Can I speed up hair growth?

July 10, 2010 8:08 PM

Is there anything I can do to actually make my hair grow faster?

I'm in the in-between stage that resembles a mullet too much for my liking, but know if I start trimming it, I won't be able to stop! Is there anything I can put on it / eat / pray to the FSM that will speed up the growing process?

posted by youcancallmeal to clothing, beauty, & fashion (19 answers total)

I've heard that prenatal vitamins make some women's hair grow faster, but that's just anecdote. Realistically, probably not. Get some barrettes or a headband or whatever suits your fancy.
posted by decathecting at 8:17 PM on July 10, 2010

Pregnancy makes hair grow (and fall out) faster. Probably people associate the pills with the hair growth but it's a corollary not causative factor.

I've never heard of anything that makes hair grow faster. Hats? ):
posted by serazin at 8:19 PM on July 10, 2010

(I don't mean hats make it grow faster! Only that they cover the in-between stage.)
posted by serazin at 8:19 PM on July 10, 2010

If the thing you're most concerned about is the mullet look, just get the back trimmed up and leave the front alone, then it'll look more even and less mullet-like while you're waiting for it to grow out.
posted by amyms at 8:30 PM on July 10, 2010

Biotin supplements may or may not help. I think I've seen a study showing that it led to faster hoof growth in goats (or something like that), if that's any help. I've seen claims that it helps with both hair and nail growth.

I am not 100% sure that it's a great and safe idea - not like ZOMG this will kill you, but I remember feeling a tad uneasy after reading about it in depth a few years ago, even though it's just a B vitamin.
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:34 PM on July 10, 2010

WARNING: NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF AT ALL

1) I've heard rubbing slices of ginger on your chin can make one grow a stache faster. Perhaps it will work with your scalp too?

2) I've heard massage your scalp (esp. during shower) helps your hair grow faster. (This is probably a good thing to do regardless).

3) I've heard that washing your hair more often will make it grow faster. (But it will make your hair softer and may increase loss of hair. Again, no scientific proof.)

4) I've heard that trying different shampoo will make your hair more healthy, not sure if it will make it grow faster.

5) Try "Mane and Tail" shampoo?

Keep a regular, healthy schedule and diet can only help. Good luck!
posted by jstarlee at 8:34 PM on July 10, 2010

I remember having Biotin recommended to me by a hairstylist a long time ago when I asked a similar question. A quick internet search leads me to believe that unless you're naturally deficient, it may not do much for you, but maybe there are some experts about who can inform you better.
posted by Several Unnamed Sources at 8:37 PM on July 10, 2010

Ah, here's the study:
Effect of supplementary dietary biotin on hoof growth and hoof growth rate in ponies: a controlled trial.

It's a stretch, I know.
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:54 PM on July 10, 2010

Just to clear up the pregnancy connection: my understanding is that pregnancy doesn't make your hair grow faster (nor do prenatal vitamins) but rather, pregnancy causes you to retain your hair rather than let it fall out at its normal rate, causing it to appear thicker and more lush (all over). Then, at a certain point after delivery, a hormonal shift occurs so that the hair that never fell out all during pregnancy all falls out more or less at once, causing a woman to believe she is about to go bald. Generally though, she nets out with the same amount of hair she started with. Your mileage may vary.

TL; DR: don't get pregnant thinking it will make your hair grow faster, and prenatal vitamins won't do anything but make your pee smell funny. Just eat right and avoid things that will damage the hair shaft so you don't end up losing length from the bottom up. Regular trims may sound counter-intuitive, but if your hair is dry, or if you process it with heat or chemicals, you'll be better off having the ends trimmed regularly.
posted by padraigin at 9:03 PM on July 10, 2010 [2 favorites]

Warning: Anecdotal evidence only!

I grew up in a part of India where long hair was (is?) coveted and there were all kinds of "hair growth oil" brands. My mom used to insist that I use pure coconut oil to massage the scalp before shampooing, and later I switched to coconut oil with arnica and calendula in it. I did have fast-growing hair, but I suspect that is hereditary! (I am lazy and don't use any kind of oil these days, and my hair still grows pretty fast)

Other so called "Ayurvedic" options that should be available in any Indian grocery store are "Godrej Anoop 100% Herbal Hair Oil", "Dabur Amla Hair Oil", and "Neelibhringadi". I think all of them have a coconut oil base with various herbs added. I haven't used any of these, but from their online reviews, they seem to be very popular. Amazon carries some of these, and you can look at the reviews and the ingredients. The first two are very well known brands, but make sure you look at the ingredients if you plan to use them. Here is a random website that came up when I searched for "Ayurvedic hair oils" about the different kinds of scalp massage oils.

In spite of all the above, I personally think it's the massage (rather than any specific oil) that works!)
posted by prenominal at 9:27 PM on July 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

jstarlee, there's a reason there is "NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF AT ALL" for any of your suggestions. If any of those ideas worked, someone would patent the process (our clinically-proven scalp massage technique!), and make a mint.

Seriously. The hair-care industry rests almost entirely on unproven hype and scientific-sounding bullshit.
posted by IAmBroom at 9:30 PM on July 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

I know it doesn't answer your question, but I used to wear minipigtails when growing out my pixie cut. That and regular trims to the long ends got me through the awkward phase.
posted by emilyd22222 at 10:00 PM on July 10, 2010

Yeah there is pretty much nothing proven to make your hair grow faster. Your hair has a natural growth rate that you can't really change. I agree with amyms - go to a trusted stylist and ask them to even up the back a little bit. Or go with the cute pigtail look!
posted by radioamy at 10:26 PM on July 10, 2010

Have parents whose hair grows fast.

And also, eat healthily. I mean, balanced diet full of avocados, olives, fruit and veggies of all sorts. And dairy products. This will not make your hair grow faster, but it will make it look thicker and shinier. Drink a lot of water, too.
posted by deep thought sunstar at 11:17 PM on July 10, 2010

I am a guy, my hair grows fast, so I cut it once every 3-4 weeks. When it grows faster than usual, it's very obvious to me. I noticed that when I drink a lot of milk, it tends to grow faster. I thought it was just in my head (pun intended!), but I actually tested it out and it seems to be true. I usually don't drink milk, but when I add it to my diet at about one glass per day, my hair (and nails) all seem to grow faster.
posted by Reese88 at 5:48 AM on July 11, 2010

My hairdresser says that nothing really makes hair grow faster. Some things work by straightening curvy hair temporarily, giving it a little more perceived length.

However, he noted that hair grows much faster during summer.

Go spend more time outdoors?
posted by porpoise at 2:09 PM on July 11, 2010

My hairdresser claims that hair grows faster in the summer because we are more active and drink more water. She also says scalp massage will increase hair growth. I have no data to back this up, of course.
posted by thejanna at 7:19 AM on July 12, 2010

Find a good stylist and get them to tidy up your hair - it'll grow as fast or as slow as it wants to but you'll look good nevertheless.
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:07 PM on July 17, 2010

I agree with the suggestion to cut the mullet shape off. I grow my hair out and then cut it very short every few years and I've found the key to pain-free re-growing is to keep the back short, much shorter than the front, and grow the front and sides out first- It usually begins with a cute skater cut, grows into a bob, and then ends up even just above the shoulders. Remember the hair on the back of your head, especially towards the neck, does not have very far to go to 'catch up' with the rest. No need for mullets!
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 2:33 PM on July 17, 2010