| There are a number of factors that can influence | | | | antioxidants which can help protect the hair and |
| how fast your hair can grow and some of these | | | | promote faster hair growth. |
| include your diet, your state of health, any medication | | | | Hair is composed of a protein known as Keratin so |
| you're taking, hormonal influences, environmental | | | | not surprisingly, a diet lacking in protein can hinder hair |
| influences and even your stress levels. Hair growth | | | | health and growth. Many people are still unaware of |
| tends to slow down the older you get so age is also | | | | the importance of getting enough Omega 3 fatty |
| a consideration and of course your genetic blueprint | | | | acids in their diet, a lack of which will show up in the |
| plays a role too. Normal hair growth is therefore very | | | | health of your hair. Omega 3 fatty acids can be |
| difficult to define as it will vary considerably from | | | | found in oily fish or fish oil supplements and have |
| person to person but on average, the hair on our | | | | powerful anti-inflammatory properties and so can |
| head grows at a rate of around one centimetre a | | | | alleviate any inflammation in the scalp and as they |
| month. | | | | help the blood flow more efficiently they also help to |
| All this said, there are some things you can do to | | | | nourish the scalp. |
| maximise your hair growth potential and encourage it | | | | Massage |
| to grow faster but first it helps if you first have an | | | | Try to massage the scalp on a daily basis. Massage |
| understanding of the hair growth cycle and how the | | | | helps to stimulate the circulation of blood to the hair |
| hair actually grows. | | | | follicle and removes dead skin and helps to unclog |
| The hair growth cycle | | | | pores all of which allow the hair to grow more freely. |
| On average, the human head contains around | | | | A good time to do massage your scalp is when |
| 100,000 hairs, 90% of which are actively growing at | | | | washing your hair. |
| any one time. This growth phase is known as | | | | What to avoido Avoid any pressure on the scalp |
| 'Anagen' and is one of three stages in the hair | | | | from tight pony tails, clips and clasps, elastic bands or |
| growth cycle. It lasts anything from a couple of | | | | anything that restricts your hair, your hair should be |
| years to about six or even ten years in total before | | | | left as free as possible as much as possible. Don't |
| the hair enters the second stage, 'Catagen'. This is | | | | brush your hair too harshly, this can damage your hair |
| where over the next few weeks the hair follicle is | | | | as well as irritate your scalp.o Hair colouring, blow |
| degraded and the hair stops growing. Finally, the hair | | | | drying, straightening, using heated rollers and perming |
| enters into the resting phase or 'Telogen' which lasts | | | | your hair can damage the hair follicle and hinder |
| for several months and during this part of the cycle it | | | | growth as well as make the hair dry and brittle and |
| is perfectly normal to shed a certain amount of hair, | | | | more prone to falling out so refrain from subjecting |
| which can be as much as 100 hairs a day. | | | | your hair to any of these.o Excessive washing of the |
| If we want to give our hair the best chance to grow | | | | hair, particularly with shampoos containing harsh |
| faster and healthier then we need to take full | | | | chemicals can remove the natural oils in the scalp, so |
| advantage of the growth phase of the cycle and | | | | it is important to use a good quality shampoo and |
| make sure that we are doing everything we can to | | | | conditioner and avoid washing the hair every day if |
| minimise hair follicle damage and maximise hair growth | | | | you can. |
| potential. | | | | Conclusion |
| Diet | | | | The best way to encourage faster hair growth is to |
| Healthy hair growth relies on a number of nutrients | | | | adopt a two-fold approach. First, make sure |
| to feed the hair follicle so in the first instance, faster | | | | everything is right on the inside by eating a healthy |
| hair growth starts from the inside and with your diet. | | | | and balanced diet and the second is to try to |
| Any nutritional deficiencies in your diet will show up as | | | | eliminate most or all the factors that can damage |
| dull, lifeless looking hair, poor hair growth, thinning of | | | | your hair or scalp and slow down the growth rate. |
| the hair and even hair loss so making sure you have | | | | Together this will give your hair the best opportunity |
| a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is | | | | to grow to its full potential, not only faster but |
| essential. Fruit and vegetables contain important | | | | healthier too. |