Have you ever noticed how your hair seems to grow very slowly sometimes and much more quickly at others? Like most women, you’d probably prefer for your hair to grow quickly and healthily all the time — but how can you make that happen? Fluctuations in your hair growth are often related to nutrition, but other factors come into play too.
Luckily, there’s a lot that you can do to make your hair grow faster. There are several proven ways to make your hair grow more quickly without negatively impacting its health or quality. Incorporating these techniques into your regular routine is worthwhile and easy. Here’s how you can stimulate your hair’s growth.
Scalp Massage with Peppermint Oil
Most people take steps to care for their skin, but the vast majority almost completely neglect their scalps. Head hair grows out of follicles on the scalp, of course, and the health of these follicles can become compromised in many ways. In particular, blood flow and circulation to the scalp can become impeded or slowed to the point where hair growth slows down dramatically or even stalls entirely. By giving your scalp a little love on a regular basis, you can improve circulation and grow hair more quickly.
One of the best ways to improve blood flow to the scalp and follicles is by massaging the scalp with peppermint oil. Look for a high-quality peppermint essential oil from a reputable brand. One option is to combine it with another type of oil, such as coconut oil, and to then massage it into the hair and scalp for a few minutes. The menthol in the peppermint oil acts as a vasodilator, which means that it causes the blood vessels in the affected area to dilate. In turn, blood flow and circulation are improved, nutrients and oxygen flow more easily to the follicles and hair growth speed increases.
Use a Clarifying Shampoo and Conditioner Weekly
Just because you wash your hair regularly doesn’t mean it’s truly “clean.” The very products we use to clean our hair often leave behind residue that gradually causes hair to become dull, limp, and lifeless. It can even slow down the rate at which hair grows.
To eliminate this buildup, use a clarifying shampoo and conditioner at least one time per week. Traditional shampoos contain more conditioning agents than surfactants, or cleaning agents. Along with conditioners, they leave behind waxes, moisturizers, silicones, and other residues. Clarifying shampoos and conditioners, on the other hand, contain more surfactants than conditioners, so they leave behind hair that’s truly squeaky clean. It’s especially important to use these products if you color your hair, use hair masks, or use styling products of any kind.
Brush Hair Nightly
If you think the advice about brushing your hair frequently to make it grow faster is nothing more than an old wives’ tale, think again. While the impact of brushing hair regularly is often exaggerated, there is truth to the idea that doing so can help hair grow faster. Like anything else, though, you need to go about it in the right way for optimal results.
The primary way in which regular brushing helps to speed up hair growth is by stimulating the scalp. This action helps to increase and improve blood circulation around the scalp and hair follicles, which helps to deliver higher volumes of oxygen and nutrients. If not done correctly, however, the technique can backfire. In particular, metal or wire brushes should be avoided because they easily break hair follicles and cause damage. For best results, stick with brushes with natural bristles. A soft boar-bristle brush is a great example of something that will promote healthy, strong hair growth when used nightly.
Supplement Diet with B Vitamins
While environmental and other external factors impact hair growth in various ways, there’s also a lot of truth to the idea that hair health starts on the inside. The quality of your diet plays a huge role in growing strong, healthy hair. In particular, a diet rich in B vitamins is more likely to get you the kind of hair you want, so it pays to either add more foods rich in these vitamins to your diet or to start taking a B-complex vitamin supplement.
In hair growth, B vitamins like biotin and pantothenic acid, or vitamin B5, play crucial roles in developing the structure of the hair. When they are in ample supply, they promote the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and follicles. Vitamin B5 affects the adrenal glands, which are largely responsible for the regulation of hair growth. Biotin is remarkable in that it helps to rebuild hair shingles that have become damaged due to styling, blow-drying, sun exposure and other factors.
B vitamins are found in high concentrations in foods like eggs, many meats, nuts, legumes, potatoes and avocados. Consider adding them to your daily routine to trigger faster, stronger hair growth.
Research the Latest Products and Trends
By implementing the above techniques into your regular hair routine, you should start to notice that your hair grows more quickly and is healthier and stronger than before. New products and techniques are constantly being developed, and some of them may be more effective for you than others.
Therefore, you should do your own research into the latest products and trends for promoting healthy hair growth. A single option could make a dramatic difference for you.
Like anything, it’s always a good idea to be aware of the latest research. We recommend comparing at least 3 or 4 options before making a final decision. Doing a search online is typically the quickest, most thorough way to discover all the pros and cons you need to keep in mind.