You have all the hair follicles you will ever have when you are born. There are roughly 100,000 hair follicles on your scalp alone. Hair thinning and/or baldness is brought on by follicles slowing down or ceasing to produce hair.
Everyone’s hair grows at different rates.
Your hair’s rate of growth is influenced by things like:
· genetics or family history
· age
· type of hair
· hormonal changes
· lack of adequate nutrition
· certain medications
· stress
· recent weight loss
· trauma that damages follicles
· specific health issues
Little is known about the prospect of accelerating hair growth, and research is still being done to better understand how your body’s cells control hair development. However, there are steps you can take to promote healthy hair and maintain the growth rate.
Continue reading to discover the science of hair development and how to apply it to achieve healthier hair.
The stages of hair growth
Hair grows from the hair follicle underneath the skin. Between starting to grow and falling out years later, each hair passes through 3 (main) stages. Each strand of hair follows its timeline:
1. Anagen Phase – Hair goes through an active growth period for 2 to 8 years that determines the length of the hair.
2. Catagen Phase – Transition phase of two to three weeks where hair follicle detaches from its root.
3. Telogen Phase – Also referred to as the resting phase and lasts about 3–4 months.
Approximately 90% of the hair follicles on the scalp are in the anagen phase at any given moment, and 10 – 15% are in the telogen phase. The last group is responsible for the 100 to 150 hair strands that fall out every day. If hair enters the resting phase too early, excess shedding and/or noticeable thinning occurs.
How to make your hair grow stronger
1. Topical or oral medications
People who experience hair loss are typically advised to use topical or oral medications to promote hair growth.
According to studies, the following products encourage hair development and aid in the treatment of alopecia (hair loss):
· Prescription finasteride oral or topical. Promotes hair growth and reduces the rate of hair loss in androgenetic alopecia, also known as male-pattern baldness, by decreasing the amount of DHT which is the natural body hormone associated with androgenetic alopecia.
· Topical or oral minox(idil). Promotes hair growth in 3 ways – by extending each follicles’ growth phase (thereby reversing miniaturisation of hair follicles), increasing the blood flow around the hair follicles and stimulating follicles to move into the growth phase.
· Topical metformin. Early studies have shown that topical metformin can be beneficial in stimulating hair growth in certain fibrosing hair loss conditions as well as androgenetic alopecia due to its ability to reduce androgen levels as well as toxic lipid build up in hair follicles.
- Topical melatonin (limited data). Might be considered as an alternative to finasteride and minox(idil) for the treatment of male-pattern baldness due to its potent antioxidant and growth modulator properties. It may reduce hair loss and increase the anagen growth cycle.
2. Keep up with vitamins and nutrients
There are supplements you can take to keep your hair healthy and long even though there isn’t a simple solution to make it grow more quickly overnight.
It is however recommended that you consult your doctor before using dietary supplements such as biotin, iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D3. Supplemental vs. treatment doses differ and can accurately be managed by screening for any deficiencies associated with hair loss and treating accordingly to avoid any unforeseen adverse effects or interferences with any medications you take.
Although many businesses advertise vitamins or supplements to encourage hair development, they don’t always have a noticeable impact. Your body needs a lot of energy to develop your hair, therefore it may suffer if you consume too few calories and specific nutrients. For this reason it is important to get enough protein, vitamins and nutrients in your diet and to avoid extreme or yo-yo dieting and large calorie deficits.
3. Caffeinate your follicles
It has been demonstrated in laboratory settings that caffeine encourages hair growth, with women’s follicles being more susceptible to its effects.
Although further research is required to determine whether caffeine promotes hair development in vivo (in/on the body), preliminary findings suggest that topical formulations may lessen hair loss, particularly when used in conjunction with minox(idil).
Therefore, caffeine-containing hair products may be helpful.
4. Take keratin supplements
Hair is made up of dead skin cells and keratin.
Protein supplements, such as keratin, may enhance hair health in people who are deficient because hair loss is a common indication of protein insufficiency. In addition, little is known about how keratin and proteins affect the health of hair.
Keratin may help improve damaged hair, lessen hair loss, and enhance hair diameter, according to one test-tube study. To learn more about how this nutrient might promote hair development, however, more study is required.
5. Use a topical protein treatment
Protein promotes hair growth and shields it from environmental and chemical harm. A low protein diet may be linked to slower hair development, according to several studies.
Generally speaking, getting protein from your food is preferable to using supplements. Some fruits, nuts, yoghurt, and foods like lean meat and fish are also excellent sources.
Using a protein treatment on your hair could help protect it if you frequently style or heat-style it. These products are widely available for purchase.
6. Apply essential oils/carrier oils
In one review, researchers found that essential oils can improve scalp health. Still, there is a lack of evidence proving that any essential oil will make your hair grow faster.
Another review found that the below essential oils may benefit hair loss:
· lavender
· chamomile
· thyme
· peppermint
· garlic extract
Although research indicates there may be health advantages, the FDA neither monitors nor controls the quality or purity of essential oils. Before utilizing essential oils, you should see a healthcare provider, and you should always check the calibre of a brand’s products. Always test an essential oil on your arm first.
Tips for hair growth
Healthy hair practices and an overall healthy lifestyle are necessary for healthy hair development. The following are some methods for encouraging hair growth:
· Get enough protein in your diet.
· Avoid extreme or yo-yo dieting and large calorie deficits.
· Choose hair products tailored to your hair type.
· Take regular breaks between thermal styling tools.
· Protect your hair from the sun, chlorine, and other elements.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/grow-hair-faster#fa-qs
