How To Make Your Hair Grow Faster and Stronger
Eating more protein, using products made with caffeine, avoiding permanent dye, and reducing your stress are just a few things you can do to promote healthier and faster hair growth.
In this article, we’ll help answer those questions. We’ll also take a closer look at what can affect hair growth and the steps you can take to improve its growth.
Here’s a fascinating fact: You’re born with all the hair follicles you’ll ever have, including around 80,000 to 120,000 trusted sources on your scalp. It’s natural to lose about 100 hairs a day.
Hair grows from a root at the bottom of a follicle under your skin. The blood in your scalp goes to the follicle and supplies oxygen and nutrients to the hair root, which helps your hair grow.
As your hair grows, it will push through your skin and pass through an oil gland. It’s the oil from this gland that makes your hair shiny and soft.
Genetics does play a role in maintaining healthy hair growth. However, several other factors also come into play.
Although there’s no magical potion or remedy that will result in instant growth, there are steps you can take to help your hair grow and to prevent breakage.
Let’s look at 15 tips that may help your hair grow faster and stronger.
1. Avoid restrictive dieting.
According to Dr. Lindsey Bordone, a dermatologist at Columbia Doctors and assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center, we can’t control everything that affects our hair growth. But there are things we can avoid that may cause impaired growth and increased shedding.
"Restrictive dieting can decrease resources and nutrients needed for hair growth," said Bordon.
"And since hair growth is a relatively low priority compared to other bodily functions, hair growth is halted quickly when your body is placed under stress due to restrictive dieting," she explained.
"Even after resuming a healthy diet, hair shedding usually goes on for a period of months," said Bordon.
A review of research from 2017 suggests that a deficiency in key nutrients can impact both the structure of your hair and its growth. Sudden weight loss can cause temporary shedding, known as telogen effluvium (TE), or diffuse alopecia due to a niacin deficiency.
2. Check your protein intake.
"If your diet is severely restrictive, your hair won’t grow optimally, and shedding can occur," said Bordon.
"Eating a well-balanced diet with adequate protein intake is important for optimal hair growth," she added. "Generally, we recommend 50 grams of protein or more per day."
According to the same review of research by Trusted Source, decreased protein intake can also cause TE.
3. Try caffeine-infused products.
We all know that caffeine can give you an energy boost, and its topical use has been shown to give hair growth a boost, too.
Research shows that caffeine in topical products, like shampoos and conditioners, can prevent hair loss as effectively as drug-based treatments. Caffeine may promote hair growth by stimulating the metabolism and proliferation of cells.
4. Explore essential oils.
Essential oils not only smell good, but they may also help promote hair growth.
One small study Trusted Source found that after three months, pumpkin seed oil applied topically significantly increased hair regrowth in participants with female pattern baldness. However, larger studies are needed to further support this result.
Research from 2015 has also shown that rosemary oil may be just as effective as minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine, at restoring hair growth. Again, additional research is needed to back up this finding.
Other essential oils such as peppermint oil, jojoba oil, and lavender oil also show promise for preventing hair loss, according to a 2020 review of research by Trusted Source.
5. Boost your nutrient profile.
Specific vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids are especially important for your overall health and also play a key role in providing your body with the energy needed for hair growth. These nutrients can include:
Some studies Trusted Source has found lower levels of vitamin D, folate, and zinc in people with the autoimmune hair-loss condition alopecia areata.
One 2015 study Trusted Source found that taking omega-3 and omega-6 supplements for 6 months may help protect against hair loss in people with female pattern baldness.
6. Indulge in a scalp massage.
Because vitamin supplements are not regulated in the same way as other drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it’s important to choose reputable vitamin brands that use third-party vetting.
A scalp massage can help promote relaxation and relieve stress. But, according to a small 2016 study by Trusted Source, it may also help boost the health of your hair.
While the research demonstrating the efficacy of biotin is limited, a review of the literature by Trusted Source found 18 reported cases that showed clinical improvement in both hair and nail health after biotin supplementation. Additional research is still needed to help support this.
The 2016 study examined the effectiveness of daily, 4-minute scalp massages. After 24 weeks, the researchers found that the nine men involved in the study had thicker hair at the end of the study than at the start of it. Larger studies are still needed to support these results.
While the study didn’t show any noticeable difference in hair growth, it’s thought that a scalp massage may help dilate blood vessels beneath the skin. This, in turn, may lead to thicker, stronger hair that’s less likely to break off or become damaged.
You can get a professional scalp massage or indulge in a do-it-yourself massage at home.
7. Look into platelet-rich plasma treatment (PRP).
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sapna Palep of Spring Street Dermatology says using PRP therapy with patients who have hair loss has shown promise.
While more controlled studies are needed, one study by Trusted Source found that PRP may serve as an effective treatment option for hair loss.
"PRP is a breakthrough treatment that uses injections of a concentrated concentration of a patient’s own platelets to restore and accelerate hair growth," Palep said. "Platelets are proteins derived from one’s own bloodstream and DNA that can act like stem cells when placed back into the body."
Scalp injections of PRP can awaken dormant hair follicles, resulting in more hair growth.
Treatments can be once a month for 3 months and every 6 months thereafter for maintenance, according to the above study.
