We’ve all been inspired by Rapunzel’s mane or Ariana Grande’s ponytail at some point. However, neither’s envious locks are real. That thick, long hair that seems to be achievable only if you’re a fictional character or a billion dollar figure with a hair team on demand. Is there any hope for us living, regular folk? The answer is yes, if you understand what is actually good for hair growth and thickness. This means an end to using whatever shampoo is in the shower, frazzling our hair with heat and ignoring our hair’s needs.

If you want those long, luscious locks that you think are unattainable, keep on reading. This is what is good for hair growth and thickness.

woman with long thick hair

What causes thinning hair?

It’s normal to part with a few hairs throughout the day, about 50-100, to go into detail. However, you may notice some significant shedding with sparser areas appearing on your scalp. If you’ve gone to the doctor and medical conditions are out of the question, you may be left wondering, what’s causing your hair to thin?

Thinning hair can be caused by not treating your hair with the love and care it deserves. Are you scraping it back into a tight, uncomfortable ponytail? Perhaps you’re using harsh products and straightening every day?

Some lifestyle factors can also be the cause of thinning hair. Things like extreme and sudden weight-loss, nutrient deficiencies and chronic stress.

Nutrition for hair growth

how to get long thick hair

We’ll often take a quick-fix solution before getting to the root of the cause. In the search for thick, luscious hair, we might jump to hair salons and products rather than considering the right nutrition for hair growth.

Nutrition for hair growth begins with reaching the recommended amount of Vitamin A, found in animal products like milk, eggs, and also Cod liver oil. If you’re a vegan, fear not! You can also get it from sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, and kale.

However, there are plenty of other vitamins and minerals that aid hair growth, so essentially you need a well-rounded diet full of real, whole foods. Snack on nuts, seeds and berries. Fill some dinners with wholegrains, oily fishes and vegetables. Instead of spending five pounds on a pre-made sandwich, bring a lunchbox with legumes, dark leafy greens, and avocado. Once you focus on wholesome, home-made meals, the nutrition needed for hair growth will be right on your plate.

Scalp care

Now that you have your nutrition sorted for hair growth, assess your (perhaps non-existent) scalp care routine. If you’ve spent your life ignoring scalp care, it’s better late than never. You can read more about the products and routines to improve your scalp’s health in our guide 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Overlook Your Scalp Care.

woman with long thick hair using scalp treatment

An irritated, itchy and dry scalp is crying out to be cleansed and re-nourished. The first step is to wipe away any build up and exfoliate dry skin with a Defence Detoxifying Scalp Scrub. Build up is inevitable over time, especially when using products which don’t rinse easily. Our hair needs a healthy scalp to grow to its full potential, so it’s essential to get rid of the accumulation of oil and product that clogs and blocks our hair follicles.

Does scalp massage help hair growth?

This brings us onto a widely disputed technique: the scalp massage. Does it actually help with hair growth? Well, massaging improves blood flow to the scalp and encourages growth at the bottom of the hair follicle. Plus, it feels fabulous. Using the tips of your fingers, make small circular movements around the scalp with a medium pressure. Add in a few spritzes of a leave-in Scalp Tonic to add thickness and density to the hair follicle whilst hydrating and re-energising the scalp.

Use a hair growth serum that actually works

As we know, there’s plenty of products that promise hair-transforming results. How can you know which is legitimate? Is there a hair growth serum that actually works? The answer is yes, but if you want to invest in a product that claims to be good for hair growth and thickness, you need to do some research.

Firstly, look at the ingredient list. Parabens and sulphates are your first warning signs. Look for gentle yet effective ingredients. Our Hair Growth Serum Intense is powered by a unique complex of active ingredients such as Organic Pea Sprout Extract to restore root vitality and Chinese Scullcap to improve the condition of the follicle.

Next, look at results. Based on an independent user trial and instrumental testing, our Hair Growth Serum Intense works to increase thickness of each strand of hair by up to 13%.

Use a sulphate-free shampoo

Hair growth serums aren’t the only product that shouldn’t contain sulphates. Sulphates are found in a lot of shampoos and can be extremely harsh on the scalp and hair, stripping it of all of its natural oils. To promote growth and thickness in the hair, it’s best to go with a shampoo and conditioner that’s specifically designed to prevent thinning hair. The Grow Gorgeous Supersize Intense Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner are clinically proven to boost fullness and encourage growth with natural ingredients like biotin to boost and energise roots for healthier-looking hair.

Now that we’ve busted the bad versus the good for hair growth and thickness, those long shiny locks might not seem so out of reach after all. Eat your vegetables, add in scalp care, and treat your hair to the products it deserves.

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Josie Wilkins

Writer and expert

Josie is an Online Beauty Editor with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. Her passions involve all things skincare and beauty and in her free time she likes to travel, read and get her beauty sleep.

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