How To Grow Your Hair Faster : The Complete Guide 2024
By Vanessa Richards
January 10, 2024 • Fact checked by Dumb Little Man
Have a bad hair day? In that case, you are not alone.
Our hair has little to no real value except for the protection it offers to our scalp against the scorching sun. Nevertheless, a fast-growing industry of hair products and services attests to its aesthetic and social importance.
Trying to grow your a long hair as lustrous as Rapunzel’s is no easy feat and could seem like forever. A person’s hair grows depending on genetics, age, hormones, and overall health.
How Fast Does Hair Grow?
Before addressing the causes and identifying solutions to slow hair growth, it is helpful to understand how healthy strands typically grow.
The hair is the fastest-growing tissue of the human body. Research shows that, on average, it grows naturally at 0.35 millimeters per day. This means that our hair grows at an average rate of about half-inch every 28 days. Hair strands grow out of the 100,000 hair follicles on the scalp.
There are three (3) stages of this hair growth. Anagen, or the active growth phase, happens when a hair strand grows and lasts about 2-7 years. About 90% of hair undergoes this stage for a specific period.
At the end of this phase, a short transition stage known as catagen, where the follicles shrink and hair stop growing. Only about 1-2% of the hair on your scalp goes through this stage at any given time.
Finally, the hair enters the telogen or the resting phase. Telogen happens when the hair shaft remains in the follicle until the growth of new hair is pushed out.
This phase lasts about 100 days and involves 10%-15% of the hair. During this phase, a hair strand is at rest as it prepares to detach from the scalp.
What Are The Common Hair Problems?
Split ends
Split ends are considered a common hair issue encountered by women. They are caused by the weakening of the hair shafts and the splitting of its fibers. Hair with split ends appears dry, uneven, and dull. Why? Damage to the hair cuticles means that the hair becomes less supple, which is why they tend to become tangled and break easily.
Hair Loss
Finding some hair strands in your brush is normal. The American Academy of Dermatologists says that a person loses about 50 to 100 hair strands daily.
Losing this amount of hair does not make a big difference in appearance, considering that there are thousands of follicles on our scalp. However, it may be a cause of concern when you start noticing unusual hair loss and bald spots.
Hair Loss for Men
Losing hair can be attributed to several reasons. Male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia causes about 95% of hair loss experienced by men.
It happens when the hair on the affected area undergoes a shorter growth phase and then falls out. Other types of hair loss are caused by hormonal imbalance, thyroid problems, stress, and certain autoimmune diseases.
Hair Loss in Women
However, women tend to lose more hair compared to men. Years of restrictive diets, hair styling, coloring, and vitamin deficiencies are the common culprits of hair loss.
Hair loss is also influenced by hormones, especially in women. During menopause, the levels of the female hormones, estrogen, and progesterone fall, which means that the effects of androgens or the male hormones increase.
A high number of androgens means increased production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Experts call DHT a hair follicle killer and must be addressed medically to reduce the chances of hair loss.
Hair Thinning
Hair thinning can be attributed to stress, hormonal imbalance, and using the wrong hair products. Switching from one hair product to another without consultation from a board-certified dermatologist can also cause the thinning of the hair.
What Causes Slow Hair Growth?
Genetics, hormone levels, and lifestyle are essential in maintaining hair health. As you age, the anagen phase decreases, and the period your hair goes through the catagen and telogen phases increases.
This results in a shift from long and healthy hairs to thin and damaged hairs. Listed below are the common reasons that can cause slow hair growth:
Genetics
The hair growth cycle goes on the same with everyone. However, the length of each cycle varies based on your genes. The anagen phase lasts 2-7 years, meaning some people have shorter cycles than others.
Hormonal Imbalance
For women, estrogen and progesterone hormones help hair grow faster and remain on the head for longer. During menopause, a decrease in these hormones triggers an increase in androgen production.
This male hormone results in the shrinking of the follicles, therefore slowing down average hair growth.
Chronic Stress and Unhealthy Lifestyle
Stress is regarded as a normal part of life nowadays. However, when left unmanaged, stress impairs our health and causes specific subtle changes that go undetected within the body.
