You can increase or expedite your hair growth with slight changes to your lifestyle that can have a significant impact. Seemingly minor lifestyle choices like diet or avoiding stress can increase your hair growth. The University of Alabama at Birmingham says that a normal healthy growth rate is about 1/2 inch a month. If you have no underlying health conditions that are slowing your growth rate, there several steps you can take to improve your hair growth.
Step 1
Take a multivitamin that includes vitamin B7, also known as biotin. A multivitamin will replace any nutrients that you do not get from solid food. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, biotin is particularly important for healthy hair, and it can prevent hair from thinning or splitting.
Step 2
Include lean protein in your diet. Hair is made of protein. A diet that is deficient in protein can lead to hair loss since your body lacks the raw material to make new hair according to Vanderbilt University. This is particularly an issue for vegetarians and vegans who may have to take a protein supplement to get an adequate amount of protein.
Step 3
Quit smoking, or start making a serious attempt at quitting. According to the University of Michigan and an article published in the 2003 Journal of Dermatology, smoking can hinder your hair growth. The university says that smoking can cause hair loss because it depletes nutrients that are essential for healthy hair.
Step 4
Drink a lot of water. The Mayo Clinic suggests at least eight glasses of water a day. Water removes toxins from the body and transports nutrients. Water is essential for healthy cells and growth. Dehydration stunts your hair growth.
Step 5
Avoid stress as much as you can. Physical and psychological stress can make you shed hair, according to the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Columbia University. A stressful event or lifestyle can shift hairs into their resting phase, where they will shed and not regrow for two or three months.
Tips and Warnings
- You can drink carbonated diet sodas and coffee, but do not count them toward your water intake, make sure you are drinking water. Try natural stress remedies such as exercise and meditation instead of prescription drugs. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, keep a food log and consult your doctor to see if you are consuming enough complete proteins.
- If you are noticing an abnormal rate of hair loss -- well over 100 hairs a day -- see your physician.
Things You'll Need
- Multivitamin with biotin
References
- Vanderbilt University: Vegetariansim -- The Pros and Con of a Meatless Diet
- Journal of Dermatology: Association Between Smoking and Hair Loss
- Mayo Clinic: Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?
- Columbia University: Stress Leads to Hair Loss?
- University of Alabama at Birmingham: Hair Loss (Stress)
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