How To Grow Out Your Hair Once And For All

Hair grows at an average rate of about half an inch a month. Some people have hair that grows faster than average and some slower, explains Dr. Dominic Burg, Chief Scientist, volis Professional . Hair growth is complex, with a range of factors that influence the rate, including hormones, stress, genetics and aging. This means your hair grows at different rates at different times in your life. For example, during pregnancy your hair growth accelerates, thanks to a surge of estrogen and progesterone, especially after the first trimester. But after you give birth, the hormone levels crash, often leading to postpartum hair loss.

Prevent damage and breakage.

Damage should be avoided if you are trying to grow out your hair, says Lars Skjoth, Founder & Head Scientist of Harklinikken . Damaged hair will not grow as long because it will typically break off before it even has the chance to grow to your desired length." Lay off the hot tools as much as possible and keep your hair well-hydrated with masks and conditioning treatments. You'll also want to skip tight ponytails and buns that can pull hair out around your hairline over time.

Get the real deal on supplements.

While there seems to be a supplement for everything, when it comes to boosting hair growth, they may not be the miracle pill they claim to be, Skjoth cautions. Supplements and vitamins can only help you with your hair growth if you are actually deficient of those nutrients, he says. Your body can only take in so many nutrients and once those needs are met, anything extra simply becomes waste. Therefore, if you are already healthy and consume nutrient dense food daily, you will not see much benefit from extra vitamins and supplements." Moral of the story: If you feel like you might be deficient or have been slacking on the well-balanced diet, it doesn't hurt to take a vitamin. "The most important vitamins and nutrients for healthy hair are B vitamins, specifically biotin, as well as zinc and iron," says Dr. Burg.

Chow down on foods that boost hair health.

In the case of your hair, the saying is true: You are what you eat. In other words, a healthy diet equals healthy hair. If your diet is imbalanced and there are deficiencies, then hair growth can suffer, Dr. Burg says. Its best to eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of leafy greens, varied vegetables, whole grains, nuts and lean meats. Meat and shellfish are a great source of zinc, and biotin can be found in eggs, meats, nuts, avocado, sweet potato and dairy. As with supplements, these wont make your hair grow faster than normal, but rather help restore it if its growth is subpar due to dietary imbalance, stress or illness.

Suds up the right way.

Howand whenyou wash your hair makes a major difference. Your scalp houses your hair follicles, the tiny organs that grow your hair, Dr. Burg explains. An inflamed, irritated, or damaged scalp can disrupt the signaling in the follicles, and in turn changing the health of the hair cycle and potentially leading to reduced growth and/or hair cycle dysfunction. So what brings on inflammation? We hate to break it to you, but dry shampoo is a major culprit, along with other styling products. If you regularly use dry shampoo as a substitute for a real wash, youll get buildup of silicones from conditioners, hairsprays and styling products. Its important to regularly cleanse with gentle, sulfate-free cleansers to keep the scalp in good health, Dr. Burg says. Added anti-inflammatory ingredients such as rosemary oil and salicylic acid from willow can dampen down inflammatory processes. As a rule, you should cleanse a couple of times a week or more depending on your hair and scalp type.

Deep condition on the regular.

Deep conditioning is key to preventing breakage and split ends, so aim to do so once a week. Dr. Burg suggests looking for hair building and repairing ingredients, such as hydrolyzed keratin and wheat protein, as well as naturally hydrating oils like baobab and flaxseed. Be sure to avoid silicones (look for dimethicone on the label), because while they might make your hair look shiny, they actually coat it, leading to build up over time that can prevent moisture penetration, making hair more brittle and prone to breakage. To maximize the perks, use a deep conditioner that can be left in overnight. If you color, chemically treat, regularly heat style your hair, or get a lot of sun, your hair fibers are weaker, so itll need some extra TLC. Hair that is hydrated is more elastic and therefore more protected and less prone to breakage, Skjoth says. Infusing your hair with plenty of moisture will help keep it long and strong.

Go for a trim.

Were going to bust this myth right nowgetting a haircut wont actually make your hair grow faster, but regular trims do help maintain growth, Skjoth says. Dead ends make the hair appear shorter so for anyone who wants their hair to be longer, regular trims are always a good idea.

Brush wisely.

Wet hair is the most vulnerable hair, so be careful how you handle it. To avoid breakage, try not to brush your hair when it is wet, Dr. Burg says. Instead, detangle your hair before you shower with a wide tooth comb, and then brush it again once it's at least partially dried. The right tools can help too. For starters, invest in a good detangling brush with cushioned bristles made with natural ingredients such as wood and boar bristles that are gentler on your strands.

Think silk.

Youll feel like a princessand have the hair of onewhen you sleep on a silk pillowcase. Silk doesn't catch and pull on your hair plus it won't draw out moisture like cotton would, Dr. Burg says. Similarly, poor quality hair ties can also damage hair. Look for spiral plastic ties, ones without seams, and avoid metal clasps that can catch and break hairanother reason to hop on the scrunchie trend.