How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster

1. Eat Healthy

“Nutrition is the number-one thing that affects hair growth,” says Gregorio Ruggeri, co-owner of Salon Ruggeri in NYC. Ensuring that you’re getting the proper nutrients internally can make a big difference externally, namely in how your hair looks and grows.

What to do: Talk to your doctor about incorporating an oral supplement like biotin, a B vitamin, which strengthens the hair, says Mona Gohara, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Ruggeri says his clients have also seen great results from taking Nutrafol for Women ($88; nutrafol.com), a supplement that contains biotin, along with a variety of vitamins and antioxidants.

2. Adjust Your Styling Habits

Sure, hot tools can give you the exact style you want, but heat is a major cause of hair damage, leading to potential breakage and stunted growth, says Ruggeri.

What to do: Try to cut back on blow-drying, curling, and straightening as much as possible. Granted, that may not be entirely realistic, so if you can’t quit your tools, make sure to coat strands with a heat protectant each and every time, advises Ruggeri. One to try: Briogeo Rosarco Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Crème ($24; sephora.com). Ruggeri also says to be wary of blow-dry bars. Since the goal is to get people in and out, the likelihood of the stylists using extreme temperatures and not being cautious ups the likelihood of damage. His advice for blow-out regulars? Stick with one stylist who you know is careful and takes her time (and BYO heat protectant if you have to).

3. Avoid a Situation On Your Scalp

Healthy hair can only come from a healthy scalp. “You need to keep the follicles clear and healthy in order to ensure healthy hair growth,” says Ruggeri.

What to do: He suggests using an exfoliating scalp scrub weekly to remove product residue and excess oil, creating an environment optimal for hair growth. He likes the Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt ($52; sephora.com). (Or, try a pre-shampoo clay hair mask to absorb excess oil at your roots.)

4. Color Less Frequently

Coloring appointments can also take a toll on your hair, particularly if you’re constantly lightening it, since this requires lifting the cuticle and exposing hair to all kinds of damage.

What to do: “If you’re trying to grow out your hair, consider going as long as possible in between coloring, ideally every 12 weeks,” says Ruggeri. And ask your colorist about incorporating a treatment along with your color, like Olaplex, which can help minimize the damaging effects.

5. Change Your Brushing Technique

Brush the right way and you can actually encourage healthy hair growth. Brush the wrong way, and it can have the opposite effect.

What to do: First, pick the right brush. Ruggeri likes cushion brushes with boar bristles, which are gentler on both scalp and hair than their plastic or nylon counterparts

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