What Can I Buy To Make My Hair Grow

How could a haircut help your hair grow? When you get a trim, what comes off is the ends, the weakest parts of the strands. If left as is, those ends could break or split. Split ends can travel up your hair shafts and make your locks even shorter. Just don't cut too much, if growth is your goal. Your hair grows about 1/2 inch a month, so you might aim for a 1/4-inch trim every 3 months or so.

what can i buy to make my hair grow

Serious stress can send hair into a resting phase, skipping the stage that coaxes it to grow. It may put you at higher risk for a condition called alopecia areata, where your own immune system attacks your hair follicles. It could also lead to trichotillomania, a strong urge to pull out your hair. Your hair might grow back when you reduce the stress in your life or find ways to manage it.

Use conditioner every time you shampoo. It not only helps your hair behave and look better, it strengthens it and shields it from the sun's harmful UV rays. If you have fine hair, apply it to just the bottom of your hair to avoid weighing it down. For Black hair, coat the tips well to nourish those fragile ends.

There's no supplement proven to make hair grow faster. But if you're short on certain nutrients, it can affect your hair. Low iron causes anemia, which can trigger hair loss. Vitamins B and D factor big in healthy hair. So do zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and the B vitamin biotin. Your doctor can test you for deficiencies. Ask them whether you should take a multivitamin or supplement and how much.

Crisp cotton linens feel good against your skin, but they might not be the best choice if you have fragile hair. Some people swear by wearing a satin bonnet to bed or sleeping on satin pillowcases. That won't make hair grow faster, but it may reduce friction, frizz, and breakage. It feels luxurious, too.

A few small studies have indicated that regular head massages might help hair grow in thicker. We need more research on this. But massages are known to help ease stress, and stress can contribute to hair loss. Besides, they feel great. Try a scalp massaging tool. Or gently press, stretch, and pinch your own scalp for several minutes each day.

Microneedling uses a roller with hundreds of fine needles to make tiny punctures in your scalp. It's shown promise in helping people with hair loss, especially when used with other treatments like minoxidil. Scientists think it helps the medications penetrate your skin. You can buy microneedling kits over the counter, but it's safer to see a dermatologist. Microneedling is complicated and can even make some conditions worse.

You can speed up hair growth by keeping your scalp clean, focusing on hydrating the strands, use a hair growth serum (look for ingredients like rosemary and peptides), practice daily scalp massage, and try to avoid breakage.

Slow hair growth can be caused by age, stress, lack of sleep, diet, and hair habits (like tight hair styles and not keeping your scalp free of buildup). If you are concerned about your hair growth, visit a dermatologist or hair professional, like a trichologist.

First up, make sure you are regularly washing your scalp with gentle washes. "While shampooing, massage the scalp to increase the flow of blood, relieve stress, and stimulate hair follicles. It's a win-win!" says hairstylist Miko Branch. (Check out our favorite shampoos for thick hair here.)

And on that note, regular scalp massages have been shown to increase hair fullness2 in small studies, and in some self-reported cases, individuals who gave themselves daily scalp massages, over the course of months, saw hair loss stabilization or regrowth3.

While there are limitations to both studies (one being a small sample size, and the other being self-reported), the research suggests there is potential for hair regrowth with consistent standardized scalp massages.

How might this happen? Scalp massages encourage blood circulation to the area, which helps deliver vital nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicle. (Learn how to give yourself a tension-relieving scalp massage here.)

Of note: suboptimal biotin levels may be more common in pregnancy7 and in those with hair concerns. For example, a 2016 research investigation found close to 40 percent of women dealing with hair loss had biotin deficiency8, too.

And while biotin supplementation might not lead to long, luscious locks for people with healthy scalps and hair follicles, research suggests it may be beneficial for those with poor hair and nail growth.9*

And what about collagen peptides for hair health? Well, to be clear: "Collagen is not a component of hair," Rachel Maiman, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical, once told mbg. "But the main component of hair, about 95% of it, is the protein keratin."

