Hi Grace,
I keep seeing adverts for hair growth products and I’m curious as to how these products work (and if they work!)? I find that my hair never really grows much longer than my shoulder blades and I’d love it to be much longer and thicker. Is it possible to grow hair faster?
Naomi
Hair growth is one of the most-Googled beauty topics. I think that a lot of people, like you, are overwhelmed by the products available and also sceptical as to exactly if and how they work. The thing is, achieving longer and stronger hair is never going to be an overnight process – it requires patience, effort, and some very proactive changes to your hair routine.
First up, you’ve got to take care of your scalp. Healthy scalp = healthy hair = longer hair. Get into the habit of washing your hair regularly and using exfoliating treatments to remove dead skin cells that clog hair follicles and prevent new growth. In addition, stimulating and massaging the scalp promotes blood flow, which in turn helps to bring nutrients to your hair follicles, leading to healthier, stronger hair. Even something as simple as brushing your hair every night or using a scalp brush or scrub when you shower can help. You could also try massaging in a growth treatment like By BEAUTY BAY’s Hair Density Hair Serum. It’s a super-concentrated blend of caffeine and peptides, which target poor circulation in the scalp – simply apply to the roots and massage in.
When it comes to washing your hair, you’ll need more than just a regular shampoo. Look for protein-rich or keratin-boosted ones that do more than just clean hair. I recommend Hairmax’s Stimul8 Shampoo. It works by increase blood flow to the follicles to stimulate growth and most importantly, by nourishing the scalp to improve scalp health.
Try to cut down on how often you use heat and styling tools, hair dye, chemical relaxers, hairsprays, and any accessories that force your hair into a tight bun or ponytail. Believe it or not, pulling your hair out of a hair tie is one of the most damaging things you can do to your hair. Making small changes to the way you treat your hair such as letting it air dry, putting it up with a claw clip or silk scrunchie rather than a tie, and not using hot tools like straighteners and curlers every day will make a huge difference.
Of course, some breakage will occur naturally, which is why it’s important to get your hair cut regularly. Regular trims help to prevent split ends, which extend up the hair shaft, causing more damage the further they get. Hair oils, serums, and leave-in treatments often work to boost hair volume and thickness immediately, but will strengthen your hair in the long-term too, protecting it from everyday damage and reducing the risk of breakage. Try Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil or Olaplex’s Hair Perfector No. 3.
If your social media feeds are anything like mine, then I can only imagine that it’s hair supplements that make up the majority of the ads you’re being bombarded with… Nutrient deficiency majorly impacts hair growth and strength because your body needs vital nutrients to grow new and healthy hair, so if you don’t think you’re getting a well-rounded, vitamin-rich diet, you could try investing in some hair-oriented supplements. Look out for ones that contain folic acid, biotin, vitamin D, and zinc. There’s no guarantee that they’ll give you the wow-factor “before and after” you see in the ads, but I have personally seen some impressive results when taking these sorts of supplements consistently. Check out Hum Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair Supplements or Hairtamin’s Advanced Formula Hair Vitamin.
Like I said, hair growth is no easy game, but there are multiple tactics to approach it with. Good luck!
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