If you want to grow longer, fuller hair, there is no magic solution. You can, however, incorporate certain lifestyle practices into your daily routine to promote hair growth and health. From the foods you eat to the way you style your locks, your habits can affect the strength and growth of your hair. Women especially have many hair styling options, and knowing which methods can protect and nourish your hair can help your hair grow to its full potential.
Step 1
Eat a nutritious diet rich in protein and essential fatty acids. According to Hairstyle.com, fatty acids help prevent breakage and add shine. Foods with fatty acids include fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, trout and mackeral, as well as flax seed oil. Hair is composed of protein, so eating adequate protein gives your hair the ingredients it needs to grow. You can get protein from foods such as meats, nuts, eggs, yogurt, beans and tofu.
Step 2
Protect your hair from damage by using a deep-conditioning treatment once every two weeks. Choose a conditioner that's formulated for your hair type, whether it's curly, colored or dry. Deep-conditioning treatments help strengthen your hair follicles, making hair less likely to break. Complement your deep-conditioning treatment with a regular conditioner that is also formulated for your hair type.
Step 3
Get your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks to remove split ends. New, healthy hair grows in at the roots, and frayed, damaged ends will weigh down your hair, so keep your locks looking healthy with regular trims.
Step 4
Protect your hair from styling damage by avoiding overexposure to the sun and heat styling. The sun's rays dry out and damage your hair, so use a shampoo with sun protection factor, or SPF, or cover your hair with a hat if you'll be out in the sun. If you do heat style your hair, spray it first with a leave-in conditioner to prevent drying. If you blow dry your hair, "Shape" magazine recommends using an ionic dryer, which battles hair-damaging positive ions by covering your hair in negative ions.
Step 5
Prevent damage to your hair by using caution when wet, as wet hair is more prone to breaking and stretching. Do not brush your hair when it's wet; instead use a wide-toothed, plastic comb to go through it.
Tips and Warnings
- When choosing hair products and styling methods, more expensive does not mean better. Ask your stylist for recommendations for your hair, or select discount store products that cater to your specific hair type.
Things You'll Need
- Wide-toothed comb
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