My hair last week on the left vs a year ago on the right
Vs where I started 2 months before the photo on the right.
Products I use: https://shopmy.us/shop/mcourand?Department_id=24 & my hairbrush
Hi, Sweet friends! Happy August! It is hard to believe we are already almost halfway through the 8th month of the year. Time really flies when you’re an adult. How has your year been? I’d love to know.
Today, we are discussing all things hair growth. I mentioned sharing my tips on my Instagram, and many of you were interested, so I thought I’d put together an in-depth post with my tips as well as share a hair oiling routine on my IG reels.
When it comes to hair growth and what I have learned on this journey is that what works for some might not work for you. You also have to be committed, as it takes a long time to grow dense hair that doesn’t break or shed. And finally, it won’t matter what you put on your scalp if you don’t care about what’s going on internally. If your stress is too high, you’re not getting enough protein, and have a weak gut microbiome, those things will not let you grow the hair you wish. That might seem a bit harsh, but it’s a truth I had to learn the hard way. So, onto my tips. * I am not a doctor or nutritionist, or hair specialist* these tips stem from my experience and own research. Please do your own. I also don’t color my hair. This is my natural color, so if you bleach your hair, my tips might be slightly less effective.
My biggest tip, and maybe one you won’t want to hear because it’s not something you put on your hair to make it magically grow, is that you have to up your protein intake. If you want your hair to grow thick and long, you have to consume a lot of protein. If you don’t like meat, then you need to get a protein powder that you can supplement with. My favorite is the Ballerina Farm protein powder.
Tip #2 Along with protein, you should be adding colostrum or collagen into your regular or daily diet. Both of these have different functions, but both have extremely powerful sets of nutrients that help with hair growth. I take the cowboy colostrum daily in my protein drink in the morning and have seen firsthand it mend my leaky gut, strengthen my nails, and make my hair dense. I don’t take powder collagen but instead focus on very nutrient-dense bone broth. Which is rich in collagen and amino acids, etc. Both of these have greatly improved my health, which has overall helped my hair. I try to think of my hair as an indicator of how my health is. As it is quite telling.
Tip # 3, you need to be hair oiling! But not all serums and oils are created equal or do the same things. Some hair oils or serums will help with density, which means they make your current hair thicker. Others will actually activate the scalp/ follicles to make your hair grow. Because of this, I use two different oils. One for density and one for growth. This might seem like a lot, and it is. But my hair is extremely important to me, so I budget for it. Do you need two different kinds of oil for growth? No. You can just use one! I started with only one and saw immense growth and change in my hair just from doing the oiling practice twice a week.
Tip #4: Look up your hair serum or oil in the Yuka app. As I mentioned above, not all oils and serums are created equal, and some have really harmful ingredients. That can disrupt your hormones, penetrate your scalp barrier into your bloodstream, etc. You need to be mindful of this before use. I use the nutrafol hair serum as it has a 93/100 score on the app, with no harmful ingredients and is backed by science.
Tip #5: There will be trial and error. I kept reading people so highly praising rosemary oil for hair growth, and it is a powerful ingredient that can help stimulate growth, but for me, and how sensitive my skin and scalp are, it was much too harsh and had negative effects. So you might have to try a few before finding what works. Also, as tempting and “cost-effective” as it sounds to make your own rosemary or hair growth oil at home, don’t. The oils you buy are extremely concentrated and potent. You do not want to put that level of potency on your skin, let alone hair/scalp.
Tip #6: If you want growth and length, you have to be consistent. Hair growth takes time, a loooot of time. I have always been someone who grows hair quickly, but it still has been over a year of being consistent with these tips to see the results I am yearning for.
Tip #7: Get yourself a bamboo hairbrush. I got mine for 5 dollars on Amazon, and it is gentle for detangling and doesn’t break your hair when you brush it through. And to go with this brush, do not rake your hairbrush through your hair, wet or dry. I see girls ripping through their hair because they have tangles, and then wonder why their hair is breaking and shedding. I literally brush my hair like I am brushing a child’s. Extremely gently and with zero tension. This causes breakage.
Tip#8: Use a heat protectant if you are someone who uses heat on their hair. This is essential to protecting your hair. This is especially necessary if you blow-dry your hair. Your hair is the most fragile when wet and prone to the most damage.
Tip #9: Don’t hate me for this one, y’all, but stop using so much dry shampoo or any at all. Most dry shampoos are toxic and have cancer-causing ingredients, especially if they’re aerosol sprays. However, even if they are powder dry shampoos, they can cause a buildup, layering all over your scalp and preventing it from breathing, which clogs the hair follicles and hinders proper growth. It is okay to wash your hair more than once a week… I highly suggest it. I wash my hair every 3-4 days max.
Tip #10: Absolutely limit your slick back buns. Having your hair tightly pulled back in a ponytail or bun can cause it to break, especially if you use a stiff-hold hair spray to keep it in place. If you really want to do a slick back, do it once a week before wash day, use oil or a hair mask instead, and loosely tie your hair back. And use a soft or silk scrunchy. Do not use clear elastics or regular scrunchies as they rip out the hair when you take them out, and they also cause too much tension on the hair, causing breakage.
Okay friends! Those are my 10 tips for hair growth! Let me know if you have any questions or thoughts.
Whimsy & Willow 