Since collagen peptides deliver these key amino acids, a targeted collagen hydrolysate supplement (e.g., one that is from a high-quality source such as grass-fed, pasture-raised cows) can help provide the body with the very building blocks of hair.*

For example, "You never want to repeatedly do the same thing to your hair," says hairstylist Levi Monarch. "Sometimes I see people with thinning at their part, or it might even look like the hairline is receding in that area, and one thing I always recommend is to flip the part. Not only is it healthy for your hair, but it will completely change your look and add volume."

"The hair on your head is probably the driest thing on the body, and if you are trying to grow it longer, you need to keep it moisturized," says hairstylist Anthony Dickey. "If your texture is naturally drier, it is even more essential to keep hair hydrated. Dry hair turns to brittle hair and brittle hair breaks."

When cuticles are open or lifted, it means they are not sealed down; this allows moisture to escape easier. (Some people are just more prone to this, while others may have open cuticles from chemical hairstyling, like coloring).

Hair ages just like the rest of your body: This is why people experience hair thinning as they get older. The stress of oxidants (those free radicals we mentioned earlier) limits the speed at which your hair grows.

Firstly, make sure you eat a colorful diet full of plant foods, which are naturally high in antioxidants. You can also leverage targeted antioxidant nutrient or bioactive supplements to complement your healthful diet.*

"Your body needs adequate nutrients to support healthy hair," says registered dietitian Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., CDN, "Vitamin C, for example, plays a really big role in promoting collagen production and that helps strengthen hair."*

You can also take advantage of topical antioxidants, in the form of hair oils, serums, or sprays, which are especially in combating oxidative stress that comes with UV rays or pollution. Just look for products that contain vitamins or other common antioxidants like botanical extracts and vitamin E.

"The journey going from short to long hair can feel daunting," says Branch. "But protective hairstyles are wonderful for growing hair out, transitioning between two different hair textures (i.e., textured versus straightened), minimizing the daily hair routine, covering the ends of hair, and safeguarding natural hair against harsh seasonal elements and damaging environmental factors."

For example, if you have a really tight texture, blow-dry the hair first and load up on leave-in conditioners so the hair is sufficiently hydrated. If you have a looser curl type you can style the hair while damp.

If you do use a hot tool, make sure to use a heat protectant that can stand the heat: Look for something that will protect up to 400F (how hot some blow dryers and irons can get) or if you use natural oils, the higher the smoke point, the better.

Many serums include naturally derived ingredients to help stimulate the scalp, which, in turn, deliver vital nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicle. However, you need to find a high-quality hair serum with the right ingredients to expect any actual change.

While this may sound extreme, platelet-rich plasma injections are incredibly effective at hair growth. They are done by drawing a patient's blood, spinning it down to separate regenerative platelets, and injecting those back into the scalp," explains board-certified dermatologist Reena Jogi, M.D. The resulting platelet-rich plasma contains growth factors that promote hair growth in the base of the follicle. "This results in decreased shedding, increased growth phase of the hair follicle, increased density of the scalp hairs, and increased thickness of the hair follicles themselves," Jogi explains.

Yes, stress can cause hair loss. "Significant stress can lead to shedding and hair loss," board-certified dermatologist Christine Shaver, M.D., FAAD, of Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration in New York City tells mbg about stress hair loss.

Stress hair loss can be traced back to the stress hormone cortisol, which triggers your hair to enter its resting phase. It can also take a while to show up, so you may not see the shedding until three months after the stressful event.

There are are a few key ways to promote healthy hair growth. Luckily, the simple practices we rounded up above like avoiding hot tools, washing with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, or taking a high-quality hair supporting supplement are a few good places to start. We've already rounded up our favorite hair growth serums, supplements, and other products, but our overall favorites include:

Editor's Note (June 20, 2022): An earlier version of this article incorrectly cited a scientific study that claimed how supplementing with biotin and collagen can support hair growth. Upon further scientific review, we have updated the information to reflect the study design and findings with greater accuracy for the most up-to-date information. 041b061a72