Long and Strong – a Guide to Extreme Hair Growth
Most women dream of long, luscious hair. Hair that’s thick and glossy, that swings as you move and that everyone comments on. The reality is that only a few people are blessed with a lifetime of beautiful locks. Perhaps when you were a child, you used to have long hair, it might not have been the thickest hair but it grew well, it was strong and it looked pretty. Your hair probably looked healthy and happy well into your teens too and maybe into your twenties but interestingly, as you grew older you might have noticed changes. This is normal and it’s down to a variety of different factors. Hormones play a large role in how healthy your hair is and also can be the reason why you encounter sudden changes. Pregnancy, menopause and general hormone fluctuations can play havoc with your hair’s health. Other things that affect your hair’s texture, quality and growth include not eating properly; over- processing your hair (that means too much colouring, straightening and chemical treatments) but shock and trauma can also affect your hair. So, if you long for, well, long hair that’s strong and resilient, read on because there are a few brilliant tips that will help you have the hair that you dream of, without a hair extension in sight!
- Eat well
Food is fuel, it is essential for a healthy body and a healthy mind too but it also affects your hair (skin and nails too). If you don’t fill your body with the nutrients it needs then your hair will suffer. Glossy, bouncy long hair doesn’t usually come from poor diet so think about what you’re feeding your hair. It needs vitamins and plenty of them, it also needs protein (hair is built from protein). So load up on lean meat, vegetables, oily fish and plenty of fruit. Vitamins C, B, C and E are essential but a really powerful vitamin to aid healthy hair growth is B, Biotin. It’s known as the hair vitamin. You can get Biotin naturally from nuts, seeds, eggs, fish and sweet potatoes (this list is not exhaustive) but you could also supplement with it. Do be aware that excessive Biotin can also lead to break outs…still, what’s the odd zit when you have stunning hair!
2. Bin the straighteners
One of the biggest causes of hair breakage is heat. If your hair keeps breaking off it could be that you’re applying too much heat, whether through over-drying with your hair dryer, using straighteners or using tongs. Really, the best thing you can do is to stop using them altogether but if you absolutely can’t live without them, use a heat protection spray before you apply the heat and limit use to once or twice a week. You will see a difference.
3. Say No to Sulphates
Check out your shampoo ingredients. Are there sulphates on the list? The most common sulphates in shampoos are SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate). These are salts and all they do is help create foam when you wash your hair. In fact, they’re used in household cleaners – so why would you put them on your scalp? Too much SLS can even clog up your hair’s follicles and prevent healthy growth so your best bet is to buy a sulphate- free shampoo instead. If your scalp is red or inflamed, you can bet your bottom dollar your hair isn’t looking half as good as it could.
4. Stop Colouring Your Hair
Not easy if your hair is grey but there are options. Firstly, if you’re using bleach to get that Marilyn Monroe blonde look, stop it now. Bleach is absolute cruelty to your hair and not only strips out the colour, it dries it out so it will never grow long and luscious. Instead, look for an organic colour and yes, you might have to forfeit your Lady GaGa blonde hair but you’ll eventually get the longer length you crave. Organic hair colour still has chemicals in it but it’s kinder than regular colouring, speak to your hairdresser about making the switch and avoid using home colouring kits, they’re another hair enemy.
5. Avoid Over-Processing with Chemicals
If you perm or straighten your hair, again you’ll strip out its natural oils and it will dry out, being more prone to breakage and damage. Give it a rest for a while and let your hair recover. Years of over-processing (along with colouring) will take its toll so your hair will never get to the length you dream of. Your hair may have been long in your teens but that was way before you were constantly straightening, tonging and colouring it! Like everything, eventually, the damage becomes apparent.
6. Use Treatments
Once a week, give your hair the ultimate hydration with a really good quality treatment. If you’re on a budget, an excellent hair trick (and one that Indian ladies love – they’re hair is
usually fantastic) is plain old coconut oil. You can buy it in the supermarket. Before you wash your hair, simply coat it from root to tip in coconut oil, clip it up and leave it for a few hours. Then wash it off as normal, your hair will be soft and silky. With prolonged use you’ll help improve your hair’s texture and in turn, it won’t be as dry and start growing better than ever before.
7. Get Regular Trims
If it’s been a while since you last visited the hairdresser your hair probably needs a good trim. Ends that are split or haven’t been tended to for a while will get thinner and coarser, no doubt eventually breaking off. Get rid of those ends and have a blunt, even cut. This gives your hair more chance of holding onto its length and not snapping off. Really, you should get a trim every 8 weeks and you don’t have to have much off, half an inch is enough to keep hair tidy and healthy.
8. Use Natural Bristles
What brush do you use? If it has manmade bristles it is likely that it pulls and snags your hair. Find one that’s made of sustainable wood with natural boar bristles, much kinder to your hair and should glide through spreading your hair’s natural oils so it looks hydrated and maintains its health.
9. Use a Silk Pillowcase
If your hair is prone to breakage, a silk pillowcase will help while you sleep. Unlike cotton or poly-cotton, silk won’t snag, pull or break your hair. It’s also great for your skin too – kinder to fine lines and wrinkles (so it’s a win-win situation!). Afro-Caribbean hair is particularly coarse which is why ladies with that type of hair use silky hair-wraps, to keep it healthy, hydrated and unbroken, follow their lead and wrap your hair or go for the silk pillowcase instead. Remember, while all the above tips are genuine and do work, hair growth takes time so you won’t notice a difference overnight but in just a short, few weeks you should see some texture changes. Healthy hair grows at around 1/2” a month, so after three or four months you should see more length. Keep going! As the saying goes, all good things come to those who wait.
