How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster: What Works and What Doesn't

Trying to make your hair grow faster will make you try varieties of solutions, from rice water to trims, “miracle” oils, homemade hair growth treatments that smell like herbal sacrifices and shampoos that claim to speed up hair growth. Yet the inches refuse to inch. 

It’s another special kind of heartbreak when you take down a protective style, stretch your hair, check the length, and it’s still looking the same as the last time. 

If you’ve ever stared at your mirror and wondered why your hair isn’t behaving, you’re not alone. Everyone has a secret recipe, yet somehow the results don’t match the promises.

So let’s clear the noise. Here’s what genuinely makes hair grow faster, what does absolutely nothing, and what could even be slowing yours down.

The truth is, your hair is growing. It just may be breaking faster than it grows, but it is definitely growing.

Hair follows a natural cycle: growth, rest, and shedding. African hair doesn’t grow slower; it simply has a tighter curl pattern, which makes it more fragile and easier to snap along the bends.

So it’s not that your hair is refusing to grow. It’s that the growth is being cancelled out by breakage. Understanding this makes everything else so much clearer.

Read Next: Switch to These 7 Shampoos & Say Goodbye to Dandruff.

You may be wondering, how does scalp massage help hair grow faster? Here’s how.

A study found that nine men experienced an increase in hair thickness after doing a four-minute scalp massage every day for 24 days. 

The gentle physical pressure on the hair follicle cells (dermal papilla cells) helped stimulate the follicles to produce thicker strands.

Try short scalp massages with lightweight oils like rosemary or peppermint, not as magic growth potions, but as circulation boosters.

Read Next: Want Longer Hair? Here’s How to Add Flaxseed Gel to Your Routine.

Scalp care is the not-so-secret weapon because healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. We focus so much on products and forget that the foundation matters the most. 

If your scalp is covered in heavy grease, thick butters, or weeks-old products, follicles can get clogged. That slows everything down.

Keep your scalp clean. Wash your hair only 2-3 times weekly with a moisturising shampoo like the Cantu Sulfate-Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo and a deep conditioner with slip like ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner.

Overwashing also leads to hair breakage and slows growth. 

Read Next: These 7 Hair Relaxers Are Gentle, Effective, and Scalp-Safe.

High levels of stress or anxiety can stop hair from growing or even lead to hair loss. Prioritise good sleep and rest, and use calming practices such as yoga to manage stressful or triggering situations.

Moisturising and deep conditioning your hair are non-negotiables. Dry hair breaks. It’s that simple.

Deep condition weekly or biweekly. Use leave-in conditioners that actually moisturise, not just coat your strands. The LOC or LCO method helps hair retain moisture in our heat-heavy climate.

The LOC and LCO methods are hair care routines designed to retain moisture by applying Liquid, Oil, and Cream products in a specific order. The two methods use the same products but in a different sequence.

Lightweight leave-in African Pride Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner, oils like coconut, jojoba, olive, or rosemary, and raw, unrefined shea butter (ori) for sealing, not moisturising, are great hair products that aid hair growth.

Read Next: These 11 Hair Oils Are Game-Changers for Natural Hair: Moisture, Shine, Growth.

The rules are simple. Avoid heat styling, be gentle during detangling and make protective hairstyles. 

If your protective style is pulling your edges, it’s not protective. Opt for knotless braids, twists, cornrows, and styles that don’t drag your scalp backwards.

Your diet matters more than all the magic oils combined. Hair is made of protein, so if your diet is low in nutrients, your hair will struggle. Eggs, beans, leafy vegetables, and fish are great for stronger strands. 

Supplements only help if you’re deficient; they are not shortcuts for hair growth, so don't get carried away by sales gimmicks. Feed your body. Your hair will follow.

Read Next: 6 natural ingredients that will regrow your edges.

This is a must if you want to see the effect of your hair growth efforts. Silk or satin pillowcases cause less friction against your hair, making it frizz less and lie smoother. They absorb less moisture from your hair compared to cotton. 

Many of us grew up believing that thick grease grows hair. It doesn’t. It only seals in whatever moisture was already there or locks in dryness if you skipped the moisturising step. 

Pain is not a growth strategy. Tight braids, sleek ponytails and snatched styles only damage edges and trigger traction alopecia. 

These DIY treatments are common among Nigerians. They are fine in moderation, but using them constantly leaves hair stiff and prone to breakage. More protein does not equal more growth.

Read Next: The Best Scalp Treatments for Dandruff, Dryness, and Hair Growth.

If a product promises “3 inches in a week”, the only thing growing is your anticipation. Unlabelled or overly promising serums often contain harsh chemicals that damage the scalp long-term. 

High heat fries the hair cuticle and causes breakage, even when your hair looks fine. If you must blow-dry, lower the heat and use a heat protectant. Otherwise, your hair will break.

Supplements don’t fast-forward growth unless your body is lacking something. They’re not magic shortcuts and can cause side effects like acne. A nutritious diet does far more than unnecessary pills.

Read Next: My ₦20,000 Natural Hair Kit for 4C Girls Who DIY.

Cutting hair does not make it grow faster. Hair growth is determined by genetics and health, not haircuts.

Our climate is not gentle. Harmattan strips moisture like a thief in the night. Humidity causes scalp sweat and build-up. Both extremes can stall growth if you don’t adjust your routine.

During harmattan, moisturise more and seal properly. During hot months, wash more often and keep your scalp fresh. When in doubt, protective styles save time and your strands.

Sometimes it’s deeper than products, routines, diet or genes. Anaemia, hormonal imbalances, stress, and thyroid issues can all affect growth. If your hair is shedding excessively or thinning suddenly, a check-up may help more than any new product.