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10 Best Ways to Boost Hair Growth Medically reviewed by

Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN,
WHNP-BC, FAANP —
Written by Sara Lindberg on
June 18, 2020
About hair growth Proper nutrition Protein intake Caffeine Essential oils

Key nutrients Scalp massage Platelet-rich plasma Less heat Minoxidil

Less coloring Bottom line A DV ERTISEMENT

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You might be wondering if there’s anything you can do to make your hair grow faster. Do any
products help? Can dietary changes speed up growth? And what about medications or
treatments?

In this article, we’ll help answer those questions. We’ll also take a closer look at what can affect
hair growth and the steps you can take to improve the growth of your hair.

How does hair grow?

Here’s a fascinating fact: You’re born with all the hair follicles you’ll ever have — around 5
million to be exact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Of those, about 100,000 follicles are on your scalp. When it comes to losing hair, the AAD says
it’s totally normal to lose about 50 to 100 hairs a day. A DV ERTISEMENT

Hair grows from a root at the bottom of a follicle under your skin. The blood in your scalp goes
to the follicle and supplies oxygen and nutrients to the hair root, which helps your hair grow.

As your hair grows, it will push through your skin and pass by an oil gland. According to the
AAD, it’s the oil from this gland that makes your hair shiny and soft.

What can help your hair grow?

While genetics does play a role in maintaining healthy hair growth, several other factors also
come into play.

Although there’s no magical potion or remedy that will result in instant growth, there are steps
you can take to help your hair grow.
Let’s look at 10 steps that may help your hair grow faster and stronger.

1. Avoid restrictive dieting A DV ERTISEMENT

According to Dr. Lindsey Bordone, a dermatologist at ColumbiaDoctors and assistant professor

of dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center, we can’t control everything that affects
our hair growth. But there are things we can avoid that may cause impaired growth and
increased shedding.

“Restrictive dieting can decrease resources and nutrients needed for hair growth,” said
Bordone.

“And since hair growth is a relatively low priority compared to other bodily functions, hair growth
is halted quickly when your body is placed under stress due to restrictive dieting,” she A DV ERTISEMENT

explained.

“Even after resuming a healthy diet, hair shedding usually goes on for a period of months,” said
Bordone.

2. Check your protein intake

“If your diet is severely restrictive, hair won’t grow optimally, and shedding can occur,” said
Bordone.

“Eating a well-balanced diet with adequate protein intake is important for optimal hair growth,”
she added. “Generally, we recommend 50 grams of protein or more per day.”

3. Try caffeine-infused
Health Conditions
products
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We all know that caffeine can give you an energy boost, but one 2014 study found that it may
also have growth-promoting effects on your hair.

According to the study, caffeine may help promote new hair growth at the molecular, cellular,
and organ levels in both men and women.

If you’re interested in caffeine-infused products, these recommended products are available

online:

Glimmer Goddess’ Organic Caffeine Hair Growth Conditioner has a blend of ingredients,
including caffeine, vitamins, premium oils, and organic plant materials.
TruePure Natural Caffeine Shampoo is infused with caffeine and other ingredients like
niacin, red clover, and vitamins.

4. Explore essential oils

Essential oils not only smell good, but they may also help promote hair growth. A DV ERTISEMENT

One study  found that a daily dose of 400 milligrams of pumpkin seed oil in capsule form
resulted in an increase in hair growth in men. After 24 weeks, the men who took pumpkin seed
oil experienced a 40 percent increase in hair count.
Another study  looked at four groups of mice, each of which was given a different hair
treatment. The treatments consisted of saline, jojoba oil, 3 percent minoxidil, or 3 percent
peppermint oil.
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The study found that the group given peppermint oil showed the most hair growth. This
included a significant increase in dermal thickness, follicle number, and follicle depth.

Research  has also shown that rosemary oil may be just as effective as minoxidil, the active
ingredient in Rogaine, at restoring hair growth.

5. Boost your nutrient profile

Specific vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids are especially important for your overall health and
also play a key role in providing your body with the energy needed for hair growth. This
includes:

biotin
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin E
zinc
iron
omega-3 and omega-6
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
One study found that taking omega-3 and omega-6 supplements for 6 months may help
protect against hair loss.

Data from another study  suggested that lower zinc levels may play a key role in hair loss.

