The bad news first: Unfortunately, we have no control over how fast our hair actually grows. The rule of thumb is that we can look forward to an inch or two more every month, but in the end it’s our genes that decide the speed. But there is good news: to make your hair grow faster, all you have to do is follow a few simple tips.
Many women think their hair will grow faster if they stop by their hairdressers as much as possible. But exactly the opposite is the case: If the dry ends are not trimmed regularly, they are more prone to split ends. This then migrates upwards into the healthy regions and ensures that the hair breaks off – which means that the mane grows even more slowly. For this reason, we recommend that you have the tips trimmed at least every six to eight weeks.
There is a good reason why the hairdresser massages your scalp every time you wash your hair: the circular movements stimulate blood circulation and thus hair growth. The reason for this is the hair roots, so-called follicles – if they are regularly cleaned of dirt and have a good blood supply, the hair grows back quickly and vigorously. It is all the more important that you also take good care of your scalp at home. Regular scalp massages for five to ten minutes are recommended. You can either use your own fingers or a special massage spider. Brushing your hair when it is dry (!) is just as helpful to open clogged hair follicles. The rule of thumb says: 100 brush strokes a day ensure more shine and suppleness. If you use a Tangle Teezer on top of that, you’ll pull out fewer hairs.
Caffeine and Q 10 (a coenzyme) have growth-promoting properties and are specifically used in hair care products – especially in shampoos. The active ingredients contained in it are intended to stimulate blood circulation in the scalp and thus not only hair growth, but also counteract hair loss. However, you should only use the caffeine shampoo or Q10 shampoo every second wash.
Alternatively, you can also do something good for your mane by using hair treatments regularly. A product with aloe vera or argan oil is best: the two active ingredients care for the hair structure, moisturize the hair and prevent split ends. If you don’t want to use an industrial product, you can also mix a hair treatment with aloe vera gel and lemon juice. Simply massage into your hair, leave in and rinse out.
Or you can use an oil-based hair care product once or twice a week. Coconut oil, for example, provides your long hair with important nutrients as well as sufficient moisture and thus protects it from drying out. Castor oil, on the other hand, is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which stimulate natural hair growth. However, you should note that it can take up to two hair washes for the residue to be completely removed.
Our diet provides an important indication of full hair. If we lack important nutrients such as vitamins or minerals, it is primarily the skin, hair and nails that suffer – so that more important organs are adequately supplied. In order to make your hair grow faster, you primarily need proteins, copper, vitamin E, silicon, biotin, omega fatty acids and zinc. These are found in the following foods:
Tip: If your hair grows particularly slowly or even falls out, you may be suffering from a nutrient deficiency. To be on the safe side, you should consult a doctor – alternatively, you can also carry out a self-test at home and then send it to a diagnostics laboratory. You will then receive a detailed result report that will provide you with information on whether you are suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, for example.
It should be known that excessive alcohol consumption is unhealthy for the body. Nevertheless, many do not know that alcohol slows down the metabolism – and thus also slows down hair growth.
However, the biggest enemy of healthy hair is stress. Whether professionally or privately: If your body is constantly under stress, your hair will no longer be supplied with all the important nutrients. Make sure you integrate more breaks into your everyday life and reduce stressful phases.
Heat is similarly damaging to your hair. If you regularly blow-dry or straighten your long mane, your hair will dry out. Here we recommend that you do without devices such as hair dryers, straightening irons and curling irons, especially in the warm summer months.
But pinning your hair up or tying it into a ponytail or bun is not very conducive to hair growth either, as the metal parts of the hair ties damage the hair. Here we advise you to wear only loose hairstyles – and metal-free hairbands.
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