How to Grow Your Hair Longer

There are three steps of hair growth, says Phillips. “They include: Anagen, the actual growth phase; Catagen, the rest phase, which lasts three or four months; and Telogen, when your hair unanchors from the follicle and sheds away naturally.”Obviously not every hair is on the same cycle, which is why we have hair on our heads at all times. But it’s important to know where your hair might be in it’s growth phase, so you don’t get frustrated when trying to grow your hair longer like Selena’s.

What Stunts Hair Growth

“Genetically we’re programmed to our rate of growth,” says Phillips. However, she told Cosmo that you can improve your lifestyle and hair choices that you make to increase the length of your hair to be long llke Kelly’s.Here are the most known culprits of stunted hair growth that happen internally and externally:

Your general internal health contributes to how long your hair is. So, issues like thyroid problems, hormonal imbalances, etc. could stunt hair growth. Nutrition (weight fluctuation, crash or restrictive diets, high exercise and not enough protein, iron deficiency, etc.) also plays a role in how long your hair will grow. And lastly, stress.

Externally, we are constantly traumatizing our hair by pulling it back too tightly,  using hot tools on a too-high temperature, brushing it too hard, and basically  doing a number on it and beating it to the growth phase punch.

What Stunts Hair Growth

“Genetically we’re programmed to our rate of growth,” says Phillips. However, she told Cosmo that you can improve your lifestyle and hair choices that you make to increase the length of your hair to be long llke Kelly’s.

Here are the most known culprits of stunted hair growth that happen internally and externally:

Your general internal health contributes to how long your hair is. So, issues like thyroid problems, hormonal imbalances, etc. could stunt hair growth. Nutrition (weight fluctuation, crash or restrictive diets, high exercise and not enough protein, iron deficiency, etc.) also plays a role in how long your hair will grow. And lastly, stress.

Externally, we are constantly traumatizing our hair by pulling it back too tightly,  using hot tools on a too-high temperature, brushing it too hard, and basically  doing a number on it and beating it to the growth phase punch.

How to Jumpstart Hair Growth

The first step in growing your hair longer faster, like Avril’s: Phillips suggests starting by making an appointment with your doctor to be sure you’re healty internally.

“You need to rule out any medical of systemic issues first with a trichologist and make sure everything is in balance, before starting to change your eating habits and making other lifestyle changes.”

Eating Well = Longer Locks

You also have to eat well in order for your hair to grow long and strong, like Isla’s. “It’s all about balance and eating a little bit from each of the food groups,” says Phillips. “If you’re a vegetarian, I tell my patients to create balance by including protein albeit legumes, lentils, etc. into their diet—especially since everyone should be eating protein in the morning and afternoon.”

She adds that, “by fueling it often and early, you’re showing your body that there is enough for all parts of it, compared to eating a colorful meal at the end of the day. In which case, your body will store and prioritize the nutrients for vital organs only, instead of passing it out to non-essential tissue, like hair.”

Condition Your Hair Often

“Just like you moisturize your facial skin after you wash it, it’s important to do the same for your scalp skin,” says Phillips. Conditioning on the regular and using leave-in conditioners are the perfect ways to maintain optimal scalp health, which is crucial to growing Beyoncé-long hair.