Sometimes it seems to take forever to grow out a bad haircut or lengthen your hair for other reasons. There's no magic product that will give you long locks in a flash, but there are things you can do to enhance your hair growth cycle and keep the hair you already have strong as it gets longer. Use a combination of good nutrition and careful hair care to achieve your goal.
Step 1
Maintain your hair carefully. Trim off damaged hair so damage such as split ends is removed instead of allowed to move up your hair. Quit using hot water and hot hair-care tools like curling irons and hair dryers. Stop using harsh chemicals on your hair, such as peroxide. Eschew chlorine and salt water. Deep condition your hair often and extend times between washing it.
Step 2
Ensure your hair style and hair-care routine does not stress your hair. Avoid hair jewelry with sharp edges, metal barrettes, rubber bands or anything that takes hair away with it when removed. Make sure any hair style does not pull on or strain individual hairs. Be gentle with wet hair, using a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush. Choose a boar bristle brush for dry hair to distribute its natural oils.
Step 3
Eat protein, especially eggs. You risk putting your hair-growth cycle into a resting phase if you do not. Eggs are rich in L-cysteine, an amino acid important for hair health. They're also rich in minerals like manganese and the B vitamin biotin, which help prevent hair loss.
Step 4
Choose whole grains and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. Eat orange and yellow vegetables for vitamin A, strawberries and citrus fruits for vitamin C, and green leafy vegetables for vitamin E and silica. Nosh on grains for their biotin, which is involved in producing keratin, a protein hair is made of.
Step 5
Include essential fatty acids and zinc in your diet, as they are vital for hair health. Eat salmon or take fish oil to get your omega-3s. Eat beef, pork, wheat germ or blackstrap molasses to get zinc. Zinc deficiency is associated with hair loss.
Step 6
Take in enough iron. Ask your doctor for a blood test if you think you are deficient. Eat meat, eggs, enriched cereals, leafy greens, beets, dried beans, kelp, sesame seeds, pumpkin and blackstrap molasses to gain zinc.
Step 7
Remember that your hair reflects your overall state of health. Eliminate unhealthy habits because they'll make your hair growth cycle slow or diminish your hair's health. Quit eating high-sugar carbohydrates, trans fats and saturated fats. All of these stress the body and can cause dry hair if eaten instead of nutritious food. Cut out smoking, alcohol, caffeine and carbonated beverage consumption.
Things You'll Need
- Scrunchie
- Boar bristle brush
- Protein
- Whole grains
- Fruits and vegetables
References
- "Super Nutrition for Women," Ann Louise Gittleman, 2004
- LongLocks.com: Learn How to Grow Long Hair and Keep it Healthy
- Hairboutique.com: Hair Growing Tips
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