How Can I Grow My Hair Faster?
- Emanuele Bortolotto
- Oct 10
- 5 min read
Learn how to make your hair grow faster using proven science, scalp care, and nutrition. Real biology, no miracles , just the truth.
The Secret Isn’t Magic — It’s Biology (and Patience)
Picture this: it’s 2 a.m., you’re staring at yourself in the mirror under that one light bulb that makes everyone look like a Renaissance painting gone wrong, tugging at your hair and wondering if it’s longer than last week. You stretch a strand down your nose, squint, and realize… it looks exactly the same. Congratulations: you’ve entered the sacred ritual of impatience that every human with a head of hair has performed at least once.
If you are new on the Manuverse, this is my little corner of the internet where my insomnia gives me time to write about everything I care about. Tonight, that means hair growth — the slowest, most misunderstood process since Finnish bureaucracy.
Let’s be clear: growing hair faster is not about wishful thinking, moon phases, or chanting over a bottle of rosemary oil. It’s biology, chemistry, and a little bit of strategy. You can’t cheat your follicles, but you can convince them to perform at their peak efficiency, like bribing a tired employee with espresso and better working conditions.
Let’s dissect the science, the myths, and the surprisingly practical ways to make your hair grow like it actually wants to be here.
The Science of Hair Growth: What’s Actually Going On
Your hair isn’t lazy — it’s on a schedule. Every strand follows a cycle with three main phases:
Anagen (growth phase): where the follicle is actively producing hair, usually lasting 2–7 years.
Catagen (transition phase): a brief two-week pause where growth stops and the follicle prepares for rest.
Telogen (resting phase): the follicle chills out for about three months before shedding and starting again.
This cycle is determined by genetics, hormones, age, and overall health. Most people have about 90% of their hair in the anagen phase at any given moment — so no, your hair isn’t collectively lazy, just following orders from biology HQ.
Average growth? Around 1.0–1.3 cm per month. Anything beyond that is rare, no matter what TikTok says. Faster growth requires supporting the scalp, nutrition, and the health of the hair you already have — because breakage cancels out progress.
Myth-Busting Time 🔬
Let’s address the popular myths that have been haunting your shampoo shelf.
“Cut your hair more often and it’ll grow faster.”
No, cutting doesn’t influence how fast your hair grows. Hair grows from the follicle, not the scissors. Trimming only prevents split ends from traveling upward — meaning you keep the length you gain instead of losing it to breakage.
“Massage your scalp daily to stimulate growth.”
Partially true. Massaging improves blood circulation, which can help nutrients reach the follicle more efficiently. But it won’t transform your scalp into a hair farm overnight. Think of it as improving the soil rather than forcing the plant to grow faster.
“Use rosemary oil — it’s nature’s minoxidil!”
This one lives in the gray zone. Rosemary oil can mildly increase blood flow and reduce inflammation on the scalp, which creates a better environment for growth. But it’s not a replacement for clinically proven treatments. It’s like green tea compared to espresso — helpful, but not miraculous.
The Big Three: What Really Controls Hair Growth
1. Nutrition: Build Better Hair from the Inside Out
Hair is made primarily of keratin, a tough protein formed from amino acids. That means no protein, no progress. Diets low in iron, zinc, or vitamins A, D, E, and B7 (biotin) can slow or disrupt growth entirely.
To feed your follicles properly:
Eat protein-rich foods like lentils, tofu, beans, quinoa, and soy products.
Include iron sources such as spinach, pumpkin seeds, and fortified cereals.
Add healthy fats (avocados, nuts, olive oil) to support the scalp’s oil balance.
Drink water — actual water, not coffee pretending to be water.
If your diet is poor, supplements help, but they’re not cheat codes. Nutrients only assist when there’s a deficiency. You can’t “double up” on biotin and expect your hair to double its speed. Biology does not negotiate with impatience.
2. Scalp Health: The Command Center
Healthy scalp = healthy growth. Dead skin, oil, and product buildup suffocate follicles, blocking oxygen and nutrients.
Follow the two-wash rule:
First wash: removes surface oil and dirt.
Second wash: deep-cleans the scalp and actually works.
Always use your fingertips, never your nails, to scrub. A good scalp massage during shampooing improves circulation and loosens debris.
After washing, apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner to mids and ends, never to the scalp. Your follicles need to breathe, not suffocate under a layer of product buildup pretending to be hydration.
3. Lifestyle: The Hidden Accelerator
Everything you do outside the shower affects your hair.
Stress: Elevated cortisol interrupts the growth cycle, pushing follicles into resting mode. Translation: you shed more and grow less.
Sleep: Hair growth happens during repair cycles when you’re resting. Chronic sleep deprivation is like giving your follicles unpaid overtime.
Hydration: The scalp produces natural oils that depend on your overall water balance. Drink enough that your pee looks like pale lemonade, not molten gold.
And then there’s exercise — not because sweating grows hair, but because improved circulation means more oxygen to the follicles. Consider it your “natural delivery system.”
The Ideal Growth Routine 🌱
Forget “miracle” serums that promise an inch a week. The best routine is consistent, minimal, and science-based.
Wash your hair correctly — focus shampoo on the scalp, not the ends. Do it twice if you use styling products.
Condition the mids and ends only. Let it sit for at least 2 minutes before rinsing.
Apply a leave-in conditioner after towel drying. This prevents breakage and seals moisture.
Use hair oil daily on the ends — think of it as armor, not decoration.
Sleep on a silk pillowcase. Cotton steals moisture; silk lets your hair glide peacefully into tomorrow.
Limit heat styling to once every few days, and always use a protectant.
And if your hair is damaged, start repairing before growing. Think of it like a fortress: no point building new walls if the foundation is still cracked.
“People Also Ask” Corner 💭
Does hair grow faster if you brush it more?No. Brushing distributes natural oils but doesn’t affect follicle speed. Overbrushing can cause breakage, which is the opposite of growth.
Can stress really make you bald?Yes — chronic stress can trigger telogen effluvium, a temporary shedding condition. Once the stress resolves, growth resumes, but patience is key.
Does age slow hair growth?It does. Follicle activity decreases with age, but consistent care can still maximize output. It’s like an older espresso machine: slower, but still perfectly capable of producing greatness.
The Long Game ☕
The truth about hair growth is that there’s no shortcut — just efficiency. Your job is to create the best environment for your follicles to thrive. Feed them well, treat them gently, and protect what you already have.
Hair doesn’t respond to obsession; it responds to consistency. Check your progress monthly, not daily. If your hair feels stronger, shinier, and breaks less, you’re already winning.
As one wise man once said in Naruto: “Growth takes time, but power comes from patience.” He was talking about ninjutsu. I’m talking about your scalp. Same principle.
If you want to understand the next step — how to protect your hair from breakage while it grows — read my article on how to stop hair breakage right after this one.
Sources:
Affiliate Disclaimer:If you buy something through this website, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Comments