Eating more protein, using products made with caffeine, avoiding permanent dye, and reducing your stress are just a few things you can do to promote healthier and faster hair growth.
In this article, we’ll help answer those questions. We’ll also take a closer look at what can affect hair growth and the steps you can take to improve its growth.
Here’s a fascinating fact: You’re born with all the hair follicles you’ll ever have, including around 80,000 to 120,000 trusted sources on your scalp. It’s natural to lose about 100 hairs a day.
Hair grows from a root at the bottom of a follicle under your skin. The blood in your scalp goes to the follicle and supplies oxygen and nutrients to the hair root, which helps your hair grow.
As your hair grows, it will push through your skin and pass through an oil gland. It’s the oil from this gland that makes your hair shiny and soft.
Genetics does play a role in maintaining healthy hair growth. However, several other factors also come into play.
Although there’s no magical potion or remedy that will result in instant growth, there are steps you can take to help your hair grow and to prevent breakage.
Let’s look at 7 tips that may help your hair grow faster and stronger.
1. Avoid restrictive dieting.
According to Dr. Lindsey Bordone, a dermatologist at Columbia Doctors and assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center, we can’t control everything that affects our hair growth. But there are things we can avoid that may cause impaired growth and increased shedding.
"Restrictive dieting can decrease resources and nutrients needed for hair growth," said Bordone.
"And since hair growth is a relatively low priority compared to other bodily functions, hair growth is halted quickly when your body is placed under stress due to restrictive dieting," she explained.
"Even after resuming a healthy diet, hair shedding usually goes on for a period of months," said Bordone.
A review of research from 2017 suggests that a deficiency in key nutrients can impact both the structure of your hair and its growth. Sudden weight loss can cause temporary shedding, known as telogen effluvium (TE), or diffuse alopecia due to a niacin deficiency.
2. Check your protein intake.
"If your diet is severely restrictive, your hair won’t grow optimally, and shedding can occur," said Bordone.
"Eating a well-balanced diet with adequate protein intake is important for optimal hair growth," she added. "Generally, we recommend 50 grams of protein or more per day."
According to the same review of research by Trusted Source, decreased protein intake can also cause TE.
3. Try caffeine-infused products.
We all know that caffeine can give you an energy boost, and its topical use has been shown to give hair growth a boost, too.
Research shows that caffeine in topical products, like shampoos and conditioners, can prevent hair loss as effectively as drug-based treatments. Caffeine may promote hair growth by stimulating the metabolism and proliferation of cells.
4. Explore essential oils.
Essential oils not only smell good, but they may also help promote hair growth.
One small study Trusted Source found that after three months, pumpkin seed oil applied topically significantly increased hair regrowth in participants with female pattern baldness. However, larger studies are needed to further support this result.
Research from 2015 has also shown that rosemary oil may be just as effective as minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine, at restoring hair growth. Again, additional research is needed to back up this finding.
Other essential oils such as peppermint oil, jojoba oil, and lavender oil also show promise for preventing hair loss, according to a 2020 review of research by Trusted Source.
5. Boost your nutrient profile.
Specific vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids are especially important for your overall health and also play a key role in providing your body with the energy needed for hair growth. These nutrients can include:
Some studies Trusted Source has found lower levels of vitamin D, folate, and zinc in people with the autoimmune hair-loss condition alopecia areata.
One 2015 study Trusted Source found that taking omega-3 and omega-6 supplements for 6 months may help protect against hair loss in people with female pattern baldness.
6. Indulge in a scalp massage.
Because vitamin supplements are not regulated in the same way as other drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it’s important to choose reputable vitamin brands that use third-party vetting.
A scalp massage can help promote relaxation and relieve stress. But, according to a small 2016 study by Trusted Source, it may also help boost the health of your hair.
While the research demonstrating the efficacy of biotin is limited, a review of the literature by Trusted Source found 18 reported cases that showed clinical improvement in both hair and nail health after biotin supplementation. Additional research is still needed to help support this.
The 2016 study examined the effectiveness of daily, 4-minute scalp massages. After 24 weeks, the researchers found that the nine men involved in the study had thicker hair at the end of the study than at the start of it. Larger studies are still needed to support these results.
While the study didn’t show any noticeable difference in hair growth, it’s thought that a scalp massage may help dilate blood vessels beneath the skin. This, in turn, may lead to thicker, stronger hair that’s less likely to break off or become damaged.
You can get a professional scalp massage or indulge in a do it yourself massage at home.
7. Look into platelet-rich plasma treatment (PRP).
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sapna Palep of Spring Street Dermatology says using PRP therapy with patients who have hair loss has shown promise.
While more controlled studies are needed, one study by Trusted Source found that PRP may serve as an effective treatment option for hair loss.
"PRP is a breakthrough treatment that uses injections of a concentrated concentration of a patient’s own platelets to restore and accelerate hair growth," Palep said. "Platelets are proteins derived from one’s own bloodstream and DNA that can act like stem cells when placed back into the body."
Scalp injections of PRP can awaken dormant hair follicles, resulting in more hair growth.
Treatments can be once a month for 3 months and every 6 months thereafter for maintenance, according to the above study.
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