Time for a blog takeover! This month Annette Moore shares her tips and tricks about hair growth. Annette Moore has been working as a hairdresser and is now working as the main editor at boldbarber.com – A blog about all things hair with a main focus on hair cutting tools that will make hair styling easier and quicker. I have decided to dedicate this month her tricks, and are very excited to see the results. If you also want longer and stronger hair, join me and read the article underneath.
If you’re like most people, you probably crave having a full head of thick, lustrous hair. Unfortunately, as we get older – and in some cases, whilst we are still young – our precious locks inevitably start to thin out, as the cycle of hair loss and growth (that actually takes place each and every day) is disrupted and the growth of new strands is exceeded by the shedding of old hair. In some cases (for example, male pattern baldness), hair loss can be caused by genetic factors – in others, nutritional deficiencies are the culprit.
Thankfully, whatever the cause of hair loss, all is not lost. In this post we give you all the tips and tricks you need to know to encourage new and faster hair growth. Read on to find out more, and check out BoldBarber.com for more info on all things hair.
1. Consume protein
Because our hair is largely composed of protein – namely, a substance called keratin – it is of prime importance to eat a diet that includes those things. The best foods to eat if you want to encourage new hair growth are meat, eggs, dairy products and nuts.
2. Massage your scalp
The reason is that massaging your scalp, gently running your fingers through the in a circular motion and occasionally kneading the skin to open up the blood vessels, encourages increased blood circulation to the area – bringing with it the materials necessary for new hair growth. What it also does, it loosens up the skin somewhat, which ensures the hair is better able to penetrate your skin when it does grow, and grow with less resistance and tension. When you take to massaging your scalp, make sure you do it regularly – ideally at least twice per day.
3. Wash your hair less
Your hair is coated in natural oils that nourish it and also protect it from breakage and wear and tear. If you constantly shampoo your hair, you are actually stripping away these oils and hurting your hair in the process. When your hair has been deprived of its natural oils, it becomes dry, frizzy and much more prone to breaking and split ends – all of which will prevent your hair from growing properly and quickly. Wash your hair ‘every other day’ instead of each and every evening, or twice a week – that should be more than enough.
4. Avoid overuse of hair products and treatments
This is a similar one. Just as washing your hair too frequently will deprive it of it’s natural, nourishing oils, so too will the overuse of hair care products and treatments – like blow drying, straightening, crimping and bleaching your hair, for example – damage your hair (in some cases permanently) and make it more difficult to grow out.
5. Reduce stress
Did you know that one of the major causes of hair loss is actually stress? It’s true. In order to make your hair grow faster, one of the best things you can do is to re-organize your lifestyle so as to minimize your stress levels, and also keep up with your exercise, diet – you can even consider taking a good multivitamin (activities like yoga can also help with mental stress).
The reason is that when your body is busy trying to overcome whatever physical and metal traumas are present, and isn’t fit and healthy, there is little energy and nutrients left over for allowing the body to generate keratin for new hair growth. But if you exercise and eat healthy, your body will become better primed to fight stress whilst also generating new keratin and hair growth.
6. Try not to brush or comb your hair too much
Ideally, you wouldn’t brush or comb your hair at all, but as we know your hair can sometimes get very tangled and it can’t always be avoided. The problem is, by combing and brushing your hair you risk tugging and pulling at it too much and hard, so that you in fact pull hairs out, and also generate tension in the scalp that will make it difficult for new hair to grow smoothly. Try to limit how often you brush or comb your hair, to get the tangles out try running your fingers through your hair instead.
7. Use natural products or make your own home remedies
Again, avoid applying artificial man-made chemicals to your hair, they are a lot harsher than natural ones and can halt and hinder the growth of new hair. Opt instead for all-natural remedies for washing and conditioning your hair. Often they can be made at home. One option, for example, is honey and aloe vera, mix it together and apply to your scalp before you rinse it out (after about 20 minutes to half an hour). – Read our blogpost about natural hair masks to get more recipes
Best
Annette Moore // boldbarber.com