How to make your hair grow faster

From time immemorial luscious, long hair has been a symbol of ultimate beauty and is highly covetable. From Samson's strong locks, to Rapunzel's golden flowing lengths, people have envied and even fought for long hair. In the last ten years, since the invention of GHDs, smoothing serum and a host of celebrities with long hair, the popularity of long hair has risen, and now in these squeezed economic times, long hair is even more popular; short hair means more frequent trips to the hairdresser, which can be expensive.

So, if you're trying to grow your hair long, here are a few pointers and some revolutionary new products to help you.

The best products to encourage hair growth

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment range
This product flies off the shelf in Boots every time it's re-stocked because it's so popular. It claims to 'fertilise your folicles' by moisturising and nourishing the scalp to help feed the roots of the hair. It also penetrates the hair and increases the strength and thickness of the hair.
Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment range, from £6.99.

Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Pre-Wash Treatment
The most luxurious hair growth product we've tried, Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Pre-Wash Treatment contains cashmere proteins and amino acids to encourage hair growth, improve condition and shine, and slow down the hair ageing process. The reason cashmere protein is used is because it matches the structure of the hair and penetrates deep into the hair shaft to repair and prevent further breakage.
Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Pre-Wash Treatment, £29

LA Science Folicle Stimulating Shampoo
This is a great product if your concern is not just about growing long hair but also if you're worried about hair loss. Using an active peptide combination (peptides are chains of protiens that help create and support collagen), this treatment helps the health of the scalp and nourishes thining hair. This in turn strengthens the folicle and increases blood supply to the scalp. You need to massage well into the scalp and hair, and you don't need to use a conditioner.
LA Science Folicle Stimulating shampoo, £15.31

The best foods for hair fast growth

That tired old expression, you are what you eat, is applicable to your hair as well as your waistline. I hate to trot out the same old stuff, but it's true: drink plenty of water, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and chow down on as much protein as possible. Hair is made largely of protein, so eating eggs, cottage cheese, chicken, fish and lean meat is the way forward for gorgeous locks. The other nutrient you need a healthy dose of is iron, so fill you face with red meat, eggs and green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach - a real hair superfood.

The TLC

Even though you can avoid the hairdresser a little more with long hair, you still need to maintain your hair with regular trims. Without regular maintenance you can encourage split ends, knots and poor condition, which leads to breakage. Then you will need a proper cut, which could mean those extra inches that you'd been hoping for, get chopped off and you're back where you started.

Sleep is really important as it's the time when our body repairs itself, and that means the scalp and hair too. When you've had little sleep and you're run down you will eventually notice your skin and hair becomes dry, dull and brittle.

Another tip when sleeping, and believe me this really works, is to use a silk pillow. Yes, it seems a little spoilt and princess-y but I have noticed a difference in the condition of my skin and hair since using a silk pillow. The reason is because the silk is smoother than cotton, nylon or mixed fibres so your hair doesn't get knotted as you toss and turn at night.

Finally, don't neglect your scalp. Your hair will benefit from regular massage as that encourages the flow of blood to the follicles, from where the hair grows.


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