If you’ve decided to let your hair grow out, it can be frustrating during the growing out stage and you may be tempted to cut it, again. For the average person, it takes at least a year to grow out six inches of hair (about one-half inch growth per month.)
Of course, you can always get some help with wigs, hair extensions or clip-on ponytails. However, if you don’t want to mess with artificial hair, then the next best plan is to learn how to cope during the growing out stage, making sure your hair is shiny and healthy. Here are a few suggestions to not give up and go back to your original short hairdo.
Managing Bangs
Are your bangs in your face, but you don’t want to cut them? Other than trim them, there are several options. For example, get some hair clips and pin them to the side, giving you a new look. Or you could pull them back with a barrette or rubber band. On the other hand, maybe you could trim only your bangs, letting the length of your hair continue to grow.
Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy Sheen
As your locks continue to grow, the ends of your hair may tend to look dead, and so it’s advisable to take vitamins to give them a fresh, healthy look. A few good vitamins include B vitamins, (especially B-6), as well as biotin. Certain minerals, such as sulfur, zinc, silica, and magnesium are also excellent sources for ensuring healthy and vibrant-looking locks, while new hair continues to grow. In addition, there’s folic acid, which you can take in supplemental form.
Foods That Promote Healthy Hair
Vegetables — Green and yellow vegetables are good for growing long, healthy hair, as they’re rich in beta-carotene. Besides promoting longer hair, beta-carotene also encourages healthy skin, hair and nails. Make sure you have at least five servings of vegetables, concentrating on lettuce, squash, spinach, and other greens to ensure your growing locks will have a glowing sheen.
Foods rich in protein — Realizing that hair, itself, is protein, it’s easy to understand that not getting enough protein in your diet may result in hair thinning or a slowing down in hair growth. On the other hand, if you eat foods rich in protein, you’ll greatly improve your hair growing cycle.
Cut out Bad HabitsBy cutting back or, better yet, eliminating smoking you can increase your hair growth potential. Also, reduce your intake of caffeine and carbonated sodas, which also hinder hair growth. Get plenty of rest at night if you have a bad habit of not getting enough sleep. Avoid hot water, as well as hot blow dryers and other hair care tools that can damage your hair. Instead, massage your scalp weekly to promote hair follicle growth.
Get Regular hair Trims
Just because you’re growing out your hair doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get it trimmed. By regularly trimming your hair, you’ll not only even out the dead ends, but also promote growth. Just get about half-an-inch trimmed every six weeks to two months.
On the other hand, maybe long hair isn’t for you. If you start to have doubts about growing out your hair, opt for a new hairstyle instead of trying to grow out long locks. Study beauty shop magazines and books on hairdos, and ask your beautician what haircut works best for your shape of face. In other words, be encouraged, knowing there’s a new hair style just right for you.
Originally published on Suite 101.