Oxygen encourages the growth of strong and healthy hair, and when you are stressed out, less oxygen goes through the scalp.
How Can I Make My Hair Grow Faster?
In this era where anything can be made instantly, there is still no easy way for our the hair to grow faster overnight. One thing is sure; hair grows faster when you are healthy.
Although no magic remedy results in instant hair growth, an effective hair growth process requires a healthy scalp, body, and habits.
Sleep
It is essential to sleep at least eight (8) hours a day to allow your mind and body to regenerate. Melatonin, the sleep-regulating hormone, is also proven to promote hair growth. With enough rest, you can help your hair grow and keep it from being unnecessarily oily.
The accumulation of free radicals on the scalp can result in the hair follicle closing off, limiting hair growth, eventually leading to hair loss. Regularly washing the scalp with a gentle shampoo and performing scalp massage afterward saw steady regrowth over the months.
Doing this regularly promotes blood circulation and helps deliver the necessary nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicle.
Scalp Treatment Using Essential Oils
One of the most effective measures against hair shedding is incorporating scalp care with the regular haircare routine. Using hair treatments and essential oils stimulates and retains the strength of the hair follicle.
Orange and lavender oils detox the scalp without removing the hair’s natural oils.
Healthy diet
Nutrition plays a vital role in growing hair faster. Diet and lifestyle modification can also promote hair growth. Switching to a balanced diet with proper nutrition can make your hair grow faster and healthier.
A healthy diet of fatty acids such as avocado, salmon, and eggs promotes stronger hair, reduces hair inflammation, and encourages growth.
Fish oil helps in reducing inflammation and can give hair follicles more space to open and let the hair grow normally.
While many factors affect hair loss, optimal nutrient intake can still make a difference. Backed by intensive research, the following vitamins and minerals promote hair growth:
Vitamin A
Otherwise known as retinol, all body cells require Vitamin A for growth, including the hair. It also supports sebum secretion, which also prevents hair breakage. Pumpkins, spinach, and sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A.
Certain animal products like eggs and yogurts are also good sources of this vitamin. However, consuming foods rich in Vitamin A must be done in moderation, as too much intake can contribute to hair loss.
B Vitamins
Several studies link deficiency in Vitamin B with hair loss. One particular B vitamin, biotin, is known to make your hair grow and prevent hair loss in individuals with biotin deficiency.
Foods such as eggs and legumes contain amounts of biotin. A daily biotin intake of about 30 micrograms is adequate to minimize hair loss.
Other B vitamins – B7, B12, and B complex- help the hair grow faster and healthier. They contribute to carrying oxygen and nutrients in the scalp and follicles.
The body cannot store these vitamins as they are water-soluble and are secreted through urine. It is therefore essential to consume B vitamins daily.
Iron
The Journal of Korean Medical Science discovered a link between iron deficiencies and hair loss among women. and its surprising role in new hair growth. This nutrient improves circulation and helps move oxygen around the blood vessels better.
A lack of iron prevents the body from making adequate hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen which aids other cells in repair and growth.
Iron-rich foods such as peas, broccoli, beef, and spinach must be included in the diet to prevent iron deficiency.
3 Best Supplements for Faster Hair Growth
People see healthy and luscious hair as a sign of good health and beauty. As per any body part, the hair also requires nutrients to grow and remain healthy.
While no evidence suggests that vitamins help your hair grow faster, deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals can lead to brittle hair that is prone to hair loss and damage.
There are a variety of hair growth supplements available on the market. Manufacturers are now shifting to natural components to help customers get the nutrients that their bodies need.
While there isn’t a magic bullet to speed up hair growth, using vitamins and supplements can help your hair grow more quickly than you might expect.
The following are the most popular hair-growing supplements today:
Product | Key Feature |
---|---|
Top Consumer's Choice | |
Best for Hair and Scalp Care | |
Best Overall Hair Supplement |
1. Top Consumer’s Choice: Restolin
Restolin is a dietary supplement intended to encourage the growth of healthy and longer hair. This all-organic supplement comprises 17 natural ingredients, including green tea, grape seed, and ascorbic acid.
