Give Yourself a Scalp Massage

We spend so much time and money piling on hair products that it’s easy to forget where hair growth starts: namely, your scalp. “Just like good-quality soil is essential to growing healthy plants and flowers, a healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair growth,” says hair restoration surgeon Alan J. Bauman, MD. “Research supports the idea that a scalp massage has beneficial effects on stress hormones, blood pressure, and heart rate.”

A scalp massage is also a great way to help hair growth formulas work better. Massaging your scalp can increase blood flow to your scalp, enhance the strength of your roots, and help nutrients get to your follicle faster. You can give yourself a scalp massage with dry hair, but adding a nutrient-rich oil to the mix will only double the benefits. (Just keep it to once a week if you have oily roots).

Try an Egg Yolk Mask

Bauman notes that, on average, hair grows approximately a quarter to half an inch per month, and while we can’t speed up this process, we can affect the quality of the hair shafts each follicle can produce (think: thicker, stronger, shinier hair). We can “stimulate a higher percentage of hair follicles in the scalp, which will keep more hair in the growing phase and make your hair thicker, healthier, and fuller,” he says.

Unsurprisingly, this makes how you treat your hair crucial to natural hair growth. If your hair breaks before it gets past your shoulders, an egg yolk mask will be your savior. Eggs contain lecithin and protein, which strengthen, nourish, and heal your strands. Plus, their high sulfur content might even help with dandruff.

To make the mask, mix two eggs with two tablespoons of olive oil. Add half a cup of water to dilute the mixture (and make it less sticky). Apply the mask directly to dry, brushed hair, and leave it on for up to 30 minutes. Then, shampoo and condition as usual.

Check Your Medications

According to Bauman, many prescription medications are associated with hair loss. “Some of the commonly prescribed categories of drugs that can exacerbate hair loss include antihypertensives (blood pressure); cholesterol or statins; hormone replacements like thyroid, birth control, testosterone; and certain antidepressants,” he says. As a word of caution, you should always discuss these side effects with your doctor before stopping any medications.

Do a Hot Castor Oil Treatment

Castor oil may be the unsung hero of the hair world—you might even be tempted to ditch your coconut oil for it after reading this. First of all, castor oil has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties to combat scalp infections that prevent your hair from growing. Second, it’s filled with omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, proteins, and other nutrients that can penetrate your parched strands and seal your hair shaft to retain moisture. Third, it makes for an amazing hot oil treatment—massaging the oil into your roots will help your scalp drink up all of the nutrients and promote hair growth.

To give yourself a hot oil treatment, massage the oil into your scalp, and then apply it all the way to the ends of your strands. Pile your hair on top of your head, cover it with a shower cap, and blast it with a blow-dryer for 15 minutes. Feel free to jump in the shower and shampoo and condition as usual: You’ll notice softer strands instantly.

Avoid Smoking

Smoking is a personal choice, but we’d be lying if we said the act doesn’t affect your hair in some way. “Smoking restricts blood flow to the scalp and follicles, which, in turn, restricts the vital oxygen and nutrients that your hair and scalp need to be healthy,” Bauman notes. Also, the toxins from smoking can seep into the hair follicles and cause disruption.

Trade Hair Growth Supplements for Healthy Fats

Sure, you can easily pop a hair growth supplement, but honestly, the word’s still out on whether or not they’re effective to help your hair grow faster. Plus, they can contain unnecessarily large amounts of minerals and vitamins (ahem, biotin), which can actually wreak havoc in other ways (ahem, breakouts). For this reason, eating your way to longer hair is actually a smarter, nutritionist-approved way to make your hair grow faster. Vitamins and minerals occurring naturally in foods are easier for your body to utilize, and they’ll naturally deliver a healthier ratio of nutrients—just the way Mother Nature intended.

