Do you crave long and shiny hair? The first thing you need is patience: hair only grows about 15 cm per year, or about 1.25 cm per month on average, and there is not much we can do to speed it up. On the other hand, you can support hair growth by providing proper nutrition and protecting it from damage. There are many parts of hair care that actually damage it: shampooing, styling and coloring your hair, or even simply brushing your hair the wrong way is more likely to do more harm than good. However, with proper care, hair will grow healthy and strong.
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Method 1 of 3: Gentle and Effective Hair Wash
Step 1. Determine your hair type
Hair type is determined by thickness, chemical treatment used, and/or scalp condition.
- A characteristic feature of very thin hair are strands of small diameter. Hair like this tends to look limp and more difficult to style. Very thin hair is also more susceptible to damage from styling and chemical processes.
- Thin hair has less density in every 1 cm square. While each strand may be thin or very thin, this kind of hair is also quite difficult to style like very thin hair.
- On the other hand, thick hair has a greater density in every 1 cm square. Thick hair that is straight, wavy, or curly tends to be drier than thin hair.
- Curly hair is very diverse, from loose to tight. Curly hair tends to be drier than straight hair, and this greatly determines the choice of care products.
- The outer protective layer of chemically colored hair has peeled off, making it highly susceptible to breakage. Special care products for colored hair aim to protect hair while maintaining its color from the effects of heat and water.
- Dry hair is usually the result of overstyling, be it coloring, heating, or using too many alcoholic products. Dry hair is very brittle and breaks easily.
- Oily hair is usually caused by an oily scalp. This type of hair may be difficult to clean, feel sticky, or smell bad. Dandruff may also arise from an oily scalp. This problem can be caused by a variety of factors, including hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiency, or heredity. But ironically, the possible trigger is a dry scalp, which the body then tries to balance by producing large amounts of oil.
Step 2. Choose a shampoo and conditioner according to your hair type
Hair types include normal, thin, dry, oily, colored, and dandruff hair.
- Thin and very thin hair may be compatible with hair care products labeled volumizing, which make them appear bouncy.
- Avoid products containing sulfates (ammonium laureth sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and sodium lauryl sulfate) for curly hair. This compound is a detergent that can lift the moisture in curly hair and make it look frizzy.
- Look for products that contain moisturizing ingredients, especially natural oils like coconut oil, argan oil, avocado oil, jojoba, and grapeseed oil for dry hair. Stay away from products that contain alcohol.
- Colored hair should be washed with a special shampoo so that the color does not fade. Stay away from clarifying shampoos that are too strong for this type of hair.
- For oily hair, choose an oil-free shampoo such as baby shampoo, and a conditioner designed for oily hair.
- Contrary to popular belief, dandruff is caused by an oily scalp. Fungus can grow in the oil and produce irritating compounds that cause flaking of the scalp. Consider shampoos and conditioners that contain tea tree oil, which has natural antifungal properties.
Step 3. Pour the shampoo into your scalp, not the length of your hair
Focus on the oil-producing, namely the hair follicles located under the scalp. Massage a small amount of shampoo into your scalp, and while rinsing let the lather run down the length of your hair shaft.
Step 4. Give a massage to the scalp
Massage on the scalp can help improve blood circulation. The smoother the blood flow to the hair follicles, the more nutrients can be absorbed quickly. Although you can't do it all the time, try massaging your scalp when you're shampooing. After pouring the shampoo, gently massage your fingertips into your scalp, from the back of your neck to your hairline.
Step 5. Wash hair as needed
Very oily hair may need to be washed every day, but dry or normal hair may not be a problem washing every few days. The shampoo contains strong detergent ingredients that remove the hair's natural oils. So, reducing the frequency of shampooing can make hair look and feel healthier.
Step 6. Use conditioner after shampooing
Conditioner can make hair look shiny, supple and reduce frizz, and even protect it from UV rays. Conditioner only needs to be applied to the ends of the hair, so avoid using it on the scalp.
Method 2 of 3: Gentle Styling
Step 1. Be careful with wet hair
Hair is a fiber, think of it like brittle wool. Just like wool, hair is also very fragile when wet. To reduce damage, avoid combing your hair when it's wet, and never use straighteners or curlers on wet hair.
Step 2. Comb the hair from the ends in an upward direction
With a wide-toothed comb, begin to comb and untangle your hair from the ends. Next, trim the part on top, slowly going up. Gentle styling like this is a safer step than pulling the comb from roots to ends.
Try to let your hair dry a little before combing
Step 3. Avoid brushing your hair
Brushing your hair can create friction that damages your cuticles, making your hair frizzy and dull. Trim your hair with a wide-tooth comb as described in step 2, and brush your hair only when you need to style it.
Use a wide brush with dull bristles, so it's gentler on the hair
Step 4. Dry your hair with a t-shirt, not a towel
Towels can create friction, and roughen the hair cuticles, resulting in frizzy looking hair (especially if you rub the towel over your hair). On the other hand, a soft cotton T-shirt absorbs excess water more gently. Instead of rubbing a towel through your hair, try wrapping a t-shirt instead.