The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea promotes hair growth by stimulating the follicles while preventing hair loss. Grape seed also contains vitamin E, linoleic acid, and flavonoids creating a conducive environment for the follicles.
Ascorbic acid, otherwise known as Vitamin C, not only strengthens the immune system but is a powerful antioxidant essential for hair growth. Increased blood circulation promoted by Vitamin C intake stimulates the hair follicles and promotes hair growth.
Shop at Restolin Official Website
2. Best for Hair and Scalp Care: Folital
Folital is a natural hair growth supplement that prevents baldness and promotes healthy hair. It is made with organic ingredients that target nutrient deficiency to effectively address hair-related problems.
It has components that can eliminate toxins that clog hair follicles. When the follicles are cleansed and rejuvenated, healthy hair grows.
Shop at Folital Official Website
Full Article: Folital Reviews 2024: Does it Really Work?
3. Best Overall Hair Supplement: Hairfortin
Hairfortin is an all-natural hair growth formula supplement that regenerates follicles and improves hair growth. This supplement is made up of plant extracts and vitamins designed to address the causes of slow hair growth.
One significant component of Hairfortin is the Fo-ti plant, scientifically known as Polygonum multiflorum. Studies revealed that this plant induces anagen, and encourages cells at the hair root to multiply faster, and with less breakage.
Shop at Hairfortin Official Website
Full Article: HairFortin Reviews 2024: Does it Really Work?
Conclusion
Choosing and taking the right hair supplements can make a difference in improving hair health and making your hair grow faster. The lack of certain nutrients such as Vitamin A, B Vitamins, D, biotin, iron, and other fatty acids will not only cause hair loss but also slow healthy hair growth.
Fortunately, micronutrient deficiencies can now be addressed by taking supplements that are readily available on the market. Every day, a new product that claims to promote rapid hair growth enters the market. However, some are not backed up by scientific evidence.
Among the several hair supplements available, Restolin stands out from the rest. Restolin’s carefully crafted supplements are composed of 17 natural ingredients. This is way much higher and better compared to the other hair growth supplements available.
Its ingredients are derived from nature. Hence they are easily absorbed and used by the body. Every component contributes to hair growth, hence when taken together, all would be beneficial to growing the hair fast.
Likewise, it is safe to use and has no reported side effects. Restolin does not interfere with any medications, so it is relatively safe for those who wish to take this supplement with other medicines.
When taken twice a day, you can finally achieve shinier and thicker hair, increased volume and fullness, and faster hair growth, among others.
Click here to get Restolin at a Discounted Price
>> Related Article: 9 Best Hair Growth Supplements and Vitamins in 2024
How To Grow Your Hair Faster FAQs
What home remedies can I do to encourage my hair to grow faster and healthier?
Although there is no solve-it-all remedy that promises instant hair growth, in addition to taking supplements, hair growth requires a healthy scalp, body, and healthy hair habits.
To improve hair health and prevent further hair loss, you can:
- Minimize the use of hair gels, heat styling, and brushing wet hair
- Reduce stress by exercising about 150 minutes each week
- Remain hydrated by drinking 8 – 10 glasses every day
- Prepare and eat a well-balanced diet
Which Essential Oils Should I use to promote hair growth?
The Journal of the American Association published a study revealing that scalp massages using essential oils for at least two (2) minutes daily supported hair regrowth among 44% of patients with alopecia areata.
Apart from providing the necessary hydration, these natural oils nourish the hair with vitamins and minerals that make your hair grow and be healthy.
Among the popular essential oils recommended by dermatologists and celebrity hairstylists are cedarwood oil, rosemary oil, and chamomile oil.
However, extensive research revealed many essential oils with hair-growing properties. The following essential oils have demonstrated properties that help prevent hair loss and support hair growth: Peppermint, Rosemary and Lavender Oil.
What food should I eat to help my hair grow faster?
You must add the following food items to your diet to see the difference: Dark leafy greens, Avocado and Salmon.
Vanessa Richards
Vanessa is a mom of 3 lovely children and a software geek. Outside of her career as a health and wellness instructor. She enjoys writing and researching on topics such as finance, software, health and culinary.