From proper grooming to a healthy diet, here are Townsend and other pros share 19 effective and simple tips on how to grow your hair:
Let your hair grow – with these expert tips, it’s guaranteed to grow faster
#1 Trim your ends regularly
It seems contradictory at first, but: “You should always have the ends cut into even sections so that split ends don’t stand up and damage all of your hair,” explains Vernon François, Serena Williams and Natasha Lyonne’s hairstylist. “If you wait too long, you’ll eventually have to cut more.” But how often should you cut your hair if you want to let it grow out? As a general rule, most professionals recommend trimming your ends at least three times a year – this keeps your ends healthy and allows your hair to grow faster.
#2 The right cut to grow hair
In order for your hair to grow optimally, it also needs the right cut. Ask your hairstylist about a so-called “powder cut” — this actually just cuts the split ends and the hair doesn’t lose significant length. To grow out a short haircut, a gradual cut makes sense for the transition.
#3 Keep your hair long and use conditioner
Stylists agree that a weekly regimen is essential for growing hair. As for enforcement, Vernon François advises his clients, including Solange, Kerry Washington and Tracee Ellis Ross, to pay special attention to tipping. “They’re the oldest, driest part of your strands,” he explains, adding, “They’re thinner and more brittle, so give them extra care to minimize breakage.” Adapt the care optimally to your hair type for best results.
#4 Use hair oil or leave-in products
As a supplement to the hair treatment and for an extra portion of care, professionals also recommend applying an oil or leave-in care product to the ends every day. For example, the rich and nutritious Redken All Soft Argan-6 Multi-Care Oil.
#5 Use your shampoo correctly
Very important: Shampoos are designed to cleanse the scalp and hair roots and are not primarily there to care for the hair. Shampoo should never be in the ends as it would dry out unnecessarily. The water-shampoo cocktail that flows along the lengths during rinsing is sufficient to deeply cleanse the hair. To protect the hair, it is also recommended to lather the shampoo in the palms of the hands before applying it.
#6 Choose the right shampoo
For those who tend to have particularly dry hair, Mark Townsend recommends a pre-shampoo like this one Oribe Gold Lust Intensive Pre-Shampoo Treatment use. This is a special type of hair treatment that is applied to the ends before showering. “It leaves a protective conditioning film so the shampoo doesn’t strip the hair of moisture.” It’s best to also make sure your shampoo doesn’t contain sulfates, as foaming agents also remove moisture. For daily hair washing, the dermatologist of the Clínica Pilar de Frutos, Dr. Elena Martínez Lorenzo, a delicate shampoo not only free of sulfates but also formulated without preservatives.
#7 Match your hair washes to your hair type
Again and again, experts stumble upon the question of how often hair should actually be washed. The dermatologist Dr. Alejandro Martín-Gorgojo of the Clínica Dermatológica Internacional recommends adapting hair washing to the hair type, after which oily hair is washed relatively more frequently, even daily, than normal, dry hair, for which a hair wash every two days may already be enough .
She also explains that the hair doesn’t fall out during the wash, but because it would soon come undone during the cycle anyway. Only the hair structure becomes thinner after washing, as residues are removed and the hair becomes more susceptible to breakage and split ends. On the other hand, the hair roots and follicles are better supplied with oxygen and can therefore support healthy hair growth. Ultimately, according to the dermatologist, washing your hair ensures clean hair, more volume and therefore more beautiful hair.
#8 Use conditioner
Dr Elena Martínez Lorenzo recommends using a conditioner after each hair wash. This prevents the hair from tangling or even tangling and thus prevents snags when combing and brushing. Hair loss is reduced and hair can grow healthier. Attention is paid only to the lengths and ends and not to the roots. This is because otherwise the roots may lose volume and the hair can best absorb nutrients through the lengths and ends.
#9 Scalp massage
Massage your scalp intensely when you wash your hair, either with your hands or with one hand massage brush. This stimulates blood circulation, which in turn promotes hair growth. You can also use a scalp massage before washing your hair: you should only avoid it after washing, as the production of sebum is stimulated and the hair can become greasy more quickly.
