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How to Make Your Hair Grow Longer

Four Methods:Starting a Healthy RoutineUsing Healthy Styling TechniquesBuilding Stronger HairMaking an At-Home Hair MaskCommunity Q&A

Have you always dreamed of long, billowing hair? Following these tips will help you to keep it strong and healthy, which enables it to grow fast and long.

Starting a Healthy Routine

  1. 1
    Use chemical-free shampoo and conditioner. Long hair starts with good hair care, and good hair care starts with using the right shampoo and conditioner. It's important to use products that increase the strength of your hair.
    • Avoid sulfates. Many shampoos contain chemicals called sulfates that are bad for your hair. These harsh chemicals make your hair weak and brittle, causing breakage which will keep you from growing those long, beautiful locks. Use shampoos labeled as being paraben and sulfate free, and avoid shampoos with SLS (sodium laurel sulfate) listed in the ingredients.
    • There is an increasingly popular movement to use no shampoo at all, as your body naturally regulates hair oils.[1]
    • Use appropriate conditioners. Be sure your conditioner is free of silicones, which build up in your hair and cause damage over time. Condition only the longer parts of your hair, as the oils in conditioner can block hair follicles and slow the growing process.
  2. 2
    Wash your hair less often. Over-washing your hair can make it fragile and prone to breaking. Most dermatologists and stylists agree that washing every day is unnecessary. Three or four times a week should be enough for most people, though some people might have to wash their hair everyday if their hair gets greasy easily.[2]
  3. 3
    Wash your hair in cold water. Washing in hot, steamy water damages the hair shaft, leading to hair that is brittle and prone to breakage. To keep it shiny and healthy, wash your hair in the coldest water you can stand.
  4. 4
    Brush and comb your hair gently. Brushing, combing and the tools used to do this play a significant part in the health of your hair. Many people over-brush or use the wrong tools. While tangles and styling are a concern, be careful not to brush and comb too often. Using appropriate methods and tools will keep your hair strong.
    • Brush hair only when it is needed, either to combat tangles or for styling purposes. Over-brushing and vigorous brushing can damage or pull out hair. Do not brush it when it is wet, either. Instead, comb it using a wide-toothed comb.
    • Combs and brushes serve different purposes. Use them correctly. Combs are for wet hair and removing knots, as well as parting hair and distributing styling products. Brushes are for distributing hair’s natural oils, styling and using with a blow dryer.[3] For example, using a comb to remove tangles allows you to more carefully tease the knot apart without breaking the hair. Brushes do not allow for this kind of finesse.
    • Use the right kind of brush. Don’t use plastic brushes, as these can be harsh on your scalp and create split ends. Instead, opt for a brush with soft, natural bristles. Boar-hair brushes are particularly recommended. Stiff bristled brushes are best for very thick and curly hair, which cannot be managed with a soft bristled brush.[4]

Using Healthy Styling Techniques

  1. 1
    Minimize your use of heating tools. These are very harsh on your hair and should not be used too often. Products such as hair serum should always be used when applying heat, in order to protect your hair. Be sure that you also do not have the heat setting too high. Try to use things like blow dryers on their lowest setting.
  2. 2
    Wear your hair down as much as possible. Avoid tight hairstyles like ponytails and buns, as these pull hair and hinder growth. The strain on hair from tight styles such as these can leader hair to weaken and break. It also puts strain on the scalp itself by inhibiting blood flow. This can lead to headaches and keeps hair from getting necessary nutrients.
    • The places on your scalp which see the most strain could even see hair loss.
    • Use looser styles if possible and try to avoid hair ties with metal pieces, as these can catch on and pull out hair.
  3. 3
    Trimming your hair. It may seem counter-intuitive but trimming your hair can actually promote hair growth. When split ends develop, this weakens hair and causes it to break. If hair is trimmed regularly, this will significantly reduce split ends, leading to stronger and better-looking hair. Hair should be trimmed by half to one inch every six to eight weeks.

