Hair growth occurs in a cycle that contains three phases. Most of the hairs on your head are in a growth phase known as anagen; the remaining hairs are either in a resting phase known as catagen, or a shedding phase called telogen. To grow longer hair, you must make the most of the anagen phase of your hair's growth cycle. Techniques to naturally grow your hair longer should focus on both encouraging the most amount of new growth and protecting older hair from damage.
Good Nutrition
Hair grows an average of over one centimeter a month, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Nutritional deficiencies can cause slower than average growth rates.
Eating a well-rounded diet of lean proteins, healthy fats, whole grains, dairy products and vegetables will ensure you have the nutrition your body needs to create the keratin protein that makes up hair, nails and skin. Take a daily multivitamin to supplement your diet and assist any nutritional deficiencies that exist.
Stress Relief
Excessive stress caused by events in your day-to-day life can also affect your hair's growth rate. Although it is impossible to completely eliminate all stress in your life, you should try to minimize it as much as possible. Activities like jogging, kickboxing, and walking can help reduce the affects of stress on your body. Prayer, yoga, and meditation can also help you relax and release daily stresses so they do not affect your body.
Avoid Direct Heat
Even if your hair is growing at its best rate, you will not achieve lengthier hair if your styling and hair care methods cause damage and breakage. Using high heat regularly to style your hair can cause your hair to become dry and split easily. Use wet sets or pin curls to help style your hair without resorting to curling or flat irons.
Allow your hair to air dry completely if possible to avoid using a blow dryer. If you must blow dry, allow your hair to air dry until it is only damp to the touch to minimize the amount of time it takes for you to blow dry your hair.
Increase Circulation
You may be able to encourage your hair growth by increasing blood circulation to your scalp. Herbs like peppermint and gingko biloba are believed to increase the body's circulation.
The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates a topical treatment of rosemary, cedarwood, thyme and lavender essential oils that may help increase circulation. Create this topical treatment by adding two to three drops of each essential oil to a teaspoon of olive or grapeseed oil and apply it directly to your scalp.
Scalp massage is another way to increase blood circulation. You can use the essential oils to increase the effectiveness of the massage.
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