According to holistic nutritionist, Meryl Pritchard, getting plenty of healthy fats like omega-3s can jump-start hair growth. “Healthy fats are essential to hair health since our bodies can’t produce omega-3 fatty acids on their own. Therefore, it’s important to get these fats through our diet,” she says. “They nourish hair follicles to give strands that strong, shiny, lustrous glow.”

Limit Heat Styling

You probably know this already, but any hairstylist will tell you the most obvious way to help your hair grow faster is to ditch your hot tools. (Sad, we know). “Blow-dryers and styling irons can certainly damage your hair by making it dry and brittle, which can lead to breakage and shorter hair length,” Bauman advises. “If you’re trying to grow your hair, I recommend air-drying your hair and avoiding any heat tools. If you do use a heat tool, use a heat-protectant spray.”

Be Gentle with Wet Hair

Your hair is at its stretchiest and most vulnerable when it’s wet. This is an especially important time to be careful if you’re trying to avoid damage. If you can, avoid brushing or heat styling until your hair has mostly air-dried. If detangling can’t wait, opt for a wet brush or wide tooth comb.

Avoid Over-Shampooing

Rumor has it that over-shampooing can lead to broken, dry, and brittle hair, due to the cleanser stripping the hair of its natural oils. Depending on your hair type, the number of times you should shampoo your hair per week varies. Thicker, coarser hair types can get away without washing their hair for a few days, while thinner hair types may find their hair feels greasy even after one day. In such cases, dry shampoo can work wonders in soaking up excess grease as you await longer strands.

DIY a Cinnamon-Based Mask

Turns out cinnamon isn’t only good for sprinkling over your morning oatmeal. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, it poses hair benefits, too, in the form of stimulating blood circulation and nourishing strands. Mix equal parts cinnamon and coconut oil and apply to your hair, focusing on the roots. Let it do its thing for 45 minutes before rinsing.

Trim Your Split Ends Regularly

It might sound counterproductive when you want your hair to grow longer, but regular trims get rid of dry, damaged split ends and are necessary for natural, healthy growth. If left untreated, split ends can work their way up the shafts of your hair strands and cause even more breakage, which means the only thing growing will be your frustration.

But if your stylist takes off too much length every time you go in for a visit, your hair won’t get longer, so make sure you clearly communicate your hair goals. Depending on the condition of your hair, your hairstyle, and your daily routine, you could need a trim anywhere from every six weeks to six months. That said, the better you care for your hair on a day-to-day basis, the less often you’ll need trims, and the longer your hair can grow naturally.

Brush Gently When Detangling

Nothing will test your patience like properly detangling the knots in your hair, but it’s important in growing your strands faster and definitely shouldn’t be rushed. If you have a tendency to quickly, haphazardly rip a brush through your hair, you might want to reconsider. Not taking proper care when brushing can cause your strands to break off and split—pretty much the opposite of hair growth. When it comes to brushing your hair, do so slowly and gently.

And it turns out the brush you choose makes a difference. While a brush with metal bristles has its purpose, a wide-toothed comb, detangling brush, or paddle brush with rounded bristles are all better options for gently combing through knots and causing minimal breakage. Almost as important as what you use to brush your hair is when you choose to do so. Instead of detangling after the shower (when your hair is at its most vulnerable and fragile), comb through your knots before you wash your hair.

“In addition to slowing the progression of shedding by starting over-the-counter topical minoxidil extra strength, you can change to gentle hair practices to limit hair shedding,” says Young McMahan, MD, a dermatologist with U.S. Dermatology Partners Waco. “Pulling hair back in tight braids or ponytails can both damage the hair follicle, which is where hair growth originates from, leading to worsening hair loss.”

Be Careful with Extensions

Extensions are great for instant gratification, but they may not be the best choice if you’re trying to grow out your natural hair. Avoid wearing extensions for more than two to three months, and when the time comes, make sure to have a professional remove them to avoid any unnecessary damage. You may also consider taking a break from them entirely for a while if your top goal is to protect your strands.

