How to Grow Your Hair Thick and Strong

When asked about hair, a lot of ladies' express displeasure or concern over the existing condition of their mane. They are either worried about their more than normal hair fall, dull and dry looking hair, thin and damaged hair or overall lack in hair volume and shine. Isn't this a common concern for many nowadays?

Do you wonder why your hair once thick and strong is thinning now? Has your hair started looking dry and dull, which was not the same, say about 5-10 years ago. Well, you are not alone in this discovery of hair woes. At some point or the other, everyone faces hair problems. 

To grow your hair strong again and provide some much-needed tender, love and care, you need to combat the causes that has led to your hair troubles. The reasons of hair problems can vary from poor nutrition, hormonal imbalance, genetics, mental stress or stress triggered due to illnesses, some strong medication that you are consuming for some time, over-use of chemical-based hair products, excessive dieting or over styling. 

Try finding the cause of your hair problem and make the below given simple but practical changes to grow your hair thicker, stronger and shinier. 

1) Eat Foods that Boost Hair Growth

'Eat your greens and fruits'. 'You should have a nutritive and balanced diet'. 'Do not consume oily, fried and junk food every third day'. Haven’t you read and heard enough of it already. Though we know this piece of information, most of it is still largely overlooked. However, I am going to persist on these healthy tips and remind you again of their importance in your health.

Be it your physical or mental health, your skin or hair, eating wholesome, nutritive and healthy food stuffs is vital. When it comes to hair care, there are certain foods that contain good amounts of vitamins, proteins, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids that help nourish and strengthen your hair, aid its growth and add a healthy shine to your mane. 

Though eating every healthy item in small portions is recommended, some foods like eggs, spinach, sea food (particularly mackerel, salmon, herring, shrimp, oysters), sweet potato, avocados, yellow peppers, beans, soybeans, broccoli, carrots, berries, oranges, papaya, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and nuts (particularly almonds and walnuts) are highly advisable for thick hair growth. Include 1 or 2 servings of any of the above items in your diet every day and improve the quality of your hair, slowly but assuredly.

2) Go For Regular Hair Oil Massage

How many of you skip massaging and oiling your hair or feel it is a needless task? Well, if you do so or think so, then you are missing out on its benefits. Hair care and beauty experts would advise you to massage oil on your scalp and hair at least once a week. Regular hair oil massage improves blood circulation in the scalp, stimulates hair growth, helps reduce hair fall, strengthens hair roots and offers some much-needed nourishment to your hair. Besides these, hair oil massage also helps control your frizzy hair, gives a natural shine to it and relaxes your mind, which is very much needed in this stressful day-to-day life.

With regards to choosing hair oil - coconut oil, castor oil, olive oil, jojoba oil and argan oil are known to promote thick hair growth. These oils also act as wonderful base/carrier oil for essential oils. You can also mix two of the above-mentioned oils to benefit from the advantages that each of these hair oils offer. 

Besides this, you can also add a few drops of essential oil (like rosemary oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil or lavender oil) to your chosen base hair oil. Essentials oils are known to improve and strengthen the hair, fight skin infections and dandruff and promote thickness of hair. 

One tip before applying hair oil is to warm it slightly. Keep in mind to not boil it or make it too hot, as they can scald your scalp and affect your hair. Massage oil on your scalp, hair roots and hair tips by applying light pressure with your fingertips for about 5-7 minutes. Leave it for at least an hour or overnight (if it is possible). Rinse it off thereafter with lukewarm or cool water.

Also Read: 10 Best Hair Oils for Faster Hair Growth and Thickness

3) Be Aware When Buying Shampoos

Washing your hair to rinse off dust, dirt, grease and grime from your scalp and hair is essential. As a norm, try and wash your hair twice or thrice a week. Do NOT wash your hair every day or else it will lose its natural oils and become dry and weak. 

There are many shampoos available nowadays to cleanse your hair and aid hair growth. However, not all of them are effectual as they advertise themselves to be. A lot of these shampoos, instead of moisturizing and nourishing your hair might actually clog and damage your hair follicles and affect its growth due to the presence of varied strong and harsh chemicals.

So, be informed and aware when buying a shampoo. Check the labels and ingredient list, usually written on the back of the tube/container. If there are parabens or sulfates (like ammonium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate) mentioned in the ingredient list, then DO NOT buy them. Paraben and sulfate-based shampoos offer you good lather, however, they have the tendency to rob the moisture from your hair, irritate your scalp and affect your hair in the long run.

Also Read: Review: Dabur Almond Intense Nourishment Shampoo

Instead, choose a shampoo that is mild and is advertised as ‘gentle’ or good for ‘daily use’. Natural or herbal shampoos that contain amla (Indian gooseberry), hibiscus, aloe vera, tea tree oil, argan oil, bringraj, henna, reetha and shikakai are good bets for rejuvenating hair growth and thickness. However, before picking up any of the gentle, natural or ayurvedic shampoos, do follow the above rule of checking the ingredient list. You never know when a harsh chemical component makes to the list of these shampoos in the garb of organic and herbal.

4) Conditioning Helps a Lot

Be it thin hair, short hair, long hair, thick hair or damaged hair, for any type of hair, conditioning is important. A conditioner helps in hydrating and strengthening your hair and making it feel softer, smoother and shinier. You can also handle your hair fairly well when your hair is smooth and manageable. That is why you can still think of skipping shampoo once in a while, but do not go without conditioning your hair.

