Tips to Increase Hair Growth

On average, hair grows half an inch every month, but some times, that is not fast enough. Today I'm going to share with you all my tips and trick to increase hair growth.

1. Take vitamins. Biotin, folic acid, and fish oil all can help speed up hair growth. Biotin is a type of B vitamin that increases keratin production, improves hair elasticity and makes hair look fuller and healthier. Folic acid is a prenatal vitamin that encourages tissue growth, which is often seen in the hair, skin and nails. The omega3 fatty acids in fish oil nourish the hair follicles and stimulate hair growth.
   
   
   
   
2. Use a shampoo and conditioner made for hair growth. After I got my hair cut, I searched the internet for ways to grow your hair, and I came across Not Your Mothers Way to Grow Long and Strong shampoo and conditioner. This product is amazing! It smells great, but that is only the cherry on top. They are sulfate free, and contain ingredients like biotin and castor oil (both great for hair growth). Along with helping to grow your hair, it keeps your hair super soft and healthy.
   
3. Use the inversion method. The inversion method is a technique used to speed up hair growth. For this method you sit in a chair and hold your head upside down for five minutes while massaging coconut oil into your scalp. This may sound a little extreme, but it actually works. Holding your head upside down increases the blood flow to your scalp, and the massage stimulates the follicles. This method works best if you do it one week every month, because, if it is done too often, you get use to it and it no longer produces the same results.
   
4. Use a hair mask. As I said in my previous post, you can use coconut oil, cinnamon and baking soda to make a simple hair mask that promotes hair growth. Click here to see my diy hair mask.
5. Keep your hair healthy. Many people say that because your hair grows from the roots, not the ends, that getting split ends will not slow down hair growth. It is true that your hair will continue to grow, but dead ends cause hair to look and feel shorter. 

DIY Hair Mask

As you all know, I'm trying everything I can to grow my hair out and among many methods, I've found a hair mask that detoxes your scalp, stimulates hair growth, and moisturizes. You only need three basic ingredients that are probably already in you kitchen; coconut oil, cinnamon, and baking soda.

 Mix two teaspoons of coconut oil, one teaspoon of baking soda, and a half teaspoon of cinnamon in a small glass dish. Next microwave it for a few seconds and stir. To apply the mask, you dip your fingers into the dish, and massage it on to your scalp. When I apply the it, I generally sit in a chair and hold my head upside down between my knees. This makes it easier to apply to your roots, and encourages hair growth (I'll get more into this later). Next, put your hair up in a bun and wrap a hot towel. I usually take a hand towel and run it under the hottest water I can stand, then wring it out before wrapping it on my head. Leave this mask in for 15 minutes to an hour, then shampoo as usual. The cinnamon in the mask may cause your scalp to tingle a little (this means it is working), but if any burning sensations occur, be sure to wash it out right away.

Dealing With a Bad Haircut

Have you ever gotten a bad haircut? I sure have. In fact, I have one right now. I went to my hair dresser and asked to get a few inches off and add in some layers, but instead of a few layers I got one big, chunky layer that is way to short. Sadly, you can't put the hair back, so you just have to deal until  it grows out. Here are my tips for dealing with a bad haircut:

See how the top layer is so thick and uneven.
 It is shorter on the left and the bottom layer is very thin.

1. Realize it will grow out. Hair does grow. You are not sentenced to life with bad hair, but it does take time. There are some tips and tricks out there that may help speed up hair growth, and I've found a few that actually help, so look for those in my upcoming posts.
2. Go to a different hair dresser and see if they can fix it. The day after I got my hair cut, I when to see a different hair dresser in town, and she helped blend out the layer. I still don't really like my hair, but she explained to me what had happened and what she could do to fix it. It is important to go to a different hair dresser because many times your original hair dresser can't see their mistakes.
3. Find a way to wear you hair that you like. It is really hard to find a way to wear you hair if you hate it, but it is doable. Curls, braids, bobby pins, pony tails, or anything else you can think of can help you hide your bad haircut. In fourth grade, I got bangs and they were way, way too short, so I wore them in a poof every day for about six months. With the haircut I have now, I've found that pinning back the front sections hides the chunky layers, along with sleeping with french braids and wearing it wavy the next day.