While the research demonstrating the efficacy of biotin is limited, a review of the literature 
found 18 reported cases that showed clinical improvement in both hair and nail health after
biotin supplementation.

If you’re interested in vitamin supplements, these products are available online.

LesLabs Hair Health contains all the essential nutrients to support hair growth. This dietary
supplement contains vitamin A, vitamin E, thiamin, biotin, pantothenic acid, zinc, zinc,
pumpkin seed extract, MSM, and bamboo stem extract.
Sugarbear Hair Vitamins are a vegetarian gummy supplement that contains vitamins A, C,
D, E, vitamins B-6 and B-12, folate, zinc, biotin, pantothenic acid, and more.

6. Indulge in a scalp massage

A scalp massage can help promote relaxation and relieve stress. But, according to a small 2016
study  , it may also help boost the health of your hair.

The study examined the effectiveness of daily, 4-minute scalp massages. After 24 weeks, the
researchers found that the nine men involved in the study had thicker hair than at the start.

While the study didn’t show any noticeable difference in hair growth, it’s thought that a scalp
massage may help dilate blood vessels beneath the skin. This, in turn, may lead to thicker,
stronger hair that’s less likely to break off or become damaged.
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You can get a professional scalp massage or indulge in a do-it-yourself massage at home.

7. Look into platelet-rich plasma treatment

(PRP)
Board certified dermatologist Dr. Sapna Palep of Spring Street Dermatology says using PRP
therapy with patients who have hair loss has shown promise.

While more controlled studies are needed, one study  found that PRP may serve as an
effective treatment option against hair loss.
“PRP is a breakthrough treatment that uses injections of a concentration of a patient’s own
platelets to restore and accelerate hair growth,” she said. “Platelets are protein derived from
one’s own bloodstream and DNA that can act like a stem cell when placed back into the body,”
said Palep. A DV ERTISEMENT

Scalp injections of PRP can jostle awake dormant hair follicles, resulting in more hair growth.

Treatments are once a month, for 3 months, and every 6 months thereafter for maintenance.

8. Hold the heat

Heat from curling irons, hair dryers, and straighteners can damage your hair and cause
breakage. While avoiding heat styling altogether may not be an option, you may want to try
limiting how often you use these tools. Decreasing the temperature of heated styling tools can
also help reduce hair damage.

Additionally, according to a 2011 study  , using a heat protectant product before using a heated A DV ERTISEMENT
styling tool may significantly reduce hair breakage.

Heat treatments work by forming a protective barrier that helps prevent moisture loss when
using heated tools.

If you’re interested in heat protectants, these recommended products are available online:

HSI Professional Argan Oil Thermal Protector is a weightless mist that can help protect
your hair from heat exposure up to 450ºF (232.2ºC).
Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray is a pricier option that can decrease the blow-dry time and
protect your hair from heat at the same time.

9. Talk to your doctor about minoxidil

Vanessa Thomas, a cosmetic chemist and founder of Freelance Formulations, says there are
some ingredients, like minoxidil, that have been clinically tested for hair growth and have shown
positive results.

Used to treat hereditary hair loss at the back of the head, minoxidil is the active ingredient in
Rogaine.

“Some products that contain minoxidil do not need a prescription if the concentration of
minoxidil is under a certain percentage,” said Thomas. However, any product that uses this drug
has to be registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Rogaine doesn’t work for everyone, and it can take up to 4 months to see results.

10. Go easy on coloring your hair A DV ERTISEMENT

“When we dye our hair and change the texture with chemicals, these processes can put stress
on the hair and cause it to break,” said Thomas.

“But when we tone down these processes, hair breaks off less and can seem like it’s growing
faster,” she added.

The bottom line

While genetics does play a role in hair growth, several other factors also come into play. And
while there’s no magical formula for instant hair growth, there are steps you can take to boost
the health and growth of your hair. Was this article helpful?

Eating a healthy diet that includes key nutrients as well as adequate protein is key. Using certain
products and treatments may promote hair growth, while dialing back on heat treatments and Yes No
chemical processing can help, too.

If you’re concerned about hair loss or have trouble getting your hair to grow, you may want to
talk with your doctor about why this may be happening.
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Last medically reviewed on June 18, 2020

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