A Guide to Growing Out Your Hair

A Long Way to Grow

Samson in the Bible got his strength from his hair. Rapunzel let down her long locks to snag her Prince Charming. Botticelli’s Venus wrapped herself with her luxurious waist-length tresses.

Long hair has long been associated with beauty and vitality. If you’re tearing your hair out trying to figure out how to get that gorgeous long hair, we can help. Here are some tips for growing out your hair – so you, too, can have the mane of your dreams.

Cut

It may feel counterintuitive, but regular haircuts will help your hair stay healthy from root to end, which makes it easier to grow it to the length you desire. It gets rid of the bad ends that can compromise the strength of your strands and lead to breakage. You don’t need to lose a lot of length, however – just a short trim, or a “dusting,” will do the trick.

Cleanse

Washing your hair can be good, but it can also remove a lot of the moisture needed to keep your hair growing strong. The experts recommend applying a pre-wash treatment before you shampoo to add a protective layer.

woman shown from behind with long silky hair

Condition

To keep your hair healthy and hydrated to reach the desired length and shine, hairstylists suggest getting regular deep-conditioning treatments, as often as once a week.

Supplement

If your hair needs a boost, help it from the inside out. Various vitamins and supplements, such as silica, riboflavin, and vitamin B2, can help encourage hair growth.

Sleep

This one is easy to remember: silky pillowcase = silky hair. Cotton can be drying to the hair, and it’s recommended that you sleep on a silk pillowcase instead, to keep your hair from being damaged or dried out.

Eat Well

Your diet can affect how quickly and how well your hair grows. Nutritionists say that a diet rich in vitamins C and B, iron, zinc, omega-3s, and protein is the way to put hairs on your head. They suggest foods such as salmon, eggs, beans, hemp seeds, oysters, and leafy greens.

Be Patient

Sit back and wait, because it’s going to take a while for your hair to grow out. For lengthy locks, it’s a lengthy process. So don’t give up, even when your patience is hanging on by a hair. HS

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