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How to Make Your Hair Grow Thicker and Faster with 8 Simple Steps

Tagged in: Hair Health

by Dr. Bryan Do, D.O. Last Updated: March 06, 2019

How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster and Thicker

You are born with about 5 million hair follicles, about 100,000 of which are on your scalp. On average, you lose about 50 to 100 strands of hair every day, a result of each follicle not growing hair at the same time.¹ Your hair grows at a rate of about half an inch per month or 6 inches per year. However, that rate can fluctuate based on your age, general health, and certain environmental factors.² Some studies suggest that hair growth rate may vary based on race, gender, and season.³

However, as you get older, your hair growth tends to slow down. Some of your hair follicles stop producing hair altogether, resulting in baldness.⁴ Therefore, it is important take on daily habits that will prevent hair loss.

What Makes Your Hair Grow Faster?

If you’re wondering how to make thin hair thicker, it often comes down to:

providing your hair with the right vitamins and nutrients
balancing of hormones
maintaining good scalp environment for growth.

While there are no solutions to how to make hair grow faster overnight, taking the right steps can encourage hair growth and health in the long term. If you're wondering how to make hair thicker and fuller naturally, read more below.

Home Remedies for Hair Growth

1. Take Vitamins and Minerals

While not all vitamins and nutrients directly affect hair growth, the process does require a great deal of energy. Vitamins and nutrients can help to fuel the hair growth process and provide your scalp with the right resources for healthy hair. Some vitamins to incorporate into your diet include:

Vitamin A

Comprising a family of fat-soluble retinoids, vitamin A plays an important role in nearly all cells in the human body. It plays a role in the production of sebum, a natural oil secreted by glands in the skin and scalp. Sebum is necessary to moisturizing the scalp and maintaining hair health.⁵ A study on rats found that dietary vitamin A induced the anagen phase by stimulating hair follicle stem cells, suggesting that the vitamin may help to promote hair growth.⁶ However, it is easy to consume too much Vitamin A which can cause make hair loss worse. If you take supplements containing Vitamin A ensure that it is formulated with an effective and safe dose.

Vitamin C

Oxidative stress, a natural result of exposure to and metabolism of oxygen, has been shown to contribute to hair aging, decreased hair production, and baldness. Vitamin C offers powerful antioxidant properties, allowing it to potentially neutralize free radicals (a product of oxidative stress) and prevent oxidative damage.⁷

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is believed to play a role in the production of hair, though the exact mechanisms involved still require research. Studies show that low levels of vitamin D (as a result of general deficiency, vitamin D receptor mutation, or vitamin D resistant rickets) have been linked to certain forms of hair loss.⁸

Vitamin E

Similarly to vitamin C, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can help to prevent oxidative stress. One study aimed to determine the effect of tocotrienol (a compound belonging to the vitamin E family) on alopecia. Volunteers suffering from hair loss were randomly assigned to either receive a placebo capsule or 100 mg of mixed tocotrienols daily. Researchers monitored the weight of hair strands and the number of hairs in a predetermined area of the scalp with measurements taken before the study, four months into the study, and eight months into the study. By the end of the study, results found that the group that had received the tocotrienol supplements recorded a 34.5 percent increase in the number of hairs, though the weight of the hairs did not change drastically. This suggests that the antioxidant activity of vitamin E could help to reduce oxidative stress in the scalp and support hair growth.⁹

Iron

Iron is a component of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body, including the scalp.¹⁰ More iron allows for more oxygen to be carried to your scalp. Studies have found that iron deficiencies may contribute to excessive hair loss, especially in women.¹¹

Biotin

A member of the B complex of vitamins, biotin is an essential micronutrient. Studies suggest that biotin helps support hair growth and reduce hair loss.¹²

Zinc

Zinc is another essential micronutrient that contributes to various processes, including the regulation of gene expressions and facilitating protein folding.¹³ Zinc deficiency has also been shown to potentially cause alopecia areata and other forms of hair loss.¹⁴ Oral supplementation of zinc has been found to help regulate hair growth cycles for those suffering from hair loss related to zinc deficiencies.¹⁵

Omega-3 fatty acids

Commonly found in fish and flaxseed, omega-3 fatty acids play a number of important functions throughout the human body, and some studies suggest that they may also promote hair growth. One study looked at the effects of DHA, one of the main omega-3 fatty acids, on dermal papilla cells, which interact with other cells in the hair follicle to regulate hair growth cycles. The study found that DHA increased the proliferation of dermal papilla cells and upregulated certain proteins to promote hair growth within the follicles.¹⁶

You can easily obtain many of these nutrients from eating a balanced, diverse diet, but supplements for hair growth can make dosage easier.