Building Stronger Hair

  1. 1
    Stimulate your scalp. Stimulating your scalp with massages, pinching, or brushing with a soft bristle brush can promote hair growth. This increases blood flow to the hair follicles, which brings needed nutrients to your hair. This can also help to reduce headaches brought on by the too-tight hairstyles mentioned above.
  2. 2
    Eat healthy. Eating healthy will have a huge impact on hair growth. Your diet affects the nutrients in your body and those nutrients are used to build new hair. If you do not have the proper nutrients, your body cannot build hair as quickly or as strongly. Eat a proper diet with the correct nutrients to promote hair growth.[5]
    • Protein: Hair is made mainly of proteins, so your body cannot build good strong hair if it does not have enough. Make sure you are getting complete proteins, either by eating meat, soy products, or multiple alternative sources of protein. Beans, seeds, nuts, milk, and seaweed are good alternative sources of protein but must be eaten in combination to produce a complete protein.
    • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Your body needs these to produce hair. Hair is made up of 3% fatty acids such as these. However, your body can’t produce these on it’s own so you need to be sure that your diet includes these. Fish (such as salmon) and nuts (such as walnuts) are an excellent source of these healthy fats, as well as protein.
    • Zinc: Without zinc, your scalp will become dry and itchy. This can lead to poor hair growth or even hair loss. Get more zinc in your diet by consuming fortified cereals and grains, oysters, and eggs.
    • Vitamin A or beta carotene: Consuming beta carotene allows your body to produce vitamin A. Vitamin A serves many functions in your body but also helps to regulate the oils on your scalp. Without these oils your skin will become dry and your hair will become damaged. Increase beta carotene in your diet by eating lots of sweet potatoes, pumpkin, apricots and carrots.
    • Iron: Iron is necessary for helping oxygenate the blood. This oxygen is necessary for healthy hair. Low iron is a major cause of hair loss, especially in women. Get more iron in your diet by eating dark greens, eggs, and meat.
    • Vitamin B: The entire vitamin B class will help promote healthy hair. Vitamin B5 is necessary to process the fatty acids mentioned above and B7 and B12 are used to process proteins. B9 affects cell growth directly. Get more B vitamins in your diet by consuming turkey, tuna, and lentils.
    • Vitamin E: Vitamin E is absolutely essential to healthy skin and healthy skin means a healthy scalp. It also helps to protect hair. Get more vitamin E by eating sunflower seeds, nuts, and avocados.
  3. 3
    Take vitamin supplements. Taking vitamins will help ensure that your body has the nutrients it needs to produce hair. While eating a well-balanced, healthy diet should allow you to have the proper nutrients, vitamins can help you ensure that you are getting the proper amount of each vitamin. Prenatal vitamin supplements are probably best suited to promoting hair growth, as these contain the vitamins most commonly associated with healthy hair.
  4. 4
    Give your "Hair" an antioxidant mask. Applying a couple tablespoons of olive oil and coconut oil every couple weeks will flush your hair with antioxidants to fend off decay from free radicals.
    • Mix the oils together and heat the mixture up until it's warm. Make sure it won't burn your scalp.
    • Comb the mixture through hair. Make sure to get both the ends and the roots.
    • Let your hair sit for 20 to 30 minutes, then wash thoroughly and air dry.
  5. 5
    Drink water. Drinking water will promote healthier scalp and healthier hair. When your body doesn't get enough water, it begins to dry out. The skin and hair are the first and most noticeable areas of dryness from dehydration. Drinking eight glasses of water, eight ounces each, is the amount generally recommended but each person is different.
  6. 6
    Get plenty of sleep. Regular sleep cycles help your body regulate melatonin and cortisol levels, both of which affect hair growth. Also, sleep is necessary to maintaining your body in general and when your body doesn't get enough, it begins to shut down side processes like hair production. Each person is different in how much sleep they need, so be sure to get the right amount for your body.[6]

