12 Tips To Actually Help Your Hair Grow Longer & Faster

“Put simply, your scalp is your hair’s support system, so ensuring it’s healthy will undoubtedly promote healthier growth. The key is to shampoo regularly and use a targeted scalp mask once a week to address any concerns. This doesn’t mean heavy exfoliating shampoos – these can actually damage and weaken the integrity of your hair’s outer protective layer. Instead, try masks with gentler formulas that condition while exfoliating the scalp only – not your actual strands.” – Anabel 

“The hair and scalp can present several concerns at once – for example, roots that feel oily yet lack density, a dandruff-prone scalp alongside dull colour, or brassy blonde seeking root lift. While reaching for just one shampoo may be the norm, having two or three in rotation will ensure every concern is met. While a shampoo isn’t going to make your hair grow at the root, certain formulas contain strengthening ingredients to help prevent breakage that in time can lead to loss. Shampooing regularly, however, will ensure you have a clean, healthy scalp environment for your hair follicles to flourish. Always remember a clean scalp is a healthy scalp and that provides better growth. I recommend our Moisture Balancing Shampoo and our formula for flaky/itchy scalps.” – Anabel   

“A good shampoo will get rid of dead skin cells, dirt, sweat and oil to create an optimal scalp environment. Therefore, shampoos that contain exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid can be beneficial. ‘Hair loss’ shampoos are a myth, as there are many types of hair loss to navigate. Strengthening ingredients will target hair loss in the form of breakage but no shampoo will prevent or stop male or female pattern hair loss, or hair shedding. People are often wary of sulphates but they are simply a type of cleanser – and any shampoo you use needs a cleanser (surfactant) to be fit for the purpose. Some sulphates can be quite harsh, like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), and some are milder, like sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) and sodium coco-sulphate (which is derived from coconut oil). In any event, all sulphates can be packaged nicely within a formula to balance out their effects. Keep in mind that even if a product is ‘sulphate free’, the cleansing agent may not be as widely used, tested or regulated, so it could be more harmful or less effective.” – Anabel 

“Lifestyle factors (like heat styling) can easily shrink 75% of your hair through thinning and breakage? Blow-drying is something we’re all used to doing but ditching the nozzle can work wonders. This is because the nozzle itself concentrates too much heat on what’s already likely to be coloured, bleached or tinted hair. You never want to rest a hairdryer on the hair itself as this guarantees over-drying and further damage. Keep a one-inch distance between your hair and the dryer. Likewise, try to heat style less often and air dry as much as you can. It’s all easier said than done, but looking after yourself and taking a logical approach to your hair will help long-term.” – Michael Van Clarke, hair stylist 

“Hair growth is influenced by many factors – genetics, age, diet, lifestyle, stress and even underlying dermatological conditions. When you start properly caring for your scalp, there are some quick results that can be seen in a few weeks, such as a more balanced scalp or shinier hair. But you’ll need to wait around three to six months to see regrowth, while more noticeable improvements in thickness and density can take up to a year.” – Dr Maria-Angeliki ‘Margot’ Gkini, consultant dermatologist at Hair + Me

“Seeing as hair is non-essential tissue and the last part of us to receive any nutrients we ingest, supplements alone aren’t going to fix your concerns. Hair cells are also the second-fastest dividing cells the body makes, making their energy requirements great. As a demanding but dispensable tissue, it can be difficult to meet your hair’s needs through diet and supplements alone. While it’s true supplements can help over time – alongside a good routine and diet – if you have real concerns about your hair not growing past a certain length or hair thinning or hair shedding, then you need to determine the type of hair loss you have to get the right treatment plan. For example, so many people will take biotin for hair growth, however we conduct thousands of blood tests a year on our clients and it is extremely rare that we find clients who have a biotin deficiency. It pays to work backwards and start slow.” – Anabel 

“Minoxidil is the gold standard for the management of pattern hair loss for both men and women. It works for growth and density as well as thickness, but it doesn’t have a significant effect on hair growth speed. The medication seems to work by promoting the anagen phase (growth phase) of the hair cycle, allowing hairs to grow longer and thicker before they shed. It appears also to cause dilation of the blood vessels on the scalp, which may improve blood flow to hair follicles. Finally, it works by stimulating follicles – as a result, you see thicker, denser hair without faster growing hair shafts.” – Margot

“We don’t offer PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatments at our clinic. However, when administered by a medical professional, they can be effective at treating hair loss and boosting regrowth. PRP is a relatively new form of treatment being used for hair loss, although its use in other fields of medicine dates back many years. It involves blood being taken from the patient and then spun in a special machine called a centrifuge, which separates the blood into its component parts. The platelet-rich layer is then extracted and injected into the scalp where required. It is thought to work by increasing the supply of growth factors to the hair follicle, which may activate hair follicle stem cells and hence help increase hair diameter and density in male and female pattern hair loss. It may also hasten the transition of hair follicles from a resting (telogen) to growing (anagen) phase. Injections are usually given every three months, then at longer intervals as a maintenance. It’s best suited to those with extreme cases of loss or thinning, however trialling other things first is crucial.” – Anabel 

“You don’t need to invest in endless tools – your fingers are still the best way to stimulate your scalp and boost blood flow. This is because they are soft and padded – you can also actually feel what you’re doing, whereas a scalp massager can be abrasive and cause unnecessary tangling and breakage. Microneedling has some encouraging results but only when done in a professional setting. Otherwise, you risk injury, infection and scarring.” – Anabel