There is no mathematical equation that will make your hair cascade like an amazing waterfall instantaneously. According to most hairstylists, hair growth is gradual and in most cases ranging from a quarter of an inch to half an inch in a month. Nevertheless, a super healthy scalp without split ends can achieve this feat within the reasonable time if well groomed and kept with the natural therapy.
This guide will show you 9 easy steps on how to grow your hair long
1. Scissors Are Pivotal
The ends of your hair will always look healthier when you get regular trims to snip splits. Although it is no guarantee for rapid hair growth, it will avoid splits from finding their way up strands which might lead to you chopping the hair too often. In the words of famous Hair Stylist, Mark Townsend; “If you wait so long that splits are causing your hair to break off high up on the strand, your hair will be shorter than if you get consistent trims.”
Let your hairdresser or barber trim your ends every 4-6 week to prevent the onset of extremely split ends.
2. Use Conditioner Whenever You Apply Shampoo
Townsend noted that it is ideal always to condition the hair whenever it is wet: âOver time, from coloring and heat styling, strands start to get thinner at the bottomâ he explains. Lipids and proteins found in the hair shafts are restored whenever the hair is conditioned. âA conditioner helps to seal the cuticle to help prevent more damage from happening so that you can get your hair to grow longer and look healthierâ he explains.
3. Don’t Shampoo Everytime You Shower
Shampoo serves the purpose of washing away dirt and the residue of product buildup, but on the negative side, it may as well strip the hair of critical natural oils that give the strands its natural sheen and softness. You need to be gentle to your hair when it becomes necessary for you to shampoo. We recommend using a shampoo kit from By Vilain. The primary requirement is for you to make lather at your scalp after which you may then let the suds work through strands and dripping down the rest of the hair as you rinse with water.
In Townsendâs words, âItâs shocking to me how many men skip conditioner when showering, which is the worst thing you can do for your hair â especially when you are trying to grow it long â and itâs shampoo that you should be skipping as much as possible.”
4. Finish With Cold Water After Each Shower
âThis really does help to grow hair and keep long hair healthy for longer. Cold water lays down the outer layer of hair more smoothly, which helps prevent moisture loss, snags and heat damage â you only need to do it for a few seconds, but this one extra step over time can make a huge differenceâ Townsend says.
5. Make An Oil Or Mask Treatment A Weekly To-Do
Is your hair in need of some serious revival? Hairstylist recommends the use of moisture-based masks and oils at least once in a week. Â âI make a natural oil treatment and give it to all my clients to use pre-shampoo,â Townsend hints.
His homemade recipe for the hair includes 1 cup of unrefined coconut oil diluted with a tablespoon of jojoba oil and a tablespoon of macadamia. Since great oils for promoting hair growth are bound to leave residue on hair, the recipe is best used on dry hair and then to be left in for ten minutes. Sequel to this, it becomes advisable to shampoo and condition regularly. âThese oils can fill strands up with fatty acids and then, when rinsed out, using regular shampoo helps seal them inside the hairâ Townsend points out.
6. Hair Boosting Supplements Are You New BFF
The body needs a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and protein for hair growth. Your diet is of utmost importance and should serve as the bedrock for any hair growth therapy that you may want to use or are already using. The lack of some trace nutrients can facilitate rapid hair loss and sometimes make the process of regaining it almost irredeemable.
The hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body and it needs sebum; an oily substance found in vitamin A responsible for moisturizing the scalp. Vitamin B is also known as biotin transports oxygen to the scalp and spurs hair growth. It is sometimes used for treating hair loss. Vitamin B is found in a wide range of foods including vegetables, almonds, fish, meat and seafood and is easily accessible through your regular meals.
Vitamin C stimulates the production of collagen in the skin to help prevent the aging of the hair. While vitamin D helps to avoid alopecia â the technical term for hair loss. Finally are irons, zinc, and protein all essential nutrients for proper hair growth.
7. Brush Your Hair With Care
Consistent brushing can undo your hair in the long run. Instinctively, we brush from the base of the scalp which will most likely gather small tangles into one big knot. This can lead to hair breakage. Townsend recommends the By Vilain Giant Comb known for its delicacy in spreading natural oils across the hair and being gentle on strands too.
8. Say Goodbye To Your Cotton Pillowcase
A silk or satin fabric is ideal because they donât cause friction, unlike regularly woven cotton, does with the hair. The cotton pillowcase will reduce the occurrence of tangles every time you wake up.
9. Avoid Wrapping Your Hair In Big Towels
Wrapping the hair in big towels makes the strands of hair close to the face likely to break. Soft microfiber towels are the best bet. Your basic cotton t-shirt works as a cheaper alternative as well.