As someone who has always wished for her fine hair to be thicker, I’ve practically turned into a human guinea pig, willing to test everything that claims to make my hair longer and stronger. I’m in desperate need of that silky, Pantene-commercial glow! I’ve gotten obsessed with figuring out how to develop long hair, but I’ve finally accepted that it’s not in the cards for me genetically. (Expert-Backed tips to Grow Longer, Stronger Hair)
After delivering a baby last year, my worries about my fine hair were amplified. My hair began to fall out five to six months later, as is normal. In the shower, we’re talking about massive clumps (gross.)
This was one of the most difficult aspects of being postpartum for me—it truly harmed my self-esteem and made me wonder what was wrong with me. It was simply one of the many aspects of postpartum life that I was unprepared for!
After a pandemic and a lot of time spent at home, I’ve reverted to my old methods of trying just about anything to get my hair to grow back long and strong. I took the chance to reboot and do a little at-home glow-up because the quarantine came at the height of my abrupt hair loss.
Well, as much of a glow-up as I could muster without the help of a professional. I’ve been paying additional attention to my hair’s health and have been pleasantly surprised by the benefits of a consistent, healthy hair care routine.
I’ve really stepped up my hair health game in the last few months, trying a variety of products, masks, and oils, as well as researching what all the great hairstylists had to say. What’s the end result? Hair that is longer, stronger, and healthier makes me feel more confident.
Continue reading for the finest expert-approved methods for growing long hair.
My weekly hair care routine and the products I use to maintain my mane healthy and development are also featured!
Tip 1: Begin with your head
Do you want to hear anything annoying? “Your hair normally only grows a quarter-inch to a half-inch max every month,” says celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend, no matter how many hair supplements you take or how many cuts you get. (He aided Ashley Olsen in getting her asymmetrical bob all the way to her waist.)
He continues, “growing long hair is only achievable if it is very healthy and free of split ends.”
What’s the good news? You can really speed up the process if you feel that your hair isn’t growing quickly enough—at least half an inch every month. The scalp is a good place to start.
The dermis and epidermis are the two most important layers of the skin in relation to the scalp—the dermis contains our hair follicles, glands, nerves, blood vessels, collagen, elastin fibers, and fat cells—and the epidermis contains our hair follicles, glands, nerves, blood vessels, collagen, elastin fibers, and fat cells,” says Bridgette Hill, trichologist and colorist at Paul Lab
“Incorporating adequate scalp care into your hair care routine will have an impact on the rate of hair growth as well as the overall health of your hair fiber.”
When you take care of your scalp, you’re ensuring that blood and nutrients reach the hair follicles efficiently, which helps to reduce shedding and loss.
Tip 2: Get regular haircuts
Even while experts are split on whether or not clipping your hair to make it grow quicker is a good idea, one thing is certain: if you want long, healthy-looking hair, frequent trims are a must.
Living with frayed, split ends will eventually lead your hair to break further up on the strand, making it appear much thinner than it is and preventing it from growing longer beyond a certain point.
“If you don’t get regular trims, your hair will be shorter than it would be if you did,” Townsend adds. He recommends having your stylist trim an eighth of an inch off your hair every 10 to 12 weeks to prevent split ends from forming.
Since COVID has eliminated my visits to the salon, I’ve started studying YouTube tutorials on how to cut your own hair at home, and it’s actually a lot easier (and less scary) than I expected. If you’re considering giving yourself a trim—or having your roommate or boyfriend do it for you,
Tip 3: Use less shampoo
“It amazes me how many people skip conditioner when they shower, which is the worst thing you can do for your hair—especially if you’re trying to grow it long,” Townsend adds.
“In reality, you should try to avoid using shampoo as much as possible.”
This is why: Shampoo is designed to remove debris and product buildup, however, most shampoos contain harsh sulfate soaps. These deprive your hair of the natural oils it needs to grow long and healthy. When you do need to wash your hair, make sure to choose a shampoo that is sulfate-free. I wash my hair twice a week using Olaplex shampoo and conditioner. It’s a holy grail duo, in my opinion.
Olaplex is a product designed to keep color-treated hair looking its best, and I swear by it. Only lather up at your scalp, allowing the suds to run down the rest of your hair as the product is rinsed away.
Tip 4: Once a week, apply a hair mask and deep treatment
I always do the Olaplex No.3 treatment before shampooing once a week. From the convenience of your own shower, this product is the gold standard for color-processed hair treatments.
I then replace my conditioner with a thick hair mask once a week (typically on the same evening as my Olaplex treatment). Right now, I’m very into Marc Anthony’s mask (plus it’s super affordable!) It makes my hair feel extremely soft and silky after washing.
Tip 5: Use cold water to rinse
Washing your hair with cold water at the end of your shower, according to Townsend, can help your hair grow faster. “Coldwater helps reduce moisture loss, snags, and heat damage by laying down the outer layer of your hair more smoothly.
It only takes a few seconds, but this one extra step can add up to a significant difference over time.” I despise cold showers, yet the advantages to your lymphatic system and hair are well-documented. And, let’s face it, we’ll do just about everything for less puffiness and longer hair.
Tip 6: Keep your skin hydrated
As I continue on my adventure to understand how to develop long hair. I’ve recently included a hair oil in my nighttime hair care routine. Because the high dry heat in Austin throughout the summer dries out my hair and skin, this has become an essential step in keeping my ends nourished.
No more broom hair that looks like straw. Before going to bed, I run a few drops of oil in my hair from mid-length to ends. Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil and Kerastase Elixir Ultime are two of my favorites. I alternate between both since I honestly enjoy both and they both smell wonderful.
I like IGK’s Antisocial Dry Hair Mask and their Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray for dry hair treatments I’ve been applying throughout the day. They both give my hair a boost in between shampoos and never make my strands oily. In order to get stronger hair, you must follow all the instructions on this point.
Tip 7: Lower the thermostat
Hair straighteners, curling wands, chemical relaxers, or any other treatment or style that damages your hair will not help your long-hair cause. The longer your hair grows, the healthier it is, and abuse of heated equipment is not good for long hair.
If you can’t avoid using heat on your hair, make sure you use a heat protectant every time you style. On damp hair before blowdrying. I like Bumble and Bumble’s Daytime Protective Repair Fluid, and on dried hair, before style.
Tip 8: Be gentle with yourself
Brushing your hair too hard can create physical harm to it, preventing it from ever looking long. Basically, you’re being overly hard if you can hear the brush crunching through your strands. When your hair is wet and more prone to breakage, you must be extra cautious.
“When detangling damp hair, start at the bottom and work your way up slowly,” Townsend advises. “We commonly brush from the scalp down. But this just forces little tangles into one giant knot. Which can cause a lot of hair loss.” A Wet Brush or a natural boar-bristle brush. According to Townsend, can assist in gently disperse your scalp’s natural oils down the hair shaft. Overall, this means strands that are healthier and more moisturized. It can be a way to get stronger hair.
Conclusion:
This article has shared Expert-Backed tips to Grow Longer, Stronger Hair. If you are facing issues with your hair. You can overcome such issues by reading our writing. Keep sending us your suggestions and feedback. Goodbye!