Whether your stylist has given you a less-than-ideal haircut, or you’re worried about female pattern hair loss or male pattern baldness, it’s common to want to make your hair grow super fast overnight.
While there’s no quick fix for overnight hair growth, there are some things you can do to help your hair grow more quickly over the next few weeks and months.
In this article, you’ll discover 13 of the best ways to grow your hair fast — and five things you should avoid if you want to promote strong, healthy hair growth.
Sadly, there’s no magic formula that can make your hair grow faster in a day. On average, your hair grows 0.35 mm each day — approximately 10.5mm, or less than half an inch, every month [1].
Those with thicker hair may see slightly faster regrowth [2]. But no matter how thick your hair is, it’s not possible to regrow it by several inches (or even centimetres) every day.
Instead of looking for miracle cures, cultivate a healthy hair growth programme and find out how to grow healthy hair. Using the techniques below will help your hair grow more quickly, but can also keep it shiny and strong — preventing hair breakage at the crown and around the hairline so you can maintain your hair health.
Here are 13 ways to promote hair growth and help your hair grow more quickly.
Research shows that regular hair washing is beneficial for your hair [3]. Daily hair washing can reduce perceived hair loss, and make your hair feel less brittle than if you wash your hair just once or twice a week:
Washing your hair everyday to prevent hair loss may be too much for you, and it’s not always necessary. If you have tightly curled hair, less frequent washing may be more appropriate.
But it’s important to keep your hair and scalp clean to avoid scalp problems and promote fast, healthy hair growth.
Getting the right nutrients in your diet is essential for healthy hair. Nutrient deficiencies and inadequacies may lead to hair breakage, hair loss, and other hair and scalp problems.
Vitamin supplements for hair growth don’t usually work unless you have a genuine deficiency. So make sure to get plenty of the following nutrients from your food:
Hair heat damage can cause breakage that makes your hair snap off at the ends. This makes your hair look shorter — not ideal if you’re looking for longer hair.
Minimise your use of heat-styling tools like curling irons, straighteners, and hairdryers to reduce the risk of developing thinning ends that break off easily.
Is your shampoo formulated for hair growth? If not, it may be worth switching to a specialist shampoo. These include:
Scalp massage may not always promote true hair growth, but studies have shown it can enhance hair thickness [5]. Thicker hair may increase the illusion of hair growth, especially if your hair is naturally thin.
Watch this video to learn how to perform a scalp massage and find out more about scalp massage for hair growth:
Minoxidil is one of two licensed hair loss treatments in the UK (the other being Finasteride, which is only suitable for men with male pattern baldness).
Minoxidil can treat many different types of hair loss. It works by opening up the blood vessels that feed your hair follicles, so more nutrients can reach them. This helps to promote healthy hair growth.
Patient’s hair before and after Minoxidil use.
Minoxidil is available over-the-counter, so it may be a good treatment option to try if you’re keen to stimulate hair growth. However, be aware that it takes a few months to see results from Minoxidil.
There’s some evidence that certain essential oils can boost hair growth when applied to the scalp. These include:
Not all of these oils have been tested on all hair types and all types of alopecia, so do your research before selecting and applying your essential oils. For example, rosemary oil for beard growth is less likely to work, and may even be detrimental for your facial hair.
Some medications can contribute to hair loss, so check the side effects of any drugs you’re taking and see if they might be affecting your hair.
Even if your medication does have concerning hair-related side effects, you mustn’t stop taking it without consulting your doctor first. They can help you stop taking the drug safely, and/or find an alternative medication option.
Smoking can cause big problems for your hair. It reduces blood flow, meaning fewer nutrients reach the hair follicles. It can also cause oxidative stress, which damages the DNA of your hair follicle cells.
Quitting smoking (or even cutting back) is a great way to increase blood flow and limit oxidative stress, which can help your hair grow more quickly.
There may be a medical reason why your hair growth has stagnated. So if you’re unsure why you’re losing hair, make an appointment with your doctor or trichologist to check for any underlying medical conditions.
This is especially important for women, as female hair loss is often harder to diagnose. Find out more about diagnosing and treating female hair loss.
Conditioning your hair keeps it healthy, shiny, and strong. This can stop the ends from snapping off, so your hair appears to grow more quickly.
There are plenty of commercial hair conditioners available, as well as some natural conditioners that have been shown to promote hair health. These include:
These remedies can help you regrow your hair naturally. If natural remedies aren’t for you check out our list of the 10 best 2-in-1 shampoos and conditioners to help promote hair growth.
It’s not possible to completely prevent split ends and other types of hair damage. So getting your hair cut regularly is important for removing those unhealthy ends that can lead to further damage higher up the hair shaft.
Ideally, go for a trim at least once every two to three months to remove split ends and promote strong hair growth.
If you want to heat style your hair using straighteners or a hairdryer, always use a heat protection spray.
While all heat protection sprays will provide some level of protection, ethanol-based sprays may prevent more structural damage to your hair than water-based sprays [10]. So check the ingredients list when buying heat protection products.
Now you know what you can do to protect your hair and stimulate growth, it’s time to find out what won’t help.
Here are five of the worst things you can do for your hair when you’re trying to promote healthy growth.
Hair extensions may seem like a quick fix when you want to grow your hair long, but they can actually do a lot of damage. If you wear them a lot, hair extensions can even lead to hair loss.
That’s because hair extensions cause a condition called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia happens when there’s extensive or repeated stress on your hair follicles, which eventually makes them shed their hair.
Female celebrities with hair loss including Naomi Campbell have attributed their hair loss to hair extensions:
If you do want to use hair extensions, try to save them for special occasions. Don’t wear them everyday, as this can accelerate hair loss.
Bleach is a surefire way to weaken your hair fibres. It damages both the hair cuticle and cortex, which makes your hair prone to breaking and snapping [11].
When your hair snaps off, it will appear shorter. It can also lead to further damage, such as split ends and hair protein loss.
The more you bleach your hair, the worse breakage and protein loss can get [11]. So keep the highlights to a minimum.
Tying your hair up is a convenient way to style your hair. Sometimes it’s essential, especially if you work in an active or hazardous environment.
But repeatedly wearing your hair in a ponytail may lead to hair damage. Much like hair extensions, ponytails, and other tight hairstyles can cause traction alopecia.
If you’re required to wear your hair up every day, try to keep your ponytail loose, and use protective bands to minimise hair damage.
Be gentle when towelling your hair dry after a hair wash. Rubbing too vigorously creates friction that damages your hair.
If possible, switch to a microfibre towel (or even use an old cotton t-shirt) to dry your hair. Gently squeeze the excess water out into the towel or t-shirt, then wrap it into a turban for up to 15 minutes. Then allow your hair to air dry.
If your hair is prone to tangling, it’s sometimes tempting to wrench a brush through the knots. But this can cause a lot of breakage, making your hair look shorter.
Instead, use plenty of conditioner in the shower to tease out the tangles. Comb your hair while it’s still wet to gently untangle any knots. Use a detangling spray to help if needed.
If there are any particularly stubborn knots, apply more conditioner and try to tease the knot apart gently. Avoid dragging or wrenching the brush at all costs. You’ll need to be patient, but your hair will thank you for it.
If you see more hair loss in the shower than usual, seek professional advice. At the Wimpole Clinic, we can help diagnose and treat all types of hair loss, from traction alopecia to female pattern baldness.
Book a consultation to learn more about your hair loss.
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