13 healthy habits to make your hair grow faster and stronger

Your hair is a reflection of your health, which is why it’s so important to take care of it. Healthy habits can help your hair to grow stronger and faster, so it can look its best. Here are 10 healthy habits you can start today to help your hair grow faster and stronger. 

get regular trims

Regular trims remove the parts of your hair that are most vulnerable to splitting and thinning, allowing the remaining healthy hair to continue growing. During each trim, a hairstylist can remove the hair that is most prone to damage, allowing the rest of your hair to remain in its healthy state. With proper maintenance, you can also reduce the risk of knots, breakage and frizz. This will keep your hair looking vibrant, bouncy and healthy. Additionally, regular trims can help create a shape and texture that is both flattering to your face shape and style. Keeping up with trims will ultimately give you a healthier, more vibrant head of hair.

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2. Avoid over-washing

When it comes to washing your hair, it's best to avoid over-washing. Washing your hair too often can cause your hair to lose its natural oils, leading to dry and brittle strands. Those natural oils are essential for keeping your hair healthy and looking its best! It's recommended that you wash your hair about 2-3 times a week, but you may not need to wash your hair every single day. 

If you work out often or live in a humid climate, you may need to wash your hair more often, but if you don't need to, it's a good idea to go a few days between washes. Additionally, on days when you don't wash your hair, you can use a light spray or a dry shampoo, like Cult & King Light Hair Powder (for blondes and silver hair) or Dark Hair Powder (for brunettes and darker) to keep your hair looking and feeling fresh.

If you do over-wash, choose a shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated to replenish the vitamins, minerals and moisture depleted by over-washing like Oway Frequent Use Shampoo and Conditioner.

Cult & King Light Hair Powder

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Cult & King Dark Hair Powder

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Oway Frequent Use Shampoo & Conditioner

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3. Use a scalp exfoliation scrub

Scalp exfoliating scrubs, like Innersense True Enlightenment Scalp Scrub, provide an important part of any good hair care routine. The scrub helps to remove dirt, oil and product buildup from your scalp, which can clog the pores and inhibit healthy hair growth. Regular scalp exfoliation stimulates blood flow to the scalp, which in turn, brings nourishment to the hair follicles, encouraging them to produce strong and healthy strands of hair. This also helps to reduce hair loss and breakage, making your hair appear thicker and fuller. 

“The skin turns over on the scalp like it does on the rest of the body,” Dr. Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare, says, adding that regular exfoliation keeps hair follicles from being clogged. As an added bonus, gently exfoliating your scalp will help to keep dandruff under control. 

For the best results, use a scalp exfoliating scrub one to two times a week. Make sure to use a scrub specifically designed for the scalp and massage it in using your fingertips. Avoid scrubbing too vigorously, as this can cause irritation. For sensitive skin, use a liquid exfoliating shampoo like JuliArt Liquid Exfoliation Shampoo

Finally, always follow up with a moisturizing conditioner to counteract any dryness.

4.  Use a scalp and hair oil treatment

A scalp oil treatment, like Kavella Scalp and Hair Oil Treatment, is a great way to nourish your hair and scalp. It helps to moisturize, nourish, and protect both the scalp and the hair. The oil helps to protect the scalp from dryness and flakiness, and also helps to prevent damage caused by everyday activities such as styling and blow-drying. It also works to restore damaged, weakened hair, and encourage a healthy scalp environment for new hair growth.

To use a scalp oil, start by massaging the oil into the scalp and hair. Gently work the oil from the root to the ends of the hair shaft. Use a wide-tooth comb to help evenly distribute the oil throughout the scalp and hair. Leave the oil on for at least 30 minutes to allow the oil to penetrate deeply. Rinse the oil out with a mild shampoo. Finally, apply a moisturizing conditioner to retain the moisture in the scalp and hair. With regular upkeep and proper maintenance, the scalp oil treatment can help promote healthy hair growth.

5. EAT A BALANCED DIET

A balanced diet focuses on eating whole, unprocessed foods and limiting added sugar, salt, and unhealthy fat. Eating more plant-based foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, and whole grains, is one way to get the vitamins and minerals your hair needs to look and feel its best. Many fresh fruits and vegetables are also high in antioxidants, which can help promote hair growth. Additionally, making healthy proteins like fish, chicken, beans, and lentils a regular part of your diet is key for providing the body with the essential fatty acids it needs for strong and shiny hair. Drinking plenty of water and limiting your intake of alcohol and caffeine may also help keep your hair healthy.

6. Take vitamins

If you’re not getting enough vitamins from your diet, taking a multivitamin can help. Vitamins such as biotin, zinc, and iron can help your hair to grow faster and stronger. Taking a good, high quality vitamin is essential for good health. It can help you absorb more nutrients from your food, fill in any nutritional gaps, and boost your overall energy levels. Depending on your diet, supplementation with various vitamins including A, B Complex, C, D and E can be important for ensuring a balanced diet and optimal health. Additionally, a good quality multivitamin can help boost your immune system, improve digestion, increase your metabolism, and improve overall skin health. Many vitamins can also help improve brain function and can help you handle stress better.

