15 Tips on How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster and Thicker

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Hair is such a sacred (or, as Beyoncé would say, Cécred) part of us, and the state of our tresses can have a huge impact on how we feel and carry ourselves. So naturally, there are plenty of reasons you might be hunting for a way to make your hair grow faster, from a big chop gone wrong to bangs you regret to breakage-prone strands and genetic or stress-related hair loss.

Of course, you can always rely on the best hair growth oils, hair growth vitamins, and hair growth shampoos to give your hair a boost. However, there are also a ton of other techniques and practices that can take your body, scalp, and hair health to the next level. We tapped a number of experts, including a trichologist, a dermatologist, and a celebrity hairstylist, to gather their best tips and tricks for making your hair grow faster. We also sprinkled in recommendations for products that’ll help you on your journey to achieving the gorgeous long locks you’ve always dreamed of.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet

“While hair holds huge psychological importance, it isn’t an essential tissue in terms of physical health,” explains Anabel Kingsley, trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley. “Hair cells are among the second fastest dividing cells in the body, making hair a very demanding tissue. Since hair is both needy and dispensable, hair growth is highly sensitive to dietary inadequacies, such as skipping meals or restrictive eating.”

Regarding what to eat, Dr. Kingsley recommends incorporating at least a palm-sized portion of protein with breakfast and lunch, adding a portion of complex carbs to each meal, and including iron-rich foods, vitamin B12, and zinc in your weekly diet.

Manage your stress levels

“High-stress levels throw off hormone levels, and they can also inflame and irritate your scalp—both of which can impact hair growth,” says Dr. Kingsley. When you’re stressed, you might not eat well, and your body may also struggle to absorb nutrients, which can harm your strands.

Avoid excessive heat styling

Gold Lust Dry Heat Protection Spray

Chainmail

Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment

We know it can be hard to put down the hot tools, but according to dermatologist and founder of Sobel Skin, Dr. Howard Sobel, “Extreme styling heat and hot temperatures can be damaging to both the hair and the hair shaft, leading to breakage, brittleness, and dehydration, which in turn can slow down hair growth.” And even when you do straighten or curl your strands with heat, apply plenty of heat protectant to ward off as much damage as possible.

Use bond-building products

Absolut Repair Molecular Rinse-Off Serum

Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask

Acidic Bonding Concentrate

Bond-Building Repair Treatment

Breakage is enemy number one when it comes to growing out your hair—your locks won’t appear any longer, no matter how quickly they grow, if your ends keep snapping off. Beyond weekly strengthening treatments like the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, using a molecular bond repair treatment can actually reverse damage from heat and color by using amino acids to restore each strand. There’s a reason why this growing category is one of the top hair trends of 2024.

“Unlike traditional treatments that work superficially, molecular repair treatments (like L’Oréal Professionnel's Absolut Repair Molecular) address the inner structure of the hair. The peptide bonder rebuilds bonds, and 5 amino acids repair hair structure at a molecular level. This means that hair is up to 82 percent stronger, and the hair’s original elasticity and movement are restored. This is a game changer for damaged hair. You can feel the improvement immediately after just one use!” explains Min Kim, the global ambassador of L’Oréal Professionnel.

Regularly treating your hair to those products, as well as being gentle with your hair while styling, brushing, and drying it, will make a huge difference. After all, “harsh brushing can cause breakage, so especially if you have curly, fragile, damaged, or fine hair, be mindful when brushing and styling,” says celebrity hairstylist Marley Xavier. When brushing, Xavier recommends switching to a gentle brush like the Manta detangling brush.

Create a scalp care routine

Scalp Treatment Duo

Revitalizing Scalp Mask

Intense Thickening Hair & Scalp Mask

“Your scalp houses your hair follicles and serves as your hair’s support system, so if it isn’t in good condition, your hair won’t grow as well as it could,” warns Dr. Kingsley. Studies show that a flaky scalp can cause hair loss, and it also impacts the quality and strength of hairs as they emerge from the hair follicle. To encourage a healthy scalp, she suggests adopting a scalp care routine that mirrors your skincare routine—after all, the scalp is skin and benefits from similar TLC. Cleanse (i.e. shampoo) regularly, use a targeted serum daily/nightly, and apply a weekly intensive scalp mask or treatment.

Massage your scalp daily

A daily scalp massage with your fingers or a tool is a great way to stimulate circulation and healthy hair growth. “This helps to increase blood flow to the scalp and remove product build-up and dead skin cells to rev up hair growth,” says Dr. Sobel. “The best time to massage is when you apply a scalp scrub or serum on your scalp,” says Jan Spagnuolo, stylist director at Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa in New York. However, it’s all about consistency, so while a daily massage is the preferred choice, as often as you can is good too.