With respect to using a conditioner, one of the common mistakes people make is by applying and massaging it on their scalp and then their hair. As a rule, remember NOT to apply conditioner on the scalp. A conditioner after a shampoo or a simple hair wash should be first applied at the wet hair tips and then work your way upwards towards the length of the hair. Leave the conditioner on your hair for 3-4 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm or cool water.

Also, while picking up a conditioner, check the ingredient list. A conditioner that contains natural oils, is paraben, sulphate and silicon free is highly advisable. 

5) Homemade Hair Masks Come to Your Rescue

Hair masks are a wonderful home treatment to nourish and repair thin, damaged and dry hair. Homemade hair remedies are also safe as they are made from your natural kitchen ingredients, are easy to make, are low cost and are chemical free. You can try hair packs once a week to offer your hair some much needed nutrients to boost its appearance. 

a) The Egg Mask – One of the easiest homemade hair packs is the egg mask. A protein rich mask, this eggy treatment would help your bring luster, strength and thickness to your hair in the most natural way. For this treatment, break 1 egg in a bowl. Add 1-2 spoons of your chosen hair oil and 1-2 spoons of water to it. Mix all three properly and then apply it your scalp and hair. Leave the egg mask on your scalp/hair for at least 30 minutes and then rinse it off with cool water and a gentle shampoo.

                                                 

b) Aloe Vera – Be it skin or hair, aloe vera is prominently mentioned in both the beauty care departments. Aloe vera is rich in antioxidants and various vitamins and minerals. It is also a good moisturizing and conditioning agent. Hence, be it thin hair, hair fall problems, dandruff or itchy scalp, aloe vera is used as a remedy in all these hair concerns. Besides this, aloe vera is also known to promote hair growth and strengthen and repair dull and damaged hair strands. Several of these benefits is why aloe vera is considered to be one of the important natural hair care ingredients in Ayurveda.

To add volume to your tresses, you can directly apply aloe vera gel (removed fresh from the leaves or bought from store) to the scalp and hair. This will prove particularly beneficial for people with oily hair or have scalp infections. 

Another alternative of using aloe vera gel is by adding and mixing a spoon of olive oil or castor oil to it and applying it to the scalp and hair. You can also replace the above oils with argan oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, almond oil or jojoba oil and the treatment works equally fine as well. Massage your scalp lightly for about 2-3 minutes and let the oily gel sit and work for at least 1 hour. Wash it off thereafter with lukewarm water and a mild shampoo.

There are some other homemade recipes to treat your dull, thin or damaged hair and add volume to it. You can click here to read it.

6) Be Gentle with Your Hair 

When I say be gentle with your hair, it constitutes many small but important things. Be it combing your hair, opting for a hair style or using heating equipment, be aware of what you are doing with your hair.

For example, after a hair wash, do not vigorously scrub your hair in an attempt to dry it faster. Wet hair is more fragile and vulnerable to breakage than dry hair. Instead, take sections of your wet hair and gently press it with a dry towel to squeeze out water from it. Also, make sure to not comb your hair when wet. Let your hair dry naturally and then go looking for a comb.

Preferably, use a wooden comb or a boar bristle brush instead of a metal comb or a plastic comb with many/crowded teeth. This will help work out your tangles better rather than pulling it roughly and losing some of your precious locks.

How tightly or loosely you tie your hair also impacts the strength of your hair. A tight ponytail or bun, cornrows or a twisted braided bun looks good. However, if you are constantly sporting these looks, then you are risking your hair to damage. Frequently pulling your delicate hair to achieve these hairstyles will not only cause hair loss and hair breakage but will also trigger receding hairline in your forehead region. As a tip, if you plan to braid your hair or go for a pigtail, then refrain from tying your hair too tight and remember to use stretchable scrunchies than a rubber band or a metal fastener.

As far as possible, minimize the use of heating tools like blow dryers, flat irons or straighteners. Let your hair dry naturally after a bath. If you are using a blow dryer, then let at least 50 percent of your hair dry naturally and then pick your dryer to blow dry your hair. Similarly, in the case of heating styling tool, limit its usage on special occasions. When in use, remember to not hold the tool too close to your hair or on one part of your hair for too long, as it can get overheated and result in split ends and brittle hair. 

7) Manage Your Stress Levels

Last but not the least, stress is observed to be a major contributor of thin and more than normal hair fall (hair fall of over 100-150 strands a day). Quite a few studies have related regular anxiety and stress along with unhealthy lifestyle, of hindering the cycle of proper hair growth while also impacting a person's hormonal balance and emotional and mental well being. However, stress and hair concerns like graying, thinning or hair loss are not permanent. If stress is brought and kept under control, one can re-stimulate the process of normal hair growth and grow their healthy locks back. 

To achieve this, make a conscious and sincere effort to de-stress yourself between your work and personal life. Be it exercise, yoga, meditation, playing a physical sport that you like, making time for a hobby, talking to your friend, socializing with positive people, listening to music or any other activity that will help you unwind and relax, just go for it. 

All in all, make your health a priority and focus on the above things that would actually help you take care of your hair on a daily basis for thicker and stronger hair.

Also Read: 10 Best Tips to Regrow Your Lost Hair Naturally