Normal hair growth is about one-half inch per month, no matter what you do, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most of the nearly five million hairs on the human body continue to grow for about six years and then fall out. The average person loses about 100 hairs a day from somewhere on the body. Medical conditions such as diabetes and thyroid problems can cause premature hair loss, but treating your hair gently is the best way to keep the hair you have and take advantage of its growth periods.
Air Dry
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, heat from a blow dryer or curling iron damages the hair shaft, leaving it weak and brittle. It burns hair by boiling the moisture contained within the shaft, which then passes through the shaft, damaging the follicle and future growth. One of the easiest ways to keep your healthy is to lightly squeeze out the excess water after you wash it and wrap it in a towel without rubbing, or just let it air dry. Rubbing hair vigorously with a towel can break hair off because it is more vulnerable to breakage when it's wet. Your hair will have much more body if you wait to style or brush it until it's dry. If you must use a hair dryer, wait at least until it's half dry and touch the heat to it for a few seconds.
Go Natural
Hair products that contain chemicals damage hair. To keep a healthy head of lush hair, go as natural as possible. While styling products may not do direct damage, combing hair after you apply them can cause hairs to break. Over time, you may find your hair becoming thinner and thinner and you'll have less of it. Keep styling product use to a bare minimum. Chemicals used to color, perm or relax hair also damage sensitive hair shafts and should be used sparingly.
Condition
Conditioning after every shampoo does not repair damaged hair, but it does leave your hair shinier and less frizzy. Conditioner can strengthen hair to withstand styling and weather. Excessive exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun damages hair as well. Use a leave-in conditioner that contains sunscreen on days you know you'll be in the sun a lot during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wearing a hat in the sun is even better, because it also can also protect your scalp and face from sun radiation. Apply conditioner before going swimming too. Chlorine can wreak havoc on hair. Look for a specially formulated swimmer's conditioner if you swim in chlorinated pools often.
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