For optimal hair growth, go with a hair-specific vitamin like Viviscal Pro Supplements, a dietary supplement designed to help promote healthy hair growth. The supplement contains a blend of vitamins and minerals to nourish the hair and scalp. It also contains AminoMar C, which is a marine protein complex that helps boost the production of keratin, the building block of hair. These components work together to help strengthen the hair and help promote new and healthy hair growth. Additionally, Viviscal Pro Supplements also contain biotin, which helps to keep hair healthy, shiny, and strong.

7. Avoid using heat styling tools

Heat styling tools can damage your hair, leading to weakened and brittle hair, which can cause breakage and overall slower hair growth. Heat styling tools can also strip your hair of its natural oils and moisture, further damaging it. To keep your hair healthy and growing faster and stronger, it is best to avoid using any heat styling tools, such as curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers. Try using natural hair-styling methods such as braiding and banding instead, and opt for using protective styling products like leave-in conditioners, oils, and serums to keep your hair moisturized and healthy.

Some of our favorite clean, heat protection products includes:

BriogeoFarewell Frizz Heat protection creme

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Evolvh Smart Start Leave-In Conditioner

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Innersense Hair Love Prep Spray

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8. Use the right products

It’s important to choose hair products that are suited to your hair type. Each type of hair has different needs, so make sure to use products that are specifically designed for your hair. Scalp healthy products like Cult & King Tonik Scalp & Hair Purifier balances the pH and sets the stage for healthy hair growth.

9. Avoid tight styles

Hairstyles like tight ponytails, buns, and braids can lead to very damaging effects on your hair health. The pulling and stretching of the hair while being pulled tightly into these styles place extreme amounts of tension on the hair strands, putting a lot of stress on the follicles, ultimately resulting in breakage, thinning, and even hair loss. Long-term hair damage can be prevented by avoiding tightly bound hairstyles. Looser styles that won’t put too much tension on the scalp are the safest route for hair health. Additionally, opt to accessorize with soft products like silk scrunchies and anti-breakage hair ties, like Goomees, to reduce the amount of friction on the hair strands, as well as refrain from excessively blow-drying, curling, and straightening the hair to ensure stronger and faster hair growth.

10. Give yourself a scalp massage

Scalp massages involve gentle manipulation of the scalp using your fingertips or a specialized scalp massager tool. This practice can increase blood flow and circulation in the scalp, which helps to nourish the hair follicles and create an ideal environment for hair growth. By stimulating the scalp, scalp massages can also help to loosen any dirt or buildup that may be blocking the follicles, removing the obstacles to growing healthy hair. Additionally, the relaxing nature of scalp massages can help decrease levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can inhibit healthy hair growth.

Use a scalp massager like Tangle Teezer Scalp Massaging Brush. When combined with the use of nourishing hair products, scalp massage can be a great way to promote healthy, strong hair growth.

11. Get enough sleep

Quality sleep is essential for healthy hair, and it’s important to get enough rest. According to The Hair Care Institute of Trichology’s Essentials of Scalp Care & Pathology, the prime hours for liver repair, immune system repair, skin repair, as well as hair growth are between 10 pm and 2 am. Lack of sleep during this time for prolonged periods may results in scalp problems, such as excessive oil production, itching, and hair loss.  Aim for 7-8 hours per night for maximum hair growth. 

12. Use a stimulating serum

Scalp stimulating serum, like JuliArt Cisper Hair Revitalizing Serum, is a product designed to promote the growth of longer and stronger hair. It is typically formulated with natural ingredients, and these ingredients are meant to stimulate the scalp, strengthen existing hair, and improve blood circulation throughout the scalp and hair follicles. This increased blood flow helps to nourish the scalp, allowing the hair follicles to receive the necessary nutrients to thrive. Additionally, the serum can help to reduce itching and dandruff, allowing the scalp to remain healthy and moisturized. When used regularly, scalp stimulating serum can help to promote faster and stronger hair growth.

Other favorite growth serums

Davines Energizing Superactive

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Oway Vivifying Remedy for Sensitive Scalps

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Oway Densifying Remedy

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13. Reduce stress

Stress is a normal part of life, but it can have a serious impact on your hair growth if it becomes chronic or severe. Stress can cause your hair follicles to shrink and stop producing hair. It can also lead to hair shedding and breakage, as well as an increase in cortisol levels which can cause further hair loss and an imbalance of hormones. Therefore, it's important to find healthy ways to manage and reduce your stress, to ensure your hair is able to grow properly. This may include increasing your physical activity, practicing mindfulness and meditation, eating more nutritious foods, and getting enough sleep. Additionally, it might be beneficial to seek professional help if you are feeling overwhelmed. Finding healthy and effective stress management techniques can help to improve your overall health, as well as promoting healthy hair growth.

By following these 13 healthy habits, you can ensure that your hair will be growing faster and stronger. So start today and give your hair the care it deserves!

Natalie Palomino
written by
Natalie Palomino

Natalie Palomino is a Master Stylist, educator and Founder of North Authentic. Through advanced education and commitment to her craft, she built a vast clientele providing haircare education and hair services. In 2020, she created North Authentic, a conscious haircare retailer that puts the health of its customers and the planet at the forefront.

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