Eliminate Stress

It’s true that stress affects the body in more ways than one, and it can even be the cause of hair loss for some. “Usually, it takes severe, traumatic stress or chronic stress over time to cause hair loss,” Bauman says. “Some autoimmune diseases of the hair and scalp that cause patchy hair loss, like alopecia areata, can be precipitated or aggravated by bouts of stress.” Keep your stress levels to a minimum (easier said than done, we know) by doing an age-old Eastern medicine hand trick or setting aside a few minutes a day to meditate.

Sleep on a Silk Pillowcase

A silk or satin hair cover or pillowcase is better for the health of your hair than cotton, which will absorb all the moisture from your strands and lead to tangles and breakage. While this won’t necessarily speed up the hair growth process, sleeping on a silk pillowcase generates less friction and gives hair a softer surface to rest on.

Use Keratin-Based Products

It’s true that keratin-based products (like K18) can combat dryness and make hair appear shinier, but they can also strengthen the hair and prevent future breakage. The protein, which is protective in nature, douses hair in essential oils and nutrients it needs to thrive, making an ideal environment for healthy strands to grow.

Eat More Protein

Healthy hair starts at the follicle, so ensuring you’re getting the right nutrients can help your strands grow longer and stronger. If you have any deficiencies, adding protein-rich foods like lean meats, eggs, and legumes can ensure your hair is set up best for growth.

See an Expert

McMahan advises those experiencing hair loss or shedding to seek an expert’s help to determine the root cause.

“There are several types of hair loss or alopecia and several contributing factors that cause hair loss in females,” McMahan tells us. “It is important to get an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist who is an expert at diagnosing the type of alopecia a person may be experiencing and get a treatment regimen that is tailored to the cause.”

Ahead of your appointment, McMahan advises preparing a list of all your medications, including over-the-counter medications, and a timeline of when you first began to notice hair loss. Be sure to note any illnesses, surgeries, or major medical events you may have had six months prior to the hair loss. This will help your provider narrow down the root cause and tailor a treatment plan to re-grow your hair.

Steer Clear of Bleach

Don’t underestimate just how damaging bleach can be. If you’re on a hair growth journey, it’s not the time to try a platinum blonde makeover. All it takes is one bleach session gone awry for your hair to break off.

If you feel like your hair can’t grow past a certain length and you bleach it routinely, the bleach is likely compromising the quality of your hair and it’s breaking off. If growth is your main hair goal, stick to toners and demi glosses to maintain your color—they’ll give shine and richness to your hair without damaging it in the process.

Turn to Powerful Ingredients

McMahan says some people (i.e. those who are not pregnant or breastfeeding) can start an over-the-counter topical minoxidil (Rogaine) extra strength, twice a day.

“I warn all my patients that for the first month of topical minoxidil use, there can be a paradoxical worsening of shedding which recovers if you continue using the medication,” McMahan explains. “For all my alopecia patients, I also recommend supplementation with 1500IU of vitamin D, 3500mcg of biotin, and 90mg of zinc gluconate.”

Practice Yoga

While peace of mind and exercise can reduce stress and make you feel better than before, practicing yoga is also believed to stimulate hair growth. This idea comes from the notion that in inverted positions, a rush of fresh blood goes to the head and pumps new life into the scalp.

Try a Scalp Treatment

As we mentioned, a healthy scalp is a necessary foundation for hair growth. Just like there are different skin types, there are different scalp types. If you have an oily scalp, a treatment, like Act+Acre’s Cold Processed Scalp Detox Oil, may help balance it so you can wash less and retain more of your natural oils.

If your scalp is dry and itchy, a nourishing treatment, like Act+Acre’s Daily Hydro Scalp Serum with Hyaluronic Acid for Dry Scalp, should help provide relief and hydration so your scalp can be healthy and happy to promote growth.

Try Red Light Therapy

Over the years, studies have shown that red light therapy can have anti-inflammatory effects and aid with circulation, both of which have the potential of stimulating growth. This method takes consistency and patience—you might not notice results for a few months—but the payoff can be major for length and density over time.