A few years ago, it finally happened: I got a truly bad haircut. I naively thought it would never happen to me, but a few too many snips landed me with way-too-short curtain bangs for my wavy hair. Suddenly, I was quickly (and def desperately) googling “how to grow your hair fast” like my life depended on it. In my frantic research, I found that the good news is there are plenty of options out there, from hair-growth vitamins and rosemary oil to shampoos for hair growth and hair density routines. But honestly, there were so many directions to go in that I didn’t even know where to begin (or what really works). So you don’t have to fly blind the way I did; we have the help of eight dermatologists, hairstylists, and trichologists (that’s a hair scientist) to guide you through all the trials and tribulations of figuring out the perfect formula to get your hair to grow fast.
But before we dive in too deep, I do wanna clear up one thing: Your DNA, hormones, age, genetics, and overall health are pretty much the only things that really affect how fast your hair grows. So while it’s pretty difficult to actually make your hair grow faster than it already does, following these tips will help boost your scalp and hair health, which is the best place to start to get those long, luscious locks.
How can you grow your hair faster naturally?
If you’re hoping to avoid extra products or treatments, you can definitely encourage your hair to grow faster and healthier naturally. First tip: Not to sound like your mom growing up, but it’s important to develop balanced eating habits. Hair health and growth all start with getting the right nutrition. “There are a lot of people who are vitamin deficient and don’t realize it, because of either dieting, poor nutrition, or intense stress,” trichologist Dominic Burg previously told Cosmo. So if you’re not eating enough (or the right things!) or feeling extra stressed, “Your body will shut down your hair growth first and redirect nutrients and energy to the organs that need it most,” he says, which leaves your hair growth at a standstill (womp). A major key is to make sure you’re getting your protein. FYI, my go-to source is Ballerina Farm Farmer Protein Powder. I use it to make a peanut butter smoothie that's packed with protein every day for breakfast. But protein shouldn’t be your only focus. The best foods to help your hair grow faster, according to dermatologist Hope Mitchell, MD, include:
- Fruits (strawberries, avocados, blueberries, oranges, grapefruit)
- Vegetables (spinach, bell peppers, beans, broccoli)
- Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines)
- Nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds)
- Eggs
- Red meat and chicken
- Beans (lentils, black beans, pinto beans)
- Dairy (yogurt, cottage cheese, almond milk)
Besides eating a balanced diet, there’s one other trick, and it will help more than just your hair growth: de-stressing. It’s easier said than done, and trust me, I get it—someone telling me to calm down immediately stresses me out more. But trying to self-soothe really is a great natural solution here. Cortisol spikes when you're stressed, which can trigger an inflammatory response that makes your hair follicles stay extra long in the rest phase, leading to more shedding and less new hair growth.
Of course, normal day-to-day stressors happen and aren’t entirely within your control. However, there are some things you can do to help curb constant or recurring stress, like meditation and breathing, therapy, exercise, journaling, and practicing better work-life balance (yup!). BTW: If you feel like your stress levels are seriously impacting your hair growth (or worse, causing hair loss), talk to your doctor.
Can you really make your hair grow faster?
So, like we talked about earlier, your hair growth is largely determined by your hormones, health, genetics, and age. So despite what advertisements and product labels may tell you, we’re gonna be real with ya: There’s no topical product that can truly grow your hair faster and longer (unless, of course, your body has a health condition or vitamin deficiency that when resolved can result in hair growth—and in that case, you’d want to visit your doctor). That being said, hair growth requires a healthy scalp, a healthy body, and healthy hair habits to work most effectively. So let’s get into all the tricks and products that’ll make that happen.
1. Use bond-building treatments
Yes, hair growth begins at your scalp, but if your ends are damaged and breaking off your hair will never look longer, right? Enter: Bond-building treatments, which thoroughly saved my own hair after a whole lotta bleaching and heat damage from styling. These treatments essentially restore the bonds in your hair shaft that get broken from chemical treatments, heat, and mechanical damage over time.
They all work a little bit differently. Some use patented formulas that actively restore the broken bonds, while others combine a blend of peptides to rebuild and repair the broken peptide chains in your hair. Other treatments made with peptides or proteins help strengthen your hair and fill in the cracks in your cuticle that lead to breakage.
How often you use a damage-repair product like this def depends on your hair’s damage levels, FYI. When my hair was severely damaged, I would load up on a bond-building treatment once a week. Now that my hair just has a little bit of color damage, I smooth a treatment like Olaplex or K18 through my hair about once or twice a month.
