This is a collaborative post. Please see the disclosure page for more information. Disclaimer – always verify medical information with your doctor or a professional and follow all laws for your location.
Are you wanting to grow longer, healthier hair? I’ve been trying my entire life to grow my hair past my shoulder blades and finally over the last couple years have reached that goal! It hasn’t been easy but these tips for growing longer hair have helped.
About 6 years ago, I made the mistake of sitting in the chair of a stylist I didn’t know. She might have actually been a good stylist but having a bad (apparently oh, so bad) day and exacted her revenge on my locks. I just asked for a trim… no layers. I think she heard, “Give me a bowl cut, a bob, and a trim at the bottom.”
My head looked like a topiary crying when I left the chair.
I vowed to never get even a trim without a spotter. Yep, I’m that person. My sweet husband goes with me each time I get a haircut now, and I have him stand next to me when I’m in the chair making sure there’s only so much trimmed at a time. (I can’t believe that he and the stylist puts up with me or maybe she thinks my husband is a crazy control freak… little does she know that is actually me.)
Between keeping an eye on the scissors plus the following tips, my hair is finally past my shoulder blades. Check out the tips out below –
Get a Base Line
When trying to reach a goal, how do you know if you’re moving forward? Get a base line. For figuring out whether your hair is growing or not, try using an old t-shirt, a tape measure and permanent marker. Brush your hair as much as possible. You might even consider straightening it to get an accurate length. Put on the tshirt and make sure to note how the tshirt sits on your shoulder so you can do your best to have it on the same place on your shoulders each time. Now have someone mark on the shirt where the bottom of your hair is and includes the date that you measured this. Take the off and lay it on a flat surface. Now put marks every inch down from your original measurement mark. Tah dah! Now you can see your progress over the months or over the years like in slow hair growing like me.
This is what my husband came up with 3 years ago. And it’s told me a bunch about how slowly, oooo sooooo slowly, that my hair grows. And it’s helped us figure out what is helping with my hair growing and what isn’t helping as much. Although the last bit of time we haven’t kept up with it was much or noted all the haircuts, it’s still helpful and also keeps me motivated to reach my dream.
Stress Less
Easier said than done, right? Stress can play such a negative affect in health. In general, the stress hormone cortisol is no good in the long haul. According to Precision Analytics Inc, “…for some, spiked stress levels can disrupt the hair’s natural growth cycle, which may lead to excessive shedding and hair loss.” My family member has this problem when she is under considerable stress for a length of time, she gets this bald spot which in turn stresses her out even more. I also notice my hair sheds more when I’m under stress as well.
So how can we stress less? Take time to relax. Pray (or meditate). Write down what is stressing you – is it your job, family issues, chores, etc. Then write down a plan to organize or tackle those things whether that means addressing them, seeking help with them, eliminating things off the list that aren’t important afterall and concentrate on what matters the most, etc. Follow the mantra of “What’s the next right thing to do in the next 5 minutes?” Speak with a specialist, trusted friend, or counselor about your concerns.
Get Sufficient Sleep
Raise your hand if you are sleep deprived. Medical News Today claims that most Americans are sleep deprived (and maybe that’s gotten worse in my life with on demand TV like Amazon+ LOL). Guess what… that can cause your body to be less healthy and can also add to stress. This in turn makes your hair less healthy.
If you’ve read this blog for a long time, you might have notice that I have trouble sleeping and am all for natural and healthy ways to get a good nights sleep. Many people swear by melatonin like one of my neighbors which can be consumed in many different forms including melatonin sleep gummies and vegan sleep gummies. I’m sure you’ve also heard but just in case, you need a nighttime routine to wind down before going to sleep. I’m guilty of this but really put down your phone and turn off the TV and the computer and the tablet and the whatever electronic at least 30 minutes before you need to fall asleep for a better night’s rest. Your body and hair will thank you in the long run.
Strengthen Your Hair
The older I get, the more breakage my hair suffers. That means shorter hair in the long run. There are two ways to strengthen your hair – from the inside and the outside. Be sure you are eating foods that are rich in nutrients. You can also take vitamins specifically for hair and biotin(B7) which can be good for your health and your hair, but be sure to speak with your doctor before taking any supplements.
Also consider using a hydrating hair mask that includes shea butter or other oils. Make sure that you also use products to protect your hair before using a curling iron, hair dryer, or flat iron. Remember to not brush your hair while it’s wet. This is when it is weakest. And if you have the time, it’s best to let your hair air dry. These are just some of the ways to strengthen your hair which is essential to reach your goal length.
Make sure your Scalp Is Healthy
Get to the “root” of any hair growth problem by keeping your scalp healthy. (Pun intended.) If you have problems with dandruff, use a shampoo with salicylic acid or anti fungal properties. I have been using tea tree oil for a long time and it seems to help. And have previously have used Head & Shoulders that has helped as well. Be sure to speak with a dermatologist regarding your scalp and hair.
Recently, we learned that our kids have psoriasis which can affect the scalp, and we had been treating the kids for foot fungus which turns out is psoriasis. So that meant for 2+ months my poor kids dealt with scaly feet which was being made worse by all the scrubbing and treatments. In figuring out that they have psoriasis affecting their feet, the dermotalogist check the scalp and sure enough… psoriasis. Ok, ok, I have gone way off topic, kind of, but I’m hoping you get the point about the importance of seeing a dermatologist if you are having trouble with your scalp. Plus, they might be able to help you with improving the health of your hair.
These are just some of the myriads of tips for growing longer hair. Don’t forget to make your growth chart shirt to keep up with your progress. Let me know how it goes in the comment below.
Click here for more Health&Beauty articles.
If you are feeling down or depressed for more days than not, please seek medical attention. If you are feeling like you cannot go on, please call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or chat here>>> https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/ Or visit the suicide prevention lifeline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
",
source:"wp"
});
Leave a Reply