#10 Conditioning the scalp with serums
Hair is like plants: it only grows on good soil. As we age, the scalp becomes more sensitive and drier. Therefore, it is important to take care of your scalp to create an environment for healthy hair growth. Here you put special serums like that “Super anti-aging serum for hair and scalp” by Dr. Barbara Tempesta TO.
#11 Exfoliate your scalp regularly
Dr Martín-Gorgojo points out that a mechanic scalp scrub it should not only be used to remove dead skin cells and for scalp care. He recommends doing a scalp scrub on a regular basis, about every week or two – this removes residue and ensures that the hair roots get a better supply of oxygen. The skin can also breathe better and thus the hair roots can work better.
#12 Nutrition for healthy hair growth
“If you eat a healthy, balanced diet, you automatically eat what’s right for your hair,” explains Manhattan nutritionist Maria Marlowe. “Any food rich in iron, zinc, vitamin C, B vitamins, and omega 3s will make your hair stronger and longer.” These include oysters, clams, beans and eggs for protein, according to Marlowe. Because keratin, the main building block of our hair, is also a protein. The nutritionist also recommends plenty of vegetables like bell peppers and leafy greens for vitamin C, as well as hemp seeds and wild salmon for omega-3 fatty acids.
These foods can promote hair growth
- Oysters
- Shellfish
- beans
- egg
- Vegetables
- hemp seeds
- Salmon
#13 Supplements for long hair
“Biotin is the number one choice when it comes to hair supplements, but most people already get enough biotin from their diets,” says Marlowe. Instead she advises “Bio Sil”, which contains ch-OSA, a proprietary combination of essential nutrients and minerals clinically proven to increase hair thickness for stronger, shinier hair. And quite a few beauty insiders swear by Grown Alchemist’s Hair Complex capsules, which contain growth-supporting silica, as well as repairing riboflavin and vitamin B2.
#14 Sleep on a silk pillowcase
“Cotton draws moisture out of your hair overnight,” says Townsend. Instead, sleep on a silk pillowcase that doesn’t dry out and has a smooth surface that reduces friction. This protects the hair and prevents hair breakage and split ends.
#15 Brush your hair properly
Dr Martínez Lorenzo and Dr. Martín-Gorgojo sees a connection between hair brushing and hair growth: they recommend avoiding excessive pulling and pulling that could cause hair loss, using a brush with twice the number of bristles to protect the hair structure and the scalp with the Massaging brush to increase circulation and nourishment, which in turn strengthens the hair.
#16 Go easy on wet hair
Wet hair is particularly sensitive and should therefore be protected as much as possible. Avoid hastily untangling your hair when it’s wet and towel-drying it after you shower. Instead, gently towel dry it until you gently detangle it with a comb or brush. If your hair is tangled after washing, apply a leave-in conditioner to the lengths to make it more bouncy and manageable.
#17 Avoid alcohol-containing hair products
Cosmetic products can often contain alcohol, especially natural cosmetics, which need it instead of preservatives for shelf life. However, alcohol has a drying effect on skin and hair and should therefore be minimized or avoided for healthy hair growth.
#18 Use UV and heat protection
To protect your hair from heat damage, you should use UV protection when the sun is too hot, and apply heat protection before styling your hair with a hair dryer, flat iron, curling iron, etc.
#19 Using hair ties correctly
Some hair ties have a metal part that can damage your hair. At worst, the sharp edges can lead to hair breakage in the braid. Instead, take delicate scrunchies, invisibobbles, or soft hair ties and don’t tie the braid or bun too tightly to protect your hair.
How long does it take to grow hair four inches?
Since hair grows between one and one and a half centimeters per month, it would take nine to ten months for hair to grow four centimeters. For a hair growth of 30 centimeters, you would have to reckon with three times the time.
This article originally appeared on vogue.es
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