Our Maria dishes the dirt on why your hair might not be growing as quick as you’d like and tells us what we can do to get the lengthy locks we’ve always dreamed of.  

“It’s one of the most common questions that comes up with clients, week in, week out. People will tell me they’ve tried absolutely everything but no matter what they do their hair just won’t seem to grow past a certain length.” 

First, let me explain the hair cycle 

“Generally speaking, the hair growth cycle has three stages: 

• The Anagen Phase: This is known as the ‘Growth Phase’ or ‘Active Phase’. It’s when the cells in the root of your hair are most rapidly dividing so more new hair is formed. This is the longest stage of the cycle and lasts around 3 - 5 years. 

• The Catagen Phase: This is the hair’s transition phase, we’re it’s neither growing but doesn’t fall out. This lasts around 4 - 6 weeks. 

• The Telogen Phase: This is the ‘resting’ phase. It’s where your hair isn’t in an active phase and you may find more shedding. This lasts around 2 - 3 months.

“Ever noticed that your hair grows more in the summer or that you go through periods where you lose more hair in shower, or you’re finding more on your brush, well it’s all dependent on what part of the cycle that you’re in.” 

How do you make your hair grow? 

“Whilst genetics plays a huge role in how quickly your hair grows, there are lots of things you can do to support healthy hair growth.” 

Maintain a healthy diet 

“Restrictive or low calorie diets can starve your hair of vital minerals that they need to thrive. Supplements such as Vitamin A and B, particularly Biotin, can massively support hair growth. They’re relatively cheap, easy to get hold of and can be found in most drug stores.” 

Try a scalp massage 

A scalp massage can help promote relaxation and relieve stress. But, according to a 2016 study, it may also help boost the health of your hair. 

The study examined the effectiveness of daily, 4-minute scalp massages. After 24 weeks, the researchers found that the nine men involved in the study had thicker hair than at the start. 

“There’s a reason that I always give an intense scalp massage with every wash treatment. Massage helps to dilate the blood vessels under the scalp which helps the hair to grow both thicker and longer.

But, you don’t have to be in the salon to massage your head. Spend 10 minutes doing it yourself whilst you’re in the bath, in front of the TV or as a way of relaxing before you drop off to sleep. 

Obviously, you can massage your head with your hands but tools such as the Hayo’u Jade Body Comb are also a great way to elevate your massage at home as it’s specifically designed to help release tension and support circulation. The Jade stone is also associated with luck, healing and relationships so if you’re lucky, it may help more than just your hair!” 

Book regular trims 

Most of you have probably heard this one before, but it really is essential to have frequent trims to grow and keep your hair healthy. 
Maria explains why: “Having split ends will cause your hair to break further up the strand and will leave you with hair that not only looks thinner, but it will stop growing completely past a certain point. 

You should visit your stylist every 6 - 8 weeks for a trim to prevent split ends. Although, how often you should get your hair cut does depend on your hair type, length, style and what your hair goals are. Speak to your hairdresser about how often you should be sat in the chair or read our blog post on it here.

Hold off the heat 

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, ‘no heat, during the week’. Okay, so it’s probably not do-able for everyone but try to commit to a few days in the week where you don’t style your hair with hot tools at all. Yes, they’re amazing for creating the styles that we love but they can be damaging to your locks. 

If you can’t go cold turkey, try purchasing a straightener that styles the hair at a lower temperature or learn how to style your hair with a hair dryer rather than a straightener or a tong. The average hair dryer gets to a maximum temperature of 140°C, whereas some straighteners, particularly older models, can go as hot as 210°C. And if you do need to pick up a heat styler, make sure you always use a heat protector. 

A couple of my favourites are the GHD Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray and the Philip Kingsley Perfecting Primer Heat Protection Spray and the Redken Styling - Iron Shape 11 as they’re lightweight and effective.” 

Want to unlock your healthiest locks yet? Book your appointment at Red Door Hair Studio now.