It was Cher's fault . The fault was Kim Kardashian . The fault was Primavera Sound . The fault was the boogie . Or the cha cha cha. We do not know. What we are sure is that the endless manes are the hair with which we dream either in ultra smooth version as the diva of the 70s or in mermaid version of mermaid that we see the influencers walk through all the festivals . Even the bob we like more if it is long . Word of Kate Middleton and Bella Hadid .
The secret for hair to grow faster is the search for the Holy Grail applied to the field of beauty. Everyone has heard (and tasted) one and a thousand tricks like cutting our ends every two months (it is necessary but it does not accelerate growth), wash our hair with horse shampoo , rinse it with rain water #truestory or cut it in moon full waiting for the spell to work.
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However, we want the truth and nothing but the truth. Therefore, we have consulted with a hair expert to learn the facts and improve the care of our hair. Spoiler alert : it may grow faster but miracles do not exist (but extensions do).
How does your hair grow?
All the life thinking that the hair "grows one centimeter per month" and it turns out that no. The hair grows cyclically and goes through 3 different moments :
- - Anagen or growth phase
- - catagen phase or intermediate phase
- - phase of telogen or maturation and fall
The trichologist David Saceda , dermatologist expert in hair (yes, that exists) of the Pedro Jaén Dermatology Clinic , explains these cycles: "The hair is in continuous growth during a period of 2 to 3 years , after which the hair reaches a phase of maturation (called telogen) and it lasts about 3 months without growing until it falls.This speed can vary from one person to another. " (For example, Asian women have a growth cycle of about 7 years , lucky!).
And to me, why does not my hair grow?
Actually, it does grow . Dr. Saceda says that "people who have the sensation that their hair does not grow and does not reach a sufficient length is because they have the shortest growth phase, instead of the usual 2 or 3 years it can only be a Therefore, hair does not have time to grow and lengthen long enough before falling. "
"The reasons may be several but the most important is genetics, there are people who are genetically determined to have short hair naturally, other reasons are stressful situations for our body such as illness, surgery or delivery, when the hair interrupts its growth and goes directly to the telogen phase causing a strong hair fall 3 months later . "
Prevention plan: what to do so that it does not break
Imagine that your hair is in the growth phase and on the way to your #HairGoals . The most important thing in this stage is to keep it healthy and try not to break it . Hair experts recommend some basic tips .
1. Do not skip your weekly 'mask time' . The masks hydrate the hair, maintaining the integrity of the cuticle (outer layer). In summer, they should be used even 2 or 3 times a week especially in dry weather due to external aggressions.
2. For a long hair: unravels (correctly) . Before starting to untangle, apply a conditioning spray, such as Bumble & Bumble Prep , especially on mediums and tips. Unravel with a brush with rounded plastic spikes from bottom to top, doing the other way around can cause more breakage.
3. Dry your hair in the air is the new black : Give vacation to the dryer and the iron in summer. From the Pedro Jaén Clinic they state that "the heat applied directly to the hair damages the cuticle and the internal axis of the hair (sometimes, permanently), it is better to use them little and if we dry our hair with a hairdryer it is advisable not to use it at maximum power and keep it about 20 centimeters from the mane . " Also says the hairdresser Alexa Chung : hair is better to air dry.
4. It is a reality, discoloration damages your hair . "To clarify the color of the hair, products that open the cuticle and destroy the pigment inside are used.If this process is repeated often, the hair ends up deteriorating permanently.This does not happen, however, with the dark tints . "
5. Remove them from the head: chlorine and sea salt . Both chlorine and sea salt dehydrate the hair. If we later expose it to the sun, the hair will break even more easily. (That's why our hair is naturally clarified on the beach). Rinse your hair with running water always after a bath and apply a conditioner without rinsing .
Okay, and now, what do I do to make it grow faster?
As we already advanced, dermatologists do not promise miracles. David Saceda warns that "changing the pace of growth is very difficult, however, what we can achieve is to lengthen the phase of hair growth until those 3 years that reach people with long hair." The first thing is to consult an expert dermatologist in the capillary care that detects alterations in the rhythm of growth and perform a complete analytical study, it would be necessary to supplement the deficit of vitamins, amino acids , etc., detected in the study. "
You are what you eat , so feeding is essential when it comes to wearing long hair. Your diet should be varied and rich in antioxidants from vegetables and fruits . Proteins of plant and animal origin are also extremely important. Point eggs, poultry, fish, lean meats and fresh skimmed cheese to your grocery list.
According to Dr. Saceda , "the use of dietary supplements is controversial and should be regulated by a physician who indicates them and does not replace other measures that stimulate growth." In general, if they are used under control, they promote growth and hair quality. "