2. Use Essential Oils

Essential oils can be applied topically to your scalp to support hair growth. Common essential oils for hair include:

Lavender oil for Hair Growth

A mouse study found that lavender oil could potentially promote faster hair growth. Scientists are unsure of how lavender oil works to support hair growth but it has been found to have DHT-blocking characteristics.²⁹ Lavender oil also possesses anti-microbial and antibacterial properties.¹⁷

Tea tree oil for Hair Growth

In one study, a mixture of minoxidil (a common hair growth treatment) and tea tree oil was more effective than using minoxidil alone.¹⁸ Tea tree oil has been found to have DHT-blocking abilities as well.²⁹ Topical application of tea tree oil may help to increase hair growth and unplug hair follicles.¹⁹

Jojoba oil for Hair Growth

Jojoba oil’s structure and consistency mimics sebum, suggesting that it can help to moisturize the scalp and maintain hair’s health. It also contains vitamins and nutrients to help nourish your hair and scalp, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc.²⁰

Argan oil for Hair Growth

Argan oil offers similar moisturizing effects as jojoba, but its potential to support healthy hair comes mainly from its high vitamin A and vitamin E content.²¹

Peppermint oil for hair growth

Offering a wide range of potential health benefits on top of a fresh scent, peppermint essential oils may also promote hair growth. In a mouse study, mice were randomly assigned to four groups that received topical applications of saline, jojoba oil, minoxidil, or peppermint oil. Over the course of four weeks, researchers studied the effects based on measures of hair growth, tissue analysis, and bio-markers for hair growth. By the end of the study, the group that received the topical peppermint oil showed the most significant effects on hair growth. Results showed increased follicle numbers, dermal thickness, and follicle depth. All the bio-markers for hair growth also showed a statistically significant increase with the peppermint oil group. Most importantly, the peppermint oil showed no adverse health effects.²²

Rosemary oil for hair growth

Rosemary is a medicinal plant that may offer a variety of functions. One study compared the effects of rosemary oil with minoxidil in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Patients with androgenetic alopecia were randomly assigned to groups that received topical applications of either rosemary oil or minoxidil. Researchers evaluated each patient before the study at three-month intervals. While neither group showed significant changes after the first three months, by the end of the six-month study, both groups showed significant increases in hair count. This study suggests that rosemary oil may promote hair growth at levels that are at least comparable to 2% minoxidil, which is a drug that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss.²³

3. Use the Right Shampoo

Through styling and general care, you may be damaging your hair, making it fragile and easier to break. This can result in frizzy, unhealthy hair, which may eventually lead to thinning and bald spots.²⁴ To prevent damage:

Choose and use the right shampoo

Many shampoos contain sulfates. Although these detergent-like chemicals are effective and breaking down dirt and oils, they may dry out and irritate your scalp. For thicker hair shampoo, look for gentler formulations that are sulfate-free.²⁵

4. Avoid washing your hair every day

Shampooing too much dries out your hair and your scalp, making your more prone to breakage and an itchy scalp. You generally want some oil in your hair. Sebum naturally keeps your scalp and hair moisturized while protecting your skin from bacteria and other microbes. Only a very small population needs to wash their hair daily. For most people, washing every other day or every three days is fine.²⁶

5. Always use conditioner after shampooing

Conditioners provide your hair with much needed moisture after washing. Be sure to use a conditioner with jojoba oil to help restore the natural moisture of hair after you shampoo. If your hair is prone to dryness, you may also consider using a deep conditioner treatment once a week.²⁵

6. Dry your hair gently

Rubbing your wet hair vigorously with a towel damages your hair. Squeeze out excess water and use your towel to blot the water. Air drying is always the preferred method (when you have the time).²⁷

7. Avoid heat treatments

Using hair dryers and irons puts your hair at risk of damage from extreme temperatures. Protect your hair and while using any high heat tools and try to give your hair a break from any heat styling at least once a week.

8. Learn to manage your stress

Chronic stress can affect nearly every aspect of your health, including your hair growth. Studies suggest that high stress levels can contribute to forms of hair loss, including telogen effluvium (which can push hair follicles into their resting phase), trichotillomania (an irresistible urge to pull your own hair), and alopecia areata.²⁸ Learning to manage your stress can help to prevent hair loss and maintain good overall health.

There’s no magic pill that will make your hair grow instantly, but with the right nutrients and lifestyle changes, you can help your hair grow and thrive.

Sources:

About the Author:

Dr. Bryan Do, D.O.

Dr. Bryan Do, D.O. is an osteopathic physician whose research interests include gastroenterology, immunology, and dermatology. He is particularly interested in the role of probiotics in the gut-brain-skin axis and has written many articles on the topic. He graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) before graduating from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana and becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Osteopathic physicians are taught to take a holistic approach to medicine and to consider mind, body, and spirit when treating a patient. Osteopathic physicians receive training in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) in addition to the standard rigorous medical school curriculum. Both physicians with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree as well as a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) can practice medicine.

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