How To Make Your Hair Grow Faster

How fast does hair grow? On average, your hair grows 4 to 6 inches per year — and it grows in cycles. At any time, about 80% of your hair is actively growing. But as you wait for it to grow, you might wonder if there’s anything you can do to help speed up the process.

While there isn’t a miracle cure to get your hair growing faster, dermatologist Wilma Berfeld, MD, says there are some lifestyle and nutrition-related factors that can support long, healthy locks.

How to make your hair grow faster

There isn’t one single way to encourage hair growth. But a combination of lifestyle changes and plenty of vitamins can support luscious locks. Dr. Bergfeld recommends the following:

1. Eat a balanced diet

The food you eat and your overall health affect how well your hair grows. Eating a balanced diet with enough vitamins — especially vitamins A, B, C, D and E — along with protein and iron, can help your hair grow stronger and faster.

And if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, make sure you’re getting all the protein types and nutrients your body needs. A doctor or dietitian can help you create a well-balanced eating plan.

2. Try out some vitamins and supplements

Eating a well-balanced diet is the best way to ensure you’re getting the important nutrients you need for hair growth. But you may also want to consider supplements to support your diet, such as:

• B vitamins
• Iron
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Vitamin D
• Zinc

Just make sure you talk to your healthcare provider before starting or adding any supplements.

3. Try biotin or collagen

Both biotin (aka vitamin B7) and collagen are frequently touted as go-tos for strengthening your hair (nails and skin, too).

“Biotin improves hair growth and helps with inflammation,” Dr. Bergfeld notes. “The hair follicle, the skin and the nails all benefit.”

Get your fill of B7 from foods like eggs, fish, meat, seeds, nuts, sweet potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, or try out a mega-B vitamin.

Likewise, collagen supplements have been considered as a hair growth boosting option as well. Collagen is a protein that supports healthy skin, cartilage, bones and connective tissue. Dr. Bergfeld says collagen supplements may have some benefits, too, but more research is still needed.

4. Limit color and chemical treatments

Harsh treatments can damage your hair and make it weaker.

Things like bleaching your hair, using hair extensions or using alcohol-based hair products can harm your hair follicles.

5. Cool it with heat styling tools

How often you style or treat your hair (like using a hairdryer or straightener) can affect your hair’s health and growth.

Try to avoid frequent blowouts and step away from the curling iron. If you can’t resist, use a heat protectant before you style.

6. Know your hair type

Fine, coarse, curly, colored — different hair types have different needs.

If your hair is dry, for instance, wash it less frequently and use a heavier conditioner. If your hair is fine or very curly, it can be easily damaged. Avoid brushing while it’s wet and use products designed for your hair type.

7. Get trims

Scheduling a haircut can feel counterproductive when you want your hair to get longer. But regular trims keep hair from breaking and getting even shorter, Dr. Bergfeld says.

“Split ends run up the hair fiber like a rip in your stockings. You need to clip those off,” she adds.

8. Pamper your scalp

Look to the root of the problem, Dr. Bergfeld recommends.

“If your scalp is itchy or flaky, that translates to inflammation, which turns off hair growth,” she explains. “If your scalp is healthy, your hair will be the best it can be.”

To keep your scalp happy, try anti-dandruff shampoos or avoid heavily fragranced shampoos and conditioners, which can irritate sensitive skin.

9. Reduce your stress

If you’re feeling more stressed out lately, you may see evidence in how much hair you’re losing each day. Feelings of stress or anxiety can increase your cortisol levels and affect hair growth or even cause increased shedding.

Consider stress-relieving activities, such as exercise, spending time in nature and relaxation techniques, like deep breathing and meditation.

10. Be skeptical of claims

You may have heard of using rice water to help with hair growth — but there’s no scientific evidence that the Japanese tradition works. At least anecdotally, there seems to be some benefit to this generations-old tip. Rice includes the antioxidant inositol, which is known as a hair rejuvenator.

And when it comes to using rosemary oil, older research supports claims that it helps regrow hair. But Dr. Bergfeld says more research on the trendy hair care ingredient is needed.

The long and short

Sadly, when it comes to what helps hair grow, there’s no magic formula to transform you into Rapunzel — at least not yet.

“Major cosmetic houses have some of the best chemical scientists in the world,” says Dr. Bergfeld. “Lots of researchers are working on this.”

Overall, the best thing for hair growth is focusing on balance. While there isn’t a way to grow your hair inches overnight, having a balanced diet, incorporating vitamins you may be missing and being gentle with grooming practices can help.

If you feel like there’s something else affecting your hair growth, such as your genetics, changing hormones or medical conditions like alopecia areata, autoimmune conditions or even anemia, talk to a doctor or dermatologist for further guidance.