How to improve hair growth and thickness

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No woman is ever happy with the length of her hair at any given point. Add to that the present lifestyle and the stress that comes along with it, and we have ourselves the perfect recipe for a hairfall disaster. However, many of these problems can be tackled at home with some handy and easy hair growth tip is always appreciated. We have 10 great hair growth tips in store for you so you can have the hair you always dreamed of.

Unfortunately, not many personalised hair care products are available in the market to address each of your hair woes. But setting the foundation right with nutritious food intake and following a hair care regime can help hair grow substantially. Here are some other tips and tricks that can promote hair growth.

Massage Your Scalp
Regular Trimming
Check Your Protein Intake
Avoid Heat To Prevent Hair Breakage
Avoid Restrictive Dieting
Oil Your Tresses Regularly with Essential Oils
Try A DIY Coffee Conditioner
Frequently Asked Questions:

Massage Your Scalp

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Regular scalp massage not only relaxes you but also helps improves blood circulation and strengthens hair from the roots. Scalp massages are also an ideal way to deal with stress, one of the leading contributing factors to hair loss. Massage your scalp, a couple of times a week, before going to sleep. This not only encourages a healthy sleep cycle but also promotes healthy hair growth.

Tip: Good old coconut oil is the best way to go. But you can also use hydrating hair masks or serums to feed vitamins to your hair and scalp while massaging.

Regular Trimming

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Our hair goes through three stages. The first stage, antigen, is when its active and the cells in the hair roots and dividing rapidly. In the second stage, catagen, hair growth stops and the outer root sheath shrinks and attaches itself to the root of the hair. Split ends, hair thinning and breakage mark the last stage, telogen. Trimming your hair lets you avoid the third stage, thus helping your hair have the desire to keep growing. Mark your calendars for the periodic hair trimming sessions. Cut half or one inch to boost hair growth.

Tip: Trimming also solves damaged or dull hair issues, so ensure you get one every two months or so.

Check Your Protein Intake

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Whether you prefer your protein to come from meat, dairy, and eggs or from plant-based sources, it is necessary to consume a minimum of 0.8 grams to 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight. Hair follicles are made of a special fibrous protein called keratin that uses the amino acid found in protein-rich food to grow hair. Not only does this aid hair growth but also helps the mane appear thicker and fuller.

Tip: Apart from protein, it is also advisable to consume an adequate amount of biotin (Vitamin B7) to aid hair growth.

Avoid Heat To Prevent Hair Breakage

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Experts suggest that the effect of avoiding heat on your hair can be seen as early as one month after stopping it. Heat treatments leave hair brittle and dry and increase breakage which is detrimental to hair health as it strips the hair of keratin, the protein that keeps the hair looking healthy and feeling full. This is especially bad for women who have thin or fine hair, and in many cases has been found to contribute to hair loss due to breakage. It's best to air dry the hair. Many hair styling gadgets these days are also working with technologies that use cold air instead of hot. It is best to invest in these products if you still think that styling your hair is a must.

Tip: Keratin treatments help restore the health of heat-damaged hair. If you suspect that your hair has undergone heat damage (if you can find a change in your hair texture) then immediately add a conditioner to your hair cleansing routine. Also, Add a leave-in conditioner, and avoid dyeing your hair. Resort to gentle towel drying.

Avoid Restrictive Dieting

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There are several sustainable methods of losing weight without compromising your health. Restrictive dieting is especially dangerous as one not only doesn't meet their daily recommended calorie intake but also excludes several essential minerals and micronutrients like zinc, selenium, and magnesium from their diet which are essential for hair health. The Daily recommended calorie intake for most women is 2000 calories and anything under 1300 calories can induce a hair shedding disorder called telogen effluvium that leads to severe hair fall. Although detrimental to hair health, this condition is generally reversible with a balanced diet.

Tip: Crash dieting also leads to deficiency of vitamin D and B which further harms hair health. Calorie restriction also affects the hair at a follicle level leading to a slower cell turnover rate which in turn affects hair re-growth.

Oil Your Tresses Regularly with Essential Oils

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Essential oils are known to not only slow hair loss but also promote hair growth by acting at a follicular level and treating several scalp issues. Most essential oils are recommended for promoting hair health work by boosting blood flow and circulation in the scalp. This in turn delivers the required nutrition to the hair follicles and keeps the hair healthy. There are several essential oils that are useful in improving hair health, however, the most useful ones are:

1. Rosemary
2. Peppermint
3. Tea Tree
4. Lavender
5. Bergamot
6. Thyme

Tip: Essential oils are very strong and can do more damage than good to your skin when applied without a milder carrier oil. For best results, mix a few drops (10-12) of your preferred essential oil in 2 tbsp of oil such as coconut, castor, almond, jojoba or even olive.

Try A DIY Coffee Conditioner

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Coffee can be used as a leave-in conditioner for hair growth. It detoxifies the scalp and promotes blood circulation, thanks to the phytosterols present in it. It’s the caffeine that helps in making hair smooth and shiny. You can even use it as a hairspray. Coffee also helps prevent premature grey hair or balding in both men and women.

Tip: Brewed coffee powder mixed with ingredients like honey, olive oil and yoghurt can act as a homemade hair mask that benefits the hair growth process tremendously.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q.Which food is good for hair?

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A. A protein and mineral-rich diet are important for hair health. Tuna, salmon, mackerel, and other such fatty fishes that are also great sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, are recommended. Apart from fish, eggs, meat, and dairy products like cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt, are also beneficial for hair health. When it comes to vegetables, green leafy varieties like spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, onions, and sweet potatoes are deemed useful. It is also important to incorporate nuts like walnuts and almonds and seeds like flax and chia into your diet for healthy hair. Adequate supplementations should be added to the diet for any deficiencies that may contribute to hair loss. Apart from good food, a healthy lifestyle is important. So ensure you get a good sleep cycle and a balanced diet and have an adequate intake of water throughout the day.

Q. How long can your hair grow in two weeks?

A. Studies have shown that under healthy circumstances, hair can grow up to half an inch in a month. This means in two weeks, it can grow up to a quarter of an inch. This means six inches per year. Consistent care and sticking to your hair care routine can show speedy results.

Q. Why does my hair grow so slowly?

A. An unhealthy diet and lifestyle are the biggest contributors to a decline in hair health. Not having protein-rich meals and lifestyle disorders like stress, hypertension and inadequate sleep can be detrimental to your hair growth process. if you are experiencing hair fall or lack of growth, it is best to visit a trichologist and tackle the problem with lifestyle and dietary changes, and supplementation if required.

Q. Which exercise is best for hair growth?

A. Any exercise that improves blood circulation, especially to the scalp, is good for hair growth. Although most cardiovascular exercises do this, yoga has special importance in the hair growth realm. Certain asanas like Shirshasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Balasana, and Sarvangasana are known to improve hair health. Breathing exercises like kapalbhati also seem to help. Exercises also help in alleviating stress which in turn helps hair health.

Also Read - 5 Natural Ingredients You Can Use To Moisturise Hair Instead Of Oil

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