Turn The Volume Up! How To Get Thicker/Longer Hair

Have you ever been snuggled up on the couch with your children, watching endless re-runs of Disney movies, only to look at the likes of Princess Jasmine, Rapunzel, or Ariel with their effortlessly flowing, thick hair and feel a twinge of jealousy in your gut? Trust us that’s normal (not so much the being jealous of animated character’s part, but we move) evidenced by one of the most Googled questions being how to make hair thicker/longer

Despite being one of the fastest-growing tissues in the human body, with a speed of 1.3 centimetres (half an inch) per month, we often find ourselves staring into the mirror in dismay each day we haven’t woken up with Rapunzel-like tresses.  

It can seem like we’re playing this waiting game for years and years (especially when we wish it would happen faster!). Still, if you feel like your locks are particularly affected when it comes to hair growth, you’ll be pleased to discover that there are various tweaks you can make to your hair care routine to encourage length and thickness. From making changes to your diet and taking daily hair vitamins/medications, we outline several ways to increase hair growth in our article below: 

Give The Bleach A Rest  

Whether you love to sport that chic platinum blonde look or live your best manic pixie dream girl fantasy with colourful hair, constantly changing your hair could get in the way of having Disney Princess-like locks.  

Despite how awesome bleached hair looks, whether you plan to dye it or leave it be, it can reap havoc on your hair and cause long-lasting damage that can take months or even years to rectify, depending on how often you use it.  

Since bleach uses a very harsh approach against your hair proteins to make the colour of your hair change, it will naturally make them more susceptible to damage as time goes on. It can also cause frizz, split ends, and breakage making dealing with these issues much more common!  

As a result of all this damage, it can be more challenging for those who bleach their hair regularly to return to its natural colour. And although bleach shouldn’t slow down the growth of your hair, it does break down the natural proteins in it, which makes it more likely to break off and affect your hair change goals.  

Therefore, if waist-length hair (or longer!) is on your wish list, it might be time to give your bleaching appointments a rest, no matter how bittersweet it might be. The fewer chemical treatments you put on your hair, the more it will grow, and the closer you’ll be to having a swish-able mane of hair that would even make Rapunzel jealous.  

Take Daily Supplements Or Medication  

Does it feel like no matter what you do to your hair, it never seems to grow? Do your good hair days come far and few in between? If this is the case, you could have a specific vitamin, nutrient or mineral deficiency that could affect your hair’s growth rate.  

Since hair growth or regrowth can be affected by genetic and hormonal factors, it is essential that you get the opinion of a health professional before trailing any hair supplements or medication to find the right solution so that your hair growth problem is under control.  

Providing that your stunted hair growth results from a poor diet or nutritional deficiency, you may find supplements high in vitamin B, iron, keratin, zinc, and vitamin A, that can help encourage your hair to grow.  

On the other hand, if health-related issues cause your woes, you might find it easier to consult with your GP, who can recommend the proper hair treatment for you, whether it be hair loss medication like finasteride or a regrowth medication like minoxidil.  

Fortunately, most hair loss medications/supplements are available over the counter or online from providers like Oxford Online Pharmacy, where you can buy finasteride and many other prescriptions for hair loss. Consider visiting their website for more information, and see how their products could help you achieve thicker/longer hair today.  

Avoid Using Heat On Your Hair Regularly 

Our locks undergo daily maintenance, from blow-drying and crimping to curling and waving, which can complement our look and make us feel more put together. However, no matter how much we love our hot tools, they are another contender that can stand in the way of you achieving your long-haired dreams.  

If you regularly reach for your hair straighteners or curling tongs, over time, the exposure to such high temperatures can make your tresses more susceptible to severe damage, which can impede how quickly you reach your hair goals. Although the rate at which your hair grows is determined by genetic and environmental factors, like bleach, using heat on your hair regularly can lead to dry hair, split ends, and breakage, making it more challenging for your hair to thicken/lengthen.  

And let’s be honest; no one will cut out their hot tools from their hair care routine overnight, but there are a few ways to reduce your usage and protect your hair when you use them. From not using the highest heat setting and using a heat protectant spray to using a weekly hair mask and using a good shampoo/conditioner duo, there are many ways to keep your hair protected when using heat.  

Alternatively, if you want to get rid of the hot tools for good, you can find loads of heatless curling methods online, which can be done while you sleep (literally!). Some can be done using household items like the tie on your dressing gown, strips of fabric, or by purchasing heatless curlers/silk curlers from online marketplaces like Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay.  

Don’t Wash Your Hair Too Often  

Although having clean, fresh hair might sound like a good thing for promoting hair growth, too much shampooing and conditioning can impact the overall health of your hair. Failure to wash your hair enough can lead to problems with your hair; washing it too much can have the same effect, some of which might have never crossed your mind.  

One of the tell-tale signs that you're washing your hair too much is having dull, brittle, lifeless hair that is prone to breakage and even hair loss in worst-case scenarios. Your hair may also look greasy even though you’ve just washed it; any colour you use on it might fade quicker; there might be a lack of moisture on your scalp; the strands constantly tangle; and much more signs.  

However, if you stick to shampooing and conditioning your hair two to three times a week, this allows all the naturally occurring oils to penetrate the strands, which keeps it hydrated and repaired. If you’re looking to lengthen/thicken your hair quicker, you might consider using a ‘volumising’ or ‘lengthening’ shampoo to help you achieve fuller-looking hair faster.  

You might also consider using a hair mask regularly, which can contain lots of hair growth-boosting ingredients like cinnamon that stimulate your blood circulation and encourage stronger, fuller, healthier hair growth. Whichever you choose, ensure that you stick to a regular washing routine and don’t go overboard, and you’ll soon have Disney Princess-inspired hair in no time.