It seems like the hairs on our legs are on growth steroids while the locks on our head are growing just as slow as a dial-up connection from the 90s. Unless you opt for a Kylie Jenner wig, there really aren’t any shortcuts when it comes to hair growth. However it’s your lucky day because we’ve got a few secrets up our sleeve that we might just be willing to let you in on.
Maintenance is key! You need to treat your hair like a newborn baby, it needs to be nurtured, fed and have the right pillow to sleep on. No promises that you’ll wake up one day as Rapunzel but if you follow these handy hair tips the strands on your head are sure to be a lot healthier.
1. Snip Snip
You’ve heard it a thousand times before from your mum, hairdresser and brother’s girlfriend’s cousin’s aunty but they are definitely all right about getting trims. Haircuts may seem counterintuitive and although they don’t physically make your hair grow faster they do get rid of breakage. Eliminating split ends avoids your hair from continuously snapping. Let’s be real, the only snapping we want is the snap of our fingers as we walk through the door with our long mane blowing in the wind behind us.
2. Shampoo Less
Many of us think that shampooing our hair more often must be the right thing to do because it gets rid of the yucky stuff. However, not only does it wash away dirt and product buildup but it can also strip away the natural oils our hair produces to make it healthy. The key to mastering the art of shampooing is to not do it so often but when you do, massage it into your scalp and let the rest rinse through your hair.
3. Mission: Condition
Make it a priority to always condition your hair every time after using shampoo. It helps hydrate your hair and replace the proteins it needs to be strong and healthy. However do make sure that you wash it all out to avoid your scalp from getting too greasy. Of course, conditioner is also famous for leaving your hair smelling like sunshine, lollypops and rainbows.
4. Cold Water Rinse
Rinse your hair with cold water at the end of your shower because it lays down the outer layer of your hair more smoothly. Hot water opens a hair’s cuticle so shampoo and conditioner can do their thing but it’s important to close and seal the cuticles after and cold water helps to do this. It doesn’t need to be for long, a few seconds is enough to do the trick. Essentially it helps prevent moisture loss, which is exactly what we want when trying to grow our hair.
5. You are what you eat (hair included)
Hair is made of protein so you need to feed your hair with the right protein and nutrients in order for it to be strong and healthy. Eating a variety of nutritious foods is key to healthy hair and healthy hair means hair growth. Choosing foods that are in high in protein like chicken, high in iron like red meat, high in vitamin C like oranges, high in omega-3 (like salmon) are beneficial to the strength of your hair.
6. Sleeping on Satin
Say good-bye to your cotton pillowcases and hello to silky soft satin ones. Cotton is not as smooth as satin and can create friction between your hair and the pillow, which initiates hair breakage. Cotton ones can actually also absorb from your hair also and cause your hair to be dull and dry. That’s why we recommend choosing a satin one that will leave your hair silky smooth.
7. Bottom Up
It might feel nice, but brushing your hair too often can cause physical harm and breakage to your locks. When it does come to brushing your hair you should start from the bottom to detangle the strands then work your way up. You should also invest in a decent brush with good bristles for your hair type.
