Ways To Make Your Hair Grow Faster & Longer

For as long as I could remember, I've always looked for ways for my hair to grow faster. My hair was my comfort blanket and I could do anything with it: put it up in a bun, braid it, and curl the heck out of it. But last year, I decided to jump on the short hair trend and cut it all off. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it, but when the scissors completely chopped off all of my hair, you best believe it was the most freeing feeling ever.

My hair felt lighter and more manageable and ever since then, I have cut it shorter. And while I have sported this look for a good year now, I think I am ready to give long locks another shot. I've been researching ways to make my hair grow and a lot of the tips seem to be pretty easy to master. Some were surprising, while others I have heard time and time again before now. Either way, I think I am ready to go down the yellow brick road of growing out my hair for next year, and yes, I want it to happen in lightening speed. If you are going down that path, too, then here are some tips for your own hair endeavor so you can grow it out as fast as humanly possible.

1. Use Conditioner Every Time You Shower

Your hair needs as much moisture as possible and by doing this, you are replacing the nutrients it needs for it to grow correctly. According to Cosmopolitan, celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend said, "If your hair is wet, that means you have to condition it." Townsend continued, "as well as seal the cuticle to help prevent more damage from happening so that you can get your hair to grow longer and look healthier."

2. Get Regular Trims To Prevent Splits

While cutting your hair won't make your hair grow, it will prevent split ends from working their way up the strands. As time goes on, the ends of your hair start to get thinner. That's how breakage occurs and your hair could actually look shorter. According to The Coveteur, it is recommended that one should cut their hair more or less frequently, depending on the hairstyle they have. If you are maintaining a short haircut, you should try to cut it every four to six weeks for a pixie cut, or six to eight weeks for a long bob. But if your hair is longer than that, then every two to three months is OK.

3. Carefully Brush Your Hair

When it comes to your hair, you have to be careful on how you brush it. One of the best things you can do is comb your hair when it's dry, not wet. According to Daily Makeover, Michael Boychuck, a celebrity colorist and owner of COLOR salon in Las Vegas said there is no damage-free way of brushing your hair wet. When the hair is wet, is it at its weakest point. And when you brush it, it can lead to more breakage and split ends.

4. Use Microfiber Towels

While towels are good for drying your body and cleaning up messes, microfiber towels are the way to go to achieve beautiful, long locks. When you use towels to dry your hair, the terrycloth material actually creates more damage and frizz. And if you wrap your hair around with the towel and leave it on top of your head, you are creating more damage at the root of your hair. Now doesn't that sound like fun?

5. It's All About Your Diet

You should listen to your mom and make sure you eat your vegetables and fruits. By consuming protein-rich foods (like eggs, salmon, and nuts), you are allowing your hair to grow and have ultimate health. A lot of these foods also carry other healthy-hair nutrients like zinc, which promotes cell reproduction and beta carotene, things that prevent your hair from being dry and brittle.

6. Maintain It With Topical Treatments and Supplements

Using hair masks and taking supplements like Biotin are going to keep your hair healthy and allow it to grow out thick and beautiful. According to The Huffington Post, dermatologist Dr. Richard Scher believes that taking Biotin does repair the keratin infrastructure in the hair. While taking 2.5 mg of Biotin a day is good, you can also create homemade hair masks to strengthen the hair to make it grow, like Jessica Alba's DIY avocado hair treatment. Of course, always consult your doctor before taking any type of supplements just to be safe.

7. Make Sure Your Scalp Is Healthy

The root (pun intended) of all hair problems starts with the scalp. If you can't keep this healthy, then the rest of your hair is no bueno. According to POPSUGAR, Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Celebrity Dermatologist Francesca Fusco suggested adding a few spoonfuls of sugar to your shampoo for some much-needed exfoliation to your scalp. Whatever you do though, don't use your nails to scrub. They will do more harm than good.

8. Don't Shampoo That Often

Sometimes the best thing for your hair is what nature already gives to you. According to Good Housekeeping, celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves said, "Shampooing your hair two to three times a week is a general rule." Paves continued, "This allows your natural oils to penetrate your hair, allowing it to hydrate and repair itself." While the rest of your hair is considered dead follicles, your scalp is the best place to start to achieve healthy, long locks.

Before you know it, your hair is going to be incredibly long hair like Rapunzel. While no one will be claiming your hair to get to a tower, you will be feeling like a princess with your beautiful, healthy hair.

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