Get rid of build-up

Wash Day Delight

PEPTIDE PREP Clarifying Detox Shampoo

Detox Shampoo

Cleansing Shampoo

Clarifying Shampoo

CLEAR+ Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

Speaking of build-up, try picking up a clarifying shampoo if you don’t already use one. As we go about our daily lives, sebum, pollutants, and hair products like dry shampoo and nourishing hair masks can pile up on our scalps, which is just as bad as it sounds. In turn, that build-up can prevent beneficial products from properly penetrating your scalp and strands, leading to dry, brittle, breakage-prone hair.

On the other hand, giving your scalp a thorough refreshing rinse with a clarifying shampoo can actually encourage hair growth by stimulating the follicles of your hair. If you really want to get the best out of it, use a clarifying shampoo about once a week or every other week, depending on how oily or dry your scalp tends to be.

There are quite a few options on the market, but we’ve gathered a few editors’ picks here to make the search easier.

Get a health screening

If you’ve noticed a change in your hair, a health screening is a great way to know if you may need to top up on any vitamins, minerals, etc., or just to check everything over. “For example, thyroid issues can interfere with hair growth and thickness,” says Xavier. “Prevention and management are important lines of defense to maintain luscious hair,” he adds.

Take the right supplements

I34 TruFolix Hair Growth & Strengthening Liquid

SuperHair

Women Hair Growth Nutraceutical

Vital Hair Complex

Women's Density Healthy Hair Complex

Growth Cycle Hair Supplement

Due to hair’s high energy demands and considering that your strands are the last to receive nutrients from your body, it can be challenging to meet its requirements through diet alone. Dr. Kingsley recommends, “Taking a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement, along with a protein supplement, can provide your hair with the extra internal support it needs to promote growth.” A nutritional supplement that delivers a cocktail of effective ingredients like collagen, saw palmetto, horsetail extract, and biotin can contribute to overall hair health.

Upgrade your hair care routine

For the best results, consider a personalized hair care routine using high-quality products, ideally curated for you by a hair professional during a proper hair consultation. Spagnuolo explains, “A routine typically includes a sulfate-free shampoo, paraben-free mask or conditioner, a weekly treatment, and a styling serum and/or oil—all of which are tailor-made for your hair type and condition.” Using products designed specifically for your hair type is the key to healthier hair, which, in turn, improves the speed and quality of hair growth. To protect your hair, “it’s essential to avoid products containing sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and silicones that can dehydrate, weigh down your hair, and irritate the scalp,” adds Sobel.

Get trims frequently

“This is not a myth!” emphasizes Spagnuolo. “Regular trims help because the ends of your hair can become thin, straggly, and prone to breakage. Split ends can work their way up your hair shaft and discourage hair growth. So, getting them trimmed regularly keeps the ends of your hair strong, full-looking, and healthier, which, in turn, will help it grow longer and faster.” There isn’t one specific timeframe that’s going to work for everybody, but generally, getting a quick trim every two to three months is a good idea.

Try a serum

Hair Serum

Stem Cell Scalp Serum

GRO Hair Serum

Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density

Many serums on the market promise to keep both the hair and scalp healthy. Just like our complexion, certain lifestyle factors affect the health and appearance of our skin and scalp. Dr. Sobel advises, “Choose lightweight, water-based serums that target hair follicle function, treat dryness and flakiness, and encourage hair growth. Look for naturally energizing and antioxidant-rich ingredients like caffeine, green tea, biotin, and castor oil.”

Switch to a silk pillowcase

If you want immediate change, consider investing in a silk pillowcase. Xavier says, “If you often wake up with very knotty hair, a silk pillowcase can help keep your hair smooth and tangle-free.” Plus, silk is gentle on your skin, as it is less abrasive to hair and skin.

Consult a dermatologist

If your hair is thinning or has changed in appearance (reduced volume and fullness), Dr. Sobel says that you should consult with a physician to determine the underlying causes, such as stress, nutritional deficiencies, or reactions to hair products. “It could also be male or female pattern baldness, which tends to become more prevalent as we age.”

Consider PRP

If you’ve tried everything else on this list without success, PRP (platelet-rich plasma) might be your solution. “This increasingly popular treatment works wonders in improving the function of hair follicles by utilizing high-volume platelets derived from the patient’s own blood,” says Dr. Sobel. As he describes, this “liquid gold” solution stimulates cell regeneration and triggers and maintains the hair’s growth phase. An additional advantage of PRP is that it comes from the individual’s blood, ensuring there are no adverse or allergic reactions to worry about.

Meet the experts

Anabel Kingsley is a trichologist and the brand president of Philip Kingsley.

Dr. Howard Sobel is a dermatologist and the founder of Sobel Skin.

Marley Xavier is a celebrity hairstylist.

Jan Spagnuolo is the stylist director at Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa in New York.

Min Kim is a celebrity colorist and the global ambassador of L’Oréal Professionnel.

Why trust ELLE Beauty?

As a leading publisher of beauty, fashion, and lifestyle content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, Iman Balagam and Carol Lee consulted experts to learn the most updated ways to make your hair grow faster.

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