2. Ask your doctor about prescription hair-growth treatments
If you want to get serious about treating hair loss and making your hair grow faster, head to your dermatologist for a prescription option, like spironolactone (a blood pressure medication commonly used off-label in women to treat hormonal acne) that can potentially help increase hair growth over time, board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, has told Cosmo. I’ve been on Spiro for years now to help with my zits, and I do think it’s drastically helped reduce the hair thinning I started to notice beforehand from stress. I’ve even seen new hair growth along my hairline near my temples since I started taking it.
You could also ask your doctor about a compounded-topical treatment, like HairStim, which allows your dermatologist to create a custom cocktail of prescription hair-loss treatments tailored to you. Think: Higher-dose minoxidil than over-the-counter options, topical finasteride, topical spironolactone, retinoids, salicylic acid, and more—all depending on your specific needs and goals. But FYI: HairStim isn’t covered by insurance, and it costs $60 for a 30 to 60-day supply, which can add up over time, as you’ll need to consistently use it for 10 to 12 weeks to see results.
3. Remove build-up
Regularly removing buildup is majorly important for scalp health and hair growth. Why? When your scalp is gunked up with oil, grime, and excess styling products (dry shampoo and hairspray, I'm lookin' at you), you can cause buildup that leads to irritation and inflammation, which could potentially stunt hair growth.
Once a week or every two weeks (depending on your hair type and scalp—more often for oil-prone scalps), do a "reset" wash with a clarifying shampoo to help deeply clean your scalp and get rid of any built-up oil or product.
4. Massage your scalp with oil
Is a scalp massage magically going to make your hair grow faster? No, but it can potentially help by increasing blood circulation to your hair follicles. Even better? Pair it with an oil (bonus points for this option being another natural way to help grow your hair). Hair oiling has been a tradition in Ayurveda for generations, and Ayurvedic hair treatments rely on bhringraj, amla, and brahmi oils to help grow hair long and healthy.
Another good choice: rosemary oil. Although it needs much more evidence to prove that it can help grow hair, rosemary oil has shown some data to *potentially* help encourage growth. One 2015 study compared rosemary oil to 2 percent minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine) when used on men with genetic androgen-related hair loss and found that the two performed similarly. Better yet, rosemary oil was less irritating for most scalps in the study. Why does it work? Well, it's loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients to help reduce inflammation (which is a major cause of hair loss and thinning), as well as antioxidants that supposedly can help increase blood flow to your scalp. Once a day, massage in a few drops of rosemary oil (either already in a formula or mixed with a carrier oil, like castor oil or argan oil) and leave it on your scalp for at least 15 minutes. Because my hair is oily, I always do my rosemary-oil massages before bed, leave it in overnight, then wash my hair in the morning.
5. Try microneedling with PRP for hair growth
PRP therapy, aka platelet-rich plasma therapy, is a treatment where a doctor draws your blood, separates the plasma from it, then re-injects it into your scalp to stimulate follicle activity. If it sounds scary, consider getting a scalp microneedling session (like Morpheus8), in which tiny needles microscopically puncture your skin to encourage collagen production and then your provider massages in the plasma. Much less invasive.
Fair warning: It usually requires four treatments to see results, which can cost between $600 and $1,200 per treatment depending on your location, your provider, etc. “I do think PRP can work in the right patient, but it’s not a guarantee,” Dr. Bhanusali previously told Cosmo. “Studies show that 20 percent of people get a significant improvement [in hair growth], 20 percent get slim-to-no results, and, anecdotally, the other 40 percent get a 10 to 15 percent improvement.”
If you’re afraid of needles/blood or want an at-home option, you can try running a dermaroller over your clean scalp once or twice a week, then massaging in your favorite scalp serum to help with product penetration and stimulate some collagen production (which can, potentially, lead to hair growth over time).
6. Invest in some topical hair-growth products
If you’re concerned your hair isn’t growing fast enough—and/or you’re experiencing hair loss and thinning—book an appointment with a dermatologist ASAP who will help you identify the cause and help you formulate a treatment plan, which might include a topical solution like minoxidil (that’s the active ingredient found in topical products like Rogaine).
“We don’t know the exact mechanism for how it works, but we think a lot of it has to do with increasing blood flow to the scalp,” Dr. Bhanusali has previously told Cosmo. “It’s like giving more water to the plant to help it grow.” If you do decide to try minoxidil-based products, you need to be consistent and commit to using it daily. Usually a five percent minoxidil formula will do the trick.
7. Consider hair-growth vitamins
Heavy on the consider here. First, it’s important to note that hair-growth supplements are not a miracle cure for growing hair faster (and usually won’t even work unless you’re actually deficient in vitamins). They also shouldn’t be taken without talking to your doctor first. Why? Because even though these gummies and vitamins seem innocent, they aren’t regulated by the FDA, meaning they can contain any ingredient they want and claim whatever fact they want.
