Can You Actually Make Your Hair Grow Faster & Thicker With Products?

Read this if you’re suffering from hair loss, thinning, or baldness.

Apr 20, 2021

Fast fact: When it comes to hair growth, the truth is you can only work with what you’ve got.

At birth, we are actually born with the total amount of hair follicles that we’ll ever have in our lifetime, which is about 5 million. It sounds like a lot, but only 100,000 of those are on our head. Unfortunately, these follicles don’t always stay healthy and active as we age. Some of them stop producing hair altogether, and this is when the problems start.

The most common conditions that can affect your crowning glory? One is telogen effluvium, a.k.a. temporary hair loss due to excessive shedding of resting or “telogen” hair (more on that later), usually after some shock to the system. Triggers include diet changes, psychological stress, illness, and even childbirth. And then there’s alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes hair fall out in small patches. It usually occurs in people with a family history of autoimmune disorders, although the exact cause remains unknown.

Hair Growth 101

The question now for most people is this: How can I make my hair grow faster then? First, it’s important to understand normal hair growth. On average, hair grows about ½ an inch per month, resulting in a grand total of about 6 inches per year. But it’s not the same for everyone. The speed at which hair grows is actually determined by a lot of things—primarily genetics and age—coupled with other factors, such as diet, stress, hormone levels, hair habits, scalp health, and other health conditions. Typically, men’s hair grows faster than women’s. During pregnancy, though, women’s hair growth gets a boost, which explains the lustrous locks that most moms-to-be experience.

Hair grows in three stages: anagen, or the active growth phase which lasts two to eight years; catagen, or the transition phase where hair stops growing (usually lasts four to six weeks); and telogen, or the resting phase where hair falls out (lasts two to three months). At any given time, about 90 to 95% of our hair follicles are in anagen phase, whereas 5 to 10% are in the telogen phase, which explains the hair fall you experience daily—around 100 to 150 strands.

As you get older, though, the active growth phase of hair becomes shorter, causing hair growth to slow down. Menopause and health issues can also disrupt the anagen phase, resulting in increased hair fall.

What to do

While there isn’t a magical method to make your hair grow quickly overnight, there are ways to help boost the health of your scalp and follicles over time. Here, we’ve rounded up the star ingredients to look for and add to your hair routine, as these have been proven to work wonders in helping you recover your thick, gorgeous locks:

Note: It is best to talk to your doctor first before taking any supplements, which may interact with your current medications or cause intended side effects.

1. Minoxidil
An FDA-approved topical treatment clinically proven to help regrow hair, minoxidil acts as a vasodilator, which means it widens the blood vessels to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the hair follicles. It also helps improve hair thickness by increasing the size of the hair follicles, and is capable of shorting the telogen or resting phase of hair growth.

Reactive hair follicles with this effective, no-mess spray from Bosley. Bosley Hair Regrowth Treatment – Regular Strength for Women contains 2% Minoxidil, while Bosley Hair Regrowth Treatment – Extra Strength for Men contains 5% Minoxidil for more potent action.

For best results, use with:

2. Biotin
A popular B vitamin, biotin stimulates the production of keratin, the basic protein that makes up your hair, skin, and nails. Commonly found in topical hair products, biotin can also be taken as a supplement—it’s actually a key ingredient in the exclusive AminoMar Complex trademarked by popular hair growth brand Viviscal.

 

Scientifically formulated to maintain healthy hair growth and nourish thinning hair, Viviscal’s powers lie in its Aminomar Complex, a unique blend of ingredients meant to help bring hair back to life. Aside from biotin, it contains shark cartilage and mollusk powder, fish oil, silica, niacin, vitamin C, and zinc.

3. Omega-3 and 6
A study has found that taking omega-3 and omega-6 supplements for six months can boost hair growth and protect against hair loss. This is because these fatty acids provide essential proteins and nutrients for your strands, and reduce inflammation associated with hair fall.

A concentrated source of omega-3 fatty acids from sustainably sourced, coldwater fish, this supports cardiovascular, muskuloskeletal and immune system health while also doing wonders for your mane.

4. Aloe Vera
Known as one of nature’s best beauty secrets, aloe vera has long been used not only in skin care but also in promoting healthy, shiny, and moisturized locks.

This effective hair growth serum that’s specifically targeted for oily scalp is enriched with highly active ingredients, primarily aloe vera extract, silk proteins, and other vitamins. An intensive treatment for greasy hair, it rebalances the scalp and stimulates and fortifies the hair.

5. Red clover
Though not as popular as aloe vera, red clover extract has long been used in traditional medicine to promote skin and hair health. Aside from smoothening, softening, and volumizing strands, it’s known to support the hair growth cycle by maintaining the structure of your hair follicles.

These concentrated ampoules are formulated with anti-hair loss peptides—including red clover extract—as well as growth stimulating acids to prevent hair loss and encourage hair growth.

6. Pea Sprout Extract
Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, pea sprouts feed both scalp and hair with essential nutrients to revitalize your strands from the root. According to studies, they’re also helpful in shortening hair’s telogen phase, reducing hair loss.

Powered by pea sprout extracts, this hair volume booster—used together with other Evenswiss products—works by inducing the key cells in the hair follicle to reactivate hair growth and thicken strands naturally. It also increases the ration of anagen hair (or actively growing hair) versus telogen hair, especially in cases of telogen effluvium. To use: Use with the Evenswiss Hair Protection System Serum and the Evenswiss Master Booster.

To know more about the recommended products or for customized hair and skin care recommendations, you can book a virtual dermatological consultation with Dr. Maximin Navarro, Bella Pelle Philippines’ resident dermatologist and a Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) fellow, here.

 

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SHOP OTHER PRODUCTS:

Bosley BOSRevive Starter Kit	Bosley Professional Strength Follicle Energizer
Evenswiss Hair Protection System Serum	Free & Clear Shampoo

 

RELATED READS:

• Healthy Hair Secret: You Need To Exfoliate Your Scalp
• Yes, Stress Can Lead to Hair Loss
• What to Look for in a Hair Growth Supplement