Do you want the long, healthy hair that you see in conditioner commercials? The big question is what is keeping you from having it? Genetics and your environment are some of the factors that can affect your hair growth and as a result, it is easy to tell yourself that your ability to have long and healthy tresses is beyond your control.
The reality is that many other factors that influence how well your hair grows. Among them are certain bad decisions and habits that you do have the power to correct.
Below is a look at some of the most common mistakes that can hinder hair growth and keep you from growing long, lustrous locks:
1. Over-Washing
The main reason that this is a problem is that constant shampooing will strip your hair of its natural oils.
Those oils are there to protect your hair and keep it strong and healthy. If you wash your hair too frequently, it will become dry and dryness results in brittleness.
Your hair will break more easily and thus fail to grow as efficiently as it could. Even if you do not wash your hair on a daily basis, you should still consider products to keep your hair from becoming dry and brittle.
Below are some products that can help to prevent damage from over-washing.
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L’Oreal Paris EverStrong Reconstruct Shampoo
This product will help to restore the benefits of your hair’s natural oils. It can help to make your hair thicker and seal your split ends.
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Matrix Biolage Strengthening Shampoo
This shampoo uses botanically-enriched formulas to improve your hair’s elasticity thus preventing breakage in the future while also enhancing your hair’s vitality.
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Art Naturals Argan Oil Hair Mask
You can repair damaged hair with a deep conditioner that will provide natural treatment for your damaged hair.
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Conair Pro Styler Ionic Conditioning Hair Dryer
Quality ionic hair dryers can prevent excessively dried out hair by emitting charged particles that can cause the cuticle to lie flat. These hair dryers also shorten drying time.
2. Not Protecting Your Hair When Heat Styling
If you are heat styling without providing protection for your hair, you will be severely limiting its growth. Instead of growth, you will get split ends and breakage.
For hair to grow consistently, it has to be healthy. Apply a heat protector when using heat to style your hair. Below are some products formulated for protecting your hair from heat.
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HSI PROFESSIONAL Thermal Protector 450 with Argan oil
This is an essential product if you use a flat iron, curling iron or any other tool for heat styling. It will eliminate frizz and keep your hair hydrated.
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Like Ouidad’s Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel
Heat and humidity gel can keep hair from becoming frizzy while also providing protection from heat styling tools like blow dryers. It is formulated specifically for people with wavy and curly hair.
3. Poor Nutrition
If your diet is poor and unbalanced, this can affect your hair growth. Your body needs the right minerals, vitamins and other nutrients to maintain health and to consistently grow hair. Below are some products that can promote nutrition and hair growth.
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High-Potency Biotin
Biotin is a B vitamin that is available from a wide variety of sources. It is necessary for cell growth and for amino acids and fats to be metabolized. Along with boosting hair growth, it can help with nail growth and with the health of your skin.
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Ultimate Moisturizer
Raw coconut moisturizing oil can be used to create masks for hair growth along with thickness and manageability. This oil delivers nourishment directly to the hair.
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InstaNatural Argan Oil Hair Treatment
This leave-in conditioner delivers nutrients to dry, frizzy hair and split ends. It hydrates and strengthens hair with its blend of carrot seed oil, vitamin A and vitamin E thus maximizing growth and ensuring that hair is healthy and shiny.
4. Not Using the Right Brush
The right brush can provide stimulation for the scalp and thus improve hair growth. In addition, it can reduce your need for styling products that can damage your hair if used in excess.
Another benefit of a good brush is that it can also cut down on how often you wash your hair since it reduces oil buildup on your scalp. The result is that your hair does not look greasy as quickly.
Below are a couple of hairbrushes that can help to improve the health of your hair and enhance growth.
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Styling Essentials Natural Boar Bristles Hairbrush
Boar bristle hairbrushes deliver natural conditioning and are designed to improve the texture of hair. Boar bristles have a unique structure that allows them to carry scalp oils from the base of a hair’s shaft all the way to the end. Because of this, thoroughly brushing your hair with a boar bristle hair brush can improve hair health.
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Brushlab Fresh Ceramic Boar Brush
Not only does this hairbrush have boar bristles, it also has a barrel coated with thermal ceramic that evenly distributes heat and thus helps to prevent damage to your hair from blow-drying.
5. Chemical Curling or Relaxing
Chemical straightening or curling damages your hair’s internal bonds, re-forming them in a different way.
The result is that your hair becomes weaker and duller over time.
It will be more prone to breakage and growth will be slowed as well. There is even worse news as the chemicals used to curl and straighten hair have been linked to balding in women.
Below are some chemical-free options for curling or relaxing your hair.
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Conair Magnetic Rollers
This method is definitely retro and may not be the most comfortable option; however, it is a very effective way to curl hair. Note that the larger the diameter of the rollers you use, the looser the curl will be.
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Foam Rollers
Foam-based rollers may be more comfortable if you intend to use them while sleeping. If you have thicker hair, you may find that it is still damp in the morning.
Blow-dry your hair on a low setting prior to removing the rollers.