How to Grow Out Your Hair, Stat!

You just had your long, beautiful hair chopped into a pixie—only to realize that your new ‘do doesn’t quite complement your face shape as much as you thought it would. What do you do? Luckily, there are multiple ways to grow out your hair faster than the normal rate of 0.5 inches per month—and they don't involve hair extensions! Here are just some of them:

1. Trim Your Tresses

This may sound counterproductive, but trimming your hair regularly, preferably every six weeks, can actually help it grow. How? According to experts, the longer your hair grows, the more brittle and prone to split ends it gets, leading to breakage and preventing it from reaching a longer length. Getting a regular trim helps your hair grow longer because it keeps the ends from splitting further or breaking off.

2. Skip Regular Shampoo

Experts agree that washing your hair with shampoo too frequently can leave it dry and susceptible to breakage. To minimize damage, try to keep shampooing down to two to three times per week, especially if you already have dry and damaged hair. Lucky for you, there are other hair-cleansing options out there that don’t require a typical shampoo, like a dry shampoo, which soaks up excess oils while adding texture and volume to limp, dull hair.

On days that you do shampoo, try to use products that don't contain sulfates, as these could strip your scalp and hair of its natural oil. Wash your hair with warm (not hot) water, and then rinse it off with cool water after to help seal your hair’s outer cuticle layer.

3. Treat Wet Hair With Care

Since wet hair is more prone to breakage, try to be more mindful of your post-shower hair care routine. One common mistake people make is vigorously rubbing their hair with a regular towel, which lifts up the cuticle layer of the hair, causing frizz and damage. Instead, use a super-absorbent microfiber towel, and gently squeeze out as much water as possible. It also helps to use a wide-tooth comb or a natural boar bristle brush to keep tangles at bay.

4. Minimize Heat Styling

Heat can cause the water in the cortex of your hair shaft to expand, lifting the cuticle layer and leaving your hair in a vulnerable state. To minimize damage, experts suggest minimizing the use of heat styling tools—or use a heat protectant.

Tight hairstyles, which stress the follicles and strain your hair, should also be avoided according to hair experts. If you need to tie your hair back, choose a loose braid over tight ponytails, and use silk scrunchies instead of rubber bands to prevent snagging.

5. Eat a Protein-Rich Diet

We all know that our hair, skin and nails are a reflection of our diet and overall health, so if you want longer, healthier locks, it's vital to make sure you're getting food with high nutritional value. Since hair is made up of mostly protein, include as much protein in your diet as possible.

6. Consider a Hair Supplement

Hair vitamins—especially the ones with biotin—are having a major moment right now, and for good reason. Aside from enhancing your overall health, which is important for shiny hair and glowing skin, hair supplements may also provide your hair follicles with the nutrients needed to encourage growth and minimize hair fall.

7. Prevent Fallout With a Hair Growth Serum

Length isn’t the only thing you need to consider when growing out your hair—density is important too. Lush hair starts with healthy hair follicles—and hair serums can help you achieve that. But not all hair serums are created equal. “The best ones out there not only nourish your hair with vital nutrients but also inhibit the production of dihydrotestosterone or DHT,” explains VEGAMOUR’s Chief Science Officer José Miguel Cabello. “DHT prevents nutrients from being absorbed by hair follicles and causes them to shrink, weaken and eventually die.”

If you’re on the market for one, consider VEGAMOUR GRO Hair Serum, which phyto-actives known to inhibit DHT production while nourishing and strengthening your hair follicles, encouraging thicker, fuller-looking hair. The best part? It does so without using harsh chemicals, carcinogens and other potentially harmful ingredients.

8. If All Else Fail, See Your Doctor

Medications, hormones and health problems can affect hair growth, so if you have sudden or unexplained hair loss, or if your hair doesn't seem to be growing, seek medical attention to make sure it's not something serious.

Achieving long, luscious hair is all about keeping your strands healthy from root to tips. Follow these expert recommendations and you’ll get the hair of your dreams in no time!