When looking to switch up your hair style, going for the chop is easy enough, but growing your hair out can be a little more of a challenge. Though it seems logical, simply avoiding the hairdressers for months on end won’t necessarily give you the flawless length you desire.

Unfortunately, growing your hair does take time but you can ease the process and get better results by making sure that your hair remains healthy and well looked after. We’ve pulled together some top tips from our Creative Director Mia to help guide you through the process of growing out a shorter style.

Trimming your hair

Although going for regular trims at the salon does not necessarily help your hair grow ‘faster’, it does help your hair grow healthier and longer over time. “On average, hair only grows had an inch every month, but left unchecked, split ends can become extreme and work their way up the hair, leaving you with a lot of damaged strands that will need to be cut.” Says Mia. “Instead, I recommend getting your hair trimmed about a half an inch every 3 months to avoid having to cut the hair shorter in the end.”

Washing your hair

Washing your hair less often where possible can help to maintain a healthy level of natural oils in the hair. According to Mia, “daily shampooing, especially with a shampoo made with sulphates, can strip the hair of its natural oils and dry it out, making the hairs prone to breakage. Look for a sulphate-free shampoo and try leaving your hair one day more than normal before washing, depending on how oily or dry your hair is. I’d also recommend giving your scalp a massage each time you shampoo to stimulate blood flow in the scalp and encourage growth.”

After rinsing off the shampoo, Mia recommends always applying conditioner to the ends to ensure your hair is well moisturised. “A good, nourishing conditioner will help to keep dryness and split ends at bay. Opt for a silicone-free conditioner to ensure the hairs are properly nourished. Silicones coat the hair with a type of plastic, making it feel soft initially, but the hair can still deteriorate underneath the coating. It can also prevent any further treatments from penetrating the cuticle.”

Treatments

Hair is made up of protein and moisture and maintaining the right levels of each is essential when it comes to healthy hair growth. Mia advises using regular treatments on top of your normal conditioner to get your hair in great condition. “A lack of protein can cause hair to become brittle and break easily, which is not ideal when trying to grow it. Ask your stylist to help you identify your hair type and what treatment would be best suited for you, but in general look for a treatment that contains strengthening ingredients such as natural wheat protein. My favourite is Organic Colour Systems Powerbuild Treatment. Used once a week the treatment helps to strengthen hair and repair the hair’s internal structure.”

Styling your hair

To avoid damaging the growing hair, Mia also recommends using as little heat on your hair as possible. “Using straighteners and hair dryers frequently can result in protein loss in the hair and cause split ends. Try air drying your hair and using a little texturising product such as a salt spray instead.” For the full Glasshouse guide to styling your hair without heat take a look at our previous article here.

Diet

To help your hair on it’s way you can also include nutritional foods into your diet that help maintain a healthy scalp and strong hair. Foods rich in iron, biotin, zinc, omega 3 and protein for example, such as pumpkin seeds or chia seeds, nuts, and lentils are all great for keeping hair healthy and strong whilst it grows.

Although there are no quick fixes when it comes to growing your hair, implementing some of these top tips into your beauty regime can help preserve your long-term hair health and give you the long locks you’ve been dreaming of, split-end free.

Featured image: Ewanika