To be quite honest, we’re a little tired of the phrase “you always want what you can’t have” or “the grass is always greener,” especially when it comes to coveting another’s long tresses. It keeps us from going for that earlobe-grazing, collarbone-popping bob we always wanted in fear of losing lengths that take forever to get back, or worse, holding onto sad, dead straw ends because we can’t seem to part with the time spent on the growth.
We support a more positive spin on that idea of hair scarcity and say that the grass is greenest where you water it. And while that does include some amazing products, it’s also about taking care of yourself and nourishing from the inside out.
Healthy hair growth is a natural process, so when you hear someone tout, “This product made my hair grow like crazy overnight!” just know that it ain’t the truth, honey. The reality is that all our bodies are different. Though the smallest of changes can tweak the time in which our hair grows, nothing will make your tips reach your hips at superhuman speed.
Dr. Lamees Hamdan is a professional who has dedicated her studies to all aspects of health and beauty. She understands deeply that one does not go without the other. Everything from skin symptoms to hair loss to one’s general glow is intertwined.
She explains that the first and most obvious aspect to address if you’re worried your hair has slowed growth or is falling out is to check in with your protein intake. “Hair is a protein called keratin, so you need to make sure you are eating enough protein. Collagen hydrolysate powder is a great and easily digestible form of protein.” Bone broth is also a great form of this type of collagen.
Another super simple thing to remember about your scalp is that there is skin under there, and tons of tiny blood vessels. Massage and gua sha bring oxygen-filled blood to the surface of our skin and makes our faces glow. Even though your scalp doesn’t get much air-time, Dr. Lamees notes that “getting adequate blood flow to the scalp area is helpful, and you can do a quick and easy self scalp massage every day.” You can go for a full de-stress scalp massage that makes you look windblown, or just give your scalp a little love with your fingertips for under a minute to get circulation going.
Do a cold rinse at the end of your shower to seal the shaft and get some extra shine. On that note, it’s important to pay attention to your water quality for scalp and hair health. Wherever you live (but especially those in Southern California, yikes) you should definitely consider getting a showerhead filter to clean out gross debris and most importantly, chlorine, from the regular tap. You should be doing this anyway. This filter is super effective and affordable—seriously, just get it.
After the shower, careful how you treat your wet hair! Sopping wet hair is incredibly susceptible to damage, and brushing it right away or scrubbing it with a rough terry cloth towel is what causes frizz and breakage, basically shredding it. Use a microfiber towel to dry your hair quickly but also gently, to reveal soft, shiny, strong hair. While heated tools are clearly not the best way to baby your hair into thick, long locks, in a pinch, using this towel before you blow-dry will minimize the damage.