The idea of beautiful, long, and thick hair is inspiring, but the growth process can be tiresome. To accelerate hair growth, it can be helpful to promote a healthy scalp and hair. As hair growth is largely based on genetics, these methods are focused on helping to reach the quickest speed possible for you. This is because poor maintenance and prolonged damage inhibits growth, stopping it from reaching its full potential. Consider adopting these changes into your routine to promote healthy hair growth.
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Contents
1. Improved Diet
As vitamins and minerals do play a role in the hair follicle growth cycle, any deficiencies can slow down growth. Working towards an improved diet, rich in nutrients, can help to promote healthy growth. Studies suggest that vitamins D12 and D, biotin, riboflavin, and iron are key, but all nutrients are important in supporting growth. Some people find that supplements are easier to incorporate into their day if they tend to avoid foods due to lifestyle reasons.
2. Hair Wash Habits
Washing is a major part of the growth process, taking place multiple times a week, depending on personal needs. With endless options on the market for shampoo and conditioner, it can be difficult to choose. It is best to search based on type, and avoid products with silicones and sulfates, for best results. Always stick with reputable brands that are highly recommended. Nourished and hydrated hair is more likely to grow healthily. Lastly, rinse with warm water – not hot – to reduce damage.
3. Regular Trims
As the hair grows, it is normal to begin seeing split ends at the end of strands. Regular trims at a salon can prevent the breakage traveling up the strand to the root, causing loss and thinning. Regular trims promote healthy growth by cutting off damage. Doing this at home can go very wrong, and with a lack of knowledge or skill in hairdressing and blunt scissors, the result will be an uneven haircut with ends more prone to splitting and damage than before. Stick to trusting the professionals.
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4. Scalp Oil Massages
Over the week, the scalp can tighten from stress, limiting circulation. Use (warm) oils like coconut, jojoba, almond, avocado, and olive when gently massaging the scalp to increase blood circulation to the area to promote healthy growth. This should be done gently to strengthen the follicles, not break the hair, so avoid being too rough. Extra benefits include replenishing and soothing a dry, itchy scalp. Oil massages can make that looks greasy, so it is most convenient to schedule it in time with a wash day.
5. Hair Treatments
Treatments can be done at home or in a salon and are often sought-after by people experiencing loss and/or thinning. Though, it is worth noting that not all products claiming to promote growth are effective in doing so. There are only two FDA-approved ingredients, confirmed to encourage regrowth, which include minoxidil and finasteride. These ingredients can be found in medications that are available through prescription or over the counter. Otherwise, the products claiming to be beneficial for growth are likely offering vitamins and minerals known to maintain healthy hair.
According to hshairclinic.co.uk, hair transplants are the most effective procedure for providing natural results. For those seeking a permanent solution to bald or thin areas of hair, this medical procedure should be explored.
6. Avoid Tight Hairstyles
Experimenting with different styles is completely fine if the hair is not tightly pulled back for prolonged periods. Doing so every day can cause follicles to become damaged and strands to break and fall out, making it difficult for the hair to grow. Constantly having hair in hairstyles that pull on the scalp can cause a medical condition known as traction alopecia, which results in an irreversible loss. Instead, consider gentle braids and low styles some days of the week.
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7. Heat Protection
Products that protect against heat preserve moisture, and block frizz as well as strengthen and seal the cuticle to keep it healthy and prevent damage when stylish and facing harsh weather. The layer of product not only creates a barrier between the strand and hot temperatures but provides a smooth and shiny finish. Sadly, not all heat protection items offer the level of defense claimed on the bottle, so make sure to invest in quality. To best protect, opt for heatless styling to minimize damage.
8. Brush Gently
When done correctly, brushing the hair can increase blood flow to the scalp and encourage healthy growth – look at it as a mini massage for the head. The issue arises when people get into the habit of brushing aggressively to remove knots. This is counterproductive and weakens the follicle, causing breakage and fallout. Best practice when it comes to brushing the hair is to do so gently in the morning and night to distribute natural oils and untangle and catch loose strands. Straight to slightly wavy hair should be brushed when dry rather than wet, and very wavy to curly hair should be brushed when wet rather than dry for best results.
9. Ditch the Cotton
Most people do not realize, but a lot of damage to the hair is caused when it collides with cotton. This usually occurs when drying it with a towel and when sleeping on a pillow with the hair unprotected. The coarse texture and dryness of cotton towels and pillow covers damage, causing split ends, breakage, and frizz. Letting the mostly air dry and finishing it off with a quick blow dry is the most effective way to dry hair with minimal damage. Otherwise, search for a microfiber hair towel. When it comes to pillows, the easiest way to protect it is to switch the cotton for satin. Satin is a smoother material, less likely to cause damage or frizz.
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The best ways to promote healthy hair growth (that do work in your favor) are improving your diet and hair wash habits, going for regular trims at the salon, regularly massaging the scalp with oils, exploring treatments for hair loss and thinning, avoiding tight hairstyles, and protecting it from heat damage, brushing the hair gently when dry and ditching the cotton towels and pillowcases. Most of which are easy changes to adopt into your routine. These methods are effective in reducing damage and maintaining healthy hair, which as a result accelerates the growth as far as your body is capable in consideration of genetics. Ignore apparent miracle growth products and take care of your health and hair to see desired results.
