What We Know About Hair Growth
- World-renowned trichologist Philip Kingsley (who’s been in the hair business for many decades) says that the human hair has “the second fastest-growing cells in your body – intestinal cells being the first.”
- The average scalp has approximately 120,000 hairs growing on it at any point.
There’s a lot of manpower involved in the way your hair is “dressed up.” But at the same time, hair is neither an essential tissue nor a vital organ. Your body never puts its nutritional needs ahead of the rest. So any nutritional “imbalance” would take a toll on your hair before anything else.
Hair Growth Tip #1 – Eat Healthy
Our hair reflects our overall health. So it’s no surprise that we need to eat the right things to look a certain way.
For well-nurtured hair – here are the must-haves for a regular diet:
- Water
Your scalp (like your skin) can get dry. You should drink about 1.5-2 liters of water every day – and a little more if you’re exercising or living in warmer conditions. Takamichi Saeki (who runs Takamichi Hair in New York) agrees it’s a good practice to regularly hydrate yourself.
- Protein
Hair is protein-based, so taking in more protein is essential. A serving of 120g of meat protein (for breakfast and lunch) is recommended. For vegetarians – you’ll want to go over 120g of plant-based sources such as nuts, beans, legumes, and tofu. grow your Hair
- Biotin
Hair cells (like all cells) are coated with a fatty membrane. NYC nutritionist Brooke Alpert says that for cells to grow and multiply, it’s about “keeping their fatty membranes healthy, which starts with having the right kind of fat in your diet.” That menu includes rich sources of Biotin: salmon, oysters, avocados, and nuts.- Vitamin C
Vitamin C (a resource for producing collagen) is needed for healthy hair and skin. Alpert also mentions its role as a major antioxidant that “fights off all of the cellular damage we’re doing regularly.” Citrus fruits, sweet potatoes and red peppers are among the top sources of Vitamin C to grow your Hair. - A Good Breakfast
Never underestimate the importance of a nutritious breakfast. It’s the refueling point for most of your body – including your scalp and hair follicles. A meal that’s complete with all of the above provides much-needed energy to form hair cells. - Hair Growth Tip #2 – Avoid Very Cold Showers
Try not to shower with chilly water – or at least try not to use it on your scalp.
Kingsley explains that cooler temperatures may constrict the capillaries on your scalp that “carry nutrients and pick up waste products from the skin’s surface.” As much as possible – you want your blood vessels active to keep the hair cells in good condition.
To stay on the safe side – use lukewarm water when starting off. Get your head soaked without giving it the shock of a sudden change in temperature. When it’s time to rinse at the end, that’s when you can turn up the cold just a little bit.
Hair Growth Tip #3 – Focus On Less Shampoo, More Conditioner
Let’s make this clear: it’s NOT advisable to shampoo your hair every single day. Washing with shampoo can cause the hair to become drier and more brittle. - Rodney Cutler (a stylist who owns Cutler Salons) says it’s best to avoid “shampoos with high levels of detergents and sulfates, as they strip the hair and scalp of natural sebum and oils.”
That greasiness (which not everybody’s comfortable retaining) is exactly what keeps your hair soft and shiny. If you don’t want your hair at any form of risk – you shouldn’t strip the scalp of this oil.
What you really want is to use a good natural men’s hair conditioner every day. This helps maintain the ends of the hair. It minimizes the risk of tangles, split ends, and breakage. It’s meant to replace the natural oils that were washed away and keep the hair moist. Read more
- Vitamin C
Also read: Beard Care: How to Maintain A Beard
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