Whether you’re trying to grow out your hair or experiencing actual hair loss, there are a number of ways to improve the health of your mane to achieve longer, stronger, healthier tresses.
“Normally our hair only grows up to half an inch at the most per month when it’s in its active growth phase,” shares Ricardo Vila Nova. This phase is called the anagen phase which can last anywhere between three to five years. “After this our hair goes into the catagen phase, which is a short transitional phase where our hair is cut off from the blood supply and the cells that produce new hair. This lasts around 10 days before the telogen phase comes into effect. During this part of the growth cycle our hair rests for three months, meaning it remains in place but does not grow. Then finally the strands move on to a period of shedding over the course of two-to-five months, and this is known as the exogen phase,” adds Vila Nova.
This cycle repeats over and over again from birth, but of course our hair strands are not all in sync, so we normally shed anywhere between 50 to 100 strands of hair a day. Since on average we have 100,000 strands of hair on our heads, losing 100 a day while more are growing doesn’t impact the look or length of our hair.
However, “our hair can be affected by stress, diet, styling practices, genetics, hormones and even as a side effect of catching a virus or developing a health condition,” explains Vila Nova. And just one of these elements alone can lead to thinning, breakage, scalp issues, alopecia, and excess shedding – meaning your hair is never going to grow past a certain length, if at all.
Thankfully there are expert approved ways to remedy a waning in hair growth. Read on to discover how…
1. Eat enough protein
A balanced diet is one of the major keys to good health, and part of that balance comes by way of getting enough protein. “95 per cent of our hair is composed of the protein keratin, which is made up of amino acids broken down by the body from the protein you consume. So, if you don’t eat enough of the stuff, you can’t grow healthy hair,” explains Vila Nova.
According to the British Heart Foundation most adults need around 0.75g of protein per kilo of body weight per day – so start measuring your intake for a few days to see if you’re reaching the desired amount, and if not adjust your diet accordingly. P.S. protein isn’t just found in animal sources like meat, fish, cheese and eggs, you can also top up your protein by way of plant-based foods – think, nuts, seeds, soy, lentils, chickpeas and quinoa.
2. Add hair-friendly supplements
The Hair DNA Scan at 212.2 Ricardo Vila Nova Hair Doctors, uses a single strand of hair to give insight into the neurological, nutritional, hormonal, environmental and genetic factors influencing the condition of your hair and scalp. This is a useful tool in helping to decipher whether you may need to add supplements or even medication to your hair care regime.
“Hormonal issues like high levels of testosterone in women, or low thyroid function can also impact hair growth and lead to thinning and hair loss,” explains Vila Nova. And these issues can be detected by the Hair DNA Scan, though Ricardo always advises further blood tests to confirm.
While “you’d be surprised by how many people don’t have enough vitamin D, iron, biotin and B vitamins, and this can majorly slow down the growth phase of our hair cycle and increase breakage and shedding,” says Vila Nova. At 212.2 Ricardo Vila Nova, you can get vitamins mainlined to your follicles thanks to their innovative Retention Reset treatment, where a peptide and vitamin cocktail is injected into the scalp to help prolong the rest phase of the hair cycle to reduce shedding – genius!
3. Brush gently
The gentler you can be with your hair the better. However, there may be no way of avoiding the likes of heated tools, dyes, bleach, or even hair bands and these can take a toll on your strands – leaving your hair weak and susceptible to breakage and split ends. But one area where you can make a change is how you brush your hair, and what you use to brush it.
“Generally, you should brush your hair when it’s dry as hair strands are weaker when wet, meaning they are more suspectable to breakage. The only caveat here is if you need to detangle your hair or have curly tresses – it’s easier to do so when hair is damp and coated in a leave-in conditioner or mask. In this case brush choice is key,” says Vila Nova. He recommends using brushes that are flexible and designed to be used on wet hair or simply using your hands.
4. Add growth factors
There’s nothing more high-tech or exciting right now than growth factors, and as the name suggests they stimulate growth as well aiding in healing and regeneration. Found in platelet rich plasma (PRP), as well as in exosomes – it’s no surprise that these two treatments are two of Ricardo’s most favourite growth boosters. “They have both heralded significant increases in hair growth for those with various forms of alopecia, and also make for the perfect preventative treatment to support your natural hair growth cycle and the health of your hair and scalp overall,” shares Vila Nova.
5. Pay attention to your scalp
Don’t forget about your scalp when you’re focusing on boosting hair growth. Flowers don’t thrive in poor soil and nor does your hair if you don’t look after your scalp. “Cleansing your scalp regularly with the right type of shampoo is incredibly important, because when oil, dirt, and styling products build up, folliculitis aka inflammation of the hair follicle can ensue, and this can impact growth – even leading to hair loss if the condition becomes chronic,” explains Vila Nova. Not only that build-up can make your hair greasy, and leave your scalp itchy, and “clogged hair follicles can also prevent your hair from getting the nutrients it needs to thrive. Over time this can lead to dry, and brittle strands that are prone to breakage,” shares Vila Nova.
Alongside regular cleansing, you should try implementing regular scalp massage too. “Studies have shown that massaging the scalp regularly can improve hair growth and density. This is thanks to the dilation of blood vessels that occurs when the head is massaged. The increase of blood circulation allows for more oxygen and nutrients to mainline their way to our follicles,” says Vila Nova. And according to data all it takes is 4 minutes of daily scalp massage to yield impressive results.
To turbo charge your hair growth contact us to book in for a Hair DNA Scan.
