The struggle is real.
Yes. While Kourtney K is slaying the short bob and her sister Khloe, the Parisian Bob, one cannot deny their love for long, Rapunzel-esque hair. We cannot romanticize the cliché flowing of hair in the wind (like Pocahontas) enough. The long hair has a princess-like quality that's unique, in its elegance and sophistication.
Whether you are looking for longer locks of hair or if you are in need of speedy growth, waiting can feel like a painful billion years. We have all searched for a potion or a miracle cure of sorts for fast-paced hair growth. When speaking in the words of experts, hair typically grows a quarter inch or, at max, half an inch in a month. This seems agonizingly slow. Oh, and not to forget, damage and breakage can interrupt this process. So if your hair is dry, overly heat-styled, or simply subject to wear and tear from brushing and other activities, you're likely to see less growth than this.
BUT! Fortunately, we did quite some research and have made a small list of things that you should do (definitely do) and things that you should not (like absolutely no) to speed up the hair growing process, i.e. more than 6 inched a year.
- Chop Off The Ends: Yes, we are well aware of the age-old beauty debate about hair trimming and faster growth. There are a few experts who are divided on the concept of trimming makes the hair grow faster, and if you are questioning it too, we don’t blame you at all. But keeping that argument aside, trimming ensures healthy-looking hair. When your hair is sprawled with split ends, it is prone to damage the hair beyond repair and will slow down the growing process. Chopping those ends off will fasten the speed of hair growth.
- Avoid the Heating Tools: Girl, we understand how hair styling just makes you feel confident, like you can face the world easily (been on that ship). But you need to stay away from heat tools. They damage your hair and strip away the natural oils, making them dry. Let your hair dry naturally after every wash and always use a heat protectant when using heat. Also, you got to start loving the natural texture of your hair. Be it straight, curly, wavy, or even the combination of all three.
- Become Besties with Silk: Sleeping on silk is not only an incredibly grandiose power move, but it comes with actual hair benefits, as well. This is because silk is both smoother and less absorbent than cotton (sucks all the moisture out of the hair and creates friction). A silk pillowcase will prevent frizz and tangles while keeping all your hair’s beneficial natural oils where they belong. While this of course won’t directly have any effect on the growth rate of your hair, it will keep it in the best condition while you sleep, leading to fewer knots and breakage in the long run.
- Switch to SLS Free Shampoo and Conditioner: The debates are everywhere. There are so many contradictive thoughts surrounding the ideal shampoo routine: some say every day is important, whereas others repel at the mere thought of anything more frequent than a once-weekly wash. But that’s an argument for another day. What we do need to discuss is one of the revolting ingredients that goes by the name of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). It is the ingredient that ensures the leather that forms on your head when you shampoo. This ingredient is harsh on your hair, making it dry and more prone to damage. So, always go for SLS-free shampoo and conditioner.
- Keep a Check on your Diet: Faster hair growth doesn't only depend on correct hair care, but also on a proper nutritional diet. Apart from the products you use on hair, it is also about what you put in your body. To provide nutrition for hair growth, you gotta increase your protein intake. This can be done with the correct foods like meat, fish, pulses, nuts, eggs, and whole grains. Calcium is also necessary for faster hair growth, so include lots of eggs, milk, and milk products in your diet. Experts advise those who maintain a vegetarian diet to aim for a protein-rich diet for good quality hair. It’s also important to get in vitamins A, C, and E, minerals like zinc and iron, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Say Bye-Bye to Bleach: Oh how lovely would it be to rock those amazing platinum-shaded colors and balayage highlights that just make your eyes go hearty-heart! We are so sorry, but you would want to avoid the bleach. The problem with bleach is that it opens up the cuticle of the hair strands, causing some serious damage, especially to Indian hair, which is naturally dark. Hair that’s been colored or chemically treated is more likely to break, which will require more trims and less length for you.
