We’ve all been there: you go into the hairdressers for a little trim, and before you know it you’ve agreed to have a few inches taken off so it’s in better condition. Maybe you wanted just the dust off the ends, but the hairdresser had other ideas. Suddenly you find yourself sitting clutching your phone, googling ‘how to make your hair grow super fast.’
Whether you’re trying to grow out the lob, you just want your hair to grow past your shoulders, or you want to grow your hair for a wedding, knowing how to help hair grow can make the process easier, getting you to your desired look and more great hair days.
How to grow hair faster is a tricky one as the hair growth rate is down to a complex mix of things. Bottom line is, that while you can support hair growth, you can’t speed it up.
The good news, though, is that there’s plenty you can do strengthen those strands which means less breakage, fewer trims and a faster track to the length of hair you’re after.
Here’s the lowdown:
How fast does hair grow, actually?
There’s no hard and fast rule here, but experts say that hair usually grows at about half an inch per month, which gives you a total of approximately six inches a year to play with.
But there’s another factor to think about: hair goes through phases where is actively grows. This is called the anagen phase and can last between 2-6 years before the hair’s shed. How long the growth phase lasts for is down to genetics. So, if you’re wondering how to make hair grow faster, the answer is that it comes down to the genes you’ve inherited. Thanks Mum and Dad!
What is within our control is the strength and health of strands. Understanding how to help hair grow strong and how to protect hair against damage is key to making it last. Cue Pantene Grow Strong collection, uniquely formulated to give hair the protection it needs, preventing breakage, split ends and damage.
Hair hacks: How to help hair grow
How to grow hair faster is all about knowing how to minimise damage and breakage, resulting in less of those dreaded trims that end up being a full-blown cut to tidy tresses and get rid of split ends. If you want to learn how to grow hair faster, try adopting these healthy hair habits to protect the strands you have…
• How to grow hair faster: minimise breakage with the right products
Start in the shower by revamping your haircare routine with products that support stronger strands. If those tresses are feeling the aftermath of one too many colour treatments or a little over-styling, Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Shampoo and Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Conditioner will help repair damage, while protecting against further damage caused by styling. Free from mineral oils and colorants, Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Shampoo will help strengthen strands thanks to the Pro-V formula infused with bamboo extract. Use in combination with Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Conditioner for a deeply nourishing treatment that replenishes strands, leaving them clean, hydrated and looking their best – for longer. Remember: conditioning your hair after every shampoo is a must. Read more about how conditioner can help hair growth.
It’s important to remember that hair care doesn’t stop once the tap’s turned off. Follow up your shower routine with Pantene Pro-V Miracles Go Longer Leave-in Cream for hair that grows longer and 100% stronger* with bamboo infused Pro-V nutrient blends. A little worked into damp or dry strands before styling will protect and fortify tresses.
Tip: Brush dry hair before you wash it so, when it comes to conditioning your hair, it’s easier to spread and there’s less tugging or resistance on tresses that are tangled. You might also want to spread the conditioner or mask with your fingers between the hair strands to ensure no strand is missed and all tangles are removed in the shower.
Tip: Brush dry hair before you wash it so, when it comes to conditioning your hair, it’s easier to spread and there’s less tugging or resistance on tresses that are tangled. You might also want to spread the conditioner or mask with your fingers between the hair strands to ensure no strand is missed and all tangles are removed in the shower.
• How to help hair grow: Dial down the heat
Cold showers are known to benefit your heart and health, but did you know the cooler temperature also has benefits for strands? Yep! Turn down the heat when you rinse hair to close the hair cuticle for smoother, shinier tresses. Colder water can also boost blood circulation in the body as it works to warm you up and increased circulation’s beneficial for hair growth.
Tip: Give roots a little added stimulation and lift with Pantene Pro-V Miracles Roots Awakener, infused with caffeine, bamboo and biotin, to create the optimal environment for improved hair growth. Just use it after you get out of the shower – a true wake-up call for hair!
• Treat your tresses to help hair grow faster
Stronger hair means you’ll have fewer split ends. And that means less trims. Fewer trims and less breakage are key to growing hair faster. So, give damaged and fragile strands a deep treat to repair and protect, supporting healthy hair growth.
Whether you have a few minutes or you want to squeeze in some extra haircare during your morning routine, Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Mask is proven to show up to 96% less hair loss from breakage*. This keratin reconstructor mask infused with bamboo and biotin, makes for the perfect treat for tresses if after extra deep conditioning.
• Minimise colour treatments to help hair grow
The colour process can take its toll on the strength of strands, so if you’re trying to grow your hair, limit the salon or at home colour treatments. If you’re opting for highlights, try to avoid strands that are already blonde and try a toning treatment instead. This is kinder to the condition of hair and can prevent hair breakage. Talk to your hairdresser and ensure they’re clear you’re on a mission to grow your hair!
• Brush with care
Switch your hard-bristled brush for a natural-bristle that’s gentler on strands and works to distribute your hair’s natural oils through the lengths. This will prevent hair breakage without compromising results. Tugging your hair’s what you want to avoid here, so invest a little bit of time in brushing, making sure you’re working at knots from the ends of hair upwards. This is the golden rule of brushing hair!
Tip: Watch out for hair ties and clips that snag or pull on tresses. This will result in hair loss from breakage and key to knowing how to grow hair faster is minimising loss of existing hair.
• Go natural with your style
When you can, opt to style your hair naturally to avoid heat damage caused by straighteners, hair dryers and curling tongs. A little up-do a few times a week will make all the difference to the condition of hair. If you do need to use styling tools, use them on a lower heat setting to help hair grow faster by preventing breakage, split ends and further damage caused by moisture loss.
• Take care of the inside, so it shows on the outside
A healthy diet has a big impact on the condition of your hair, skin and nails. A diet rich in nutrients, healthy fats and protein is not only good for your insides, but will start to show on the outside, too! You might notice your nails break, hair feels dry and brittle and your skin breaks out or feels dry when you’re ill. So, staying healthy can have a big impact on helping grow hair faster.
And there you have it! A guide on how to grow hair faster with top hair hacks from the Pantene experts. You’ll be on your way to longer strands, and more great hair days, in no time. Want to know more about the benefits of bamboo for hair? We’ve put together a few handy tips on this too.
*hair loss due to breakage, vs. non conditioning shampoo
**strength against styling damage, vs. non conditioning shampoo