Don't trim your hair every month: Some hairstylists will tell you to cut an inch to half an inch off hair every month, but honestly this will do you no good. Why, you may ask? Because, your hair grows a half an inch every month, so by cutting an inch to half an inch off every month, your hair basically will never grow. But, before you start trying to grow out your long locks, make sure your hair is healthy and not damaged. Hair growth starts at the roots, but hair damage is concentrated near the tips. Prevent the damage from traveling up the shaft of your hair by stopping it in its tracks and hacking it off the ends. So, in theory make sure to cut all your damaged hair off before you start trying to grow long hair, because damaged, long hair is not pretty.
Adjust your washing: Clean hair is certainly desired, but cleansing your hair too often can strip it of the oils that keep it healthy, making it more brittle and prone to breaking. To prevent this premature breakage, minimize the numbers of times you shampoo your hair to 2-3 times a week at most. If you can wash your hair only a single time per week, all the better. When rinsing shampoo off do it with cold water.
Stay away from heat: The high temperatures of blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons may work wonders on taming your locks, but on the downside? They seriously fry your hair and cause a lot of breakage. Avoid using these heat-powered tools whenever possible, and if you must use them, adjust the heat to the lowest setting.
Avoid harsh chemicals: For the same reasons as frequent washing and usage of hot tools, dousing your hair with chemical dyes, relaxers, and perms makes it brittle and more likely to snap. Chemicals may be the most detrimental to long hair growth out of all the causes of damage. Never perm or relax your hair, and if you absolutely must dye it try using an all natural dye like henna.
Protect your hair from the sun: Exposure to UVA and UVB rays present in sunlight can strip your hair down and damage it over time. In general, try to minimize your exposure to direct sunlight or tanning beds to no more than a few hours a day. When you are in the sun though, keep your hair under wraps in a hat or scarf.
Stay in fresh water: Summer weather beckons trips to the pool and beach, but all that salt and chlorine can really do a doozy on your hair. These additives to the water cause it to dry out, making it (you guessed it!) more likely to break. Try to avoid these types of water when possible (use a shower cap!), and if you can’t avoid it condition your hair immediately afterwards.
Eat healthy: The benefits of good eating are seemingly endless, with one of the positive side effects being enhanced hair growth. Minimize the amount of animal fats, sugar, and sodium in your diet and increase the levels of fresh fruits and vegetables that you consume. Doing this will encourage hair growth from the inside out, and strengthen each individual strand of hair over time.
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