Step 5. Reduce the use of heat when styling your hair
Let the hair dry on its own if possible.
- Turn on the hairdryer on the lowest possible setting if you must use it.
- Minimize the contact time between the hair and the straightener by about 3-4 seconds. Also, always apply a heat protectant product beforehand.
Step 6. Reduce the use of chemicals in styling your hair
These chemicals include straighteners, curling irons, dyes (especially those containing ammonia or peroxide), and hair color brighteners/fades. In particular, don't give your hair the same chemical styling over and over again, as this can make it very brittle.
Step 7. Give the oil treatment
You don't have to spend a lot of money to undergo a hot oil treatment. Simply apply coconut or olive oil to dry hair, cover it with a T-shirt, or cover it with a shower cap, and leave it overnight. Rinse the next day with lukewarm water. Repeat this treatment once a week.
Step 8. Trim split ends regularly
While trimming the ends of your hair won't speed up their growth, split ends can hinder the growth of healthy hair. Neglected split ends can extend all the way to the hair roots. Even worse, split ends can split and form new branches. To control this problem, trim your hair every 8-12 weeks and ask your stylist to trim only the ends.
Step 9. Avoid tight hairstyles, especially if your hair is thin
Hairstyles that make you feel grabbed should be avoided. Cornrows extensions and braids can also damage your hair. So it's best to style your hair in a ponytail or loose braids.
Method 3 of 3: Balancing the Body's Nutrients
Step 1. Eat enough protein
Adequate protein consumption is very important for hair health. While the amount of protein your body needs is determined by several factors, including your activity level, the general guideline is 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight, or about 2.8 grams per pound of body weight. Sources of protein include: seafood, low-fat meats, eggs, nuts, milk, cheese, and yogurt.
Step 2. Check your vitamin intake
Iron deficiency anemia can lead to unhealthy hair (as well as a variety of other problems). So, make sure your iron intake is sufficient. B vitamins and biotin can promote healthy hair and scalp. Similarly, a lack of vitamin C intake can also cause hair to grow unhealthy. If your intake of vitamins from food is low, consider taking a multivitamin supplement that contains iron.
Never take more than the recommended daily dose of vitamins, because some vitamins are also toxic in large amounts
Step 3. Increase consumption of fatty acids
Polyunsaturated fats have various benefits for hair. These fats can help hair and skin retain moisture, and reduce dandruff. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds, cereals, and vegetable oils (corn, safflower, soybean, cottonseed, sesame, and sunflower), while walnuts, green beans, flax seeds, and Fish fat contains lots of omega-3 fatty acids.
Step 4. Quit smoking
Although it does not seem to affect changes in nutritional intake, smoking can actually inhibit the delivery of nutrients to the hair due to constriction of blood vessels. As a result, hair looks dull and brittle. Your hair will also look and smell better after quitting smoking.
Step 5. Learn to reduce stress
When stressed, the production of cortisol (a steroid hormone) in the body will increase, resulting in hair loss easily. Make an effort to practice stress-reducing methods, such as meditation, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep.
Step 6. Be wary of products that claim to accelerate hair growth
Many products on the market claim to be able to accelerate hair growth. However, there is no scientific way that can make hair grow faster. So, think carefully before spending big on such a product, whether in pill, shampoo or oil form. What you can do is maintain a healthy scalp and hair with proper care, styling, and nutrition as described in this article.
Step 7. Be patient
The benefits of dietary changes will begin to be felt within at least 3 months. Know that the choices you are making for your body and hair are the right ones, and the benefits will be felt immediately.
Tips
- Try to wash curly hair only 1 or 2 times a week, because conditions tend to be drier.
- Damaged hair cannot be repaired. Fortunately, you can go to the salon and cut off the damaged part. Even if it doesn't seem to support your goal of growing your hair out, be patient and focus your efforts on keeping your hair as healthy as possible.
- Apply olive oil to your hair overnight and cover it with a shower cap. Olive oil contains moisturizing ingredients that will make hair soft and shiny.
- Washing your hair every day can dry out your hair. Wash your hair every 2 days, but take a shower every day. For very oily hair, you can wash it when needed.
- Pour coconut oil into your palms, smooth it out, and run it through your hair. After that, wash with shampoo.
- Use natural products that contain alkane compounds and are best for hair.
- Try not to rub the oil into your hair. Although it makes hair look healthy and dandruff-free, this treatment can slow hair growth in some people.
- Coconut oil, olive oil, and castor oil are the best choices for hair, and can lengthen and strengthen them.
- Mix coconut oil and olive oil, apply it to your hair and leave it overnight. Your hair will grow healthier with this treatment.
- For curly hair, use products like Mizani, Mane & Tail, and Garnier.
