Many of us desire long, healthy hair. While genetics play a strong role in the length of your hair, you can promote growth with these healthful tips.
Trim, trim, trim. Visit a stylist biweekly. Every 8 to 10 weeks, ask your stylist to trim off the minimum amount, about an eighth of an inch. Only trim when your hair is dry, not wet. Split ends are easier to see when the hair is dry.
Get the blood flowing to the head. It stimulates the hair follicle and stimulates hair growth with nutrient-rich blood traveling to the scalp. Massage your scalp with your fingertips every day. Once a day, flip your hair upside down and gently brush dry hair from root to end. Exercising pumps blood to the heart, which gets blood flowing to the head.
Eat right. Make sure you are eating well-balanced meals. It’s the best strategy for getting healthy hair and nails. If you need a supplement, vitamins A, B, C, and E are excellent, at least 300 to 500 mg.
Baby your hair strands. Use gentle moisturizing shampoos and conditioners and leave-in conditioners after every shampoo. Use a deep conditioner every two weeks such as Tony & Guy Tigi Catwalk Oatmeal and Honey or Lifetex lines by Wella.
Minimize your use of hot tools.The better shape your hair is in, the less you will have to take off every 6 to 8 weeks.
Avoid pulling the hair back into tight ponytails every day. This will stretch the hair and cause it to lose its elasticity and leave you with cowlicks and breakage.
Let your scalp breath. Don’t use heavy oils on the hair. They only clog the hair follicles and prevent rapid growth. Use products such as Sebastian Laminates Drops, a light oil that will allow your hair to flow more naturally.
Live better. Minimize your vices, such as smoking, binge drinking, late-night partying and sunbathing. Bad habits like these will quickly show up in the form of slow-growing dry and brittle strands.
By Shirley Gordon