If you’ve ever tried to grow your hair out, I probs don’t need to tell you that it’s a slow, slow process. It varies from person to person but, on average, hair grows around a centimetre per month – meaning even if yours grows quickly, it takes time.
A few years ago, quite a bit of my hair fell out after an intensely stressful period. I had a lot of it before, so it wasn’t that noticeable to anyone but me and my hairdresser, but as it grew back I had a mismatched layer that made it thick at the roots and scraggly at the ends. I had to have regular cuts to remove these unbalanced ends and even out my hair (bob hairstyles do not suit me, so a dramatic chop wasn’t an option).
Now that it’s finally more balanced, I’m trying to grow it even longer than it was before, so thought I’d share the expert-backed tips that are helping me – most of which have been reiterated to me by Zoë Irwin, creative director at John Frieda.
But first I have to stress: if you notice sudden increased hair shedding – i.e. a lot of hair has come out in a short space of time – you must go see your GP. They’ll check there’s nothing serious going on to triggered your hair loss and potentially treat the underlying cause. Otherwise, here’s what’s helping me…
Regular trims
This is the one a lot of us naturally recoil from when trying to grow our hair. I know it’s boring and you’ve heard it before, but regular trims really will keep it growing healthily. And it isn’t just about looks – that frayed end will turn into major breakage, splitting up the hair shaft and ruining that strand of hair. Now imagine that happening all over your head. Trim them regularly and you nip that potential problem in the bud. “You need to build up trust with your hairdresser that they’re not going to cut a lot of the hair off,” says Zoë. “You just need to have a teensy, teensy trim.” I hate to see any length go, but my hair looks and feels so much stronger for it.
Scalp care
A healthy scalp is your starting point for the healthiest hair growth, meaning a clogged scalp is one that will struggle in that department. I’ll regularly reset with a scalp scrub or clarifying shampoo to keep mine clear. How often I do this depends on whether or not I’ve been using a lot of styling products and accumulated build-up – if you use a lot of sprays, gels, waxes and the like, weekly is a good shout. Something I want to get better at is applying a topical scalp product; I’ve got on well with the Cécred drops when I’ve used them in my routine.
Masking regularly
If there’s one thing I’m good at when it comes to my hair, it’s sticking to my weekly best hair mask application. I usually alternate between moisturising and reparative formulas to keep it from becoming dry, brittle and weak. Zoë notes that masking is super important for maintaining the quality of your hair.
“Another key thing when trying to grow your hair is using something to lightly supplement or moisturise the mid-lengths and ends,” she adds. “I generally think a lot of the leave-in lightweight sprays and conditioners are really good for breakage.” Leave-in conditioner is a non-negotiable for me with every wash; I’ll often use a bond-building formula if I haven’t just masked with something similar.
Using less heat
By now we all know heat is super damaging to our hair. First and foremost, no matter what temperature you’re styling your hair, applying a form of heat protection is essential. I love changing up my style and creating different looks, but the less often I use my curling tong or straighteners, the better my hair feels.
I took my straighteners on a recent 10-day trip because they had universal voltage and was shocked how different my hair felt by the end. Depending on if I’m styling my hair curly or smooth, I’ll usually either diffuse or use my Dyson Airstrait, both of which are super gentle drying methods. (I hate that the tool I use most often costs more than £450, but I would have to replace it if anything happened to it.)
Sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase
If you aren’t somebody who already wears a wrap or bonnet to sleep in to protect the hair, swapping in a satin or silk pillow case could be beneficial. You’re essentially reducing the potential for damaging friction on strands when you move around at night. Mine is from Kitsch and costs just £15, a lot cheaper than silk.
kitsch Kitsch Satin Pillowcase for Hair and Skin - Softer Than Silk Pillow Cases for Hair and Face | Cooling Satin Pillowcase | Pillow Case Cover with Zipper | Satin Pillow Cases Standard Size, Leopard
I know hearing ‘be patient’ when you’re looking for answers is one of the top 10 most frustrating things ever. But… hair growth does take time and there’s no magic spell that’ll massively speed it up. Commit to getting your hair into as healthy a state as possible, though, and you’ll prevent a lot of the breakage that slows the process down. You got this!
More hairdresser tips for healthy growth
- Invest in a quality hair brush: And use it regularly! “Brush your hair before you go into the shower to get the knotting out beforehand, and before you go to sleep,” Zoë recommends. “This will take the oils from the root and down the hair shaft, which adds protection and strength to the hair.”
- Rethink your colour: Bleach is notorious for damaging and weakening hair, so scaling this back – particularly in the case of blondes – can help with its overall condition. Zoë says you could move to a soft balayage look to reduce how much lightener is used.
- Head & scalp massage: Great for both relaxation and scalp stimulation, “This will stretch the cells within the follicles, get great scalp action going and help lower cortisol and stress,” says Zoë.
- Try a red light tool: Just as everyone is going wild for LED face masks, some tools will help you see benefits in the scalp. Zoë is a fan of CurrentBody’s LED Hair Growth Helmet.
Lucy Abbersteen (she/her) is a freelance beauty writer for Cosmopolitan UK. Having started her career at Marie Claire UK, she's since also written for titles including Stylist, Refinery29, woman&home and Glamour. Over the years she's done everything from report on the beauty trends at fashion week to grill some of the world's leading hairstylists and derms. Her writing covers everything from buzzy nail trends to haircare know-how and industry deep dives. She even has her own website: lucyabbersteen.com
