Can You Speed Up Your Hair Growth?

If you’re looking to grow your hair, then it’s easy to feel impatient about it. After all, it often takes many months for hair to grow just a few inches – which means if you’ve cut your hair short, you’ll be in for a wait before it gets long again.

The idea of accelerating this process might seem like a tantalising one. But can this actually be done? To find the answer, we’ve first got to look at how hair growth really works.

Understanding Hair Growth

Hair growth takes places over four distinct phases. There’s anagen, which lasts for several years for scalp hairs, and causes hair follicles to produce hair. When this phase ends, hairs go into the catagen phase, which causes growth to slow down. Then, hairs go into the telogen phase, during which hair has stopped growing entirely. Finally, there’s the exogen phase, where hair actually falls out. Strictly speaking, they’re being pushed out by new hairs growing in the follicle.

Hair tends to grow more quickly when we’re younger, and some people have genetic profiles that promote faster growth. Stress levels, hormone imbalances, and illness can also influence the speed at which hair grows.

Debunking Common Hair Growth Myths

Hair growth has managed to attract a series of myths and misconceptions. For example, cutting hair does not cause it to grow. Since the hair itself is mostly dead, and all the growth happens in the follicle, cutting makes no physiological difference to the body. This myth probably stemmed from a gardening analogy – but the difference is that cutting hair is not pruning a plant, since one is dead and the other is living.

Another myth is that plucking hair causes it to grow back thicker. This will actually accelerate hair loss, since it will stress the follicles themselves. The same applies to brushing hair excessively, or scraping at your scalp with the brush.

Nutrition and Hair Health

Certain kinds of food promote hair growth. You’ll need to consume a diet that’s rich in every kind of protein, as well as a balance of vitamins and minerals. Iron, zinc, and biotin are all critical. You might find multivitamin supplements which are specifically designed to provide these things; they’re often marketed as hair loss vitamins.

Hair Care Tips for Faster Growth

So, what’s the best way to optimise your hair growth? The simple answer is: to avoid doing the things that might get in the way. Don’t wash your hair at very high temperatures, or using harsh chemicals or shampoo. Limit your use of sprays and other products, and consider the occasional scalp massage. This latter measure will promote the flow of blood to the follicles – and you can often do it with the help of an inexpensive device.

Addressing Hair Loss Concerns

As we’ve already mentioned, hair loss can be triggered by your environment, and by problems occurring elsewhere in the body. In some cases, hair loss can be a symptom of an underlying illness that might not have been detected. If you’re worried about your hair loss, then it’s worth consulting a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.