Apparently, the longest hair in the world measures 18.44 feet (562 cm). Yes, this is a record. We all want long, soft, healthy, silky hair – well, maybe not that long! That we can toss over our shoulders in classical movie star fashion.
Hair growth can be quite a complex process, especially if everyone you ask tells you that it’s: ‘All in the genes’. Genes do play a role, but that doesn’t mean that yours can’t grow to a good enough length that makes you happy.
In this article, we’ll go over a few practical things you can do to help you finally grow your hair below those shoulders.
Regular Hair Care for Growth and Strengthening.
-
Turn Down the Heat.
If you use a lot of heating tools to style your hair – straightening irons, blow dryers, maybe it’s time to take a break from those. Excessive heat weakens your hair, leading to frequent breaking. Your hair strands become frizzy and dry.
This of course does nothing for your hair length. If you must use heat on your hair, always use a lower heat setting to minimize the chance of heat damage. When using a hairdryer, hold the dryer about 6 inches from your hair and keep moving the dryer.
Don’t keep it on one spot for long. In addition, limit the number of times you heat treat your hair. Take a break once in a while to give it time to perk up.
You can also use a heat protectant every time you use heat to style your hair. A hair protectant is a serum, cream, or spray that reduces heat damage during heat styling.
-
Care for Your Scalp.
Caring for hair is somewhat like caring for plants. For them to grow well, you have to make sure the soil around them is healthy and wholesome.
The scalp consists of the top layer of skin, the epidermis, which covers a second layer, the dermis. It is in the dermis that the roots of the hair follicles grow.
The dermis also contains blood vessels, collagen fibers, nerve cells, and other glands. Boosting the circulation of blood in your scalp will improve the flow of nutrients to your hair follicles, leading to stronger, healthier hair. Just massaging your scalp every day for four minutes can go a long way in growing your hair.
To massage your scalp, apply pressure on your scalp in a circular motion with your fingertips for a few minutes. You can do this every time you wash your hair. You can also invest in a scalp massager for the same purpose.
-
Take Vitamins and Minerals.
Like in other parts of our bodies, minerals and vitamins are crucial for hair growth and strengthening of the roots. Nutritional deficiencies have been shown to lead to weak hair and hair loss.
A number of vitamins are instrumental in promoting hair growth:
- Vitamin A;
- Vitamin B;
- Vitamin C;
- Vitamin D;
- Vitamin E;
- Zinc;
- Iron.
Keep in mind, however, that vitamins and other supplements are not a sort of miracle cure for weak hair, as they are sometimes marketed to be. If you already take a balanced diet, no doubt your hair gets the required amount of nutrients. To be on the safe side, before starting to take any supplements for hair growth, consult your doctor to make sure you really need them.
-
Eat More Protein.
Hair follicles are mostly made of protein, so eating more protein is important in regular hair care for growth and strengthening. Low protein in the diet can lead to thinning and the ultimate loss of hair.
Protein-rich foods that you can eat to strengthen and lengthen your hair include:
- Beans and other legumes;
- Eggs;
- Fish;
- Seeds and nuts;
- Lean meat.
-
Use Less Shampoo.
We all want clean, fresh-smelling hair, and shampoos are great at doing that. Unfortunately, many shampoos have harsh ingredients that strip away the natural oils in your hair, leading to brittle hair that breaks easily. Unless you have excessively oily hair, you don’t have to use shampoo every day.
Cut it down to probably two or three times a week. Also, instead of applying shampoo to all of your hair, apply a small portion to your scalp, and let it flow over the rest of your hair as you wish. You can also use a sulfate-free shampoo, as it won’t dry your hair so much.
-
Rinse with Cold Water.
Using very hot water to wash hair may feel good on your scalp, but it certainly isn’t good for your hair follicles. Hot water, like heat styling tools, can damage both the hair follicle and the cuticle, leading to weakened, frizzy hair.
Steam also opens the hair cuticles and exposes them to more damage. You can wash your hair with lukewarm water and then do a final rinse with cold water to close up the cuticle and facilitate moisture retention.
-
Avoid Bleach.
If you’re serious about growing your hair long, you may want to rethink bleaching your hair. Bleach opens up the hair cuticles and increases the likelihood of breakages or splits. This will, of course, slow down your hair growth.
-
Use Conditioner.
The various things we do to our hair to style it weaken the hair by drying it up and thinning it. Conditioner replaces the lost proteins and lipids in the hair shaft and helps close up the hair cuticle to prevent further loss of moisture.
It is important to use it in regular hair care for growth and strengthening. Use a conditioner every time you shampoo your hair.
The Final.
To wind up, it’s important to remember that we all have different kinds of hair. Some types of hair grow fast and easy, others take their time. Be patient. Most of the stuff we’ve mentioned having a balanced diet, avoiding heat, and use of conditioners – are within your reach and easy to implement except maybe the cold rinse!
Growing strong hair doesn’t have to be an expensive and time-consuming affair – just follow the simple steps discussed in this post, and you’ll eventually see some good results.
Read the article: How to Make Your Hair Voluminous?
