Grow Your Hair Faster: 10 Easy Tips

1. Get regular trims

People are always surprised by this one, because trimming seems counterproductive when you are trying to grow length. Taking off wispy, split ends means less breakage travelling up the strand, so you keep the length you grow, and hair looks fuller. Get your hair trimmed every three months and ask your stylist to “dust” the ends, taking off only about half an inch.

2. Avoid Heat Styling

Constant heat styling dries hair out and makes it far more prone to breaking. Let your hair air-dry when you can, or turn your tools down to medium heat, around 250°F, to reduce the risk of damage. Always use a heat protectant.

3. Wash your hair as little as possible

If you currently wash every day, try every other day, adding a day between washes until you are washing once or twice a week. That lets your natural oils moisturize the scalp and travel down the strand. Use Verb dry shampoo in between, and braids, buns and hats will get you through second and third-day hair.

4. Hair oils

Hair oils support shine and strength and help protect the ends. Castor oil is the traditional choice, but plenty of people prefer something lightweight enough for daily use. Verb Ghost Hair Oil smooths and nourishes without weighing hair down, controls frizz and seals dry ends. Use cold-pressed castor oil if you want a heavier scalp treatment, and the Ghost oil through the week for a light finish.

5. Use A Silk Pillowcase

Cotton has larger, rougher fibers than silk, so strands catch as you move overnight. That lifts the outer cuticle, leaving hair prone to frizz and breakage. Silk has finer fibers, keeps the cuticle intact, and creates far less friction, which means smoother hair in the morning. If you would rather not buy a new pillowcase, tie your hair in a loose bun with a soft scrunchie on top of your head instead.

6. Use Hair Masks Weekly

Just as you would use a weekly face mask, give your hair the same attention. Look for masks that moisturize deep into the hair shaft, or that add strengthening protein, depending on whether your hair is dry or fragile.

7. End Your Shower With A Cold Water Rinse

Nobody enjoys this, but a cold rinse helps the outer cuticle lie flat, which leaves hair smoother and less prone to breakage. Even a couple of seconds is worth it.

8. Fix your diet

You are what you eat, and your hair is no exception. Staying properly hydrated and eating well shows up in your hair the same way it shows up in your skin, and a well-nourished scalp is a better environment for growth.

Iron, vitamin D, the B-complex vitamins and zinc all matter for healthy hair. Iron is found in eggs, spinach and chicken. Salmon, mushrooms and sunlight are good sources of vitamin D. The B-complex includes biotin and niacin, and you will find those in avocados, legumes, eggs and whole grains. For zinc, look to lamb, turkey and pumpkin seeds. There is more detail in Breaking Down B Vitamins.

Supplements can help fill genuine gaps, but talk to your doctor before starting one rather than working from a label. Deficiency is worth testing for rather than guessing at.

9. Brush Your Hair With More Care

Over-brushing causes physical damage. Start at the ends and work up towards the scalp so knots come out easily. After washing, use a wide tooth comb from bottom to top and go gently: wet hair is at its most fragile and breaks easily if you pull at it.

10. Switch To A Microfiber Towel

Like cotton pillowcases, bath towels have large fibers that pull and snag. Because most of us wrap hair tightly in a towel after showering, the fragile strands around the face take the worst of it. Microfiber is much finer and far more absorbent, so it lifts moisture without rubbing.

Bonus: Choose growth-friendly shampoo and conditioner

The right shampoo and conditioner make a noticeable difference to overall hair health. Verb Ghost Shampoo and Conditioner suit anyone who wants lightweight hydration that strengthens without weighing hair down. They cleanse gently and reduce tangles, so breakage is not undoing your growth.

Stay Realistic With Your Goals

Don’t get discouraged. Hair grows roughly a quarter to half an inch a month, so patience is most of the work. If flaking or an itchy scalp is part of the picture, read What’s Causing Those White Flakes? and The #1 Reason Your Hair Won’t Grow.