Making an At-Home Hair Mask

  1. 1
    Raid your refrigerator. Here's the ingredients you'll need for a basic hair mask:
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • 1 tsp mustard
    • 2 tbsp of an oil of your choice (such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, castor oil, agave oil, or olive oil -- r you could mix all of them!)
      • Of course, you could use other ingredients, too! Milk, lemon (though this could lighten your hair), honey, and apple cider vinegar are four common additions that are just as effective. And if you don't like the smell of mustard, replace it!
      • Olive is oil is great for hair strength and shine. Milk and coconut oil will make it soft and luxurious. Honey will add a glow and apple cider vinegar will bring it back to life, if you were curious! The healthier your hair is, the faster it will grow.
  2. 2
    Mix your ingredients together in a bowl. Be sure all of the egg has been mixed in thoroughly, as that will take the longest to incorporate. If you have super long hair, you may want to use another egg or some more oil to make your mix go further.
  3. 3
    Apply to first your roots, making sure to massage it in. Don't be afraid to get your fingers messy! The more you really get in there, the better your results will be. You want every strand saturated by your magical concoction.
    • Coat your hair from the top, then flip your hair over and coat from the bottom. Part your hair in several different ways before you even think about being done. And make sure to get around your ears!
  4. 4
    Apply the remainder of your potion to the rest of your hair. Make sure to coat your entire scalp on through to your ends. However, the most important part is your scalp, as that is where the root is stimulated to grow. Once you think you're done, go at it for another few minutes!
  5. 5
    Put your hair up and leave for 30 minutes. A bun, shower cap,pig tails or a ponytail will do, but since you'll probably be tempted to touch it, a shower cap is your best bet. You could also wrap it in a thin towel, too. Go do some yoga while you're watching TV, and come back when the episode is finished!
  6. 6
    Wash your hair well and wash the eggs out with cold water. Washing eggs out of your hair with hot water will cause them to fry in your hair. Eggs are some sticky business, so wash your hair as normal -- but wash it well. Make darn sure that all the sticky goodness is out, since you don't want to smell like a jar of mayonnaise later on in the day. A jar of mayonnaise with great hair, sure, but a jar of mayonnaise nonetheless.
    • Shampoo and condition as usual, if you'd like. The drier your hair is normally, the less likely it is that your hair will need shampooing. You know your hair -- will the mask make it at all greasy? If you're prone to quick oil build-up, use shampoo. If not, you can skip it.
  7. 7
    Style as usual. You can use a deep-treatment mask like this up to once a week, if you'd like. You'll see a difference in no time!

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Can I brush my hair a lot?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Once or twice a day is enough. Brushing too much can cause breakage or loss of hair that doesn't naturally fall out.
  • Will rinsing my hair with cold water while in the shower help it to grow naturally?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Yes, it will help because using hot water is like a heating tool and that breaks your hair. Using cold water prevents that from happening. It also helps make your hair appear smoother.
  • Does this apply to all hair types?
    wikiHow Contributor
    This is applies to many hair types, but everyone is different. You should only use a treatment that works for you.
  • Does aloe vera help make my hair grow?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Aloe vera has been one of the best treatments for hair to keep it in great condition. It doesn't cause hair to grow but keeps what does grow in great condition.
  • Is castor oil helpful for fast hair growth?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Yes. Once applied, make sure you massage it in, and you eventually should see growth and hair thickening.
  • How do I make it grow without any oils, treatments, etc.?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Dry hair tends to break, as well as fallout. So if your hair is dry, use a daily moisturizer. When you wash it, use a moisturizing shampoo, and don't forget the conditioner.
  • Will dying my hair stop my hair from growing as fast?
    wikiHow Contributor
    If done by a professional, dying your hair will not slow down hair growth. Using an at-home method is more likely to damage your hair and slow the growing process.
  • How can I make my hair thicker?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Apply essential oils like castor, olive, coconut, or jojoba. Gently massage the oil into your hair and leave it in for 10-20 minutes.
  • What if I don't have a wide-toothed comb?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Soft bristled brushes, the kind that are used at hair salons, work just as well.
  • How often does her need to be trimmed if it is down to your waist?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Trim your hair whenever it has really bad split ends, or if you just want to get rid of them.
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Things You'll Need

  • Chemical-free shampoo and conditioner
  • Boar-hair brush
  • Vitamin supplements
  • Ingredients for hair mask (eggs, oil of your choice, mustard, and cinnamon)
  • Bowl and spoon (if making hair mask)

Article Info

Categories: Hair Care

In other languages:

Italiano: Fare Allungare i Capelli, Português: Fazer Seu Cabelo Crescer Mais, Español: dejarse el pelo largo, Français: faire pour avoir des cheveux longs, 中文: 让秀发快速增长, Deutsch: Dein Haar länger wachsen lassen, Русский: заставить ваши волосы расти, Nederlands: Je haar lang laten groeien, Bahasa Indonesia: Memanjangkan Rambut, Čeština: Jak mít delší vlasy, हिन्दी: अपने बालों को बढाकर लम्बा करें, العربية: إطالة شعركِ, Tiếng Việt: Tóc Dài Nhanh

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