Not only that, but if you eat at least somewhat balanced foods (more on that below), your body will already be filled with the only hair-strengthening ingredients it needs, like biotin, folic acid, vitamins D, A, C, and E. So doubling up your dose by popping hair supplements won’t make a difference. “Your body only keeps what it needs and then it gets rid of the rest,” says Burg.
That said, if you think you might be vitamin deficient, you could be a solid candidate for hair-growth supplements. But as always, ask your doctor. You’ll want to make sure you’re choosing the right amount (and type) of vitamins to help hair grow faster and longer, and that they won’t interact with any medications you’re currently taking.
8. Create a healthy hair routine
Making a healthy hair routine will do wonders for your scalp and strands. First, focus on some really, really good scalp care. “The dermis contains our hair follicles, glands, nerves, blood vessels, collagen, elastin fibers, and fat cells, so a proper scalp routine will impact the rate of hair growth and the health of your hair fiber,” says trichologist Bridgette Hill. When you take care of your scalp, you’re ensuring that fresh blood and nutrients can easily flow to the hair follicle, she says. So what does proper scalp care look like? According to Hill, a mix of scalp oils, serums, and hair masks with scalp-stimulating ingredients like peppermint or tea tree oils that help increase circulation to the scalp.
Hill also suggests incorporating a proper scalp shampoo once a week. This means you’ll apply shampoo directly to your scalp and let it sit for five minutes before rinsing and conditioning. Pro tip: A hair-color applicator bottle can help easily distribute the shampoo through your scalp. “Also, remember that consistency is key,” says hairstylist Adam Federico. “Work yourself into a scalp-care routine and stick with it. Remember that when it comes to hair health, you’re playing the long game.”
Once your scalp is all set, don’t forget to keep your hair happily moisturized. Conditioner and deep conditioner your hair-growth BFF. “It’s shocking to me how many people skip conditioner when showering,” says hairstylist Mark Townsend, “which is the worst thing you can do for your hair—especially when you’re trying to grow it long.” Why? Because coloring and heat-styling will eventually cause hair strands to get thinner at the bottom, leading to more breakage and shorter lengths. Basically, conditioner is your first defense against the damage that threatens your long-hair goals, because it's actively working to protect and hydrate your hair.
Lastly, as a part of a healthy hair routine, look for products that have caffeine in them. According to Dr. Bhanusali, topical caffeine not only helps stimulate blood flow to your scalp (which is essential for healthy hair growth), but it also helps counteract DHT, the hormone responsible for hair loss (the more you know!). While it’s not guaranteed to grow your hair faster, it’s one of those at-home ingredients that can’t hurt to try.
Head’s up: You’ll need to be patient. It can take months to see results.
9. Trim your hair
Cutting your hair to make your hair grow longer… Yeah, that sounds a little counterproductive. But it’s not, I promise. No matter how well you treat your body, your hair will never look longer if you're not taking proper care of it, which starts with getting regular haircuts and trims. Despite what misleading hair products will tell you, split ends will never get better on their own; they need to be cut off, or they’ll keep splitting higher and higher until the strand of hair breaks off.
So even though it sounds counterintuitive to cut your hair to make it grow “faster” and look longer, it’s a necessity. “Your hair will actually be shorter uncut than it would be if you were to get consistent trims,” says Townsend. He suggests asking your stylist to take just an eighth of an inch off your hair every 10 to 12 weeks to prevent split ends before they even start. Okay, yes, bobs are everywhere right now, but I can still want my hair to grow fast, right?!
10. Wear protective hairstyles
Whether you’re trying to grow out your 4c hair or your 2a waves, you’re going to have the most success at growing your hair “faster” if you stick to a protective style. The general ~equation~ for hair growth is time (see: patience) + hydration (like hair masks and deep conditioners) + low manipulation (which means cutting out the chemical treatments, coloring, and tight styles) = longer hair.
Hair that’s left down is prone to tangling up and drying out (especially at the ends), which is where protective styling is key. Opt for loose twists, rolls, and French braids that you can DIY at home regardless of your hair type, or ask your braider for jumbo box braids or faux twists for a longer-lasting protective style, if you’re working with type 4 hair.
And if you are working with type 4 hair, listen up: “Don’t just braid your dry hair and call it good,” says Jasmine “Jazzee” Green, hairstylist and natural hair expert. “To prep, saturate your wet hair with a ton of leave-in conditioner, then blow-dry with a comb attachment until it’s 100 percent dry, stretching each section with your fingers as you work.” Yup, blow-drying natural hair. With heat. Sounds potentially scary if you're dealing with breakage, but “heat helps the leave-in penetrate your hair cuticle and stretch it, so it won’t shrink up and dry out as quickly in your protective style,” says Green. Just make sure to douse your hair in heat protectant first.
