Learn about the hair growth cycle, gather some general hair growth tips and discover 6 of the best hair growth products for both women and men in this guide.

How does hair grow?

Our hair has a three-stage life cycle:

Growth stage: all hair begins in the growth stage where it continues to grow in length for up to 7 years.
Transitional phase: this is the phases when the hair has stopped growing but hair shedding has not begun.
Resting phase: this is the last stage of the natural hair growth cycle, where the hair finally sheds. The hair follicles are then allowed to rest for up to three months before they enter the growth stage all over again

Sometimes hair can experience a shorter growth phase or enter the resting phase early, which can disrupt normal hair growth. The more common hair growth interruption triggers include:

Young beautiful woman combs her long hair with wooden comb. Self care.

Sudden hormonal changes, e.g. when women give birth
Burns
A severe/sudden diet change
Certain medications, e.g. the contraceptive pill
Some diseases
Some thyroid conditions

6 top hair growth tips

There are a few lifestyle factors that can help promote hair health and growth, including:

1. Ditch restrictive diets

If you’re cutting the calories you may also be cutting the very nutrients your hair needs to grow too.

Hair growth is a pretty low-priority task for our body, so it will likely be one of the first processes to be affected by restricting food.

For example, the stress of not having enough calories will cause your body to prioritise functions like energy production, digestion and brain functions over hair growth.

Even when you do ditch the diet, it can take a few months for the hair growth cycle to repair and stop excessively shedding.

2. Get enough protein

Eating enough protein every day can contribute to healthy hair growth.

This is because each strand of our hair is made of keratin, which needs protein to synthesise.¹

Handpicked content: Here’s why your body loves protein (and how you can get enough of it)

3. Keep topped up in key nutrients

There are certain vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are necessary for hair growth, so you need to make sure you stay topped up..

What nutrients help hair to grow?

Nutrients that can help keep your hair healthy include:

Zinc: this essential mineral is needed for the maintenance of normal hair
Biotin: this B vitamin helps our bodies convert food into energy, which can help contribute to the maintenance of normal hair. One literature review found 18 reported cases showing clinical improvement in hair and nail health from taking biotin supplements²
Selenium: this trace micronutrient, found in brazil nuts and seafood, contributes to the maintenance of normal hair
Copper: this important mineral supports normal hair pigmentation (the colour of your hair)

4. Hold off on the heat

Using heat stylers like hair dryers, straighteners and curlers regularly can damage the hair and stop it from growing to its full potential.

Try to cut down on the heat, or at lease make sure you are using a high-quality hair protection spray. These sprays have been formulated to help protect your hair with a barrier from heat.

One 2011 study found that using a heat protecting product before heat styling may significantly reduce hair breakages.³

5. Put the hair dye down

Colouring your hair can also cause damage or affect normal hair growth.

Try not to colour your hair too often if you are experiencing hair growth problems, as this could be part of the problem.

6. Treat yourself to a scalp massage

A scalp massage is an indulgent way to help you chill out and ease some stress, and research suggests is may help support your hair health at the same time.

One 2016 study followed participants who were receiving 4-minute scalp massages for 24 weeks.

The results showed that the 9 men involved had thicker hair at the end of the study compared to when they started.⁵

It can also help to dislodge hair oil from the roots of your hair so it can be distributed more easily through the full length of your hair.

Summary

Simple things like eating a healthy balanced diet with enough energy for your body is essential for optimum hair growth
Avoiding excessive heat treatment and giving your scalp a massage every so often could help to keep your hair looking and feeling great

Some of the best hair growth products for women and men

When it comes to hair growth issues, women and men may have similar but different experiences. That’s why Trichology came up with a hair care range for men and a hair care range for women to help support hair growth.

Hair growth products for women

These products were designed specifically with women's haircare in mind.

Hair growth products for men

Now we'll come on to products designed specially for men to care for their hair and support healthy growth.

Vegan

Stemgro Trichology

Stemgro Trichology Follicle Defence 100ml

4.110 reviews

3 for 2 Mix & Match

£8.00

£2.25

£0.23/10 ml

Follicle defence foam

Why you'll love this...

For extra defence against hair damage, try applying this foam and letting the ingredients including caffeine and creatine do their thing while you go about your day.

Key ingredients:

Caffeine
Creatine
Capilia Longa™
Zinc Gluconate
Vitamin B3
Biotin
Vitamin B6
Vitamin E

Directions:

Leave-in daily hair foam
Apply to towel dried hair and gently massage into scalp until you feel a tingling sensation.
Do not rinse out. Brush and style hair as normal.
For best results, use after washing with Stemgro Trichology 2-in-1 Shampoo

A little more about Stemgro Trichology

Hair loss is a problem that affects men and women and has diverse origins, but despite the different aetiologies, there is a common link between them: dermal papilla cells become latent, and all the hair growth processes stop.

The ingredient Capilia Longa represents the first generation of plant growth factors and achieves hair growth reactivation through a biological approach: it produces an epigenetic reset of the hair bulb, re-starting the activity of the Dermal Papilla Cells.

This is a range aimed at stimulating hair growth and features:

Capilia Longa: an all-natural and plant-based hair growth formula, made completely from the plant Curcuma Longa or better and more commonly known as turmeric.

As well as other ingredients which are known to help hair growth and strengthen hair like:

Creatine
Vitamin B3
Biotin
Caffeine

Highlights

Stem cell derived turmeric
Trichology uses clinically proven ingredients to reduce hair loss
Up to 89% hair loss reduction
Up to 52% hair density increase
Capilia Longa at 1% dosage has been shown to provide up to 89% hair loss reduction and up to 52% hair density increase over a 150-day period in studies

Happy African American Guy Touching Short Hair Looking At His New Haircut And Reflection In Mirror Standing Shirtless In Modern Bathroom At Home. Male Haircare Concept. Selective Focus

Summary

Some hair products have been specifically formulated to promote hair growth and overall hair health
Key ingredients include creatine, caffeine, biotin and other B vitamins, as well as the active ingredient Capilia Longa (made with turmeric)

Sources

Disclaimer

The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.