growing Like almost everyone, after cutting your hair, you regret your beautiful long hair. Now you have no choice but to wait for your hair to grow back. Yes, but here it seems, your scalp has decided otherwise. Weeks go by and your hair still looks short. In this article, we explain why it sometimes happens that hair growth is slowed down and how to remedy it.
What is the average hair growth speed?
Before we explain why your hair is not growing, let’s start by understanding the process of hair growth. The hair grows by its root, which develops under the scalp. This is called the hair follicle. It emerges through the papillae, at the base of the scalp.
Blood arrives through the papilla and feeds the matrix, where the hair’s reproductive cells are grouped. Nourished, the hair grows and, in record time compared to the other elements of our organism.
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The speed of hair growth nevertheless depends on the genetic program. It is not the same in every individual and varies according to ethnicity and gender. Experts have determined that, among Caucasians, hair grows an average of 1 cm per month. For African type hair, this average is 0.8 cm and, for Asian type, 1.5 cm.
In reality, the growth of your hair also depends on external factors, such as your lifestyle, your diet and your beauty routine. In this article, we give you 5 reasons why your hair can grow slower.
Unbalanced diet slows hair growth
Like all parts of our body, hair needs nutrients and vitamins to grow well. After all, they form inside the scalp and are directly related to blood pressure.
If you have noticed that your hair is not growing or growing as fast as before, it may simply be due to poor nutrition. So start by changing your diet to speed up your hair growth and improve root health.
Here are the foods often recommended to promote hair growth:
- Sulfur proteins: chicken, sole, tuna, cheese, egg yolk, beans, lentils, almonds, pistachios …
- Trace elements (zinc and magnesium: banana, cocoa, oysters, shrimp, egg yolk, soy, cereals, wholemeal bread …
- Iron: mussels, oysters, flour, soy, cereals, almonds, hazelnuts, egg yolk …
As you can see, egg yolk is on all the rays and it is an essential food to improve the growth and appearance of your hair. This is why many hair masks are made from egg yolk.
If these are the foods of choice, be sure to stock up on vitamins A, B and C, found in most healthy foods. Bet on fruits, vegetables and cereals!
Water retention impairs hair growth
If your hair grows very slowly, you may not be drinking enough water. Indeed, the condition of your scalp often reflects your general health. However, water is essential for the proper functioning of the body.
If you rarely drink water, you may cause flaking of your scalp. This results in white particles, which strongly resemble dandruff. Weakened, your roots are malnourished and growth is slowed down. You may also experience itching and tingling in your head and brittle spikes.
To remedy this, drink the 1.5 liters of water per day recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization), especially in hot weather. Your hair will quickly regain its suppleness, its shine and grow faster.
Too many hair products kill hair
In store, hair products invade the shelves. Shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, mask, foam, hairspray, oil, scrub … There is something for everyone, everything and anything. While it’s important to have a quality hair routine, excess is never good.
Do not saturate your scalp by applying too many products to your hair. You may suffocate them by blocking the roots. Instead of hydrating and sanitizing your strands, you dry them out and considerably slow down hair growth.
We advise you to limit the number of treatments. Stick to your regular shampoo and mask, to be done every other day. Once every two weeks, you can also make a deeper natural mask, based on collagen protein and vegetable oils. This treatment, every fortnight, will hydrate and nourish your hair without suffocating it.
We also recommend our care and recipes from grandmothers to have beautiful thick hair.
Too frequent and violent brushing damages the hair
Your hair is one of your greatest assets and you love to highlight it. You change the cut several times during the day and keep combing and untangling it. Unfortunately, these little habits weaken the hair fiber, encourage breakage and slow down hair growth.
Take the right steps to promote hair growth:
- Do not tie them too tightly and tightly, at the risk of breaking them.
- Do not lie down with wet hair.
- Use a brush designed from natural materials, such as boar fibers, and make gentle gestures, without pressing too hard on your scalp.
- Limit the number of brushings per day and settle for a comb to untangle your knots.
Heat slows hair growth
It’s well known, hair doesn’t like heat. Exposure to high temperatures is particularly harmful for the growth and quality of the hair. In summer, we recommend that you skip the hair dryer. Wring out your hair with a towel, comb it out when it’s wet, and let it dry naturally. In winter, keep the hair dryer away from your scalp.
Another habit to forget: the regular use of the straightener or the looper, which promotes breakage. If you really can’t do without it, apply protective products before using your iron. Also try straightening or curling foams, which are a good alternative to more radical means.
Good to know: if the hair does not like heat, it nevertheless grows faster in summer, when exposed to the sun. It is thanks to vitamin D which strongly stimulates hair growth!
These are the main reasons that may explain why your hair is not growing or much slower than before. Start by changing your bad habits and adopting a new beauty routine. If you don’t notice a change, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor. The condition of your hair may be a sign of a more serious health problem.