11. Avoid heat and chemical damage
Not to be the bearer of bad news, but avoiding all hair dyes, bleach, and chemical treatments is necessary when growing out your hair, says Dr. Mitchell. When you bleach your hair, it opens up the cuticle of your hair strands, causing significant damage—especially for those with darker hair—every. single. time. Plus, hair that’s been colored or chemically treated is more likely to break, which will require more trims and less length for you.
I hate to say it, but really anything that can damage your hair could potentially be limiting your hair growth potential. Sadly, that includes all the heat styling like curling, straightening, and blow drying. Excess heat can cause breakage, which can make your hair look even shorter, even if you've been putting in all the above work to get your hair to grow longer. For starters, you should limit how often you're using hot tools (generally, once or twice a week at most is a good rule of thumb).
When you are using them, choose the lowest possible temperature for your hair (under 250 degrees for fine hair, under 300 for medium hair, and always under 350 for thick or curly hair). Also, I sound like a broken record, but make sure you're spritzing on a heat protectant every single time to help offset some potential damage.
When it comes to styling in general, “less is more” should be your motto when trying to make your hair grow faster. Dr. Mitchell recommends limiting the use of hair clips, extensions, and tight braided hairstyles that can cause tension (as cute as they look). Even wearing your hair in the same hairstyle every day, like a ponytail or bun, can cause your hair to break over time too, so make sure to regularly switch up your style to help prevent damage.
Frequently asked questions:
How fast does hair grow?
According to ~research~, hair naturally grows at a rate of 0.35 millimeters per day, which equals roughly a half inch per month for a total of six inches per year. Note: The shorter your hair (whether you’re working with a bob, lob, bangs, or a buzz cut), the faster your hair will appear to grow—even though the rate hasn’t changed. That’s why you have to trim your bob so often. Similarly, already-long hair may appear to be at a standstill, when it’s actually steadily growing (barring, of course, medical complications; we’ll give you the scoop on that below).
It’s also important to know that you were born with all of the hair follicles you’ll ever have—between 80,000 to 120,000—meaning you can’t create more hair follicles (or more hair strands) than what you were born with, even if a product claims to give you fuller, thicker hair. That being said, in certain cases, you can potentially stimulate your hair follicles to help with regrowth, which is where all those expert tips and products we talked about above come in.
When should I see a dermatologist about hair growth?
You can see a dermatologist about hair growth at any point in your hair journey, whether you’ve only recently noticed hair loss or you’ve already tried every hair-growth treatment available. “If your hair loss is abrupt and without an identifiable trigger, your scalp is itchy or painful, or if your hair loss or thinning is accompanied by other symptoms, then a trip to the doctor would be especially warranted,” dermatologist Samantha Ellis, MD, previously told Cosmo.
In general, it can’t hurt to see a doctor and get a full blood panel to make sure you’re healthy, as vitamin deficiencies can stunt hair growth. Your dermatologist can also recommend prescription treatments—like higher-strength minoxidil, spironolactone, and finasteride—that actually have research that back up how they work to help encourage hair growth so you can get the results you’re looking for.
Final thoughts:
Although you sadly can’t make your hair grow faster overnight or even within a week, it’s not all doom-and-gloom: You can change up your routine and food habits to make sure your hair can grow as easily and healthily as possible. And just remember that your doctor should always be your first stop when trying to make your hair grow, because only they will be able to tell you what’s really going on inside your body or within your scalp.
Meet the experts:
- Samantha Ellis, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Danville, CA. She’s also a clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of California Davis.
- Mark Townsend is a celebrity hairstylist and creative director at Collective Labs, a hair-growth brand that specializes in topical and oral products.
- Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery in New York City. Dr. Bhanusali is also the founder of HairStim, a custom-compounded hair loss formula that’s created and prescribed by your own dermatologist.
- Hope Mitchell, MD, is a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist, as well as the founder of Mitchell Dermatology in Perrysburg, Ohio.
- Bridgette Hill is a certified trichologist and founder of Root Cause Scalp Analysis, a virtual platform that offers personalized scalp analyses and treatment plans.
- Dominic Burg is a certified trichologist and chief scientist at Evolis Professional.
- Adam Federico is a hairstylist, educator, and also the director of content at R+Co.
- Jasmine “Jazzee” Green is a hairstylist and natural-hair expert based in New York City.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching and writing beauty content, including hair tips.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories.
Additional reporting for this story was conducted by Chloe Metzger, a former deputy beauty director who has written beauty stories for over a decade.
Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan and was previously the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
