I’ve never met a woman who is happy with her hair. PERIOD! Although women lavish their crowning glory with all the care in the world, they are not without complaints! Some are dealing with oily scalp and dandruff woes while others are tackling dryness, split ends and thinning *phew* Your hair is never at peace!
And, one of the most troublesome hair concerns that we deal with is the struggle to grow our hair long. If you ask me, I’d say that a year ago I’d almost given up on paying attention to the length of my tresses… because it just wouldn’t grow! I didn’t get a haircut for a year, and that took a severe toll on the health of my mane. I had split ends all over and my hair didn’t look as nourished and healthy.
If you’re struggling with a similar concern, then we’ve got you covered with some easy-peasy hair growth tips that will help you grow your locks longer.
Here are 11 simple hair growth tips every woman should know about.
- 1. Massage your scalp
- 2. Get regular trims
- 3. Over-washing is a strict no-no
- 4. Check on your hair brushing habits
- 5. Do NOT switch to blonde hair
- 6. Minimise the use of heat-styling tools
- 7. Try out essential oils
- 8. Get the right nutrients
- 9. Use onion-infused oil
- 10. Use an amla and shikakai hair mask
- 11. Rinse your hair with fermented rice water
- FAQs about hair growth tips
1. Massage your scalp
Did you know that massaging your scalp every day can do wonders for the health of your hair? It’s a really simple exercise to practice every night before hitting the sheets. And you’ll be happy to know that this little trick is one of the best hair growth tips that doesn’t require you to spend a penny.
There are many ways to massage your scalp. While you can give yourself a dry scalp massage before bed every night or before a hair wash using just your fingertips, you can also apply warm coconut oil and massage it into your scalp in small, circular motions.
A regular scalp massage will not only boost blood circulation but also strengthen the follicles and enhance hair growth.
2. Get regular trims
As opposed to popular belief, trimming your hair regularly is actually a really effective hair growth tip. If you don’t trim your hair every six to eight weeks, it develops split ends, leading to further damage. Split ends are your hair’s worst enemy. They can prevent your hair from growing long.
Split ends also cause your hair to become dry and damaged. Your hair loses shine and looks limp and lifeless. And anything you do to style your damaged locks, it's not going to look as glamorous as you’d want it to. Therefore, trimming regularly can reduce the number of dry, split ends and give your hair a chance to grow.
3. Over-washing is a strict no-no
This is something most of us end up doing. Washing your hair every single day can be bad for the health of your mane. Therefore, one hair growth tip to follow religiously is to wash your hair not more than thrice a week. Keep a gap of at least two days between washes.
By washing your hair every day, you’re stripping it of its natural oils. These oils transfer from your scalp to the lengths of your strands, keeping your hair naturally moist, which is essential for the growth of your locks. We suggest you use a mild shampoo and follow it up with a gentle conditioner. You can get your hands on the Love Beauty & Planet Tea Tree and Vetiver Aroma Radical Refresher Shampoo and the Love Beauty & Planet Tea Tree and Vetiver Aroma Radical Refresher Conditioner for soft, nourished hair.
4. Check on your hair brushing habits
There are two types of people when it comes to brushing hair: ones who don’t touch a hairbrush at all and those who are running a brush through their hair almost every hour. Let us tell you that either extremes won’t work for the health of your hair. One important hair growth tip you need to keep in mind is to brush your hair moderately.
Brushing regularly not only stimulates the scalp but also distributes the oils from your scalp to the lengths of your hair. However, do not over-brush your hair. Once in the mornings before styling and once before hitting the sheets should be enough. Make sure that you brush gently so as to avoid any breakage or hair loss.
5. Do NOT switch to blonde hair
Want to grow your hair long? Don’t make the mistake of going blonde. Yes, you read that right! A platinum blonde hair colour may look like the chicest option to upgrade your look, however, it may not be your best decision because blonde hair colours can cause severe damage to your hair.
When you change your hair colour drastically, you’re risking the health of your hair. During this procedure, the cuticle of your hair gets damaged with the use of bleach, which in turn causes more breakage and split ends. It can be a BIG hurdle between you and longer tresses. Therefore, it’s important that you keep this hair growth tip in mind if you’re dreaming of longer, luscious locks.
6. Minimise the use of heat-styling tools
While hair tools such as blow dryers, straighteners, and tongs are a big saviour for every girl, they are not the best for the health of your hair. Exposing your hair to heat every single day can actually bring your hair game down. It can strip your hair of moisture and make it look dry and lackluster.
Also, make sure you never use heat-styling tools on soaking wet hair. Let your hair dry, and then use a straightener. However, ensure you apply a heat-protectant spray or cream before going in with a straightener or curling iron. Whenever you use a blow dryer, switch it to a low heat setting so that you’re not damaging your hair further. Limiting the use of heat-styling tools can actually enhance hair growth.
