and shedding: anagen, catagen and telogen. The anagen phase is the most active of the three and is when new cells are formed in the root of the hair. To optimize growth in this key stage, it’s important to keep hair healthy, because breakages may be one of the reasons it isn’t growing as long as you would like.“Healthy hair will not break as easily as dry, brittle hair, and therefore will reach its natural maximum length,” says trichologist Candy Lewis Williams, ND. So, how can you tell if your hair is in shape? “Healthy hair will have its own natural shine, without styling products.” Banishing split ends is also a must if you want long-term health, says Williams. “I recommend a trim every eight weeks; a split end can catch in your comb or brush, and it doesn’t always break on the ends – it can break off three or four inches up the hair shaft.”

Focus on lengths and ends

For most of us, while the hair closest to our roots might feel full and healthy, our mid lengths and ends tell a different story. “The degree of thinning and breakage shows how unhealthy that once-fresh root hair has become following exposure to things like chemical treatments and heat styling. Healthy hair grows longer more quickly because it’s not thinning, breaking and shrinking at the ends,” says hairstylist Michael Van Clarke. “Well-cared-for hair can retain 90% of its thickness and shine at 18 inches long. But poorly-cared-for hair can easily lose 98% of its mass at the same length, through thinning, breakage and split ends.” Using the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type, plus doing regular intensive treatments and masks, can make all the difference. If you have Afro or textured hair, your main concern should be keeping dryness at bay, which can restrict growth. Look to keep your hair well moisturized with deep conditioners and oils, such as jojoba and argan oil, which help promote growth.

Healthy scalp = healthy hair

The scalp is often overlooked when it comes to haircare, but it is an extension of your skin, so be diligent with thorough cleansing, regular exfoliation and proper nourishment. If neglected, poor scalp health will not only slow hair growth but can actually lead to hair loss from bacterial and fungal infections, which are more common than you may think. “Avoid going to bed with wet hair as we have yeast on our scalps, so it becomes a dark, damp breeding ground for yeast when you’re lying on it damp all night,” says celebrity trichologist Mark Blake.

To keep both your hair and scalp healthy, aim to shampoo every other day, unless you’re working out a lot or your hair is subjected to heavy pollutants or dust – in which case, do it more frequently. Failure to remove a build-up of dirt and grime can mean an itchy, irritated scalp, which will have a knock-on effect with the health of your hair and, ultimately, impact how long you can grow it and how much hair fall you may get. There are plenty of dedicated scalp ranges on the market to make scalp care effortlessly simple. Oribe’s new Serene Scalp Densifying collection was created with a board-certified trichologist to help keep the hair you have on your head for longer. It contains a scalp-stimulating complex (with biomimetic peptides, pea sprout and red clover extracts) to drive blood to the scalp and nourish the hair follicle for better, stronger hair growth.

Go big on protein-rich products

Protein is key for keeping your hair in shape. Look for products containing keratin or amino acids, as they help nourish, repair and replace any protein that’s been lost through damage. Plus, to protect your strands, avoid silicones and heavy oils, says Van Clarke: “Despite making the hair look lovely today, they dehydrate the hair and ruin it for tomorrow.” And try to steer clear of sodium laurel sulphates (SLS) and DEA, says Williams, which act like detergents, irritating your hair follicles. As for heat, avoid regular heat styling, but if you must iron or blow out your hair, set your tool to a lower temperature, and always apply a heat-protection spray first to minimize damage. Never, ever iron wet, damp or even dirty hair, because adding intense heat to hair with a build-up of dirt and product can compact the damage and lead to breakage.

What to eat for healthy hair

Hair growth is considered non-essential compared with other bodily functions, so it’s low down on the priority list when it comes to getting nutrients. If you’re restrictive in your eating, hair growth can be halted altogether, and you may even experience shedding. Make sure you eat a rounded diet that features plenty of complex carbohydrates and protein to boost energy to the follicles and encourage growth. “Hair is 3% water and 97% protein, so a diet without enough protein will impact hair quickly,” says Van Clarke. Aim to eat at least 50g of protein each day, such as chicken, fish or eggs. Certain vitamins, minerals and fatty acids are also essential: broccoli, oranges and kiwis contain high levels of vitamin C; leafy greens are rich in vitamin D; and almonds and avocado are high in vitamin E. You’ll need plenty of iron, omegas 3 and 6, and biotin to promote healthy follicle function, too, while zinc and vitamin B12 are also key because they help produce new hair cells.

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