Celebrities such as Jennifer Anisten and Nicole Kidman have made long hair appeal to many women. However growing hair can be frustrating; and it can take a lot longer if hair is being damaged and resulting in split ends. Learn how to keep hair healthy while boosting its growth with the following tips and advice.
Nutrition to Make Hair Grow Faster
Poor nutrition or extreme diets can be detrimental to hair health. Eating a balanced diet with a good variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds is important. Beneficial nutrients for hair growth include biotin (also called vitamin B7), magnesium and zinc. Vitamins B6, C and E are also believed to help hair stay in good condition.
Minimize Hair Damage
Be brave and have a good cut removing damaged hair as split ends will move up from the ends and result in unattractive locks that are more difficult to manage. To grow hair long it is important to have it in excellent condition from the onset. Healthy hair requires trimming less often and won't break as easily resulting in faster growth.
Noticeably healthier hair can be achieved by not using harsh chemical processes like perms and peroxide coloring. Henna is a good alternative to color hair and can make hair stronger as it coats the cuticle, but it may not be suitable for all hair types as it can be drying. Other important tips on keeping hair from damage include:
- Avoid plastic combs and tight rubber hair bands
- Avoid using heated appliances- especially straighteners and curling irons.
- Use a wide-toothed comb rather than a brush
- Don't rub wet hair with a towel
- Do not put hair in tight braids that put stress on hair roots
- Do not put hair in tight pony tails (as over a long time it can lead to bald patches)
- Avoid hair extensions as real hair often ends up more damaged when they are removed
- Avoid back combing or "teasing" your hair with a fine-tooth comb
- Avoid exposing hair to chlorine and sea water (especially if you are blonde)
How to Wash Hair to Avoid Damage
In Three-minute Fix Hair Washing, trichologist Frank Cunningham advises washing hair for at least three minutes otherwise "you risk leaving in much of the shampoo, which can give you a flaky scalp." It is also best not to rub your hair when wet as it can cause splitting.
Cunningham advocates using a wide-tooth comb over a brush as "its bristles act like a saw. You really have to watch what you're doing, especially with long hair. I always tell my clients that they should treat long hair as they would a silk blouse – extremely carefully."
Those will curly or dry locks may benefit from occasionally washing hair with just conditioner. This avoids exposure to harsh cleansers found in shampoo. This tends to work for hair that isn't very dirty. Rinsing hair in cold water makes the cuticle lie flat, look shiny and less prone to breakage. Try to deep condition hair regularly; weekly if hair is dry, fortnightly for normal hair and monthly for greasy hair.
Help hair grow faster by keeping it in good condition which results in less breakage and required haircuts. The above tips will help minimize damage to hair and boost hair health with good nutrition.
Sources
- Guardian.co.uk. Three-minute Fix Hair Washing (Accessed March 31, 2011).
- MarieClaire.co.uk. Long Celebrity Hairstyles (Accessed March 31, 2011).
Priya Chauhan - A designer, topic editor and feature writer (for Hinduism) and all round experimenter of healthy living; Priya enjoys being creative, and ...
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