7. Try out essential oils
When it comes to hair growth, we usually think of oiling our hair regularly but forget to consider essential oils. While fragrant essential oils are used widely in skincare, did you know that they contribute to hair growth as well? Applying a few drops of essential oil regularly to your hair along with a carrier oil can keep the scalp healthy, strengthen hair follicles and improve blood circulation, all of which stimulates growth. In addition, several essential oils have anti-inflammatory properties that keep dandruff at bay.
There are several options available when it comes to essential oils, but if you want to boost hair growth, you may consider these:
- tea tree oil
- lavender oil
- cedarwood oil
- rosemary oil
- lemongrass oil
To use any of these essential oils, add 4-5 drops to your carrier oil (jojoba/coconut) and let it rest for 15-30 minutes. Then you can wash off your hair as you usually do.
8. Get the right nutrients
What you eat reflects on your hair and skin, so when you notice your hair becoming brittle and easily prone to damage, maybe it’s time to take a look at what you’re eating. After all, your hair needs a variety of nutrients to be healthy and to grow. So if you’re not providing those, how will your hair grow?
Eating foods rich in Vitamins A, C, D, E, biotin, zinc, iron, and protein will help your hair to grow at a faster rate. Vitamin A helps to make sebum, which keeps the hair healthy and moisturises the scalp adequately. Vitamin C protects the hair against damage caused by free radicals and creates collagen, which is super important for healthy skin and hair. Vitamin E boosts hair growth, and the B-Vitamin biotin is the best for hair growth. Here are the foods you must consume for hair growth:
- Sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, and carrots for Vitamin A
- Whole grains, fish, meat, seafood, almonds for B-Vitamin
- Citrus fruits, berries, guava, and peppers for Vitamin C
- Cod liver oil and fatty fish for Vitamin D
- Avocados, sunflower seeds, pumpkin, and almonds for Vitamin E
- Beans, spinach, lentils, eggs, and red meat for iron
- Pumpkin seeds, oysters, chickpeas, cashews, and curd for zinc
9. Use onion-infused oil
One of the best home remedies for improving hair growth is onion juice! We know that sounds strange – but hear us out! Onion juice is very beneficial for hair and is a sure-shot remedy for hair growth. It nourishes hair follicles with sulphur, which is essential for their regeneration. It also boosts the level of an antioxidant enzyme known as catalase, which optimizes the hair growth cycle.
You can use onion juice in different ways, but using it with coconut oil is the best way to use it for hair growth. To make onion-infused oil, heat a chopped onion with a handful of curry leaves and coconut oil for 15 minutes. Once the onions turn brown, turn off the flame and add a little bit of almond or castor oil. Let it cool for two hours, and then strain it. Use this oil twice a week for a healthy scalp and longer hair.
10. Use an amla and shikakai hair mask
Amla and shikakai have always been used for keeping tresses healthy and shiny. Making a hair mask using these two ingredients and coconut oil makes your hair grow faster. Amla, rich in Vitamin C, keeps the scalp healthy, thanks to all the antioxidants it contains, and boosts hair growth with the help of its flavonoid content. Shikakai, on the other hand, strengthens hair roots, thus reducing hair fall. Finally, coconut oil moisturises and nourishes the hair.
To make this hair mask, mix a tablespoon each of amla and shikakai powder in two tablespoons of coconut oil and boil the concoction. Once it cools down, massage it on your scalp and hair and leave it overnight for best results. Use this mask once every week.
11. Rinse your hair with fermented rice water
When the women of an ancient village feature in the Guinness Book of World Records for their 1.4 meters long hair, wouldn’t you like to know their secret for their shiny long hair? After all, aren’t we all trying out different oils and hair masks for hair growth? The Yao women from the ancient Chinese village Huangluo have been using fermented rice water for decades, which is the secret to their long hair.
The next time, instead of discarding the water that you cook your rice in, save it for rinsing your hair. Preserve it for 12-24 hours at room temperature so that it ferments. Once ready, refrigerate it. You can apply it to your hair after shampooing. Don’t forget to put it back into the refrigerator after using it. It lasts for a week. Full of carbohydrates and amino acids, rinsing your hair with rice water will make them thicker, longer, and stronger.
FAQs about hair growth tips
Q. What foods help hair growth?
A. Foods like eggs, berries, spinach, avocados, nuts, fatty fish, sweet potatoes, and seeds can help promote hair growth. Inculcating these foods in your daily diet can gradually make your tresses longer.
Q. Does coconut oil help hair grow?
A. Yes. Packed with vitamins and essential fatty acids, coconut oil is a miracle elixir for all those who want to flaunt longer, thicker tresses. Massaging your scalp with coconut oil twice or thrice a week can help nourish the scalp and help you get rid of oil build-up in your scalp.
Q. Which products to use for hair growth?
A. Apart from including the above hair care habits in your everyday life, it is also important to use the right hair care products. We suggest you wash your hair with the Dove Healthy Ritual For Growing Hair Shampoo and follow it up with the Dove Healthy Ritual For Growing Hair Conditioner. Infused with the goodness of natural ingredients such as coneflower, oil, and white tea, this shampoo and conditioner duo is free of parabens and dyes and promotes hair growth.
Written by Fatema Habib on Feb 20, 2020